Are Winter Allergies A Thing

What Are Common Winter Allergies

Dust is everywhere. Dust contains skin flakes and hair from people and pets, tracked-in dirt, clothing fibers, crumbs, and insect parts. Carpets, furniture, window treatments, and bedding are dust catchers. Filters in your HVAC ducts get dirty or clogged, poorly sealed windows allow pollen and dirt in, and vacuuming releases dust into the air.

Dust mites feed on the very things that make up dust, such as skin cells, insect parts and animal dander. They are present in almost every home, lurking in bedding, furniture, and carpets. Their feces contain digestive enzymes that allow them to get energy from their waste, but this enzyme can be a cocktail of allergens for humans.

Mold is also lurking indoors. It thrives in dark, moist places like bathrooms, basements and under sinks. Mold spores float through the air and are found even if conditions arent favorable. In the right conditions, they will grow on fabric, paper, wood, glass, and plastic.

• Extra moisturizing use heavy lotion/oil and wear socks overnight
• Bathe with cooler water avoid stripping skin of natural oils
• Eat healthy fats may improve your skins moisture barrier
• Drink plenty of water for supple skin
• Use a humidifier if dry air is a trigger
• Gently exfoliate feet regularly to rid them of dead skin cells
• Avoid scratching or peeling flaky skin
• Wear comfortable shoes allow feet to breathe

What You Can Do To Prevent Winter Allergies

A big problem with winter allergies is that cold-weather lifestyles can turn a simple allergic reaction into something worse, says Dr. Jones.

People are turning up their heaters, which makes the indoor air even drier, he says, and that leads to dry noses, which increases the incidence of nosebleeds and skin cracking. This, in turn, boosts infection risk when a persons nasal passages are already inflamed from allergies. Dr. Jones recommends using nasal saline rinses to lower the risk of contracting a secondary viral infection.

It may not be possible to get rid of winter allergies entirely, but you can reduce exposure to allergens, at least in your own surroundings. Dr. Jones, Dr. Rank, and other allergy experts offer these tips for minimizing indoor allergen exposure in winter:

If youve done all you can to allergy-proof your home but you still have symptoms, it might not be your fault, Dr. Jones adds. Public areas, such as workplaces, can have the same allergy-inducing conditions as your home: dry air, dust, and dust mites.

In addition, pet owners often get dander on their clothes and unwittingly transport it into public places. The level of cat dander in public places is high enough to trigger an allergy, Dr. Jones says.

Do I Have Winter Allergies Or A Cold

Winter allergies and colds share a number of common symptoms. Colds, however, are caused by viruses and spread through contact with another infected person. Allergies, on the other hand, are triggered by an allergen. Allergy symptoms occur when your body produces an inflammatory response to those allergens, sometimes called a histamine reaction.

Another difference is timing. Colds, for example, end once your body fights off the infection. Allergies, however, can happen anytime youre exposed to allergens, and symptoms will last as long as you are breathing in those allergens.

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How Are Seasonal Allergies Diagnosed

Talk with your doctor if you think your child might have seasonal allergies. The doctor will ask if the same symptoms happen at the same time each year after your child is around an allergen, and do an exam. The doctor may be able to make a diagnosis, or might refer you to an allergy doctor for allergy skin testing or a blood test.

To find which allergens cause a person’s symptoms, allergists usually do skin testing. During skin prick testing, an allergist or nurse puts a tiny bit of a liquid containing an allergen into the skin by making a small scratch or prick on the skin. They usually do skin testing on a person’s forearm or back. The allergist then waits 15 minutes or so to see if a red, raised bump, called a wheal, forms. If it does, there might be an allergy. The allergist uses a ruler to measure the wheal and the redness around it.

Even if a skin test or a blood test shows an allergy, a child must also have symptoms to be diagnosed with an allergy for sure. For example, a child who has a positive test for grass pollen and sneezes a lot while playing in the grass would be considered allergic to grass pollen.

Where Can I Get A Consultation For Winter Allergies

At Lakeside Allergy ENT, we offer our patients of all ages state-of-the-art treatments for a wide variety of ear, nose and throat conditions including allergies, sinusitis, hearing loss, and much more. We offer minimally invasive treatments and have extensive expertise in surgical options when appropriate.

With three conveniently located offices in Wylie, Forney and Rockwall, we strive to deliver compassionate, personalized care to our patients in a caring, comfortable environment. Call us today at 972-771-5443 to make an appointment or visit our website to request an online appointment.

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Talking About The Weather

Whats the spring allergy outlook where you live? Will sudden temperature changes trigger an asthma flare? Weather can play a key role in asthma and allergy symptoms and flu transmission. We partnered with Weather Trends International to provide weather forecasting and analysis for people with asthma and allergies.

Treatment Options For Winter Allergy Symptoms

To treat allergy symptoms, Dr. Jones cautions against older over-the-counter medicines, which, he says, can do more harm than good.

Some of these drugs have too many side effects, he notes, and people dont really understand how to match their symptoms to the product. They just know they feel bad and want to feel better.

For example, some OTC allergy drugs contain decongestants, like pseudoephedrine, which can raise a users heart rate. The active ingredient in the antihistamine Benadryl diphenhydramine causes some tissues to dry out and promotes urinary retention, Dr. Jones says. So people with prostate problems, who may have trouble urinating, find that that condition worsens when they take diphenhydramine.

Dr. Jones says that better options are allergy medications that contain loratadine and cetirizine , two drugs that moved from prescription to OTC status in recent years. Prescription steroid nasal sprays tend to be more effective than antihistamine tablets when used regularly, adds Dr. Rank, though individual responses vary and the two types of drugs are often used in combination.

Talk to your doctor and your pharmacist before taking any over-the-counter medication, to discuss whether its appropriate for your symptoms and potential side effects.

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How Can I Prevent Winter Allergies

• With a little bit of effort, there are a few ways to manage your winter allergies by minimizing your exposure to specific triggers. Here are some things you can do:
• Cover your bedding with special protective casing, including your pillows and mattresses. This will help with dust mites.
• If youre affected by pet allergies, make certain rooms off-limits to your pets.
• Wash your clothes, bedding, and any removable upholstery in hot water. This will reduce dander and dust mite build up.
• Increase indoor moisture by setting up a humidifier in your home. Ideally, to prevent mold growth, indoor relative humidity should be somewhere between 30 and 50 percent.
• Dust and vacuum frequently, including under and behind furniture.
• If you see mold growth, clean with water and 5% bleach solution.
• Put away and seal food, and clean up any crumbs in your kitchen and dining area.

If your winter allergies are intruding on your day-to-day life, if you are wheezing or having trouble breathing, or if allergy treatments arent working, talk with your provider. They can help you devise strategies for avoiding your triggers and managing your symptoms, and can help you figure out which medication is best for you.

Is It Possible To Have Winter Allergies

Do you find yourself suffering from a runny nose, coughing, and sneezing during the winter months? If these symptoms are not caused by a cold or another virus, it is very likely that you are suffering from indoor winter allergies. Winter allergies can cause the same types of symptoms that someone with spring allergies would experience the type of allergen causing the reaction is the difference.

In todays blog post from Allergena, we are going to discuss winter allergies, what causes them, and how you may be able to find relief from these allergies. Continue reading to learn more and if you are searching for relief from winter allergies, its time to try Allergena. This natural allergy remedy can help your body build up a healthy immune response, treating the allergy at its source, rather than just managing the symptoms. Shop Allergena today.

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Why Would Allergies Occur In Winter

There are particular triggers that lurk where we least expect them. During the winter months, we may accidentally bring mold spores inside the home on our shoes. Mold may also hide within firewood that is still slightly damp, sitting on the hearth waiting to be burned. As the weather changes, exposure to two of the most common allergens, dust and pet dander, may increase simply because we spend more time indoors than out. These substances dont just lie low, either, they kick up with air movement and travel through vents to all parts of the home.

Winter Allergies Vs Colds

Cold and winter allergy symptoms can feel very similar, making it difficult to distinguish one from the other.

It is possible to develop allergies at any age or even to become allergic to the same substances in the same house after years of no reaction. The fact that a person has not previously had allergies does not necessarily mean their symptoms are from a cold.

Symptoms that last longer than a few weeks are usually the result of allergies. Symptoms that appear suddenly, after weeks or months in the same home, may be from a cold, especially if a person does not have a history of allergies.

There are some symptoms that can help distinguish allergies from a cold:

• Colds can cause a fever, but airborne allergens will not change a personâs body temperature.
• A cold may cause aches and pains, while allergies typically do not.
• Sore throat is common with colds, but it occurs less frequently with allergies.
• A person with a cold may feel chest pressure. By contrast, only people with asthma who have allergies typically report chest pain.
• Coughs are more common with colds, although they can also occur with allergies.
• Colds go away on their own. Allergies may only self-resolve when the weather changes, and a person spends more time outside.
• Colds typically do not cause itchy rashes or eyes, whereas allergies often do.

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Keep Pets Out Of The Bedroom

If you have pet allergies, think hard about having a pet since it can be challenging to manage pet dander. If you have a pet and winter allergies, keep your pet out of your bedroom to limit your allergy symptoms.

Replacing carpeting with hardwood floors can make pet dander more manageable. Grooming pets frequently can also help. However, you may want to have another person do this task or wear a mask while brushing or bathing your pet.

Treatments For Winter Allergies

The most effective way to treat winter allergy symptoms is to prevent them by avoiding allergens whenever possible. However, avoiding allergens can be challenging, especially when youre allergic to common airborne substances like mold and dust mites. Dr. Qureshi may recommend one or more of the following options to relieve your symptoms:

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Can You Get Allergies In The Winter

If youre a seasonal allergy sufferer, you might feel protected from allergens once the weather turns chilly. After all, theres a lot less pollen in the air. The bad news? Winter allergies also exist and pose real problems for many people. Winter allergies are often perennial allergies,1 meaning they can take hold at any point in the year, rather than being restricted to the spring, summer and fall.

Allergies stemming from cold weather are not triggered by pollen but by culprits such as mold spores, mildew, dust mites and pet dander2.

Remember that colds tend to be more widespread during winter. So, its always worth checking whether youre suffering from a cold or winter allergies before taking any action.

Tips To Manage Winter Allergies

January 17, 2012 December 16, 2021

Check out some common causes of winter allergies and ways to manage them in this Q& A with Dr. Sherwin Gillman

Itchy eyes, runny nose, sneezing can it be allergies? In the winter? Yes.

The sniffles are common during the winter months, and are not always the result of the common cold or flu. Some people who are sensitive to allergy triggers, such as dust mites and mold, can be just as miserable these months as they are in the spring and summer. Check out some common causes of winter allergies and ways to manage them in this Q& A with Dr. Sherwin Gillman, Emeritus Chief, Division of Allergy and Immunology at CHOC.

What causes winter allergies?

In California, because of our temperate climate, we have things in the air year round that patients in areas of the country where there is frost, for example, dont have to contend with. This includes mold spores, dust mites, pollens, and trees. Also, when the weather is damp and cooler, many families with outdoor pets tend to bring them in more, resulting in symptoms for those people who are allergic to animals, such as dogs and cats.

What are the symptoms of winter allergies?How are these symptoms different than cold symptoms?How can I treat my childs winter allergies?

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What Causes Winter Allergies

There is often not one particular answer. Winter allergies tend to flare up when we spend more time inside. What triggers one person might not pose a problem for another.

There are several common allergens found inside our homes, no matter how often you clean. Common indoor allergy triggers include:

• Cockroaches: feces and shells left behind
• Rodents seeking shelter from cold weather bring dander, droppings, urine and parasites that may trigger allergy symptoms

Constant exposure to these allergens causes your body to identify them as invaders. An allergy is an exaggerated response to a substance and is unique to each person. An allergy to dust mites, for instance, tells the immune system to produce antibodies that attach to cellsin the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose, and lungs. As inflammation occurs, there is more mucus, making it harder for the body to rid itself of allergens.

How Can You Tell The Difference Between A Cold And Allergies

This can be hard for parents to decipher. The average child can contract viral colds as often as ten times per year. These infections typically last for a week or two and then go away. But chronic allergy symptoms linger for weeks and often aren’t accompanied by a fever. Exposure to specific triggers such as pollen, pets and dust can often make your child’s symptoms worsen quickly. But allergy symptoms typically fade when the trigger is removed. If your child is constantly being treated with antibiotics without any obvious benefit, it’s important to have them evaluated for allergies.

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Dont Forget Your Flu Shot

Protecting yourself from compound symptoms is one of the most significant things you can do. If your allergies are acting up and you contract the flu or pneumonia too, you could be dealing with some pretty severe respiratory problems.

Your best solution, then, is to see to it that you get your flu shot every year. Naturally, the flu shot doesnt protect you against 100% of the flu strains out there. But some protection is better than no protection. And it will be essential to have this added protection if you have winter allergies. You dont want the flu and allergies at the same time.

Dust Mold Pests And Pet Dander

Common indoor allergens include:

• Dust particles and dust mites: Dry skin and more time inside can lead to more dust, and that leads to more of the mites that feed on dust.
• Mold and mildew: Depending on the climate where you live, mold and mildew may be worse in the winter due to wetter weather.
• Pests, such as cockroaches and mice: Some people are allergic to cockroach shells and feces others may react to dander, urine, feces, and parasites left behind by rodents looking for a warm place to hole up.
• Pet dander: Your pets may spend more time inside when it’s cold, which leads to more dander. Dander is a protein on animal fur and it’s what most people are allergic to rather than the fur itself.

While these allergens may be in your environment year-round, winter can have you sealed inside with them. That could make your symptoms worse.

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What Are The Treatment Options For Winter Allergies

Just like with other times of the year, there are many effective ways to prevent and treat your winter allergies.

Preventative measures include:

• Avoiding allergens: Stay indoors on windy days when the wind is stirring up damp, moldy leaves and plant debris. Mop and sweep your floors often.
• Washing out allergens: Before your symptoms get out of hand, make it a habit to regularly wash your pillows and bedding in hot water to rid them of dust mites and pet dander. Wash your hands frequently and take hot showers to wash away allergens. A showers steam is a bonus for soothing a stuffy nose.
• Using a saline solution: This simple, non-prescription remedy is gaining ground as an effective tool in eliminating allergy symptoms. Pick up a kit at your pharmacy or make your own solution by adding a teaspoon of salt to a cup of sterile water in a squirt bottle. The gentle irrigation of the nasal passages washes away mucus and allergens and can help you breathe easier.
• Staying hydrated: Drink plenty of water and hot tea to stay hydrated to relieve nasal congestion.
• Taking allergy medications: Reduce your symptoms by taking over-the-counter decongestants, antihistamines, and inhaled corticosteroids to alleviate your symptoms. Follow the directions on the package for safe use.