How to deal with winter allergies
While winter is the time for you to get your snowboards out, it is also the time for some when symptoms of allergies flare up. The cold weather brings in its wake the allergies caused due to mold, pet dander, and dust. While these allergens can be found all through the year, in winters, the allergies are compounded, owing to the fact that people spend a lot of time indoors to beat the chilly weather.
Common causes of winter allergies
Pollutants that exist indoors
The doors and windows are sealed during cold weathers. Due to this, ventilation is majorly hampered and pollutants such as carbon soot from the fireplace accumulate indoors and can trigger or cause allergies.
The festivities
Winters herald Christmas festivities. Christmas trees contain mold spores and long exposure while decorating can trigger an allergy flare up. Moreover, with a good number of friends and family members visiting, there is a chance that multiple fragrances can cause an irritation and, hence, trigger an allergy.
Staying indoors for long
With the cold forcing you to stay indoors, your exposure to allergens inside your home, such as dust and mold, increases. Further, there is always a possibility of mold growth on wet wood. All these can aggravate your allergies. Moreover, your pets too spend a lot of time indoors. Therefore, you get exposed to more of their pet dander.
Symptoms
Coughing, sneezing, itchy eyes, headache, congestion, and fatigue are the commonly experienced symptoms that suggest that you are suffering from an allergy. Winter is the most dreaded time of the year for asthmatics. The dry and cold air can cause wheezing, shortness of breath, and severe coughing.
If you are not sure whether you are a bit under the weather due to the chill or are suffering from an allergy, just wait for a few days. If the symptoms do not relieve themselves, e.g., common cold subsides in about seven days, then it is best to consult a doctor and identify the cause of the allergy.
Treatment Options
A visit to the allergist will help you identify the allergen that you are sensitive to. Once that is identified, you can reduce the exposure to those allergens and prevent an allergy flare up.
Over-the-counter medications also help in relieving the symptoms of various allergies. A combination of antihistamine and decongestant will provide relief. While a decongestant clears up the chest and a stuffy nose, antihistamines work toward decreasing allergy symptoms such as sneezing and itching.
In case of allergies like asthma that can get more pronounced during winters, prescription medicines such as bronchodilators and steroids are used. Steroids help in reducing inflammation that is caused by allergic reaction. The airways can also get blocked. Bronchodilators clear up the airways and reduce wheezing.
Identify the allergy causing triggers, avoid their exposure, and enjoy the winter snowboarding.
