Indoor Allergies | Allergy UK | National Charity
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Help us bring Indoor Allergies #outintheopen
Indoor allergy is a term used to describe a range of allergens that can be found in home or indoor environments. The most common indoor allergens are House Dust Mites, Mould and Pet. All homes, irrespective of how well kept they are, can be hosts to these allergens which are often invisible to the eye. That’s why for those living with an indoor allergy, there is often a weighty and time intensive burden that comes with an excessive and frequent cleaning regime to try to keep these allergens at bay.
Living with an indoor allergy can have a significant toll on someone’s health. For many people, their home is a safe haven. Imagine undertaking your daily tasks – eating, sleeping and getting ready for the day ahead, every day – in an environment which triggers symptoms that may be so severe, that they affect your skin, nose, eyes and airways so that breathing is affected? This is what it can be like for people with an indoor allergy that is poorly managed year-round.
Getting indoor allergies #outintheopen is crucial in helping people understand the symptoms of an indoor allergy so they can seek a diagnosis and effective treatment plan promptly.
Social behaviour has changed and today people spend on average 90% of their time indoors. Our indoor environments are often poorly ventilated causing humidity to rise and creating ideal conditions for mould and house dust mites to thrive in our soft furnishings and bedding. We are a nation of pet lovers, with our pets often living indoor which can also add to allergens in the indoor environment. – Amena Warner, Head of Clinical Services.
It is possible to develop an allergy to an animal or pet at any time, even where that animal has previously been a pet, or where a pet does not live in your home. It is commonly thought that animal hair is responsible for the allergic symptoms, however it is mainly an animal’s dander and saliva that is the cause.
Find out more about pet allergy
Well insulated and airtight homes can impactindoor air quality and ventilation. Coupled with inadequate heating, air humidity in homes can increase and encourage mould growth. This can result in asthma whilst also aggravating other allergic conditions, such as allergic rhinitis and atopic eczema.
Find out more about mould allergy
House Dust Mites are one of the most common triggers for people living with allergic asthma. They can be found in every home, and a sensitivity to house dust mites can also aggravate atopic eczema and cross-react with how the body responds to certain foods.
Find out more about house dust mite allergy
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