Seasonal, or outdoor, allergies can cause you to sneeze, sniffle and generally feel like you’ve just been whacked with a pollen-filled pillow over and over again. But while you may want to pack it in for the season, camp out on your sofa and live off of a vat of homemade chicken soup – there’s work to be done, exercise to be had and great experiences that lie just outside (yikes… OUTSIDE!) your door.
So how can seasonal allergy sufferers cope with their symptoms and still have a great time doing the things they love? Try these seven simple tips for making it through the season of sneezing – while still having fun.
- Use a saline spray or a neti pot for some quick nasal clearing and a bit of relief.
- Drink plenty of water. This will help you stay hydrated, thin your nasal secretions and help ease the discomfort brought on my sinus issues.
- Take a hot bath or a steamy shower after you get back from outdoor activities. This will help open the sinuses, promote drainage and help relieve some of your sinus pressure – not to mention send the pollen on your body directly down the drain.
- Check the pollen report and avoid areas packing the biggest punch. Is it a gorgeous day in a valley, but the mountains are swimming in pollen? Take a hike in the valley and leave the mountains for another day.
- Concentrate on breathing through your nose, not your mouth – because your nose filters incoming air and helps keep allergens out.
- Vary your workouts to take advantage of reduced-pollen areas. For instance, if you usually golf, but like tennis, spend at least part of allergy season on a clay or cement court instead of the links.
- Plan outdoor activities when pollen counts are at their lowest (Hint, pollen generally peaks from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and in the early evenings, so become an early bird.)
One last tip: Consider the virtues of a low-pollen garden. Some ground covers, like myrtle and ivy, are just as beautiful as grass but non-pollenating. And azaleas and some fruit trees and shrubs produce heavier pollen that doesn’t get blown about in the wind.
Talk to the experts at your local garden center about which plants are right for your environment – and while you’re there, be sure to pick up a microfiber mask.
Tina Rose writes for RealAge.com, a health and wellness website focusing on helping those with environmental allergies, and providing health tips to help you live life to the youngest.
