
Coping with Seasonal Allergies
Reduce the devastating effects of airborne allergens on your life.
Sep 21, 2009
Jun 02, 2022
AllergiesPew Foundation Scholar in Nutrition and Metabolism
Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine
University of Maryland
Baltimore, MD
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While it's impossible to avoid airborne allergens entirely, (even moving to the desert won't necessarily help because you may develop new allergies to local plants) there are numerous things you can do to reduce their devastating effect on your life.
The first thing I tell my patients is to stop smoking, since smoking is a known allergy trigger. Then, implement as many of the following recommendations as you can.
Pollen. Check the pollen counts in the newspaper. Generally, pollen counts are worse in the early morning and on windy days. Take these steps to minimize exposure:
Dust Mites. The best way to reduce exposure to dust mites (microscopic arthropods that reside indoors) is to reduce the dust in your home:
Molds. If you're allergic to molds, avoid areas that harbor them including:
Animals. All pets can cause allergies, even Chihuahuas and so-called "hairless" cats. As many allergy experts say, "The best pet for someone with allergies is a goldfish." But, if you simply can't bear to find another home for your pet, you can:
Questions to Ask Your Health Care Professional about Allergies
1. Could an underlying medical condition cause my allergic symptoms?
2. Do I have any medical conditions that might limit my use of over-the-counter medications?
3. What are the side effects of the medications or treatments you're recommending? Will they interact with any other medications I'm taking?
4. How will you monitor my treatment? How long will it take to work?
5. Is my condition potentially dangerous? When should I seek professional medical care after an allergic reaction?
6. Where are some of the unexpected places I might encounter the substance I'm allergic to?
7. Should I be tested for allergy shots?