WASHINGTON — Finally. The beautiful weather is here. The sun is shining and the winter coat is in the closet.
You’re ready to grab your shades and spend the day outside …
Outside with those … flowers. And blossoming trees.
And ragweed.
Maybe you’ll spend the spring inside.
Pollen counts are spiking and as we move into the third and fourth week of summer, those counts are moving even higher, says Dr. Shaz Siddiqi with My Allergy Care.
While it may seem impossible to enjoy the outdoors this time of year, Siddiqi has tips to give allergy sufferers a fighting chance.
The first thing to do is check the pollen counts before leaving the house. This will give those affected by allergens an idea of what to expect and better plan outdoor activities. Pollens tend to peak between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m., so limiting outdoor exposure during those hours might be a good idea.
When it’s time to venture out, wearing sunglasses can help. For gardeners, a mask can offer some level of protection.
Allergy sufferers are also likely to need antihistamines or steroid-based nosesprays during the season.
Also, Siddiqi points out that the FDA recently approved some tablets that can be taken under the tongue for ragweed and pollen allergies.
Ultimately though, allergy shots are the best defense.
They actually work “to desensitize you to your allergies, so they’re actually working toward a cure rather than treating the systems,” says Siddiqi.
Since pollen is sticky, it’s good to hit the showers when coming in from outside as well as wiping down pets if they’ve been with you.
Inside, closing the windows and running the air conditioning is Siddiqi’s best advice. Using dust mite covers on bedding might add another layer of protection.
Relief of indoor allergens can be helped with air purifiers, the right medication and managing animal dander.
Above all, Siddiqi advises allergy sufferers to meet with allergists to make sure they’re on top of all medication refills and start them at least two weeks before the pollen season.
“You really want to use them every day through the pollen season to get the best benefit.”
My Allergy Care sponsors WTOP’s pollen count.
