The smell of blooming flowers and freshly mowed grass signals the start of spring. For many of us, that means it’s time to get outside and enjoy our favorite sports. Whether you’re jogging through your neighborhood, biking around the city or playing soccer with friends at Laurel Park, spring offers endless opportunities to stay active and have fun. Unfortunately, if you’re among the more than 80 million people in the U.S. diagnosed with allergies[1], you might find that your spring sports come with some unwelcome players, or, in this case, symptoms.
Common Allergy Symptoms
Allergies to environmental substances like pollen and pet dander can cause a host of symptoms, including but not limited to:
- Sneezing
- Coughing
- Red or watery eyes
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Hives
Severe reactions, most common with insect stings and food allergies, may include:
- Swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Low blood pressure
- Fast pulse
- Wheezing or trouble breathing
Nobody wants coughing, hives and other more severe symptoms when they’re trying to have fun outside. Let’s look at a few ways you can minimize your risk of a bad reaction without giving up your favorite sports.
Allergy Management Tips
Take one or more of the following precautions to minimize your risk of an allergic reaction during your next spring activity:
- Cover up. If you’re sensitive to pollen, wearing long sleeves and pants can protect your skin from hives. Lightweight fabrics are a great way to minimize your risk of a reaction without leaving you overheated. If your eyes are sensitive, you might consider wearing goggles when you’re playing in the grass.
- Check the air quality. Check the air quality in St. Peters before you head outside. If the pollen count is high, you might want to reschedule for later in the day. The Weather Channel has a helpful pollen chart you can use.
- Take medication. Allergy medication offers short-term relief from your symptoms. Taking medication the night before is helpful for patients who tend to feel drowsy on antihistamines.
- Bring an EpiPen. An EpiPen, or epinephrine autoinjector, is an emergency medication used to treat anaphylaxis—a life-threatening allergic reaction. If you have severe allergies, especially to insect stings, always carry an EpiPen.
- Shower. After playing an outdoor sport, shower immediately. Make sure you wash your hair and face to remove any pollen or other allergens that clung to you while you were outside.
With a few of the above tips, you can enjoy every game, run or bike around town without an onslaught of symptoms. If daily allergy medication and allergen avoidance don’t offer enough relief, contact Midwest ENT Centre today to talk to one of our specialists about a long-term treatment option like immunotherapy.
[1] Allergy & Asthma Network. (n.d.). Allergy statistics. https://allergyasthmanetwork.org/allergies/allergy-statistics/