ENT Tips for Allergy-Proofing Your Home for Fall and Winter

‍

Seasonal transitions make the air colder, making people look forward to the festive holiday season even more. This is an exciting time for most people as they get their fall and winter coats out of boxes and into their closets. However, allergy sufferers will have to worry about one more thing: dealing with annoying and often painful allergy symptoms.

‍

Common allergy symptoms typically include frequent sneezing, nasal congestion, runny nose, itchy and watery eyes, headaches, and a general feeling of sickness and tiredness. When you begin experiencing these symptoms as you transition to fall or winter, it might be an indication that you suffer from seasonal allergies.

‍

Fall and Winter Allergies

The main culprit of fall allergies is ragweed pollen. Ragweed is grown throughout the United States and typically releases pollen from August through November. Ragweed reaches its peak pollen count in early to mid-September.

‍

Another common source of fall allergies is mold due to rotting leaves. Mold releases spores that travel for miles through the air. This increases mold reproduction in other areas and makes it easy for allergy sufferers to unknowingly inhale them.

‍

Most people believe that winter offers a reprieve from seasonal allergies.

‍

This is still true in the sense that yes, pollen allergies usually stop in winter as plant life and vegetation halts. However, because most people are likely to spend more time inside their homes, indoor allergens become more prevalent.

‍

Common indoor allergens in the winter season include dust, dust mites, mold, pet dander, and cockroaches. Most homeowners will take extra steps to keep their homes warm and toasty all through winter and this includes keeping their homes tightly shut to prevent drafts. While this is good for saving on energy bills, it also means you will be stuck inside with a variety of indoor allergens.

‍

It’s also important to keep in mind that the winter’s dry air can further exacerbate sinus issues.

Allergy-Proofing Your Home for Fall and Winter

Lucky for you, there are a variety of ways you can allergy-proof your home this fall and winter season:

1. Keep allergens out of your home by keeping the windows to your home closed.
2. Regularly clean your home. Vacuum regularly to clean dust, dirt, and pet dander. Use a wet towel to dust your home as this prevents stirring up dust that can easily be inhaled and cause allergies.
3. Always use protective clothing, masks, and eyewear when cleaning, dusting, and vacuuming around your home.
4. Clean, wash, and change your bedding regularly.
5. It would be better to use an air-conditioner instead of a fan as fans can stir up dust and allergens that can make symptoms work.
6. Monitor indoor humidity levels in your house. Maintain a humidity level of 30% to 50% to prevent mold growth and infestation. If the air feels too moist, use a dehumidifier. Dry air isn’t good for your sinuses as well as your sinuses can easily become irritated and inflamed. If the air feels too dry, use a humidifier instead.
7. When your pets are spending more time indoors, keep them out of your home and off of your furniture to prevent the spread of pet dander.
8. Once you get home from being outdoors, immediately change out of your clothes and get in the shower to get rid of any allergens you might have picked up from outside.

Let Richmond Breathe Free Help With Fall and Winter Allergies

Seasonal allergies don’t need emergency medical attention. However, you might want to consider seeing your physician if your symptoms seem to be persisting longer, getting worse, or your allergy medication stopped working.

‍

At Richmond Breathe Free, we pride ourselves on helping our patients achieve relief from seasonal allergy symptoms. Schedule an appointment with our team of experts today and let’s see how we can help!

‍