Did you think that your allergies only flare up in the warmer climates? Well, you might want to rethink that, when the temperature drops and it gets windy outside and you think you have a cold or is it your allergies.
How Can You Tell The Difference between A Cold And Allergies?
At first glance it may seem very hard to distinguish between a cold and allergies. You have watery eyes and a stuffy nose is it cause by irritants like pet dander, dust mites or by a cold. A small observation is all you need to determine this, colds can last from three to seven days but allergies go for much longer and may stop and start quite often. To identify what’s a cold and what’s an allergy here are some tell, tell signs:
· Nasal secretion is thick discolored
· Chills along with body aches
· Symptoms are gone most times within a week.
· Nasal secretion is thin and clear
· You have itchy eyes and throat
· Symptoms persist for several weeks
Unfortunately those warm climate irritants are also around in the winter as well, for example:
· Pet dander- because of the winter weather pets are in the house more, which makes your exposure higher than in spring, summer and fall.
· Mold and Mildew-decaying leaves and other biodegradable products can adhere to your shoes and clothes giving these irritants an opportunity to get inside your home.
· Unseasonable Climates-when you don’t have a lot of hard freezes can allow the presence of pollen to stick around for the whole year.
· Damp wood- while you love to enjoy your fireplace, the wood you store can be a stomping ground for mold spores when it becomes damp. Now once your wood dries you should be ok, but know that the smoke from the fireplace can become an irritant to your allergies
Tips to Control Your Allergies
- Avoid Allergens-don’t go near anything that will set off an allergic reaction. Let people know what you are allergic too. Keep a small mask in your pocket or purse, to place over your face when you have to go outside on windy days, where pollen could possibly be in the air.
· Wash Hands and Face-frequently wash your hands and face gets rid of the allergens that could possibly be on you. A good handmade soap is an excellent source because commercial soaps have synthetic compounds in them they are Triclosan and Sodium Lauryl Sulfate which cause sinus problems, exacerbated asthma, unexplained sore throats, Dermatitis and Eczema problems.
· Wash Bedding-this should be done often to remove the dust mites and pet dander that will trigger your allergies. They should be washed in hot water; they can be washed weekly or biweekly.