I'm training for a triathalon in the Mid-Atlantic area, and the tree pollens have been unbelievable already this year.  Here are three things I do that help:

1.  I take Claritin 24 hour when I go to sleep, so that I don't have an allergy/sneezing attack first-thing in the morning.

2.  When I bike to work or home, I immediately do a sinus rinse at night when I get home to try to clean out latent pollen.  My wife got me using NeilMed's Sinus Rinse, but I know others who swear by NetiPot, also made by NeilMed.

3.  Wearing wrap-around glasses when biking is a must to keep pollen out of my eyes.  Again, a little more expensive than regular shades but helpful.

4.  This spring I tried using Nasonex proactively, starting to take it once a day in mid-March, rather than waiting for the worst of spring allergies.  On days that the pollen count is about 1,000, I don't know that it's made a huge difference - I need the Claritin as well, but overall, I'm finding that my allergies seem to get under control more.  We'll see.

5.  I've started to run in the early mornings.  I'm sort of a morning person, but I hate exercising early morning.  But it's a change I've had to make.  By the time the sun is out and it's midday, or late in the day, the pollen and the dust swirl from traffic is untenable.

6.  I change the air filters in the house once a month instead of once every three months.  The 3M Filtrete's seem to work the best, even though they're a little pricier at HomeDepot or Lowe's.

Good luck to everyone out there fighting allergies and trying to train and exercise.  It's tough.

Kathleen MacNaughton, Health Pro

4/ 8/10 4:44pm

Hi Anniston... Thanks for sharing your routine. You are doing everything exactly right. These are great suggestions!

 

Thanks,

Kathi

 

PS Good luck on your triathlon!