Summer Allergy Tips

Allergies can spoil summer fun and vacations, as symptoms like a runny nose or itchy eyes can inhibit one’s ability to live life to the fullest. However, these symptoms can be lessened or prevented outright with informed allergy management strategies.

The biggest culprits that cause allergy symptoms during the summer months are grass and weed pollens. For instance, ragweed pollen allergies affect approximately 15 percent of people according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, and many people have allergies to common grasses in the United States. Here are a few tips for living with summer allergies and reducing the misery from pollen allergies when you travel:

• Find out which plants will be pollinating where you will be traveling. For example, Hawaii has grass pollination year-round. Southern states typically have the longest pollination period; grasses pollinate 10-11 months of the year in these regions.

• Know when the plants that trigger your allergies are in bloom, and avoid visiting at that time of year. Time your trip to coincide with low levels of pollen.
• If traveling by car, keep the windows closed, and use the air conditioner.
• After returning from outdoors, shower, wash your hair and change your clothing.
• Plan ahead and fill your allergy and asthma prescriptions before leaving home.
• If you have a severe allergy to bees, wasps, hornets, fire ants and other insects, wear long sleeves, pants and socks when outdoors, and be careful near outdoor garbage cans, where yellow jackets often congregate.

Learn about our fall allergy tips here.