Knowing which pollen sets you off can help your physician customize your treatment.
Dr. Corn recommends seeing an allergist, who will run skin or blood tests.
“When an inhaled allergen gets into the nose, it releases histamines that irritate nerve endings.
Sneezing helps clear out the irritants,” he adds.
Allergies aren’t associated with fever, Dr. Berger says.
Gross but good to know.
Counts drop off by noon and are lowest in the evening.
After your run, jump out of your clothes and shower.
“It’s especially important to wash your hairit’s a pollen magnet,” Dr. Berger says.
That way, you won’t transfer pollen to your pillow.
Does your schedule demand you exercise before work?
Check conditions at Pollen.com and hit the gym on high-risk mornings.
The muggy South is sniffle central.
All three of these factors increase allergens in the home.
Your pooch picks up pollen outside.
Leave shoes and coats by the dooror at least set out a mat so visitors can wipe their feet.
Assuming your air conditioner has a good filter, it will keep allergens at bay.
(Do clean or replace the filter every two months.)
As for window fans?
Skip the humidifier, too; moisture traps pollen in the air and promotes mold, another instigator.
“Fresh” air can harbor millions of pollen grains during the spring.
And motoring along at 40 to 60 miles per hour, your car sucks them up like a vacuum.
Vacuum your car regularly; pollen gets comfy in car carpets and upholstered seats.
“Work on your bedroom,” Dr. Berger advises.
“You spend at least a third of your life in there.”
Remove curtains, books and plants, all notorious dust collectors.
He also suggests running a freestanding HEPA air cleaner with the windows closed.
(Homedics and Honeywell make versions.)
“They can generate ozone, a known lung irritant that can aggravate allergies,” he warns.
Choose a leather or vinyl chair.
Happily, flowers shouldn’t send you diving for the tissue box.
“Allergies are triggered by wind-pollinated plants.
In most cases, insects pollinate flowers,” Dr. Berger says.
Some fresh produce can trigger an itchy mouth or throat because its chemical makeup is similar to pollen.
“The body mistakes the fruit for pollen and creates a mild local reaction,” Dr. Sublett says.
If you’re allergic to trees, beware apples, peaches and pears.
Grass allergy sufferers could react to melons and celery.
As for honey, you may worry it could sicken you because it contains pollen.
If suffering persists, a doctor can prescribe a nasal spray or shots.
See you in the park.
Healthy Home Makeover: Clear Out Sneaky Spring Allergy Sources
