There are many things inside the home that can be just as uncomfortable the allergic individual as there are on the outside. Your home features a variety of animal and plant life even if you don’t have pets, which, by the way, are also a major trigger of indoor allergies. Mold is also very prevalent in many home environments. It can get trapped in bedding, laundry, vents, plumbing and elsewhere.

Indoor allergies can cause many of the same symptoms as outdoor allergies such as sneezing, wheezing, coughing, itchy, watery eyes and congestion. Adding difficulty to the situation is the fact that, more often than not, allergy sufferers will have both indoor and outdoor allergies to contend with…at the same time.

It’s important to note that indoor (or nasal) allergies are often easier to control than outdoor allergies. Certain practices can provide significant relief to those who suffer from indoor allergies, or perennial allergic rhinitis (PAR) as the condition is known clinically.

These include:

• Placing hypoallergenic covers over your mattress and box spring,
• Keeping the humidity low indoors (running the air conditioner will help with that),
• Buying and using a dehumidifier,
• Mending leaky fixtures,
• Covering food up immediately after use,
• Throwing out garbage in a timely manner,
• Grooming pets regularly,
• using allergy-free products for yourself and your pets
• and much more. (Click here for even more tips!)

There are a variety of over the counter and prescription remedies to help those with indoor allergies such as Zyrtec, Benadryl and Singulair. An allergist can assist you in figuring out which items cause you the most trouble by performing skin or blood tests. They can also offer immunotherapy via allergy shots or sublingual (under the tongue) drops.

Most people find that a combination of treatment options and environmental preparations help them manage their indoor allergies best. It may take some time to figure out what’s best for you, but it’s worth the effort.

© 2008