YORKTEST - Newsletter

Winter Allergy Report

As summer draws to a close most of us could be forgiven for thinking that the allergy season of hayfever and asthma is also on the way out. However, this is when the billions of house dust mites that share our home come into their own, triggering a fresh outbreak of sneezing and wheezing.
 
The problem, according to Dr Ken Jones, a Reader in Immunology and Allergy at the University of Wales Institute, Cardiff (UWIC), has become worse over the past 30 years since the advent of fitted carpets, central heating and double glazing which provide perfect conditions for the parasite to thrive.
 
Dr Jones said: “Autumn tends to herald increased numbers of dust mites as people are less likely to wash heavy bedding when the weather turns colder or to open their windows to let in cooler weather so air circulation drops within the house and allergy levels build up, although they tend only to affect people with existing allergies such as asthma.
 
“House dust mites love warm beds yet people wake up wondering why they have streaming eyes and a blocked nose. It’s a good idea to wash pillows and duvets themselves as well as covers because it takes these mites two to three months to recolonise in bedding.
 
“The other major allergies in Autumn is, in a word, mould. Fungal spores which grow in gardens, woodlands and compost heaps, for example, are so numerous they can actually cause more severe symptoms in people during Autumn than hayfever does in the Summer.
 
“Fewer people are affected by fungal spore allergies, however, as the spores are too small to lodge in the nose. Unfortunately for asthma sufferers, they are more susceptible to Autumn allergies due to their hyper reactive airways.”
 
Here are some handy tips to tackle dust mites:
  • Wash bedding weekly on a 60 degree cycle (40 degrees is not hot enough to kill bed lice)
  • Wash duvets and pillows every few months then vacuum and turn mattresses
  • Buy feather pillows – these days they are washable and the weave is much tighter than synthetic pillows, therefore much harder for the dust mites to penetrate
  • Invest in laminated flooring
  • Choose leather furniture over soft furnishings – the former is impenetrable by dust mites

Top 5 Autumn Allergies
(all cause asthma/hayfever type symptoms)

  • House dust mites (Combat through regular washing of bedding at high temperatures and avoid soft furnishings where possible)
  • Fungal spores (Open windows to help air circulate and reduce damp, this allergy is particularly bad before a thunderstorm)
  • Pet fur (hard to avoid if an animal love, antihistamines may help)
  • Tree nuts (Autumn may be a time of mellow fruitfulness but seasonal tree nuts can cause allergic reaction although ironically, those with a peanut allergy may not be affected)
  • Indoor fossil fuels (Indoor devices such as gas cookers can produce oxides which can then irritate the airways and nose, making it easier for allergens to penetrate. In addition, central heating restricts the flow of air around our houses - coal fires, now largely defunct, were ideal for combating this problem due to the chimneys which sucked harmful components straight out of the house)
For further information contact Gaynor Evans, Communications Manager:
T: 029 2041 6053
Email gevans@uwic.ac.uk
Web: UWIC
Contact Sarah 02920 416221 Laura x 6041
 

 
Back to the top of the page

Library image of a woman holding a driving learning plate

Testimonials

"FoodScan 113 changed everything! I now go to my children's school plays, on trips, attend appointments - I'm even learning to drive!"
more about Diane Allen

Diane Allen - IBS
Back to the top of the page
 
Back to the top of the page