Triggers
AVOIDANCE OF SPECIFIC TRIGGERS
There are two types of triggers:
- Specific triggers are pollen, molds, house dusts and animals.
- Non-specific triggers are all types of smoke, all types of dust, strong odors, extremes and sudden changes of temperature and humidity, infections, stress, and emotional changes.
Non-specific triggers can worsen or cause symptoms of allergies or asthma even when a patient's known specific trigger (e.g., pollen) is not present.
POLLEN AVOIDANCE
Pollen is hard to avoid compared to animals or house dust. However, there are few things that will reduce your exposure to pollen and prevent or minimize your symptoms.
- Keep your home and car windows closed during the allergy season when you have symptoms. Use air conditioning as necessary to ensure a comfortable environment.
- Plan outdoor activities in the afternoon or evening when pollen counts are low. Pollen counts are highest in the morning from 4-5 AM until 10-12 noon.
- If you spend a day outside during the pollen season, change your clothes and/or shower (to get rid of the pollen that landed on you) when you return home.
- Do not dry clothes outside as they will catch wind-borne pollen.
MOLD AVOIDANCE
- Molds grow in damp, warm, and dark places both outdoors and indoors. Outdoor molds are present in the soil, lawn, trees, and shrubs. During the fall seasons leaf piles are a common source of molds.
- Lawn mowing stirs up the molds in the grass.If you have a mold allergy you should not mow the lawn or go near a freshly mowed lawn for 4-5 hours. If you must mow the lawn or rake leaves, you should wear a face mask.
- Indoor molds grow where there is moisture, for example damp basements, crawl spaces, kitchens, bathrooms, laundry areas, and on walls, the attic, or the ceiling if there is water leakage or seepage. Mold usually appears as a black or green powdery material growing on the wet surfaces.
- If you can make the areas dry, molds are less likely grow. For example, if you have moldy (musty smelling) basement, a dehumidifier or air conditioner in summer and heating in winter will get rid of the excess moisture. Any water leakage or seepage should be fixed.
HOUSE DUST CONTROL
- The main constuient of house dust that causes allergies is the microscopic house dust mite (see photo above). The inhaled mite droppings that causes allergic reactions in humans. The main sources of house dust mite are bedding, stuffed toys, upholstered furniture, and carpets.
- The most effective way to reduce exposure to mites is to make the bedroom, where most people spend 8-10 hours daily, dust free. (Children and teenagers may be spending even more time in the bedroom area.)
- The bedroom area should preferably have hard floors (e.g., wood or vinyl). A low pile carpet is second best alternative. Since very old carpets usually are a large source of mite and molds, they should be removed or replaced.
- The pillow, mattress, and box springs should be covered with specific dust proof encasings. This very important step constitutes half of the mite control measures by limiting the cloud of dust mites we are exposed to during sleep.
- The bed sheets and pillow covers should be washed frequently in hot water to kill mites.
- The bedroom and closet should not be used for storage (e.g., out of season or never-used clothing). The more items there are, the more dust they catch and the greater the chance of exposure to mites.
- The bedroom area should be vacuumed frequently, preferably by a person not allergic to dust. If necessary, a face mask should be worn.
- Blinds are preferable to drapes and curtains.
ANIMAL AVOIDANCE
The best means of reducing animal-related allergy is by not having animals in the home. After removing an animal from the home it takes at least 4-6 months for the dander to clear from carpets, sofas, bedding, etc. If an animal is kept in the house, the animal should be confined to a certain part of the house and not be allowed outside. At a bare minimum, the animal should kept out of the bedroom area at all times. That way during at least 8-10 hours of each day the patient is not exposed to animal dander.
NON-SPECIFIC TRIGGERS
Non-specific triggers are substances in the environment that do not cause the disease but make allergic symptoms worse. Non-specific triggers include all types of smoke, all types of dust, strong odors, extreme and sudden changes in temperature and humidity, infections, stress, and emotional changes. Most patients are affected by one or two particular triggers which should be avoided.
See previous section on Allergy Treatments for more information on allergy shots.
