SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) -The trees are not pollinating, and you can't see anything in bloom, but it's what you aren't seeing in your house that could be causing allergies.
Dr. Douglas Jones, from Rocky Mountain Allergy, says it’s the height of indoor allergy season. "There’s no pollen but we definitely see the mold, dust mites, cats dogs all of the indoor type allergies.”
Dust mites like the humidity some furnaces provide, and they also like warm temperatures. They thrive in bed sheets and pillows, and other areas of the home when it's above seventy degrees. They don't bite, but will cause you to wheeze. To get rid of dust mites Dr. Jones says wash bedding in hot water every seven to ten days. He says other indoor allergens may be valued members of the family. “During this time of year cat dander, dog dander, definitely go up because even though it's warmer, we are not opening our houses up like we do in the summer.” He says all that dander builds up.
Dr. Jones says the inversion, and wood burning stoves also contribute. Some people may not even know they have an allergy because it is cold season after all. He says you know you have an allergy if your runny nose and watery eyes just won’t go away. "The allergies will persist"
If you do have allergies Dr. Jones says it sets you up for more illnesses. "You are going to have an underlying inflammation and it just sets you up to be more prone to the virus and the bacteria."
