We often think of allergies as an issue for warmer months, but winter allergies can also leave you itchy and sneezy.
“Springtime -- when all of the trees are blooming-- it makes a lot of press, but it's snowing outside and people are miserable,” said Dr. Kathleen Sheerin with Atlanta Allergy and Asthma Clinic.
The culprits are not your typical tree pollens, says Sheerin, but indoor allergens like dust mites and pet dander.
“If you spend more time inside, then you're going to have more exposure to your pets during the winter season,” she said.
But fear not regardless of the trigger, the symptoms and the treatments are still the same.
“You can have itchy eyes, itchy throat, itchy nose, a lot of people do this - we call that the allergic salute. Runny sneezy, congestion , and those are the basic allergy symptoms,” she said.
For dust mites, covering-up is the best plan.
“Covers on the mattress, pillow, boxspring, are available online, in all of the linen type stores, and can really make a difference if you're allergic to the dust mites,” she said. “Washing in hot water also helps.”
For pet allergies, keep pets off the furniture, and wash them often.
And as always, there are medications that can help.
