Ringing ears

Q:For the past few weeks, I’ve been waking up with swollen and itchy eyes. When I went to the eye doctor, she said nothing was wrong, but I need relief! What can I do?

A:Puffy eyes in the morning often point to allergies, and right now, when we’re spending so much time indoors, dust mites are a likely culprit. These critters are too small to see with the naked eye, but they feed off dead skin cells and pet dander and thrive in temperatures around 70°F. That makes our homes an inviting environment, where they live in bedding, furniture and carpeting. In fact, British researchers found that by the time a pillow is two years old, at least 10% of its weight is comprised of dead dust mites and their waste.

For immediate relief of your symptoms, try placing a cooled gel mask or wet washcloth over your eyes for five minutes after you wake up. If that doesn’t help, taking an antihistamine or using over-the counter antihistamine eye drops can help.

To eliminate the puffiness for good, I suggest that you replace your pillow if it’s more than two years old and vacuum carpets thoroughly at least once a week—especially in your bedroom. Also smart: Consider using cotton or microfiber pillowcases and mattress covers, which prevent dust mites from accumulating where you sleep. When looking for allergy bedding, choose brands with a “pore size” (the space between the threads) of less than 6 microns to effectively block dust mites.

Finally, I advise washing bedding weekly in hot water, which is more effective than cold water at killing mites. Keeping your shades open during the day can also reduce your exposure by letting in sunlight—a strategy that University of Oregon researchers say can slash dust mites’ reproductive abilities in half.