Many people find themselves wondering why they have itchy eyes, running rose, and a sneeze in the winter. People often don’t think of winter as allergy season and yet winter sinus allergies are really quite common. Here is what you need to know about winter sinus allergies- the causes & prevention as well as tips for dealing with winter sinus allergies.
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What You Need To Know About Winter Sinus Allergies
Causes and Prevention of Winter Sinus Allergies
First it is important to understand what causes winter sinus allergies so you can know how to prevent or lessen your winter allergies. Dust and mold are two of the main causes of winter time allergies. Dust and mold become a huge factor in the winter and cause indoor air pollution. Because most people turn on the heater during the winter, we tend to have the same indoor air trapped inside for a better part of the winter. Dust is exposure can be increased in the winter when we are unpacking ornaments and clearing surfaces that don’t usually get disturbed.
To lessen your exposure to dust and mold, try opening the windows and airing your house out on a warmer, sunny day. Because it is winter you may not be able to do that very often but you can still improve air quality by using a HEPA air filter for your HVAC. HEPA air filters are more expensive than a non-HEPA air filters but they remove at least 99.97% of airborne particles 0.3 micrometers (µm) in diameter. They make a huge difference. Also, don’t forget to change your filters monthly.
Microscopic dust mites can flourish in mattresses, bedding, and carpeting. When dust mite droppings and remains become airborne, they can cause allergy symptoms. To reduce exposure to dust mites, try washing bedding with hot water and vacuum (using a HEPA vacuum filter) frequently.
According to Natural News, “Christmas trees, fireplaces, scented candles, and fake snow … can all trigger an allergy response” as well. Try noticing if exposure to any of these worsens your symptoms.
Tips For Dealing With Winter Sinus Allergies
First use the ideas above to try to lessen your exposure to causes of winter sinus allergies. If you still have winter sinus allergy symptoms, you may want to try some of the solutions I suggest below. Keep in mind, I am not a doctor and you should consult a qualified physician with any health concerns.
Drink Plenty of Water
Water helps keep everything working properly and flushes your system.
Neti Pot
A neti pot will helps you perform a nasal flush and help remove irritants from your nasal passages. My mom swears by her neti pot but I find it very awkward. A saline spray may work better for you.
Stinging Nettle Tincture or Tea
If you love natural remedies, you may love stinging nettle since it is supposed to work as a natural histamine. I haven’t tried it but you can read all about it here.
Quercetin
Another natural treatment for allergies is Quercetin, a natural plant-derived bioflavonoid and antioxidant. Quercetin helps stabilize mast cells and prevents them from releasing histamine. You can read more about it here.
Essential Oils
You may find essential oils like peppermint and eucalyptus help clear your sinus and make it easier to breathe. You can diffuse them in the air, put a few drops in coconut oil to make a chest rub, or you can make DIY shower melts. I personally love essential oils for relieving allergy symptoms.
Antihistamines
Antihistamines reduce sneezing, sniffling, and itching. CVS Pharmacy brand offers over the counter Allergy Relief in tablet form. Options have comparable active ingredients to big pharmacy company brands but at a better price.
Decongestants
Decongestants clear mucus to relieve congestion and swelling. This may be an old wives tale but my mom always had me stay away form dairy when I was congested and drink fresh squeezed orange juice. I live by it. You may want to try that too!
And there you have it- 7 ways to deal with winter sinus allergies! Don’t forget to address the causes of the winter allergies first in order to prevent them as much as possible. Which methods work best for dealing with your winter time allergies?
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Lauren says
Great tips. For me, the most important tool during the winter months is my saline solution. I make sure to keep my nasal passages moist. The drier air from heat tends to cause my face to hurt if I don’t properly moisten them. It is a good alternative to the neti pot if someone isn’t comfortable using one. Also, neti pots shouldn’t be used if you’re congested (you’ll choke, I’ve tried). Instead, use a saline mist. I used to use decongestants, but I’ve found that a vapor rub works just as well. I like the idea of making your own with coconut oil and essential oils. I’ll have to try that.
Pam says
Winter allergies are the worst! It’s already cold and dreary outside and then adding allergies on top of that? No thanks. These are great tips to provide relief. I especially like the shower melts!
mya.k says
Winter allergies are the worst. My friend is sick right now so she is hoping to get better by Christmas.
Shelley Zurek says
Wow, the thing I noticed for dust allergy was when I was putting up my Christmas decorations. Of course they are PACKED with dust. A good allergy generic for Zyrtec from CVS would be just the ticket.
Janice says
I’ve got something going on right now, not sure if it’s allergies or a cold. But I also just had a wisdom tooth pulled and the two are not a good combination. Great tips!
Dawn Lopez says
Great tips for winter allergies! I’ve been thinking about trying a Neti pot the next time my sinuses start acting up. I’ve heard they work wonders. Eucalyptus is an oil I use all the time for myself and my family. 🙂