Clean up properly. When you finish gardening, leave your shoes at the back door and immediately strip off your clothing and shower. Don't forget to wash your hair, or you could transfer pollens to your pillow when you go to bed. Toss your dirty clothes into the wash to avoid spreading pollens and other airborne allergens around the house.

On Airplanes

Ask the non-obvious questions. Call the airline and ask about its "pets onboard" travel policy. If it allows passengers to bring small dogs and cats into the cabin, insist that you be seated as far away as possible from anyone carrying an animal.

Leave early. Book the first flight of the day. You'll get a freshly cleaned plane.

Consider an upgrade. The fabric seats in economy class are the perfect haven for dust mites and other allergens. Seats in business class are often leather, making them much less hospitable to allergens.

Try a filtering face mask. If the highly processed and recy cled air on an airplane has triggered bad responses for you in the past, wear a mask.

Bring your medications. There's simply no more important advice we can give you, particularly in this time of airline delays, changes, and long waits. And pre-medicate before traveling--for example, take antihistamines on the morning of your flight and a puff of your inhaler before boarding the plane.

Pack properly. Add your own pillow and blanket to your carry-on bag for long flights, and take along your doctor's emergency phone numbers.