As the weather turns colder we tend to be inside much more.
We might think we are escaping allergies but…are we really?
There are many indoor allergens than can affect sufferers just as much as outdoor allergens. Some allergens that are unavoidable are dust mites. Dust mites are microscopic bugs that live in our beds, pillows, curtains, carpeting and upholstered furniture. Dust mites feed off out skin cells that we are naturally shedding constantly. One way to avoid contact with them is to purchase dust mite barriers for your mattress and all pillows on your bed. These are found in the bedding department in stores such as Walmart, Bed Bath and Beyond, Target, Kohls etc. You will need to strip your bed down to the bare mattress and encase the whole mattress and all pillows on your bed. You should then take all of your cloth bedding off once per week and wash it in hot water to kill existing mites. You can wipe down the dust mite barriers as you do this with hot water or a Clorox wipe. This will help you to avoid sleeping with the mites that you are allergic to.
Another item in our home that can wreak havoc with allergies is indoor mold. Indoor mold can be found in damp basements and also in windows that collect condensation. You can treat windows with a bleach solution and wipe off the visible mold. Mold can sometimes be found in damp bathrooms as well. If you know or suspect you have mold in your home it is recommended to contact a mold remediation company to evaluate your home. Mold allergies can cause may allergic symptoms and can exacerbate asthma symptoms. A dehumidifier is a great investment for damp basements as it take the moisture out of the air that the mold need to survive
—Melissa Frarey, Lakeside ENT