Are you wondering why your allergies get worse when you’re inside your room and get better when you’re outdoors? There are so many reasons for this phenomenon and we’ll dig them all out one after the other. But, before we do, have you heard of the safe home myth? This myth states that most homeowners assume that staying indoors is the safest option when it comes to being exposed to or affected by allergens. But this is not true. Although it may sound logical to close windows, shut doors and stay put so that one doesn’t get exposed to allergies like pollen, dust from the street and every other thing floating in the air, but in reality, the reverse is the case.
When you lock yourself indoors, you’re not actually blocking allergens from entering, instead, you’re sealing and trapping them inside your house and overtime, they’ll grow or multiply and start doing what they know how to do best. One strange thing about allergens that are indoor is that you’ll never notice them. Meaning, you might be sitting right in their middle and never know. So while you think everywhere is clean and clear from allergies, they’re there waiting for the perfect conditions to grow. And the funny aspect is that most activities you’ll carry out indoors will encourage their growth without you knowing- from your breathing throughout the night to cooking and bathing. So in the end, the real discussion shouldn’t be whether allergens exist indoors, it should be about how they behave when they’re inside your home and how your house interior environment either dilutes them or allows them to build up. The moment you start looking at the whole indoor vs outdoor allergy puzzle from this perspective, it’ll start making a lot more sense and even become easier to understand.
What Actually Causes Allergy Symptoms?
Your Body Reaction: When a person is said to have allergies, it means the person’s body is reacting to something and the product of this reaction or way in which the body reacts is what we call the symptoms. Allergy symptoms like sneezing, coughing and itchiness are sometimes predictable but one thing you should know is that they do not happen by chance. For instance, when someone starts sneezing, it means that the person’s immune system has spotted something that it feels shouldn’t be there.
Generally, things like pet dander and mold spores are seen as not directly harmful because they are not bacteria or viruses that cause infection in healthy individuals, however, for people who are very sensitive or asthmatic, their body sees and treats these substances as a threat. So, the body responds by releasing histamine and inflammation begins. You may notice that the lining of your nose is swelling, more mucus is being produced or your eyes are becoming watery. What you experience as difficulty breathing, sneezing and other irritations are actually your body trying its best to protect you.
Now, let’s come to the part that is usually overlooked. Many people do not know that it’s not just about the presence of these allergens but also about the amount of allergen they’re exposed to. If you’re exposed to a tiny amount of allergen, your body might not trigger much response, but, as you become exposed to more allergens your body reactions become stronger and harder to ignore. This is why it’s possible for symptoms to be mild in one moment and overwhelming the next minute even though you’re still in the same environment. The message we’re getting from this is that the human body doesn’t just react randomly, it reacts to the proportion of exposure.
Why Exposure Level Matters More Than Location
Most homeowners believe that if they go outside they’ll automatically become exposed to more pollen and if they stay indoors they’re safer, but the human body doesn’t think in those terms, instead, it responds to concentration rather than location. When you’re outdoors, you’ll notice that particles are moving around so fast and they’re constantly being diluted by air in the open space. So even if allergens are present outdoors, they’ll not circulate in one place which means that the concentration of allergens you’re exposed to will be lower.
But when you’re indoors, it’s a different story entirely. The allergens that entered the house from the outdoors or originate inside usually don’t have anywhere to go so they settle on surfaces like carpets and beddings. These particles can multiply if they’re living microorganisms like mold and their spores will naturally spread inside the room. Other particles can also be stirred up when you walk around or try to make your bed and because you’re in an enclosed space their concentration can actually build up.
So while the total number of allergen outdoors might be higher on paper, the amount (concentration) that gets to your respiratory system is lesser because it has been diluted by air in the open space. On the other hand, there’s a tendency for more allergens to get to your nose when you’re in a confined space.
The Allergens Hiding in Your Home
Mold Spores: One of the most common allergens in homes is mold spore. Mold is a microorganism (fungi) that is known to show dark spots or other colored patches in places where it grows but you have to realize that it doesn’t always announce itself. Sometimes, mold growth starts quietly when it feeds on moisture in the air while at other times it just settles on cold surfaces where it can get all that it needs. Some of the starting points or surfaces where mold grows in a house are bathrooms, kitchens, wooden window frame and any poorly ventilated corner. When mold is in a suitable environment, it grows and it releases spores into the air during its growth process. Mold spores are usually lightweight and can be easily inhaled. If you’re someone that is very sensitive to mold spores even the smallest amount can trigger serious symptoms.
Dust Mites: Dust mites are another common allergy trigger that can be found inside a house and they’re one of the least visible allergens. They’re so small that you won’t even know that they’re present but as small as they may be, they always find a way to thrive in places that you interact with daily like your mattresses, pillows, sofas, curtains and even carpets. These microscopic creatures live in nearly every household and they feed on human skin cells that have been shed off and during the process of feeding they produce waste products that can easily become airborne. Dust mites are not parasites and they do not bite or sting… So how are they now responsible for the allergic reactions? It’s simple, the allergy is usually caused by an enzyme that is found in the feces or decaying bodies of the dust mites. These allergens can become airborne when you’re walking around the house or when you are cleaning your beddings, pillows and other fabrics or upholstery in the houses. Since they’re found in places you interact with most, it becomes clear that there’s a high possibility of coming in contact with them repeatedly and so you would expect allergic symptoms to also be triggered frequently.
Pet Dander: Many homeowners usually associate pet allergies with direct contact with the pet but pet dander doesn’t work that way. Pet dander are very tiny and incredibly light skin flakes that are shed off by animals that have furs or feathers. These microscopic particles can settle on fabrics or even cling to surfaces long after the pet that shed it has left the room or entire house. One of the common myths about pet dander is that people react to the furs or dander they’re exposed to but that’s not true. It is not the animal hair that is causing the allergies, instead, it is protein found in the animal’s dander that sticks to their fur that is responsible for triggering the allergy. Pet dander can hide in your upholstery, beddings and carpets for a very long time and continue to trigger symptoms without any obvious source nearby.
Other Indoor Pollutants: Apart from allergens from biological sources in a house, there are several other nonbiological materials that can cause allergic reactions in inhabitants. Different activities and materials brought into a house can introduce a range of particles into the air. Let’s start with one of the everyday activities which is cooking. When you’re making use of your kitchen, it is possible for grease and other combustion byproducts to be released into the air. Some people are highly allergic to smoke or intense aroma from cooking and this can trigger a non immune sensitivity reaction. Other activities like cleaning with sprays can add chemical residues that someone is allergic to.
When you’re indoors, allergy can come from accumulation from many small contributors and when they build up to a certain point your body notices and that’s when the symptoms set in. And like we’ve pointed earlier, the concentration of these allergens and the constant exposure to the particles makes indoor allergy more complicated than outdoor exposure.
Why People Feel Better Outdoor Even During Allergy Season
Fresh Air Dilutes Everything: One of the reasons people feel better when they go outside is because there’s enough air outdoors to dilute the allergens. If you have a runny nose or difficulty breathing as soon as you step out of your house there’s a high possibility that you’ll feel an almost instant relief. It may not come all at once but it’s always noticeable. You’ll notice that the air feels lighter and you’re finding it easier to breathe in and out. Although the symptoms may not disappear completely, you’ll still see signs of it easing off gradually. This noticeable relief can be attributed to dilution of allergens by the surplus air outdoors.
When you’re outdoors there’s more space so even though allergens like pollen, dust or other particles are present they’re usually spread over a much larger area. So the amount of allergen that actually enters your body is minimal. But when you’re indoors and exposed to the same volume of particles, your body feels the difference because the allergens have nowhere to go and they’re often closer to each other.
Airflow Constantly Reset the Environment: Air is never still outside. There’s always a continuous reset of air that you’re exposed to. Most allergens do not get the chance to settle on surfaces and then get stirred up back again in the same space, instead, they’re carried away and dispersed somewhere else and then replaced with fresher air.
When you’re indoors, the reverse is the case because reset doesn’t happen naturally. Lack of proper ventilation makes whatever is in the air to stay there and circulate within the same area. So instead of being cleared out what you get is accumulation of allergens.
Less Contact With Concentration Sources: Another reason why people feel better when they step out is because there’s lesser concentration of allergens outside. Although it’s possible to be exposed to a high concentration of allergens outside, however, this is usually in very rare cases like when you’re pulling weeds, mowing the lawn or raking leaves and this high exposure is only for a very short period while the activity is still ongoing. As soon as you’re done with the activity, the exposure reduces drastically whether or not its allergy season.
When you get back inside, you’re surrounded by surfaces like carpets, mattresses, curtains and sofas that act like a reservoir for storing allergens. These materials hold onto allergens and release them back into the air when they’re disturbed. Since you’re in constant close contact with these surfaces, you’ll continuously be exposed to the stored allergens.
Why Allergies Are Often Worse In Bedrooms
People Spend More Time Breathing Same Air in the Bedroom: There are so many reasons why allergies are worse in bedrooms and the topmost reason is because people generally spend more time in the bedroom than in other rooms in a house. During the day, you might move around the house or step outside for some time, so the air you breathe in varies. But when the nights come, activities slow down and when it’s time to sleep, you’d have to lay on one spot which is your bed until it is morning. This means you’re exposed to allergens for a long time, even if the allergen is present in moderate amounts. By the time you wake up in the morning, your respiratory system must have been exposed to the allergens for between 6-8 hours and what you’ll see is the resulting symptoms.
Beddings Hold More Than You Can Imagine: In every home, the bedroom has the most conducive environment for allergens to hide or grow. For instance, dust mites and other microscopic allergens can hide in pillows, duvets, bedsheets and even in mattresses. These materials are soft and comfortable and there’s no way you’ll be in your bedroom without constantly coming in contact with them. In fact, you’ll have to use them every night which means they’ll constantly be disturbed and you’ll always be re-exposed. So even if the rest of your room is clean the immediate space surrounding you as you sleep is most likely highly concentrated with allergens.
Closed Windows and Overnight Condition: Unlike other rooms in a house, the bedroom is usually closed for most part of the day. During colder months, many homeowners shut all their windows, especially the bedroom windows and even when it’s not cold, some people still leave it shut for warmth and privacy reasons; the same goes for the doors in their bedroom. Shutting the windows and doors makes ventilation minimal, meaning whatever air was present in the room when you enter would either be the same when you sleep overnight and wake up in the morning or this same air might have gathered moisture from your breathing overnight. So you’re no longer going to wake up with the same air, instead, you’ll wake up with slightly warmer and more humid air. Humid air equals dampness and dampness encourages mold growth.
Does Opening Windows Help Reduce Allergens?
If you enter a room that is stuffy, one of the first things that come to your mind is to open all the windows. So, does opening the windows help? Yes, it does in most cases. When you open windows, fresh air comes in and stale air goes out and the overall concentration of allergens in the room may drop. But this doesn’t mean that the whole problem has been solved. You could open the windows and there may still be high concentrations of allergens in some parts of the room if; the windows are small or if there’s only one window. One window cannot effectively ventilate a room and the air from a single window may not circulate to hidden spots like behind wardrobes and other furniture. How long you open the windows also matters.
When Opening Windows Become A Problem
There are times when opening windows may allow more allergens to enter your room than they’re leaving. There’s a period called allergy season and this season is known to have high amounts of pollen in outdoor air. If your windows are opened at peak pollen periods, they’ll find their way into your house and settle on fabrics and other surfaces.
Aside from pollen, there are also areas known for high outdoor pollution like smoke and dust. If you live in such a place and you leave your windows open for too long, the ventilation will introduce more allergens instead of reducing it.
It’s important to find a middle ground so that ventilation doesn’t create more problems that it’s solving. If there’s too little air, allergens will build up indoors and if there’s too much uncontrolled air, you might just be introducing new triggers of allergic reactions.
Practical Ways To Reduce Indoor Allergens
Control Moisture: The best place to start allergen reduction in a house is moisture control. Mold and dust mites are the two most common allergens and they both need highly humid environments to function. Even if the entire house or room looks clean, excess moisture in the air can keep allergens concentration on the high side. Reducing moisture content in the circulating air makes the indoor environment less conducive for the allergens and reduces the rate of build up. Some of the practical ways you can reduce moisture include
- Using a dehumidifier.
- Running an air conditioner (AC) during the summer season.
- Tracking the humidity levels with the help of a hygrometer.
- Ensuring adequate ventilation in kitchen and bathroom when using them.
- You can also call a professional if you’ve tried all you could and the humidity issue is not reducing.
Target the Biggest Allergen Sources: There are some specific parts of the indoor environment that are known to house more allergens so they should be your first target. One of the common resting places for allergens is soft surfaces like your mattresses, carpets and upholstery. These materials attract and accumulate allergens and also release them again during daily activities like cleaning or when you’re just moving around. If you focus on these places, it’ll make a huge impact in your allergen alleviation journey.
It’s normal for people to assume that their allergy symptoms are being triggered by factors from the outdoors, but as we’ve seen, it doesn’t always work that way. In fact, the issue is often the other way round. Indoor environments are enclosed spaces and there’s usually minimal circulation of air there when compared to the outdoors. So, no matter the concentration of allergens present outdoors, the conditions outside will minimize their effects. The indoor environment works in the opposite way. The concentration of allergens can spike in the indoors space if you don’t take extra precautionary measures and your body may start to produce histamine or respond with different allergy symptoms.
