Are Dust Mites Causing my Allergies?

Dust mites are pesky things. They’re too small to be seen without a microscope, but they can ruin someone’s day if they are allergic to them! They eat the skin cells humans shed and thrive in warm, humid environments. In your home, they’re most likely to be in bedding and upholstered furniture. A dust mite allergy is an allergic reaction to these tiny bugs that live in house dust. Some who experience this allergy also experience signs of asthma such as wheezing and difficulty breathing.

Symptoms

A dust mite allergy tends to cause inflammation in your nasal passages. These are some of the symptoms associated with this condition:

• Sneezing
• Runny nose
• Itchy, red, or watery eyes
• Nasal congestion
• Itchy nose, roof of the mouth, or throat
• Postnasal drip
• Cough
• Facial pressure and pain
• Swollen under-eyes with blue-colored skin
• Frequent upward rubbing of the nose for children

If you deal with asthma in relation to your dust mite allergy, additional symptoms might arise. Some include difficulty breathing or chest pain and tightness. Wheezing or whistling when you exhale is common, along with trouble sleeping due to coughing or shortness of breath.

The condition can range from mild to severe. Mild cases typically involve the occasional runny nose, watery eyes, and sneezing. Severe cases mean the condition is chronic and involves constant sneezing, coughing, congestion, facial pressure, or severe asthma attacks.

Risk Factors

Some people are more at risk for having or developing a dust mite allergy. Those at risk are as follows:

• Family history – You are more at risk of developing an allergy to dust mites if several people in your family struggle with the allergy as well.
• Exposure – Being exposed to high levels of dust mites, especially at a younger age, makes you more at risk of developing this allergy.
• Children or young adults – A dust mite allergy is more likely to develop during childhood or early adulthood.

Complications

There are minimal complications that come with a dust mite allergy, but it’s important to know the complications that exist and might arise.

• Sinus infections – with a chronic dust mite allergy, the constant inflammation of your nasal passages can obstruct your sinuses. This inflammation puts you at more significant risk of developing sinus infections.
• Asthma – as we’ve mentioned, asthma adds some complications to a dust mite allergy. People with both conditions usually have trouble controlling their asthma symptoms. This pairing puts those people at more risk for asthma attacks that require medical treatment or emergency care.

If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms and believe you may have a dust mite allergy, call East Texas Sinus and Dizziness Center in Longview, TX! Those with asthma who also suspect they may have this allergy should contact us as well. We want to get your symptoms and allergies under control as soon as possible. Relief is possible; call us today!