Newswise — Most people do not think of winter as allergy season. But for those with household allergies, winter can be the worst time of year, says a Saint Louis University allergist.
"People assume allergists have nothing to do after the first freeze because there's no pollen and no mold," said Raymond G. Slavin, M.D., director of the division of allergy and immunology at Saint Louis University School of Medicine. "They forget about household dust and dust mites. People allergic to dust dread the onset of winter for the simple reason that we spend more time indoors. The windows are down, the furnace is on and dust circulates throughout the house."
While the dust may cause people to sneeze, Slavin said allergies are caused by the microscopic mites that live in the dust. Dust mites are found in all homes and are a major cause of household allergies.
"Dust mites are in heaven in winter," Slavin said. "They need heat and humidity to grow and we create a wonderful environment for them in our homes. We insulate to keep the cold, dry air out and keep the warm, moist air in. We turn on our humidifiers. It's paradise."
Another household irritant that plagues allergy sufferers more intensely in winter is pet dander—cat dander in particular. More Americans own cats than dogs. In fact, cats live in nearly 30 percent of homes in the United States.
"Cats are the bane of an allergist's existence," Slavin said. "Unlike dogs, cats often are much more intimate with their owners. They sleep on their owner's bed or pillow. And a major source of cat allergies is a protein found in cat saliva. Because cats are constantly preening there's a fresh supply at all times."
Slavin said a third household irritant is the cockroach. Cockroach droppings, cockroach saliva and proteins emitted from a cockroach's decaying skeleton are triggers for allergies and asthma—especially in the winter when people are cooped up.
"This problem is not exclusive to those who live in the inner city," Slavin said. "Cockroaches are difficult household pests that find their way into all types of structures."
Slavin also noted that during the winter the outside concentration of mold spores is low but mold can be present indoors all year long. Mold is most common indoors in damp locations, such as basements and bathrooms.
Allergies affect between 40 and 50 million people. Slavin said it is difficult to get an accurate count because some people dismiss their sniffles and runny noses as winter colds. But while a cold generally lasts a week, Slavin said continued exposure to dust, if you're allergic, can make you miserable for weeks or months.
He offers these suggestions for alleviating your winter allergy miseries:
·Dust mites prefer to live in beds where they can find their food of choice—human skin. Because we spend about a third of the day in bed, Slavin suggests investing in hypoallergenic mattress and pillow covers.
·Clean walls, woodwork and floors with wet cloths.
·Remove carpeting if possible or use only rugs that can be washed weekly.
·Make sure your chairs are made of wood or plastic—no upholstered furniture.
·Keep your pet out of the bedroom.
·Avoid dust traps like stuffed animals, books, magazines, dried flowers in the bedroom.
·Wash bedding at a temperature of at least 130°F to kill dust mites.
·Do not invest in sprays or powders that promise to kill dust mites. Slavin said there is no scientifically proven agent that kills dust mites that is also safe to use around children and small animals.
·Keep the humidity level in your house at no more than 50 percent.
If environmental controls are not enough, Slavin suggests over-the-counter antihistamines. If that does not work, see a specialist.
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