Managing Your Indoor Allergies: What You Should Know

As an allergy sufferer, you often wonder why most people assume that when winter hits that all of your allergy symptoms will go away. These people are under the misconception that outdoor allergens are the only allergy-causing culprits and that winter offers you relief from those troubles.

However, this is not the case in spite of those popular misconceptions. When you are dealing with your indoor allergies this winter, you may be looking for ways to help ease your symptoms and improve your overall sense of well-being. Luckily, there are several things you can do to help you manage your indoor allergy symptoms. All you need to do is learn those options available to you and get started right away.

Do Not Let Your Air Get Too Dry

In spite of the snow and ice that falls in the winter, it is actually an extremely dry season. The air outside is cold, harsh, and devoid of humidity. This is the same air that gets warmed and recirculated into your home by your furnace.

Unfortunately, this dry air can cause skin and lung irritation that contributes to and worsens your allergy symptoms. To combat this, you should invest in a humidifier or two for your home.

You fill these devices with water and they in turn generate steam that is released into the air. This steam is what adds moisture to the air which cuts down on your skin and breathing irritation in the winter. 

Keep Pets Bathed and Groomed

As an allergy sufferer, your doctor likely has already advised you to avoid keeping pets in your home. However, if you are an animal lover, you probably have pets anyway. 

When winter hits, you and your pets will be spending a lot more time isolated inside together. After all, the extremely cold temperatures are no better for them than they are for you. As such, however, you will be exposed to those pesky pet dander allergens more than any other time of year.

To help you deal with this issue, you will want to regularly bathe and groom your pets. This will remove excess skin, fur, and dander from your pet—and thus your home—easing your symptoms. 

You will also want to increase the frequency that you vacuum and sweep your floors. This will also help remove those pet allergens from your home too.

Use Allergen-Proof Bedding Products

Your bedroom is your sanctuary, especially in the cold winter months. Nothing feels better than curling up under your nice warm blankets on a cold winter night. However, your indoor allergies may disagree. 

Dust mites are the most common cause of indoor allergy symptoms, and are found most often in bedding such as mattresses and pillows. To help you better deal with dust mites, you should invest in allergen-proof bedding products. 

These include mattress covers and pillow covers that trap dust mites inside the covers, preventing them from affecting you and your allergies. To even further combat your dust mite problems, be sure to wash your bedding at least once a week. Use hot water when you wash your bedding and dry on high heat as well to kill off any dust mites in your sheets and pillowcases.

If you follow these simple tips to help manage your indoor allergies this winter, you will get through the cold season better than ever. While indoor allergies can be troublesome, they do not have to completely overtake your life if you know how to properly manage them. You can also visit an allergy specialist, like Boise Valley Asthma & Allergy Clinic, for more tips on allergy-proofing your home this winter.