Do you think the sharpness of allergies stings more than usual? Symptoms of winter allergies are nothing more than typical seasonal allergy symptoms. Unfortunately, you make yourself susceptible to allergies in winter because you try to avoid the colder and harsher outdoor weather and decide to spend time indoors, increasing your exposure to indoor allergens.
Some of the typical indoor allergens triggering seasonal allergies in winter include dust mites, pet dander, airborne dust particles, mold, and cockroach droppings.
The optimal way to relieve allergies during winter is to adopt preventive measures. However, if your allergy symptoms have worsened, you can get relief for the problem from facilities open throughout the day and night to help you.
If you wish to learn more about which allergens you must watch out for, the symptoms you might experience, how to treat or prevent allergy symptoms or tell the difference between winter allergies or colds, please continue reading for more information.
Indoor Allergens
There are many types of indoor allergens triggering allergies in December. In addition, the weather during December is damp, making you spend more time indoors, fearing poor weather.
Below is a list of common indoor allergens you must watch out for if you are allergic to cold weather and prefer staying home during the winter. The indoor allergens you must look out for include:
- Dust mites are found on bedding, furniture, and carpets. Dust mites prefer living in warm and damp environments and dead dust mites with their poop mix with household dust. Unwashed bedding and indoor heat worsen the presence of dust mites.
- Pet dander is found on indoor surfaces such as beds, carpets, and upholstery. Pet dander from household pets like cats and dogs can get into household dust and stick to various surfaces, increasing your chances of exposure to the allergen. In addition, pets spending time indoors in bedrooms and living rooms worsen the condition.
- Mold from dark and moist areas like basements, bathrooms, and under sinks promoted by damp weather is worsened by humidifiers, leaky pipes, and faucets.
- Cockroach droppings are present in dark and moist areas like under sinks, behind appliances, and kitchen cupboards because the damp weather drives cockroaches indoors. Leaving out food or crumbs worsens the situation.
Symptoms of Allergies in Winter
Some typical symptoms of allergies in winter include sneezing, stuffy and runny nose, itchy eyes, throat, and ears, challenges breathing with a clogged nose, skin rashes, sick feeling, dry cough, and mild fever.
You might experience disruptive symptoms if you have severe allergies primarily related to asthma, including chest tightness, wheezing or whistling when breathing, rapid breathing, anxiety, and a feeling of exhaustion.
Allergies or Colds
Allergies and colds have different sources. Viruses are responsible for colds spread by infected people. Allergies result from the release of histamines by the body by creating an inflammatory response to the allergens.
A cold subsides after your body fights the infection. However, allergies occur every time you are exposed to the allergens by breathing them into your respiratory tract, and the symptoms remain until you continue breathing the allergens.
Treatment for Winter Allergies
If you intend to enjoy your time indoors during the wet weather, you must have in-hand treatment for winter allergies to ensure they don’t ruin your time at home. You can consider taking over-the-counter anti-allergens that help relieve symptoms of allergic reactions in winter or use prescription strength nasal sprays against inflammation and a runny nose.
You can also consider getting immunotherapy with allergy shots for severe or chronic allergy symptoms. You can inquire about them with the 24-hour ER or talk to your doctor about getting these shots.
Allergy shots from the emergency room near me function by regularly exposing you to small amounts of allergens to make you immune to them by creating severe symptoms over several years.
Winter allergies are typically the same as seasonal allergies, as their symptoms reveal. You can take allergy medication to clean out your nose and sinuses or take preventive measures that help reduce the symptoms making it easier for you to spend time at home during winter. However, please do not waver to see your doctor or Express ERs if your symptoms don’t subside or worsen after a few weeks for relief from the problem during winter.