Understanding Winter Allergies And How To Manage Them

Winter allergy symptoms are really just your typical seasonal allergy symptoms. But because of the colder and harsher weather typical of the winter season, you’re more likely to spend more time indoors and increase your exposure to indoor allergens.

Winter allergies may also flare up because of outdoor allergens. Some plants, like trees, release pollen in late fall and early winter, and you can carry that pollen with you indoors.

The best way to manage allergy symptoms is to take preventive measures. But you can still get relief for your allergy symptoms even if they’re already at their worst.

Indoor allergens

Various indoor allergens can trigger symptoms during the winter, especially when the weather’s damp and you spend more of your time indoors.

The following table lays out some of the most common indoor allergens to keep in mind.

Outdoor allergens

Though many people associate spring and summer with full trees, blooming flowers, and allergy symptoms, allergies can also flare up in winter. For example, plants like cedar or juniper trees naturally release their pollen when the weather gets cold.

In many places, outdoor allergens are becoming more severe due to climate change. Unseasonally warm weather can lengthen the amount of time that plants release pollen, meaning you may be more likely to experience allergy symptoms through fall and before spring.

If you spend any time outdoors, it’s possible to bring allergens like pollen inside, where they can come to rest in bedding, furniture, or on other indoor surfaces.

Symptoms

Common allergy symptoms include:

• sneezing
• stuffy or runny nose
• itchy eyes, throat, or ears
• difficulty breathing, especially through a clogged nose
• coughing, sometimes producing phlegm
• skin rash
• general sick feeling
• low grade fever

• chest tightness
• wheezing or whistling when you breathe
• breathing rapidly
• feeling exhausted
• feeling anxious

Allergies vs. common colds 

Allergies and colds have different sources. Colds result from a virus that transmits between people. Allergies result from your body’s release of histamine, a chemical that creates an inflammatory response to allergens or other irritants.

A cold also ends once your body fights off the infection. Allergies can happen anytime you’re exposed to allergens that get into your respiratory tract. Symptoms last as long as you keep breathing in the allergens.

The following table is a detailed comparison of colds and allergies.

Treatments

Many people can manage allergy symptoms at home with over-the-counter (OTC) treatments, but can also benefit from long-term clinical treatments. Here are some of your options:

• Take OTC allergy medication: Antihistamines, such as cetirizine (Zyrtec) or fexofenadine (Allegra), can relieve symptoms effectively when taken regularly. OTC medications with acetaminophen (Tylenol) may also help with related symptoms like headaches.
• Use a neti pot or nasal irrigation treatment with distilled water: These treatments work by sending clean, distilled water through your nasal passages to clear out allergens. Only use sterile water to prevent infection.
• Use nasal sprays: OTC steroid nasal sprays, such as fluticasone (Flonase) and triamcinolone (Nasacort), can help relieve inflammation and other symptoms like a runny nose.
• Try immunotherapy: For severe, chronic allergy symptoms, ask your doctor about immunotherapy. This treatment exposes you to very small amounts of your allergens regularly to build up your body’s immunity to them, usually through shots containing proteins from specific allergy triggers. This can lead to less severe symptoms over the course of several years.

Prevention

Try the following to minimize your exposure to indoor allergens common during the winter:

• Put special protective casings over your bedding, including your pillows and mattresses, to keep dust mites out.
• Regularly wash your clothes, bedding, and any removable upholstery covers in hot water to reduce dander and dust mite build-up.
• Use a dehumidifier to reduce moisture in your indoor air, with the humidity level set to less than 50%. 
• Regularly vacuum your home using a vacuum with a HEPA filter to remove the majority of the allergen particles from most surfaces.
• Take out carpeting and replace it with linoleum, tile, or wood.
• Clean any areas with mold growth with water and a 5% bleach solution. 
• Clean up any leftovers or crumbs in your kitchen or dining area after you or your pets eat.
• Fix any leaks in your bathroom, basement, roof, or pipes to stop moisture from building up and creating an environment for dust mites, mold, or roaches to thrive.
• Seal cracks or openings in your doors, windows, or walls where roaches can get in or outdoor air can blow in.
• If pet dander is an issue, try to limit your pets’ time in places where you spend a lot of time, such as your bedroom, living room, or kitchen.

Discover: Seasonal allergy survival guide

Takeaway

Winter allergy symptoms and triggers are essentially the same as those of any other seasonal allergies. Taking allergy medication, cleaning out your nose and sinuses with sterile water, or taking preventive measures can all help reduce your symptoms.

Ask your doctor about immunotherapy if your allergy symptoms don’t get better with treatment, last for a few weeks or more, or interrupt your daily life.