3) Keep the car windows up. When in your car, keep your windows up. If you can adjust your vent to re-circulate inter-compartment air, do it! Sorry, this also means keeping the sunroof closed.
4) Time outdoor activities properly. Try to avoid outdoor activities in the early and mid-morning hours. Pollen counts tend to be higher in the morning.
5) Take your antihistamines. If yard work is unavoidable, take your antihistamine at least two hours before going out if it is a once or twice daily pill. Consider wearing a dust mask and glasses while working. Remove your clothing and take a shower immediately after going back in the house.
6) Know your allergens. If you have some allergy symptoms during winter months you are probably allergic to dust mite, pets or mold spores. Indoor environmental controls may help you during the outdoor allergy seasons by reducing your response to these indoor triggers over night. Sometimes indoor triggers are more of a problem when the outdoor allergens pick up (a process called priming).
7) Wash out your nose. Keep some nasal saline around to rinse out your nasal passages two or three times a day when allergy symptoms are more active. Many people have discovered that sinus drainage and congestion is greatly reduced by once or twice daily nasal rinses with saline.
Consider seeing a board certified allergist if the above tips do not help. You need to identify specific allergy trigger factors and get advice on how to further reduce them. Your medications may also be adjusted to achieve better control. You may be a candidate for allergy shots if certain allergens cannot be avoided or if environmental controls and medications fail to work.
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Dr. Thompson is a board-certified allergist and belongs to a large single specialty group in downtown Chicago, and south Chicago suburbs. He has been in practice for 18 years and has conducted clinical research and published papers on asthma and allergy problems. Visit his blog: www.allergy-asthmacorner.com
