Stifle the sniffles with these winter tips

Have the sneezes and snifles from winter allergies got you down? Pollen isn’t the only cause of allergies. When the cold weather arrives and the heat comes on, a whole new set of allergies can appear. Forced air furnaces blow around the dust which can contain animal dander, food and bacteria.

Common symptoms of indoor allergies are sneezing, runny nose, postnasal drip, coughing and itchy eyes, nose and throat. According to information from the Mayo Clinic, roughly 5 to 20 percent of American suffer some sort of  winter allergy.

Providence allergist Dr. John Zwetchkenbaum points out that the chief sources of allergies in the winter are mold, dust and pets. Here are some tips to get you through the winter months.To help prevent problems with mold, Zwetchkenbaum suggests:

• Inspect the home regularly, especially damp areas such as the basement.

• Clean stored holiday decorations thoroughly before displaying them.

• Run a humidifier or dehumidifier to keep home humidity levels between 30 and 40 percent.

To fight off the dust  issues:

• Clean carpets with a HEPA-filter vacuum.

• Mop uncarpeted areas frequently.

• Wash bed linens and pajamas in hot water.

Zwetchkenbaum also suggests that the kitchen exhaust fan be used during cooking. Furnace filters should be high-efficiency. Bedrooms should be free of carpets, pets and plants.

And finally, he reminds us to “moisturize, moisturize, moisturize.”

FRAN OSTENDORF is the editor of The Jewish Voice.