Today, we would never think of regularly taking our mattresses outside to air in the sunshine and give them a good beating to shake out the bugs. But that used to be the standard practice. It would be interesting to know if people suffered less from allergies then than now.

Today, most people with asthma or hay fever or other outdoor allergies think of their home as a haven where they can escape their allergies. Unfortunately, houses and apartment buildings have their own allergens (agents that cause allergy symptoms). The inside of our home actually traps allergens, making them impossible to avoid.

Unlike seasonal allergies, indoor allergies may last all year long and can provoke or worsen asthma and other symptoms, depending on a person’s unique sensitivities. Although many allergens in your home can trigger allergic symptoms, house dust is usually the main culprit.

Some dust is present in every home, regardless of how often or thoroughly the house is cleaned. House dust is an airborne mixture that might contain fine particles of soil and plant material from indoors or outdoors, particles of human and animal skin (dander) and hair, fabric fibers, mold spores, dust mites and their waste, fragments of insects that have died and their waste, food particles, and other debris.

Symptoms of indoor allergies include shortness of breath, wheezing, itchy eyes, nose, watery eyes, eczema, headaches, recurring fatigue and depression. If you are sensitive to indoor allergens, you will continue to have symptoms as long as you are exposed to them.

Sensitivity to indoor allergens is, unfortunately, common now and can occur at any age. Click here for some tips that can help alleviate your symptoms.