Why Am I Having Allergy Symptoms?: 10 'Secret' Allergens in Your Home
How well do you know your allergies? I just read an article on cnn.com that lists common household items that actually could be triggering your allergic reactions. How many of the following items were you aware of? Did any surprise you? What have you done to cut down on household allergens? (Think any of these might be provoking your allergies? Check out the article for more ideas on what to do.)
1)Lemons and Limes - they might prevent scurvy but both contain limonene, a compound in citrus fruits, that gives some people watery eyes and a burning-feeling in their nose. Your skin could get irritated even if you drink it, touch it or eat it. Consider skipping that lemon slice in your water and watch our for lime - it's in a lot of dressings and desserts.
2) Carpets - they add warmth and comfort to our floors - but dust mites love them even more than we do. Even when you vacuum a lot, these pesky mites are lurking. They especially thrive in humid environments so keep a dehumidifier going. Consider smaller rugs that can be washed more easily.
3) Candles - you can't be allergic to the essential oils that make candles smell good - but the odors can inflame your nasal cavities, mimicking an allergic response. People who already have nasal allergies have increased sensitivity and coul get a runny nose or watery eyes from candles. Often have the same effect as cigarette smoke. If you love candles even though they bother you, look for ones with one one scent and make sure to let fresh air into the room too.
4) Perfume - our favorite fragrances have a bunch of chemical ingredients that aren't usually tested on humans. When the combination of chemicals mix together and are sprayed into the air - people sneeze, get congested, and get headaches. If you're one of those people - consider asking your co-workers to ease up on their perfume. But I think bringing in a personal fan seems like an better idea. Also use lightly or non-scented lotions and creams.
5) Soaps & Detergents - it's actually the fragrances within certain cleaning solutions that tends to irritate people's skin. Since most soaps and detergents are highly scented these days - rashes are more common. Look into organic soaps or ones marked "no-additives, non-scented, or phthalate-free." Phthalates are chemicals that add to the texture but have been linked to allergic reactions. Dove, Tide, and Ivory offer low-irritant options.
6) Stuffed Animals - so they live in our carpets, but dust mites also tend to live in mattresses, stuffed toys, and pillows. About 15% of people have an allergy to dust mites. While it's easier to put mattress and pillow covers on to keep out the mites, stuffed animals are harder. If you can, wash them at 140º to kill the mites. If not, pop them into a plastic bag and let them sit in the freezer for a few hours to cure Teddy.
7) Spices - they add delicious flavor to our food but since they come from plants, they are common allergens. For some people, consuming spiced foods leads to the sniffles. But for others, itching, swelling, and burning lips can occur. Try to avoid problematic spices: coriander, poppy seeds, pepper, dill, paprika, cumin, saffron. If you can't quite tell which ingredient is the trigger - do a few tests by writing down ingredients and tracking your symptoms.
8) Beer and Alcohol - being allergic to the grains and additives in these beverages is more common than you'd think. Wheat and sulfur dioxide (which preserves the drink) can cause rashes or stuffy noses. Sometimes the corn, barley, rye, and fruit flavors can also cause reactions. Try to stick to grain-free liquor vodka, rum and tequila. Avoid flavored liqueurs. If you notice wine bothers you - red wines tend to have fewer sulfite preservatives than white. You can actually find "sulfite-free" wine too. Carbonated drinks (wine coolers) increase the chances of an allergic reaction.
9) Wall paint - your room looks brighter but your eyes might be to itchy to enjoy your handiwork. The solvents and synthetic resins in paint can cause sore eyes and headaches. Oil-based paints tend to be worse because they keep releasing chemicals even after they dry. Make sure to keep windows wide open and no matter what - let fresh air in for 4 weeks after painting. If possible, use a latex paint - which releases less gases since it's water-based. Paints marked VOC (green label) release fewer chemicals and are less smelly (but they still might bother you a bit).
10) Christmas trees - our favorite holiday decoration can grow mold. Once the tree hits the water you put in its stand - mold grows right away. Mold is an extremely common allergen. You might consider a fake tree to avoid mold. But if you love the tradition of having a real one - cut it down yourself or ask someone when it was cut down before you buy. Trees that were cut weeks before you buy them often already have mold. After you buy, starve it of water and it keep it as short a time as possible. Also make sure to keep your houseplants on the dry side.
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Check out other WEGO Health blog posts about Allergies
Need more Allergy info? Browse all the WEGO Health Allergy Topics
1)Lemons and Limes - they might prevent scurvy but both contain limonene, a compound in citrus fruits, that gives some people watery eyes and a burning-feeling in their nose. Your skin could get irritated even if you drink it, touch it or eat it. Consider skipping that lemon slice in your water and watch our for lime - it's in a lot of dressings and desserts.
2) Carpets - they add warmth and comfort to our floors - but dust mites love them even more than we do. Even when you vacuum a lot, these pesky mites are lurking. They especially thrive in humid environments so keep a dehumidifier going. Consider smaller rugs that can be washed more easily.
3) Candles - you can't be allergic to the essential oils that make candles smell good - but the odors can inflame your nasal cavities, mimicking an allergic response. People who already have nasal allergies have increased sensitivity and coul get a runny nose or watery eyes from candles. Often have the same effect as cigarette smoke. If you love candles even though they bother you, look for ones with one one scent and make sure to let fresh air into the room too.
4) Perfume - our favorite fragrances have a bunch of chemical ingredients that aren't usually tested on humans. When the combination of chemicals mix together and are sprayed into the air - people sneeze, get congested, and get headaches. If you're one of those people - consider asking your co-workers to ease up on their perfume. But I think bringing in a personal fan seems like an better idea. Also use lightly or non-scented lotions and creams.
5) Soaps & Detergents - it's actually the fragrances within certain cleaning solutions that tends to irritate people's skin. Since most soaps and detergents are highly scented these days - rashes are more common. Look into organic soaps or ones marked "no-additives, non-scented, or phthalate-free." Phthalates are chemicals that add to the texture but have been linked to allergic reactions. Dove, Tide, and Ivory offer low-irritant options.
6) Stuffed Animals - so they live in our carpets, but dust mites also tend to live in mattresses, stuffed toys, and pillows. About 15% of people have an allergy to dust mites. While it's easier to put mattress and pillow covers on to keep out the mites, stuffed animals are harder. If you can, wash them at 140º to kill the mites. If not, pop them into a plastic bag and let them sit in the freezer for a few hours to cure Teddy.
7) Spices - they add delicious flavor to our food but since they come from plants, they are common allergens. For some people, consuming spiced foods leads to the sniffles. But for others, itching, swelling, and burning lips can occur. Try to avoid problematic spices: coriander, poppy seeds, pepper, dill, paprika, cumin, saffron. If you can't quite tell which ingredient is the trigger - do a few tests by writing down ingredients and tracking your symptoms.
8) Beer and Alcohol - being allergic to the grains and additives in these beverages is more common than you'd think. Wheat and sulfur dioxide (which preserves the drink) can cause rashes or stuffy noses. Sometimes the corn, barley, rye, and fruit flavors can also cause reactions. Try to stick to grain-free liquor vodka, rum and tequila. Avoid flavored liqueurs. If you notice wine bothers you - red wines tend to have fewer sulfite preservatives than white. You can actually find "sulfite-free" wine too. Carbonated drinks (wine coolers) increase the chances of an allergic reaction.
9) Wall paint - your room looks brighter but your eyes might be to itchy to enjoy your handiwork. The solvents and synthetic resins in paint can cause sore eyes and headaches. Oil-based paints tend to be worse because they keep releasing chemicals even after they dry. Make sure to keep windows wide open and no matter what - let fresh air in for 4 weeks after painting. If possible, use a latex paint - which releases less gases since it's water-based. Paints marked VOC (green label) release fewer chemicals and are less smelly (but they still might bother you a bit).
10) Christmas trees - our favorite holiday decoration can grow mold. Once the tree hits the water you put in its stand - mold grows right away. Mold is an extremely common allergen. You might consider a fake tree to avoid mold. But if you love the tradition of having a real one - cut it down yourself or ask someone when it was cut down before you buy. Trees that were cut weeks before you buy them often already have mold. After you buy, starve it of water and it keep it as short a time as possible. Also make sure to keep your houseplants on the dry side.
Join The Allergy Group to ask questions and share your ideas
Check out other WEGO Health blog posts about Allergies
Need more Allergy info? Browse all the WEGO Health Allergy Topics
Comment
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Comment by Ellen S on June 17, 2009 at 12:20pm -
Terrific list Amanda! Most of these things cause issues with Migraineurs too, triggering the attacks we try so hard to avoid.
I'd like to offer one tip if I might - Christmas trees do harbor mold, fungus, all kinds of things we'd rather not think about, but a plastic tree introduces multiple chemicals into the air as well. Our family was much more sensitive to those allergens than a FRESH, real tree. We found that either adding bleach to the water of a real tree, or half a mini chlorine tablet used for pools, or a tiny chunk of the larger tablets sold to keep toilets sparkling, keeps the growth of mold, algea, etc to a minimum. If you're not able to cut your own tree, you can still bathe a purchased tree in chlorine water by setting it up in the garage, base in a bucket of chlorinated water, and spraying it liberally with a pump sprayer (available at any department store during summer months) and letting the needles dry overnight. Keeping the tree up for only a week or two (perfect for those with kids as it coincides with vacation time so they can help) is also helpful, but as an ex-emergency dispatcher, I beg families not to starve their trees of water as this is a serious fire hazard that costs people's lives every single year.
This was taken locally by a firefighter pal.
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Comment by Sarah on June 16, 2009 at 10:46pm - I had NO idea about the lemons/limes thing. Really crazy to think that it could bother me, but it is also understandable. I think I had heard most of the rest of these allergens, but it's nice to be reminded that even the everyday things in my life may be making me more stuffed up than I need to be!
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