Winter allergies....they're not just a seasonal thing for our family

Some of you are lucky and may only have allergies in the spring or summer, when everything is blooming. Hubby and I and all three teenagers have allergies year round. Sigh.

What do winter allergies look like? This is from WebMD's website,  "Winter Allergies":

Allergy symptoms caused by dust, pollen, or mold include:

• Coughing
• Dark circles under the eyes
• Itchy eyes and nose
• Runny nose
• Sneezing
• Watery eyes

 The difference between allergies and a cold can be how long it lasts. For a cold, you usually suffer for a week or so (and go through LOTS of boxes of tissues!) For allergies, the symptoms can last for weeks or even months! Sometimes with a cold or flu, you may also get a fever and/or achy body.

 

WebMD recommends a few tips to reduce allergens in your home in winter:

 

• Wash bedding in hot water every week. (my teenagers should be reading this.....) It also helps to use allergy covers on the pillow and mattress  
• If you have any carpet, shower curtains or wall paper that have mold, throw them out!!! WebMD suggest cleaning showers and sinks with detergent and 5% bleach. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has a webpage about mold and recommends NOT using bleach, but using a detergent and water to clean. (Sometimes people think that if a LITTLE bit of bleach works well, a LOT of bleach will work EVEN BETTER!!!!)  You can have too much of a good thing....it could even trigger an asthma attack
• Use a HEPA filter to clean the air 
• If you live in an area with high humidity, use a de-humidifier to lower the moisture level
• Keep furry pets out of bedrooms (yes, I know it's hard when they look at you with those big brown eyes that seem to say "Your bed looks REALLY soft....wish I could lay on it)

I hope this helps. When you have allergies year round, you have to know what bothers you, and how to take care of it. I spend A LOT of time cleaning. But I know that if I don't, I wake up with puffy eyes, sneezing, and a stuffy nose. And that leads to a cranky start to my day.

And what's the old saying? If mom is happy, the WHOLE family is happy.....