### How to Identify Indoor Allergy Triggers You come home after a day away, step into the house, and the symptoms hit: Watery eyes, scratchy throat, congestion. Could it be indoor allergies? Allergies are very common. An estimated 50 million Americans are allergic to everything from dust and dander, to mold and mites. But what about you? How can you be sure you have indoor allergies -- and pinpoint what’s causing them? To help you understand what’s behind your allergy symptoms, here are some tips on how to recognize common allergy triggers and get the right diagnosis. #### Recognizing Indoor Allergy Symptoms Half the battle of treating indoor allergies is recognizing you have them. Allergy symptoms can be hard to pinpoint because they often mimic cold symptoms. Yet there are differences. Typical indoor allergy symptoms include: - Watery eyes - Scratchy throat - Congestion Cold symptoms differ in a few crucial ways, including: - Fever - Body aches #### Common Indoor Allergy Triggers Every home harbors potential allergens, from the rare to the ubiquitous, but these five are the most common triggers for indoor allergies: - Dust mites - Pet dander - Mold - Cockroach droppings - Pollen #### Identifying Your Allergy Triggers Dander, droppings, dust -- if every home has them, how can you narrow down what is triggering your indoor allergies? There are essentially two ways: By trial and error, and through allergy testing. For the trial-and-error approach, searching for patterns is key. Perhaps you visit your sister and their cats every Monday. Before long you notice every Monday that you’re blocked up, blowing your nose, and rubbing your eyes. It doesn’t take long for this flash of insight: You’re allergic to cats. Of course, discovering what’s triggering your indoor allergies isn’t always that easy. Which is why the best way to find out what you’re allergic to is to see an allergist. An allergist can cut through the guessing games with examinations and tests, zeroing in on what’s behind your indoor allergy symptoms. #### Allergy Testing Methods Allergists generally diagnose allergies in three ways: - **Skin tests**: A small amount of a potential allergen is placed on your skin to see if there’s a reaction. - **Patch tests**: The doctor places a potential allergen on your skin, covers it with a bandage, and checks your reaction 48 hours later. - **Blood (RAST) tests**: Used when skin testing isn’t possible. Your allergist will take a blood sample and send it to the lab to see how many antibodies your blood makes to attack the allergen. #### Managing Indoor Allergies Although there isn’t yet a cure for indoor or outdoor allergies, there are ways to manage them once you know your triggers. The three main approaches to treating indoor allergies include: - **Avoidance**: Avoid exposure to as many allergens as possible. For example, ban pets from the bedroom or remove carpets if you have a dust mite allergy. - **Cleaning**: Lower your home’s humidity and minimize contact with allergens. Encase pillows and mattresses in allergen-blocking bedding. - **Medical treatment**: Control indoor allergy symptoms through medication, allergy shots, and home therapies like nasal irrigation. It may take time to discover the allergens that trigger your indoor allergies, but the results are worth the effort. Knowing your triggers is the key to managing -- and even preventing -- indoor allergies symptoms day and night.