Winter is a time that makes you want to stay tucked in and warm in the comfort of your home. However, shutting your windows against the cold can bring along its own set of problems. If you feel like your nose is stuffy and it’s difficult to breathe, your headaches, and your eyes are itchy, you may be a victim of winter allergies. The lack of ventilation makes it difficult for fresh air to enter your home and, thus, stale air and allergens continue to circulate indoors.
What happens during the winter?
There are allergens in the air indoors, which include fine dust, smoke or cooking fumes, dust mites, mould, VOC’s, perfumes, aerosol sprays and animal dander. And it’s during the winter months that we spend most of our time with them while cooped up indoors. Hence allergies caused by these are on the rise when the weather gets cooler.
Children, the elderly, and people suffering from asthma and other respiratory disorders are more vulnerable to these indoor allergens. While the immune system of children is in its developing stage, that of asthma patients and the elderly are weak. Thus, the effects of indoor allergens are heightened for them.
How winter allergies affect people
Symptoms like cold, sneezing, irritated throat, itchy eyes, etc. may be caused due to allergens. Some people react to mould and dust mites, in the same way, they would to pathogens. The antibody response is what causes symptoms like wheezing, watery eyes, coughing or sneezing. If the congestion is bad enough, it may also cause headaches and sinus pressure.
When you know it’s an allergy and not a cold
It is hard to tell whether the sniffles you’re bearing with are an allergy to dust or if it’s cold. Sometimes, it may be easy to distinguish between a viral infection and an allergy on the basis of body ache and fever, which may accompany a cold. An allergic reaction may cause you to experience itchy eyes, sniffles, sore throat and even rashes. Of course, it is recommended that you consult your doctor for an accurate diagnosis and get treatment for relief.
What to do about indoor allergens?
But prevention is better than cure, isn’t it? While braving the cold to grab some fresh air may not be a very tempting option, there are some ways in which you can fight allergens and curb indoor air pollution.
- Vacuum your home frequently: Dust mites are microscopic creatures which are not visible to the naked eye and live in carpets, upholstered furniture bedding and warm spaces. Frequent vacuum cleaning of your home is the best way to eliminate them. Bring home Euroclean vacuum cleaners that deep cleans and eliminates these allergens thoroughly and easily. One of the primary features of Euroclean range is that it offers powerful suction that removes embedded dust. They come with a wide range of accessories that are ideal for varied cleaning requirements.
- Keep your pets clean and in check: Pets carry a truckload of allergy-triggering proteins in their fur, dander, saliva and urine. Keeping them off your furniture and giving them a bath on a weekly basis are two ways to help limit your exposure to allergens.
- Keep moisture to a minimum: Fungi & Mould thrive in damp places like your bathroom, kitchen and basement. Hence, reducing moisture indoors is key to inhibiting mould growth. Keeping surfaces dry with regular wipe downs, throwing away spoiled food from your refrigerator and turning on the exhaust fan while cooking are some of the ways by which you can control mould growth.
- Get an air purifier: One of the most effective ways to get rid of allergens in your indoor air is by bringing home an air purifier. The Dr. Aeroguard SCPR 300 – Air Purifier is certified for the highest standards of air quality by gui-Lab Germany. With its 9-stage filtration system, it keeps your indoor air free of microorganisms, pollen, pet dander and other harmful pollutants in the air. It also releases Vita-Ions that ensure you and your loved ones breathe healthy air that will leave you feeling rejuvenated.
- The air purifiers by Dr Aeroguard come equipped with a Therapeutic filter which releases Vitamin C into the air making it refreshing and healthy. Get a free demo in your home today.
Winter is a lot more fun and cosy when you’re healthy, and you’re healthy when you’re living and breathing healthy. You can ensure that your household is allergen-free for you and your family by following the above steps.
