Fighting Indoor Allergies–Tips

Allergic reactions occur when your immune system overreacts to normally harmless substances, such as dust mites, pet dander, mold and cockroach droppings. Most people think allergies  only act up in the spring, but the winter can be just as difficult because it's harder to avoid allergens when you're stuck indoors.
Winter Allergies - What Can We Do About Them?
Mostly we think of spring as the Allergy Season. Often we can see clouds of pollen and blossom blowing in the wind. So it comes as a shock to learn that many allergy sufferers have an awful time in the winter.

• Allergies can be triggered by many different things; pollen from flowers and trees are often responsible but for the Winter Allergy sufferer household mould is often to blame.After all in the winter we have the windows and doors sealed to prevent cold wind and rain chilling us. But the result of sealing the house is the rise of humidity which is exactly what mould needs to grow.
• Doctors have advised that keeping the humidity below 35% helps not just to inhibit mould but dust mites too.
• The common allergens in winter are deemed to be perennial -- that is, animal dander in the home or on other people's clothing, house dust mites that grow to large numbers in your mattress and pillow, and mould. Cockroach and mouse dander may also play a role.
• If allergy skin tests are negative, it's possible that a seasonal allergen or a virus produced an initial inflammation that has now become self-sustaining and persistent.
• Allergies can trigger or worsen asthma and other respiratory illnesses especially in the winter when families spend more time indoors, which increases their exposure to irritants like dust mites, pet dander, smoke, household sprays and chemicals, and gas fumes - any and all of which can make their lives miserable.

For treatment of winter allergy and asthma, the best approach is prevention. The following measures are recommended:

• Keep animals outdoor if possible and wash them once a week.
• Keep the house dust-free as much as possible. Vacuum the carpet once or twice a week. A good vacuum cleaner with HEPA-FILTER is
  very beneficial.
• The curtains and shades must be free of dust. No feather pillows and plush toys should be removed from children's bedroom.