Are You Allergic to Your Home or Office?

In recent years the topic of indoor air pollution has led to increased public concern. Awareness has grown because of the construction of buildings designed to conserve energy by reducing heating and cooling costs. Homes and offices have been designed with "tighter "construction, greater insulation, and the use of recirculated air — all of which help to trap pollutants indoors. Pollutants include allergens, radon gas, formaldehyde, noxious fumes and tobacco smoke. Because most people spend a great deal of time inside their homes or their office, this has led to an increase in the number of allergic conditions.

Allergens found indoors as a part of house dust include dust mites, cat and dog hair, cockroaches, mold spores and pollens. Sometimes these allergens can not only cause hay fever symptoms, but also acute or chronic asthma, especially in children. These conditions can be diagnosed by carefully noting a person's allergic reactions (what physicians call a "history"), such as year-round symptoms, or wheezing or sneezing that might occur only in the early morning.

Skin testing can help confirm these observations. House dust mites probably don't affect many people in Colorado because they require temperatures of about 70 - 80 degrees and humidity of about the same percentage. These mites (which are relatives of spiders and ticks) are usually found in mattresses, sofas and carpets. Cats and dogs also contribute allergens to the air in homes. For example, feline allergens are often found in the animal's saliva and dander, and can show up on carpets. Recently, cockroaches have also been recognized as another major source of allergy problems. They survive in high humidity and constitute a major problem in urban dwellings. Mold growth can be significant in rooms with high humidity like the bathroom, the kitchen, the crawl space and the basement. Interestingly, pollens can also be found indoors. Trees pollinate in the spring, grasses in the late spring and summer, and weeds in August and September. Typically, pollen counts register higher in the early morning and at dusk.

Measures to reduce the allergens and other pollutants can help control asthma and runny noses.

To limit dust mites, try restricting humidity (to about 45 percent), encasing mattresses and box springs, replacing feather pillows, and vacuuming frequently. To control dander from cats and dogs, don't groom pets indoors, wash them monthly, keep the animals away from the bedroom, and use air cleaners (with HEPA-type filters). They can reduce the number of particles that stay suspended for long periods of time, such as animal dander and smoke. To reduce the effects of mold spores, you might try controlling humidity, limiting the number of house plants, cleaning kitchens and bathrooms frequently, and treating suspected areas with chlorine bleach. For pollens, keep windows and doors closed as much as you can. Air conditioning might also help.

For many people following these steps can help them manage the allergens efficiently so that they can carry on their daily lives without much suffering. But if these preventative measures aren't successful, further allergy evaluation may be helpful, including skin testing, allergy injections, or medications.

Krishna Murthy, M.D., is a physician at Longmont Clinic. He is board certified in pediatrics, allergy, asthma, and immunology.