Allergies: Avoiding Outdoor Triggers
Introduction
Allergic rhinitis
causes symptoms of sneezing, congestion, and a runny nose. But
you can control these symptoms with medicine and by avoiding the things that
cause them (allergens). If you are allergic to outdoor allergens,
such as pollen and mold, you don't have to give up an outdoor life. You just
need to know when and how to take precautions.
By taking these
precautions, you may have fewer or less severe symptoms.
To avoid allergens, you need to
know what you are allergic to. If you are allergic to outdoor pollens, you may
have symptoms only at certain times of the year. If you have symptoms
in:
- Spring, you are probably allergic to
tree pollens.
- Summer, you are probably allergic to grass and weed
pollens.
- Late summer and fall, you probably are allergic to
ragweed or other weed pollens, such as tumbleweed or sage.
Always talk to your doctor about your symptoms. He or she
can help you find out what allergens are causing them and where and when they
are likely to be worse. When you know this, you can find ways to avoid the
allergens.
For example, you may be allergic to a type of pollen
that is present in a certain season or at a certain time of day. You can then
decide when and how to avoid contact with these allergens while outdoors and
how to prevent them from entering your home.
Test Your Knowledge
To avoid allergens, you need to:
-
Identify what you are allergic to.
Both answers are correct.
To be successful at avoiding outdoor allergens,
you need to work with your doctor to find out what you are allergic to, such as
grass or tree pollen or molds. You need to know when and where you are likely
to have contact with them, so that you know when to take steps to avoid
them.
-
Determine when and where you are likely to be exposed
to allergens.
Both answers are correct.
To be successful at avoiding outdoor allergens,
you need to work with your doctor to find out what you are allergic to, such as
grass or tree pollen or molds. You need to know when and where you are likely
to have contact with them, so that you know when to take steps to avoid
them.
-
Continue to Why?
By avoiding or
reducing your contact with outdoor allergens, you may be able to:
- Reduce your allergy symptoms and feel much
better.
- Manage your allergy symptoms without medicine or with fewer
medicines.
- Reduce your risk of developing
complications of long-term (chronic) allergic
rhinitis, such as
sinusitis.
Test Your Knowledge
You should try to avoid outdoor allergens
because:
-
This may reduce your allergy symptoms.
Both answers are correct.
This is true. Controlling allergens and reducing your contact
with them can help reduce your allergy symptoms. This may make it easier for
you to manage your symptoms without medicine or with fewer medicines.
-
You may be able to take fewer allergy
medicines.
Both answers are correct.
This is true too. Controlling allergens and reducing your contact
with them can help reduce your allergy symptoms. This may make it easier for
you to manage your symptoms without medicine or with fewer medicines.
-
Continue to How?
Avoid pollen
The following steps can help you
avoid pollens. These tips can help you even if you don't know what type of
pollen you are allergic to. If you do know, you can fine-tune them for that
type of pollen.
- Stay inside when pollen levels are high.
Watch local weather reports for
pollen counts in your area. In general, the pollen
counts are lowest just after sunrise. They then begin to increase and are
usually highest at midday and throughout the afternoon. They begin to decrease
around sunset.
- Keep windows and doors closed, both during the day
and at night. Use air conditioning to help lower the amount of pollen that gets
inside your house. Do not use a fan with an open window, as this can bring more
pollen into your home.
- Mow your grass often. If possible, have a
family member or friend do it for you. If this is not possible, use
antihistamines before you mow, and wear a pollen or
dust mask while you mow.
- Avoid bringing pollen back into your home
when you go outdoors.
- Take a shower and change clothing after
you work or play outside.
- Dry your clothes in a vented dryer. Do
not dry them outside on a clothesline.
- Take your vacation during the peak of the
pollen season in a place where the plants you are allergic to don't
grow.
Avoid mold
Mold may cause allergies that get worse
in damp weather. Mold also produces spores that move around in outdoor air
during warmer months. To avoid contact with mold spores:
- Avoid going outside on rainy or windy days
when mold spores may be in the air.
- Avoid activities that expose
you to molds, such as gardening (especially working with compost), mowing the
lawn, or raking leaves.
- Remove excess leaves, grass clippings, and
compost from the areas close to your home.
- Keep rain gutters and
drains clear of leaves and other debris, and make sure the water from
downspouts flows away from the house.
- Use products available in
auto supply stores to reduce mold that can develop in your car air
conditioner.
Test Your Knowledge
Which of the following are steps you can take to avoid
pollen?
-
Staying inside when pollen levels are
high
This answer is correct.
Watch local weather reports for pollen counts
in your area. The pollen count is usually highest around midday and throughout
the afternoon.
-
Opening your windows to let in fresh air
This answer is incorrect.
Try to keep pollen from getting inside your
home. Keep the windows and doors closed, both during the day and at night. Use
air conditioning instead of opening windows.
-
Taking an antihistamine medicine
This answer is incorrect.
While an antihistamine may help relieve your
allergy symptoms, it will not help you avoid contact with the pollens that
cause your allergy.
-
Which of the following is a good way to avoid
molds?
Continue to Where?
Talk with your doctor
If you have questions
about this information, take a printout with you when you visit your doctor.
You may want to mark areas or make notes where you have questions. Your doctor
may have more ideas on how to avoid contact with outdoor allergens.
Return to topic:
Credits
|
By
|
Healthwise Staff |
|
Primary Medical Reviewer
|
E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine |
|
Specialist Medical Reviewer
|
Rohit K Katial, MD - Allergy and Immunology |
|
Last Revised
|
June 30, 2011 |
Last Revised:
June 30, 2011