Indoor allergies are a form of allergy that is usually triggered by something or a mixture of things, or irritants within your home environment. It has many different names but experts tend to call it perennial allergic rhinitis and the main symptoms are irritation of the eyes, nose and throat and certain skin complaints such as excessive itching. Many people who suffer from indoor allergies also find that they get frequent headaches and have trouble with their breathing.

If you do not suffer from indoor allergies you might find it hard to believe that others can be so dramatically affected by irritants indoors but it is a very real problem that can cause people many difficulties in their day to day lives. Causes of indoor allergies include: dust mites, pet dander, tobacco smoke, household chemicals, cockroach droppings, pollen and mold spores.

Indoor allergies occur when allergens such as those mentioned above come into contact with someone who has allergies, this causes their body to create immunoglobulin which is an antibody. This in turn, then makes the body produce white cells which contain histamine and this is what causes severe symptoms in some people.

If you think that you might be suffering from indoor allergies you can go to your doctor and get tested for them. Such a test is simple enough and it involves either skin prick tests or blood tests. With skin prick tests an area on the inside of the arm is marked with a grid and different allergens are put into the various spaces. If the skin becomes red and itchy (usually within moments) you suffer from indoor allergies. Blood tests involve seeing the reaction your sample of blood gives when you are exposed to certain irritants. Both tests can provide accurate results and help you to eliminate sources of allergies from your home.

There are various ways in which you can rid your home of allergy triggers and the majority of them are relatively cheap and easy to implement. Firstly you should do all you can to keep your house clean and free of dust, buying a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter can greatly improve your air quality by removing dust mites, pet dander, pollen and other tiny particles of irritants from your carpets and upholstery. Secondly it pays to invest in an air conditioner with a HEPA filter if you don't already have one. If you do have an air conditioner already replace the filters with HEPA ones. This will cleanse the air and make it fresher and free from allergy inducing pollutants. HEPA filters will catch even the smallest particles that are floating in the air and after a few days of using one in your air conditioner you will notice the difference.

If you would like more information on keeping the air in your home fresh and pleasant to breathe contact your local HVAC professionals who are experts in ventilation systems and can help you to rid your house of pollutants.