Changing weather, turning leaves, fun activities… every change of the seasons brings a lot to look forward to. But for allergy sufferers, seasonal changes come with challenges. New allergens spell itchy eyes, runny noses, sneezing, and more. According to both the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America, climate change is actually exacerbating the effects of seasonal allergies: Allergy seasons are getting longer, pollen counts are getting higher, and air quality is getting lower.
Allergens are foreign substances that create an overreaction in your immune system (what we know as allergies), even if they’re harmless to other people. While we often put the spotlight on outdoor allergens such as pollen, indoor allergens can be just as troublesome. Dust mites, pet dander, and other substances lurk in our homes year-round, causing discomfort and sometimes serious health issues.
Let’s take a closer look at indoor allergens and how you can keep them from running amok in your home.
Understanding indoor allergens
Does it ever seem like your allergies are worse indoors? Even though you have to contend with smog, construction dust, pollen, and other issues outside, indoor air quality can be as much as five time worse than the air quality outside.
Indoor allergens come in various forms, including:
- Dust mites
- Mold spores
- Pet dander
- Household pests
- Pollen
While most pollen in homes gets tracked in from outside or blows in through open windows, the other culprits thrive on household surfaces. Carpets, upholstery, bedding, and even the air itself are the most common areas where indoor allergens grow and multiply. Some truly unwanted irritants (as well as other health hazards) can come from mice and cockroaches, which can exacerbate asthma if you inhale them.
To put it bluntly, indoor allergens are everywhere. While they can be tough to escape, dealing with them is essential for your family’s health and safety.
Are indoor allergens more harmful than outdoor allergens?
Every allergy sufferer should consult with their doctor about their individual sensitivities. Be sure to discuss the effects of indoor allergy triggers in detail. While outdoor allergens disperse more readily (one of the reasons outdoor air quality tends to be better than indoor air quality), allergens that get trapped indoors usually mean prolonged exposure and more health consequences. Additionally, indoor allergies become less seasonal and more chronic.
Excess exposure to indoor allergens and poor indoor air quality can lead to a range of health issues. These include mild symptoms like sneezing and coughing, wheezing, and headaches, but also fatigue due to difficulty breathing and more severe conditions including asthma attacks and anaphylactic reactions that can be life-threatening. Children and seniors are particularly vulnerable because their immune systems may not be as robust.
Breathe easier with air purification
Your home should be a respite from irritating allergens. With the right solutions, you can combat indoor allergens and poor indoor air quality.
Cleaning your house regularly can help keep allergens to a minimum. Be sure to vacuum, change bedsheets, and clean upholstery on a consistent basis. Likewise, stay on top of furnace filter replacement so dust and allergens don’t clog your HVAC system and make indoor air quality worse.
Beyond cleaning and filtration, air purification makes a big difference. A whole-home air purification system such as Panasonic’s WhisperAir Repair offers a high-tech, low-maintenance solution to keep allergens from impacting your family.
Unlike mechanical filtration, air purifiers work by changing harmful pollutants at a molecular level to neutralize them and eliminate their ability to do harm. Panasonic’s nanoe X approach is a perfect example of this. And with no filters to change and no ductwork required, ceiling-mounted units like WhisperAir Repair are easy to install and unobtrusive. They provide an always-on solution to combat indoor allergens, bacteria, viruses, and more.
A healthier home is in reach
If you’re thinking about installing an air purification solution, a great place to start is requesting a home energy assessment. With a focus on heating, cooling, and ventilation, a certified home energy assessor will help you:
- Identify indoor air quality concerns and ways to address them
- Choose the right type and size of air purifier for your home
- Identify high-traffic areas where an air purifier will do the most good
When you’re ready to make a move, Panasonic has a range of ventilation and indoor air quality solutions to help keep you breathing well at home. Learn more to get started protecting your home and family from allergens.
