How Your Allergies Can Change in the Winter

While spring and fall are high-allergy seasons for many, as winter approaches and you turn on your furnace, you could be hit with winter allergies. To help head off nasal congestion, itchy, watery eyes, coughing, and other disruptive winter allergy symptoms, schedule a visit with board-certified otolaryngologist Nilesh Patel, MD in Midtown, New York City.  

While spring and fall bring high pollen counts for tree, grass, and ragweed, in winter, allergy triggers are present both indoors and outdoors. Here’s what you should know.  

Winter allergy triggers

Common winter allergy triggers include: 

Dust mites 

You can’t see dust mites because they’re microscopic, but they’re in your home. Dust mites proliferate in warm, non-slick environments like mattresses, bedding, carpets, and drapes. 

Pet dander

In the winter, your pet spends more time indoors, just like you. Your pet also sheds dander — or skin flakes — just as your skin sheds cells. You’re exposed to pet dander all day when you’re at home; dander that doesn’t bother you the rest of the year could bring on allergy symptoms in the winter, when windows are closed. 

Mold 

Mold thrives in cold, damp, basements as well as in warm, humid bathrooms. It can be both an indoor and outdoor allergy trigger in the fall and winter. Decaying leaf piles through the fall and winter, along with damp soil, are a breeding ground for outdoor mold. 

Smoke from wood fires 

Have you invested in a wood-burning or pellet stove to keep your living area warm in the winter? Perhaps you love to sit outside in the fall or winter around a firepit. Smoke from burning wood can trigger allergy symptoms, too. 

Guard against allergy symptoms in the winter 

You can take proactive steps to keep allergy symptoms at bay in the winter. We advise you to: 

Clean your home regularly 

Don’t let dust build up in your home. Dust surfaces with a microfiber cloth to trap the particles, and vacuum your floors thoroughly. Use the vacuum attachment to clean your drapes and upholstery, too. Keep dust mites out of your bedding by investing in a mattress pad. Wash the pad and your bedding with hot water weekly. 

Use a dehumidifier 

You can get room-sized dehumidifiers for your bathrooms and basement, or invest in a whole-house dehumidifier to help prevent mold growth. 

Clean furnace filters and air ducts 

How long has it been since you’ve cleaned the air ducts in your home? Make sure dust hasn’t accumulated over a number of years. Change furnace filters regularly and invest in HEPA filters that help screen out allergens. 

Bathe your pet regularly

Even though your pet is inside more in the winter, regular baths can help keep their dander — and in turn, your allergies — in check. 

Check for mold on firewood

Don’t burn moldy firewood. It releases mold spores. Cover your firewood securely to keep it dry and reduce the likelihood of mold growth. 

Expert allergy care in New York City

You don’t have to suffer from allergies. Medication or allergy shots help you prevent symptoms and regain quality of life — and we’re here to help. Call Nilesh Patel, MD, in Midtown, New York City, today, or request an appointment online at your convenience.