What am I allergic to in my house?

If you're stuffed up, sneeze, or get itchy eyes all from the comfort of your home, you may have an indoor allergy. It's triggered by things like pet dander, dust mites, mold spores, and cockroaches. Some telltale signs: Year-round symptoms.

How do you find out what you are allergic to in your home?

By taking samples of the dust around your home, you can receive a detailed report telling what allergens are in your home. The kit in conjunction with blood testing can tell you what allergens need to be removed from your home.

Why are my allergies worse in my house?

Many people with allergies stay indoors when pollen and mold is high. But dust mites, pet dander and even cockroaches can cause problems indoors.

What are the most common indoor allergies?

What in my room could be causing allergies?

The bedroom is home to a slew of allergens including dust mites, pet dander, chemicals, dust, and molds. Here you may spend 6-8 hours a day sleeping, getting ready for the day, or simply relaxing—which means you have a longer exposure to microscopic critters and particles that cause allergies and allergy-like symptoms.

Are You Allergic to Your House? Reduce Allergens in Your Home

What are the signs of dust mites?

Can you be allergic to your own house?

Unfortunately, houses and apartment buildings harbor their own allergens (agents that cause allergy symptoms). The inside of your home actually traps allergens, making them impossible to avoid.

What are the symptoms of house dust mite allergy?

What are the symptoms of mold?

How can I get rid of dust mites?

Wash bedding weekly.

Wash all sheets, blankets, pillowcases and bedcovers in hot water that is at least 130 F (54.4 C) to kill dust mites and remove allergens. If bedding can't be washed hot, put the items in the dryer for at least 15 minutes at a temperature above 130 F (54.4 C) to kill the mites.

Do air purifiers help allergies?

Using HEPA filters can trap these pollutants and may help bring allergy relief. HEPA stands for high-efficiency particulate air. A HEPA filter is a type of mechanical air filter; it works by forcing air through a fine mesh that traps harmful particles such as pollen, pet dander, dust mites, and tobacco smoke.

Can a dirty house cause allergies?

No, a dirty house can make a house-dust allergy problem worse, but in all likelihood, normal housekeeping procedures may not be enough to relieve house-dust allergy symptoms. Tiny creatures called house dust mites seem to be the major allergen (cause of allergic reactions) in house dust.

Are dust mites everywhere?

Dust mites can live in the bedding, mattresses, upholstered furniture, carpets or curtains in your home. Dust mites are nearly everywhere; roughly four out of five homes in the United States have detectable levels of dust mite allergen in at least one bed.

How do you know if your house is toxic?

How can I test my home for mold?

A mildewed surface is often difficult to distinguish from a dirty one. To test for mold and mildew and how to tell if your house has mold, simply dab a few drops of household bleach on the blackened area. If it lightens after one to two minutes, you have mildew. If the area remains dark, you probably have dirt.

How can I test myself for mold exposure?

Testing Methods

We use a variety of specialized methods to look for mold toxicity in your body. These methods may include blood and urine tests. We may also perform sputum, sinus, or tissue analysis. These tests are easy and straightforward.

What kills dust mites naturally?

Diatomaceous earth (opens in new tab) is a natural fine powder made from silica rock that you can sprinkle on surfaces where dust mites live (beds, pet beds, furniture, carpets...) to kill them. It works by piercing their exoskeleton as they pass through it, which will kill them instantly.

What time of year are dust mites worse?

Allergen levels are at their highest between May and October, the peak breeding season of house dust mites. Most of the mites die during the winter, but the allergen-containing dust is stirred up by heating systems. This often causes the symptoms experienced by affected patients year-round to worsen during the winter.

What in my house is making me sick?

Combustion gases. These gases include carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and sulfur dioxide. They can cause flu-like symptoms, respiratory illnesses, or even death. Don't use unvented combustion appliances (such as portable kerosene heaters) indoors.

Do dust mites live in pillows?

Dust mites can infest all kinds of pillows -- feather, down, microfiber, or polyester foam.

Can mattress have dust mites?

Dust mites are microscopic bugs that feed on your dead skin cells. They live and die inside mattresses, upholstered furniture, bedding material like pillows and comforters, carpets and rugs, curtains, stuffed animals, and more. Anywhere you have fabric, there's a potential for fathering dust mite allergens.

Does making your bed increased dust mites?

"When making your bed, you do shake the mites and their fecal matter in the air," Zitt says. "So if you were to do an air test immediately after making the bed, it would show higher levels of dust mites until they settle." But not making the bed doesn't do anything to eliminate the existing mite population.

Where do dust mites live in your house?

Dust mites can live in mattresses, bedding, upholstered furniture, carpets, and curtains in your home. Cockroaches are another source of indoor allergens. Researchers have found a link between the presence of cockroaches and an increase in the severity of asthma symptoms.

Can dust mites live in your hair?

Can dust mites live in your hair? No, dust mites don't live in human hair.