Distinguishing Winter Respiratory Symptoms From Allergy Flare-Ups

Distinguishing Winter Respiratory Symptoms From Allergy Flare-Ups

No matter what steps have been taken to limit almond dust during fall harvesting, allergy sufferers still struggle with winter respiratory symptoms. It’s hard to tell whether it’s a virus, the moisture and particulates trapped in winter’s tule fog, smoke from fireplaces and woodstoves, or almond dust that’s irritating your respiratory system. 

When are your symptoms indicative of a cold or the flu? When is it an allergy flare-up? It is hard to be certain when symptoms are so similar. Our guide helps you navigate your symptoms and determine whether you’re sick with a virus or with something else that may require an allergist.

Fresno’s Valley Winter Woes

The downfall of a community surrounded by mountains, almond groves, and other agricultural industries is the prevalence of winter tule fogs. Tule fog occurs when warmer ground temperatures meet colder air temperatures, trapping moisture and particulates between the two layers. 

That fog traps many pollutants and mold spores, creating a frustrating problem for people with allergies. Dust, smoke, and soot particles are among the most common in Fresno. You also have emissions from cars and trucks that haul produce from farms to manufacturers and retailers, as well as emissions from manufacturing and industrial plants. 

In addition to those, wildfire smoke from other areas of California moves into the valley and becomes trapped. All of this affects people with allergies and asthma. 

If you look at the air quality index (AQI) through 2025, January through May were relatively low. It started to increase in June and July, but September through the rest of the year were the worst months. Rainy days knock the numbers down temporarily, but they soon climb again.

The American Lung Association reports an average of 46.8 high-ozone days each year. A third of the year has ozone levels in the orange range. Particle pollution averages 28.8 days per year, with 71 days in the orange range. These numbers give Fresno an “F” for State of the Air.

Allergens That Trigger Winter Allergies

It’s not just the AQI outside, either. Indoors is an allergen trap. You’re exposed to all of these allergens every day.

• Dust Mites – Bedding, carpets, curtains, sofas, chairs, and other fabric-covered furnishings harbor dust mites. Dust mites are microscopic and feed on dead skin cells. Because your house is closed up all winter and sunlight is less abundant, dust mites thrive.
• Mold – High indoor humidity causes condensation on windows. Bathrooms with poor ventilation worsen the problem. That condensation promotes mold and mildew growth, leading to an excessive number of mold spores in your home.
• Pet Dander – Like dust mites, pet dander builds up and gets trapped in furniture, carpeting, and other fabrics. The protein found in a pet’s hair, saliva, skin cells, and urine triggers allergies in some people, and that dander builds up when you can’t open windows to air out your home.
• Pollen – It might seem too early, but some plants and trees begin pollinating in late winter. This includes almond blossoms, which often start budding in late February. Cedar and juniper trees often begin pollinating by February. 
• Smoke – This isn’t an allergen, but it is an irritant that can trigger allergy symptoms in some people. The smoke from wood fires is trapped by tule fog, worsening your symptoms, especially if you’re outside often. If symptoms don’t improve on sunny days, smoke is likely a trigger.

Facts About Viruses

Viruses are passed from one person to the next, often through droplets of saliva that are airborne after someone coughs or sneezes. It’s also possible to get a virus by touching something that an ill person touched. Washing your hands kills the germs, but it’s not always easy to drop everything to get to a sink. 

The common cold is something you experience many times. The flu and COVID-19 are other contagious viruses. Because there’s no vaccine for the common cold, it’s one you’re likely to be most familiar with. On average, an adult gets a cold two or three times each year.

More than 200 different respiratory viruses cause colds. Rhinovirus is the most common, followed by adenovirus, enterovirus, metapneumovirus, and parainfluenza. When you have a cold, symptoms usually last a week, but they can last longer in children, people with immunodeficiencies, or older adults.

Influenza is another common virus. It affects millions each year. It can lead to complications requiring hospitalization, which is more concerning. Like the flu, COVID-19 is common, even though it’s new to many people. It’s also more likely to lead to complications that send some people to the hospital.

A Surprising Disease Outlier

In eight years, the rate of coccidioidomycosis in California’s Central Valley increased by 800%. Coccidioidomycosis (Valley Fever) is a fungal infection that occurs when you breathe in dust from infected soil. 

Almond harvesting stirs up a lot of dust. A 50% decrease in almond dust was expected by the end of 2025, but it’s too early to say how effective measures like dampening the soil before harvesters pick up the almonds from the ground are.

If that dust contains the fungal spores and someone breathes it in, Valley Fever is a risk. Six out of 10 people never experience symptoms. The 40% who do usually experience a mild flu that lasts a few weeks to a few months.

A Symptom Breakdown

Understanding the different symptoms and possible causes helps you determine whether it’s a virus, allergy, or rarer fungal infection.

Protect Your Airways Throughout the Year

Simple steps at home and in your daily life can help you avoid allergy flare-ups and viruses.

• Avoid being near people who are sick.
• Drink plenty of water.
• Eat a healthy diet to strengthen your immune system.
• Get enough sleep; seven to eight hours is recommended.
• Use an air purifier at home to remove ozone and particulate matter.
• Wash your hands regularly or use hand sanitizer if you can’t get to a sink.
• Wear a mask if you’re out in public during peak cold, flu, and COVID season.

If you’re experiencing winter allergies, help is a visit away. Fresno’s allergy specialist at Premium Allergy & Respiratory Center runs tests to identify which allergens affect your respiratory system. 

Once those are identified, you work on developing an effective treatment plan. Today’s allergy shots and sublingual immunotherapy options you can take at home on your schedule make allergy management easier than ever.