January 22, 2026 | Black & Kletz Allergy
It is Winter in the Washington, DC, Northern, VA, and Maryland metropolitan area which generally means cold and dry weather. Individuals with asthma may be affected more than the usual person during the Winter because the cold weather is a common trigger of asthma. An asthma doctor DC residents trust is important to the health of anyone in the metro area with asthma. At Black & Kletz Allergy, we have asthma doctors DC locals have used for decades to help them with their treatment of allergies and asthma.
In addition to cold air, upper respiratory tract infections (URIs) are a very common asthma trigger in many asthmatics. The infectious agents can be viral, bacterial, or fungal in origin. During the Winter months, it is extremely common to be exposed to a variety of infections. Viruses such as influenza (i.e., flu), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), COVID-19, rhinovirus, adenovirus, human metapneumovirus (hMPV), and parainfluenza are fairly prevalent. Interestingly, it is not the cold weather that makes individuals more susceptible to these viruses. Instead, when it is cold outside, people tend to spend more time indoors with each other, and as a result, the close proximity to other individuals allows for easier transmission of viruses from one person to another.
Upper respiratory viruses cause airway inflammation, increased mucus production, and constriction of the bronchial tubes which usually leads to an exacerbation of an individual’s asthma symptoms. The classic symptoms that result are wheezing, chest tightness, coughing, and/or shortness of breath. In many asthma patients, pneumonia may occur. An asthma doctor DC inhabitants trust, such as the board certified allergists at Black & Kletz Allergy, should be notified when a patient has an exacerbation of one’s asthma. It should be noted that asthmatic airways are already inflamed and sensitive, making them more prone to swelling. Upper respiratory infections with viruses such as rhinovirus RSV, influenza, parainfluenza, adenovirus, human metapneumovirus or coronavirus can damage the airway lining, trigger immune responses, and/or worsen bronchial hyperresponsiveness, resulting in breathing difficulties and requiring more short-acting, quick-relief asthma rescue medication such as albuterol (e.g., Proventil, Ventolin, ProAir), levalbuterol (e.g., Xopenex), or albuterol/budesonide (e.g., AirSupra).
Certain environmental allergens also play an important role in how bothersome someone’s asthma may be. During the Winters in the DC metro area, indoor allergens (i.e., dust mites, molds, pets, cockroach) and some outdoor allergens (i.e., molds) are common aggravators of asthma. Individuals that are sensitive to these environmental allergens may experience worsening of their asthma and/or allergic rhinitis (i.e., hay fever) symptoms.
Dust mites tend to be an important trigger, particularly to inner city children. The dust mites are typically found in bedding (e.g., pillows, mattresses, box springs), carpeting, and upholstered furniture to name a few. It is advisable for patients to cover their bedroom pillows, mattress, and box spring with allergy-proof encasings. These encasings usually zip up over the pillows, mattress, and box spring. An asthma doctor DC residents admire will help the patient avoid dust mites with different options.
Unlike dust mites, mold is found both indoors and outdoors. Mold is ubiquitous and may trigger an asthma exacerbation in mold-sensitive individuals. In buildings, mold typically is found in moist and damp areas such as bathrooms, kitchens, and basements. Using a dehumidifier may help reduce the amount of mold present inside one’s home. Molds that are outdoors are more difficult to control, however, avoiding mowing the lawn, raking the leaves, and other activities where mold exposure is high are recommended. Again, an allergy or asthma doctor DC locals find helpful will steer one in the right direction.
Pets’ saliva and dander are found mostly indoors, and they may be a significant trigger to someone’s asthma. Pet allergies tend to be worse during the Winter because people’s homes tend to be closed up more during this time causing the pet allergen to be more prevalent. It is prudent to avoid direct contact with a pet if the person is sensitive to that type of pet. Touching one’s eyes may cause itching, watery, puffiness, and/or redness of the eyes in pet-allergic individuals. An asthma doctor DC residents trust would also advise for that person to avoid having that pet go in their bedroom, so there is a “safe” space in their home.
Cockroaches are also mostly an indoor allergen. Cockroach allergies are quite common in big cities, such as Washington, D.C. Many homes, condos, apartments, public buildings, and restaurants in inner cities are infested with cockroaches, even though they may not be visible during the day to most people. It is vital to make sure that traces of food are not left on floors and counters, as this invites cockroaches. There is also a clear association between cockroach allergy and childhood asthma in inner city populations. In addition to asthma, cockroach allergies may cause allergic rhinitis (i.e., hay fever) and/or allergic conjunctivitis (i.e., eye allergies) in sensitive allergic individuals. An allergy or asthma doctor DC inhabitants have confidence in will recommend being as clean as possible to try to avoid having cockroaches in one’s home.
Other than avoiding all the allergens mentioned above that are common during the Winter, there are various medications that can be utilized by allergy and asthma doctors DC locals trust to treat dust mites, mold, pet, and cockroach allergies. In addition to various antihistamines, decongestants, nasal sprays, and allergy eye drops, allergy shots (i.e., allergy injections, allergy immunotherapy, allergy desensitization) are a very effective tool that board certified allergists use to treat people with these allergies. Allergy shots are efficacious in 80-85% of the individuals that take them. Allergy immunotherapy has been used in the U.S. to treat asthma and allergies for more than a century. The typical length of therapy is 3-5 years.
The board certified allergy doctors at Black & Kletz Allergy have been diagnosing and treating asthma and allergies for more than 50 years in the Washington, DC, Northern Virginia, and Maryland metropolitan area. Our offices are conveniently located in Washington, DC, McLean, VA (Tysons Corner, VA), and Manassas, VA. Each office has on-site parking. The Washington, DC and McLean, VA offices are Metro accessible and there is a free shuttle that runs between our McLean, VA office and the Spring Hill metro station on the silver line. Please call for an appointment if you would like a consultation with one of our allergists, or alternatively, you can click Request an Appointment and we will respond within 24 hours by the next business day. Black & Kletz Allergy prides itself in providing quality allergy and asthma care to the Washington, DC metropolitan area community.
