If you have seasonal allergies, it could simply be due to dryness.  and you could just have non-allergic rhinitis which is causing you to feel stuffy or swollen with troubled breathing. You might be waking up with puffy eyes or sore throat  etc.  and one thing leads to another, and that’s how we feel down and are more vulnerable of getting sick during the colder months as our system might not be working properly.

There may be other causes to your sickness but what I have learned and experienced that if most people in North East America have allergies then it must be environmental issue. As most allergies are worse during the cold weathers and that can be anywhere. So we must learn different ways to deal with our allergies than to take medications which can cause other side effects. Prevention is better than cure.

1. Warm mist humidifier is a great help during colder months. As dry nose is a bad indicator for our overall system, breathing properly is the most crucial for our survival. So make sure, your living space is not too dry. Cold air can take the moisture out and make the air very dry. Having a humidifier helps to balance the moisture in the air. It will help with all the dryness or puffiness to disappear. Though, cleaning of your humidifier is extremely important, so you don’t have bacteria growth in your humidifier which can cause a reverse effect instead of improving your allergies.
2. Honey, ginger and lemon are our best friends. Having herbal teas with honey and/or lemon in limitation can be great help. I say limitation as herbal teas can also cause dryness. so you don’t want to overdo anything. You can boil water with ginger, add few drops of lemon and some honey. You can also have tea with honey alone or lemon alone or just a ginger tea. This will give your system a boost.
3. Mindful of cleanliness is another important factor of avoid getting sick. Taking warm showers can be helpful. Taking shower is always refreshing, it can help maintain cleanliness. Washing hands should always be our priority. We should always wash hand after coming home or getting to our destinations, and especially before eating and after using the toilet or bathroom.
4. Vitamin C is a great help as well.  We can get it from fresh fruits and vegetables. I love oranges, peel a fresh orange and have it with salt and/or  black papers. It is better than taking orange juice. But if you prefer juice, than  try to have fresh juice with salt and black papers. and if you bought it from supermarket, you can dilute it with water for the similar effect.
5. Stay hydrated, drink water, even though in winter time, we find ourselves less thirsty but our body needs water and heaters drying up our skin can leave us dehydrated.
6. Massage your body with almond oil, coconut oil, mustard oil or whatever oil that suits you, to keep your skin soft and from drying. Do this at least once a week.

Doing little effort can help us from getting sick and keep non allergic rhinitis in control.
Happy winter or colder months!