• Skip to content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Shop ModernMom
  • Become An Insider

ModernMom

The premiere destination for moms

  • Parenting
    • Pregnancy
    • Baby
    • Kids
    • Tweens and Teens
    • ModernMom Monday Videos
  • Cooking
  • Living Healthy
    • Breast Cancer
    • Health & Fitness
    • Body after Baby
    • Beauty
    • Relationships
    • Love
  • Lifestyle
    • Crafts
    • At Home
    • Education
    • Travel
    • Pets
    • Decorate
    • Money
    • Brooke Burke
  • Celebrate
    • Holidays
      • Easter
      • Valentine’s Day
      • New Year’s
      • Christmas
      • Hanukah
      • Halloween
      • Thanksgiving
    • Birthdays
    • Parties
  • Must Have
  • Contests
  • Entertainment

Common Winter Allergies

November 22, 2018 by Guest Writer Leave a Comment

The common cold often strikes in winter. Before you reach for the cold medicine, you might want to consider whether your runny nose, scratchy throat and watery eyes might be symptoms of winter allergies. While spring and fall months often bring an increase in allergy symptoms for people with pollen allergies, symptoms may be worse during the winter for those with other allergies.

Common Allergens

Several allergens can cause allergies during winter. Common culprits include pets, mildew, mold and dust mites. When the weather turns cold, people and pets begin to stay inside more often. This can increase the amount of pet dander in your house. Turning on the heater can cause mildew and mold to circulate through the air vents. Dust mites, which are tiny bugs, feed on particles, such as human and pet dander. They can also increase in the winter.

Year Round or Seasonal

Depending on the type of allergies you have, you may suffer from them year round. It can be common for a person to have allergic reactions to both indoor and outdoor allergens. If you suffer from winter allergies, you should notice a common pattern from one year to the next. The time frame for winter allergies can vary from one client to another, with the season lasting longer in places with extended cold months.

Symptoms

The similarities between colds and winter allergy symptoms can make it difficult to tell one issue from the other. Both cause fatigue, headaches and congestion. When you have a cold, the symptoms often occur individually. Winter allergies combine multiple symptoms, adding to your discomfort. The time frame can also help you identify whether you have winter allergies or a cold. Symptoms related to a cold last a week to 10 days. Allergies can hold on as long as something triggers an allergic reaction. Fevers most often accompany colds, not allergies.

Prevention/Solution

If you have severe allergy symptoms, you may want to ask your doctor for a prescription to help relieve them. You can reduce the amount of pet dander in your house by vacuuming once a week. For the best results, use a vacuum with a HEPA filter. Wash your bedding, including any stuffed animals your children sleep with, on a regular basis to help control dust mites. Invest in a good air purifier. Exchange real houseplants with fake ones to reduce decaying leaves, which can generate mold.

Misconceptions

If you suffer from allergies, you might think you have a weak immune system. This is a common misconception. Allergies are actually a result of your body performing its job to protect your body, according to Dr. Stephen Canfield, a Columbia University allergist. When your body encounters an allergen, it produces histamine to help get rid of the allergen. Annoying symptoms, like watery eyes and runny noses, are defense mechanisms designed to clear your body of the allergens.

Comments

comments

Filed Under: Living Healthy

About Guest Writer

Guest posts are written by moms, dads, experts, novices, freelancers, and people just like you. We love to hear new voices because we all have something to say...

Reader Interactions

Primary Sidebar

Tell a friend

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Search

ModernMom Boutique

ModernMom TV

Featured

Nursing Mothers Granted Tax Break

Great news! Nursing moms are getting a new tax break from … [Read More...] about Nursing Mothers Granted Tax Break

Must Have

winter

Pre-Holiday Must-Haves

"It's beginning to look  a lot like Christmas..." The … [Read More...] about Pre-Holiday Must-Haves

Did you know?

Baby Hair Growth

Baby Hair Growth

how to find out your pregnancy due date

How to Find Out Your Pregnancy Due Date

pregnancy & tooth pain

Pregnancy & Tooth Pain

How Long Can Cupcakes Be Stored After Baking

How Long Can Cupcakes Be Stored After Baking?

Signs of Water Breaking in Pregnancy

Signs of Water Breaking in Pregnancy

Juice Vs. Concentrate

Juice Vs. Concentrate

Bake Frozen and Pre-Breaded Chicken

How to Bake Frozen and Pre-Breaded Chicken

Footer

  • About Us
  • Contact ModernMom
  • Advertise With Us
  • Press
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Contributors

Copyright © 2021 Modern Mom. All Rights Reserved.

Reproduction of any portion of this website only at the express permission of Mom, Inc.

The information provided on ModernMom is for educational use only. It should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.