5 Health Hazards of Living With Indoor Allergens

Allergens are everywhere outdoors — is the inside of your home a protective haven? For many people, the answer is, unfortunately, no. If you and your loved ones fall into that category, your health is likely at risk. The experts at Dust Doctors explain the potential health hazards of living with indoor allergens below.

Which Indoor Allergens Are Hazardous to Your Health?

Before we delve into the dangers of long-term allergen exposure, it’s important to understand just how common indoor allergens really are. These substances are so commonplace, you may never give them a second thought — but that doesn’t mean they have any business being inside your house.

So what kind of allergens might be lurking inside your home? Here are just a few of the most common ones:

●        Mold spores

●        Pet dander and hair

●        Dust mites

●        Pest droppings and saliva

●        Chemical pollutants, such as ozone, VOCs, pesticides, etc.

Given that most of these substances lurk inside virtually every home, it’s also important to understand where they’re most commonly found. You might not be able to see or smell them readily, and that’s because they often accumulate out of sight — in your ductwork. Unless you already subscribe to routine duct cleaning, chances are you’re exposing yourself to significant quantities of these substances on a daily basis.

Potential Health Hazards of Long-Term Exposure to Indoor Allergens

So what can happen with daily exposure to health-harming indoor allergens? Many individuals are highly susceptible to developing health issues as a result of allergen exposure. For these people, a number of conditions may present, including:

●        Persistent headaches. One of the most common symptoms of exposure to mold, dust mites, and chemical pollutants is a headache. And with long-term exposure, it’s not uncommon to suffer from persistent headaches, fatigue, and brain fog that often fail to respond to conventional treatments. If you suffer from ongoing headaches or unexplainable fatigue, consider scheduling regular duct cleaning appointments to mitigate indoor allergen accumulation.

●        Difficulty breathing. Long-term exposure to any type of indoor allergen can result in respiratory problems that can make it difficult to breathe. Whether you wake up stuffy or suffer from a persistent cough inside your home, getting routine duct cleanings can help reduce the severity of your symptoms.

●        Nausea. Many chemical pollutants trigger nausea in sensitive individuals. If you suffer from unexplained stomach upset and you don’t believe your diet is the culprit, you may have high levels of chemical pollutants inside your home. Consider installing an air purification system to mitigate your exposure to harmful chemical toxins.

●        Runny nose and watery eyes. Mold, pet dander, pest droppings, chemical pollutants, and a long list of other indoor allergens can quickly cause nose and eye inflammation. If you suffer from an unexplained runny nose or watery eyes indoors, installing an air purification system can help improve your symptoms. Scheduling routine duct cleanings will also help eliminate allergens from your home, which will further improve bothersome symptoms. 

●        Skin irritation and rashes. Contact dermatitis is quite common with exposure to mold and chemical pollutants. If you’ve dealt with unexplained rashes or other forms of skin irritation, indoor allergens may be the culprit. While duct cleaning can help reduce the quantity of allergens inside your home, it’s also a good idea to have your house inspected for mold, just to be safe.

Need Better Indoor Air Quality? Contact Dust Doctors

If you suffer from unexplained allergy symptoms inside your home, chances are your indoor air quality could use some help. At Dust Doctors, we specialize in improving indoor air quality for Twin Cities residents through duct cleaning, air purification system installation, and HVAC maintenance and cleaning. It’s our goal to help you breathe the cleanest indoor air possible, so don’t hesitate to get in touch with us to discuss your concerns! To learn more or request a free quote, call our Little Canada, MN office at 651-319-9777 or contact us online.