Wintertime Allergies
Simpan kode iklan disini.
Wintertime usually brings lots of stuffy noses and sneezing, but they might be due to something other than a cold. Allergies can be just as miserable in winter as they are in the spring and summer.
What can cause winter allergies?
Unlike summer allergies, which are caused by pollen and other outdoor triggers, winter allergies are often the result of mold and dust mites within the home. As colder weather drives families inside for longer periods of time, winter allergies can flare up.
Additionally, winter holidays often mean eating meals prepared by friends and relatives and tasting unfamiliar foods at holiday parties. Food allergies can flare-up in some people when these meals contain eggs, milk, nuts, wheat and other ingredients known to cause reactions.
How can you treat winter allergies?
The number one way to treat allergies is to avoid whatever causes your reaction, whether it?s food, mold, animal hair, dust mites or perfume. Consider these tips as ways to combat common allergy triggers:
- Frequently bathe pets to remove excess fur and don?t let them sleep in the bedroom.
- Remove shower curtains, carpeting, towels and other items in your home that may contain mold. Clean other moldy areas ? such as showers and sinks ? with a diluted bleach solution.
- Wash all bedding weekly and use allergy-proof covers on mattresses, pillows and comforters.
- Use a dehumidifier to keep the humidity in your home below 50 percent. This will control the population of dust mites and keep mold count down.
- As you start decorating for Christmas, consider an artificial tree rather than a real one, which can bring mold into your home. Additionally, clean off dusty decorations before placing them out in your home.
- Take your own pillow when travelling to visit friends and relatives.
- Let the host of a party you attend know of your allergy. He/she can either prepare foods without trigger ingredients or direct you to foods that don?t have them included.
Your Provider at The Little Clinic can also suggest over-the-counter and prescription allergy medications to help with any winter allergy flare-ups.
Cold or allergy?
How can you tell what?s causing the sniffles and sneezes? A cold usually lasts fewer than 10 days, so if your symptoms persist for more than two weeks, you?re most likely dealing with an allergy. Your allergy will last as long as you are in contact with the trigger, so consider taking some of the steps above to eliminate it from your home or work environment.
Simpan kode iklan disini.
Bagikan ke Facebook