AVOIDING ALLERGENS

AVOIDING ALLERGENS

from the article "How to Avoid an Allergy Attack"

Don’t Let the High Pollen Count Bring On Seasonal Symptoms
By Leigh Leveen, Special to Lifescript
Published March 18, 2011

Avoiding Allergens

Here are 10 more things you can do to minimize your pollen exposure and reduce symptoms, according to allergist Tubiolo and UCLA’s Rachelefsky.

1. Don’t track in allergens. They can attach to your shoes. Cut down on indoor particles by parking shoes outside your door.

2. Change often. After spending time outdoors, change your clothes and put the dirty ones in the hamper.

3. Don’t wait till morning to shower. Showering when you get home erases any allergens you brought with you. This also helps keeps pollen out of your bedroom – a prime spot for allergens of all kinds.

4. Clear the air. To remove even tiny particles from the air, use air purifiers with HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filters. Keep them running continuously, and change filters according to manufacturer’s instructions.

You should also use high-quality filters in your vacuum cleaner, air conditioner and furnace to keep the air in your home as allergy free as possible.

5. Shut your doors and windows. A HEPA purifier can’t keep up if you’re constantly letting in allergen-filled outdoor air. If you need fresh air, open windows in the evening when pollen counts are lower.

6. Wait to go outside. Schedule outdoor time when the pollen count is lower – cool afternoons and evenings are your best bet. Be careful on hot, windy days and after a rain, when the air may be full of allergens.

And find someone else to mow your lawn or rake leaves, both of which can stir up pollen.

7. Keep track of pollen levels. The AAAAI’s National Allergy Bureau reports on pollen and mold levels around the country. Check it (or sign up for email alerts) to learn about high-allergen days when it’s better to stay indoors.

8. Change your workout schedule. Don’t avoid exercise just because you fear an allergy attack, Tubiolo advises.

But be smart about it: Schedule hikes and other outside exercise late in the day, and check the pollen count first. During peak season, take allergy medication before any outdoor activity, Tubiolo says.

Or find activities you can do indoors, such as swimming, basketball, weightlifting or yoga.

9. Protect your lungs. Pollution, fireplace smoke, dust and tobacco smoke have an adverse effect on your respiratory tract. These irritants will likely increase your susceptibility to seasonal allergies, Rachelefsky says, so avoid them as much as possible.

10. Travel wisely. Don’t let allergies sideline your vacation.

Use a pollen tracker to find destinations with the lowest counts. For example, heading to the beach or taking an ocean cruise probably won’t result in allergy attacks.

If you take a road trip, keep the windows and vents closed and the air conditioning on so that you breathe clean, dry air. (Worried about fuel consumption? Air conditioning gobbles gas, but so does driving with the windows down. And at highway speeds, there isn’t much difference, according to the Stanford University School of Earth Sciences.)

Take Your Medicine

It’s virtually impossible to avoid all allergens – which means you need medications in your allergy arsenal, Rachelefsky says.

“The best, first line of defense for an allergy attack is over-the-counter antihistamines, or an antihistamine/decongestant combination,” he says.

Antihistamines work by blocking your immune-system’s itchy and sneezy reactions, while decongestants reduce swollen tissue in the nose and elsewhere.

“Non-sedating antihistamines, such as Claritin (loratadine) and Zyrtec (cetirizine), offer relief from three of the four major symptoms of allergic rhinitis: sneezing, itching, watery eyes and runny nose,” Rachelefsky says.

Some sufferers also swear by natural remedies, such as saline nasal rinses that wash away allergens. (For more information, read How to Survive Your Allergies.)

After an allergy specialist determines exactly what your triggers are, you get a series of injections with a vaccine containing extracts of those allergens.

Eighty to 90% of patients experience dramatic improvements in their symptoms, Ellis says.
To learn more about seasonal allergies, visit our new Respiratory Health Center.

MY THOUGHTS

that's quite a list. but if i have pollen allergy, i will follow all 10.  plus the meds.  as i said, it can cause a huge amount discomfort. it's good to know there are ways to overcome this medical problem.