Tools & Resources
- Think You Have a Food Allergy?
- Essential Items for Allergy Relief
- Pets and Allergies
- Allergies: Myths vs. Facts
- Controlling Home Allergies
- Allergies in the Workplace
Step 1 of 6
Action Set
Allergies: Avoiding Outdoor Triggers
Allergic rhinitis causes symptoms of sneezing, congestion, and a runny nose. But you can control these symptoms with medicine and by avoiding the things that cause them (allergens). If you are allergic to outdoor allergens, such as pollen and mold, you don't have to give up an outdoor life. You just need to know when and how to take precautions.
By taking these precautions, you may have fewer or less severe symptoms.
How can I avoid exposure to outdoor allergens?
Up Next in This Action Set:
How can I avoid exposure to outdoor allergens?
Step 4 of 6
Action Set
Avoid pollen
The following steps can help you avoid pollens. These tips can help you even if you don't know what type of pollen you are allergic to. If you do know, you can fine-tune them for that type of pollen.
- Stay inside when pollen levels are high.Watch local weather reports forpollen counts in your area. In general, the pollencounts are lowest just after sunrise. They then begin to increase and areusually highest at midday and throughout the afternoon. They begin to decreasearound sunset.
- Keep windows and doors closed, both during the dayand at night. Use air conditioning to help lower the amount of pollen that getsinside your house. Do not use a fan with an open window, as this can bring morepollen into your home.
- Mow your grass often. If possible, have afamily member or friend do it for you. If this is not possible, useantihistamines before you mow, and wear a pollen ordust mask while you mow.
- Avoid bringing pollen back into your homewhen you go outdoors.
- Take a shower and change clothing after you work or play outside.
- Dry your clothes in a vented dryer. Do not dry them outside on a clothesline.
- Take your vacation during the peak of thepollen season in a place where the plants you are allergic to don'tgrow.
Avoid mold
Mold may cause allergies that get worse in damp weather. Mold also produces spores that move around in outdoor air during warmer months. To avoid contact with mold spores:
- Avoid going outside on rainy or windy dayswhen mold spores may be in the air.
- Avoid activities that exposeyou to molds, such as gardening (especially working with compost), mowing thelawn, or raking leaves.
- Remove excess leaves, grass clippings, andcompost from the areas close to your home.
- Keep rain gutters anddrains clear of leaves and other debris, and make sure the water fromdownspouts flows away from the house.
- Use products available inauto supply stores to reduce mold that can develop in your car airconditioner.
Return to Allergies: Avoiding Outdoor Triggers
Up Next in This Action Set:
Step 6 of 6
Action Set
See More Popular Action Sets
ByHealthwise Staff
Primary Medical ReviewerE. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine
Specialist Medical ReviewerRohit K Katial, MD - Allergy and Immunology