Dr. Tarbox is an allergist and immunologist at Texas Tech Physicians and an assistant
professor of allergy and immunology at TTUHSC.
With the heart of winter approaching, many may feel that allergies have been left
behind by the cool temperatures. Ragweed and Russian thistle (tumbleweed) have stopped
pollinating after a three-month stretch that began in August. With the colder weather,
will there be a three-month break until tree season starts in March?
James A. Tarbox, M.D., an allergist and immunologist at Texas Tech Physicians says, not so fast.
“There are two categories of allergies, seasonal and perennial,” Tarbox said. “Seasonal
are what most people think about: trees in spring, grass in summer and weeds in fall.
There’s another category, perennial, that sticks with us year-round, but is even more
noticeable in the wintertime, since more time is spent indoors.”
Tarbox said dust mites are one cause of perennial allergies. Dust mites live in your
mattress, pillows and carpet.
“They aren’t like bed bugs, they are much smaller (you can’t see them) and have eight
legs,” Tarbox said. “The two things that dust mites crave are skin flakes and moisture.
You can’t do much about shedding skin, but winter is when humidifier use is common.
What we are allergic to are dead dust mites and the excrement from mites eating flakes.”
Other triggers for perennial allergies are:
- Pets: Your favorite furry friend is a common cause of worsening allergens this time
of year. Due to the colder weather, dogs and cats are inside more often shedding allergens.
When they do go outside, they can bring in dirt or other irritants that will worsen
your symptoms.
- Mold: While West Texas has lower humidity than many other parts of the country, mold
is still prevalent. Snowstorms can leave pockets of snow on roofs which can then seep
down into roofing or walls.
- Cockroaches: No one likes the site of these in their house. If you don’t have some
form of pest control, they will find a way into your house, usually creeping around
when most are asleep.
Tarbox said there are things you can do this winter to help alleviate these items.
To help with dust mites, one of the first things you can do is make sure to wash your
bed sheets and pillow cases in hot water, and dry on high heat at least every two
weeks.
“You can also buy dust mite covers for your mattress and pillows at a bedding store,”
Tarbox said. “If you happen to use feather pillows, dust mites love down, whether
it’s in your pillow or mattress. Consider purchasing synthetic pillows and mattresses
to help with allergies. Also, if your mattress is reaching 20 years of age or you
aren’t sleeping as well, maybe a new mattress belongs on your Christmas list.”
Finally, Tarbox said to avoid using stand-alone humidifiers, even if cleaned well
to protect from mold and bacteria. They raise the humidity in the room near them to
greater than 50 percent, and dust mites thrive. If needed, central humidifiers are
a better choice.
If you are in the market for hypoallergenic pets, Tarbox said there are only two,
very expensive hypoallergenic cat breeds sold in the country, and these pets are rare.
Several breeds of dog are labeled hypoallergenic because they shed less; however,
there still tend to be the same amount of allergens on the ground.
“Washing your dog once a month can help reduce the amount of allergens in your house,”
Tarbox said. “With cats, it’s more complicated as bathing cats, as much fun as that
sounds, doesn’t really help. If there is a way to keep them in one area of the house,
preferably not a bedroom or living room, this might help. There is nothing pleasant
about having to find a new home for a pet. In fact, it’s very sad. If you are extremely
sensitive to your pets, it may be necessary as a last resort.”
This winter to help alleviate allergies, Tarbox said to make sure your air and furnace
filters are changed regularly. If you haven’t already changed your filters this winter,
now is the time.
“I tell most of my patients to try and change their filters at least 4 times a year,”
Tarbox said. “Some go as far as to change them monthly.”
As for mold, make sure to check for leaks on the walls and roof, and check to see
if you have proper insulation to reduce condensation and dampness. For cockroaches,
try to have an exterminator visit several times a year to reduce the chance of infestation
in your home.
“If you are wondering what you might be susceptible to in the winter or the rest of
the year, consider seeing your local, friendly allergist,” Tarbox said.
