People who suffer from allergies, such as hay fever, wait for the cooler months to arrive to finally feel some reprieve from their nasal congestion, runny noses, sneezing, and other uncomfortable symptoms that accompany spring and summer allergies. And, while it is true that seasonal allergies improve for many people during winter, for others winter may bring a drop in the mercury but it also causes a rise in allergies.

As temperatures cool, people begin spending more time indoors, increasing their exposure to the allergens that are found inside the house, such as mold, dust mites, indoor pets, and even those found in substances like perfumes. Furthermore, winter blankets, carpeting and clothes that have been stored since the previous winter have collected dust and mold during storage. The dust, dust mites, and mold spores are released into the air and around the house when these winter accessories are removed from storage. This too can ignite allergic reactions in those with allergies.

For this reason, the incidences of runny noses and coughing may increase during the winter months; often, these symptoms are blamed on a cold or the flu. Flu symptoms mirror winter allergy symptoms, which are caused by the inflammatory effects of histamine that is produced by the body following exposure to allergens. However, when flu symptoms fail to resolve, winter allergies should be considered.

With allergy testing at Innovative Health and Wellness in Woodstock we can isolate allergy triggers that may be affecting you and prescribe an appropriate treatment. Our skin test method of allergy testing is considered the gold standard, is less expensive than blood testing, and is generally covered by most major insurance plans.

For more information on our Allergy Testing, visit the “Lifestyle Services” section of our website and click on the link to allergy testing.

To schedule your consultation at our office in Woodstock, call us at 770-926-4646 or use the convenient “Contact” feature on our website.

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