ChickSpeak

If phrases like, “wild flowers,” ”blooming trees,” and “fresh-cut grass” make you cringe, odds are that you fall into one of two basic categories: A.) You’re a total grouch and summer buzz-kill, or B.)  You’re one of the many people who suffer from allergies.

For those of you who fall into the later category, the only thing we can do is direct you to our Distractions section and hope that you at least crack a smile;-) The rest of you however, can breath a bit easier with the following advice…

The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) offers the following suggestions for summer-time travelers:

• Before embarking on a long road trip, turn on the car’s air conditioner or heater and open the windows for at least 10 minutes before you get in the car. This will help clear out dust mites or molds that may be in the car’s climate control system.
• If you have pollen or mold allergies, close the car windows and use the air conditioning while you travel.
• You can reduce your exposure to air pollution by traveling early in the morning or in the evening, when air quality is better and there’s less heavy traffic.
• Try to get allergy-proof rooms at hotels. If you’re sensitive to molds, get a sunny, dry room away from indoor pools.
• If you have food allergies, be extremely cautious about eating airline or restaurant food, which may not list the ingredients. Always carry injectable epinephrine is case you have a severe allergic reaction.
• If you’re going on a long vacation, consider seeing an allergist/immunologist for a pre-trip physical.
• Air travel can cause significant pain for people with sinusitis, or a sinus or ear infection. If possible, delay flying. If you suffer severe sinus or ear pain while flying, take a short-acting oral decongestant or use a nasal spray decongestant about an hour before takeoff.
• The air in planes can be very dry, so use saline nasal spray once every hour to keep you nasal membranes moist.
• When packing for a trip, be sure to include all necessary medications. Bring more than you think you’ll need and store them in their original containers.

More information

The U.S. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences has more about asthma and allergy