Outdoor Protection
Avoiding Outdoor Allergens. The following are some recommendations for avoiding allergens outside:
- Start taking allergy medications 1 or 2 weeks before ragweed season begins. Be sure to take allergy medications before going outside. If regular medications do not work, ask your doctor about allergy shots.
- Camping and hiking trips should not be scheduled during times of high pollen count (May and June for grass pollen and September to October for ragweed).
- Patients who are allergic should avoid barns, hay, raking leaves, and mowing grass. (A mask can be worn during outdoor chores to help reduce pollen exposure.)
- Sunglasses can help prevent pollen from getting into eyes.
- After being outdoors, clean off pollen residue by bathing, washing hair and clothes, and using a nasal salt water rinse.
Dietary Factors
Some evidence suggests that people with allergic rhinitis and asthma may benefit from a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids (found in fish, almonds, walnuts, pumpkin, and flax seeds) and fruits and vegetables (at least five servings a day). Some studies also suggest reducing sodium, transfatty acids (hydrogenated fats found in commercial products and baked goods), and omega-6 fatty acids (found in most vegetable oils). Investigators are also studying probiotics -- so-called good bacteria, such as lactobacillus and bifidobacterium, which can be obtained in supplements.
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