Coping with Allergies Anywhere Guide

In the Breath Easy Plan, we make it easier for you to cope with your allergies and asthma 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, no matter where you are or what time of year.

In the Garden

If you're allergic to pollens, it's impossible, regardless of what anyone says, to plant an entirely "allergy-free" garden. Pollens can drift hundreds of miles from their original source as well as a few hundred feet from the garden next door. Still, there are some moves you can make in order to garden in relative comfort.

Take the right medications. During garden season, take a second-generation, nonsedating antihistamine every day even if you aren't having symptoms. You might also ask your doctor whether you're a good candidate for immunotherapy.

Wear the right equipment. That would be a face mask to filter pollen grains from the air before they hit your nose and mouth. You may feel silly, but wear one anyhow (consider it like wearing a helmet when riding a bike--unflattering, perhaps, but a mandatory safety practice). These days, you can find a variety of comfortable and effective face masks. If your eyes bother you, try goggles or wraparound sunglasses. And try smearing Vaseline inside your nose; it can help stop pollen and mold spores from settling on the lining of your nose.

Watch the clock. Pollens are at their worst in the afternoon during the spring and in the morning during the fall. So save your gardening for the time of day when they are at their lowest levels.

Check the weather. If it's windy and dry, stay inside. You're better off gardening on still, even sultry days when there is less airborne pollen. The best day is one that's misty, with just a bit of drizzle to keep down the dust and pollen.

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.

Bring extra drinking water. Having a large bottle of water on an airplane trip always proves useful. Even when the flight attendants are diligent in serving water, they give you very small cups.

At a Vacation Spot

Consider the season. Just as weather varies widely around the globe, so do regional allergy seasons. Check average pollen counts for your destination before booking your trip.

See the medical sights. Make sure you know where the closest emergency medical facility is located--just in case.

Pick the right lodging. You're probably better off at a modern, sterile hotel than a cozy (and probably allergen heavy) bed-and-breakfast or inn. You also may do better staying in a hotel rather than in a friend or relative's home. Some hotels, for example, even have special allergy-free rooms, or allergy packs, including face masks, special pillows, and mattress covers.

Pick the right destination. Exploring damp, musty caves, or touring old, historic houses probably aren't the best vacations for you. How about the beach or the mountains, where the air is clearer? Or a cruise on the pollen-free open seas?

Use housekeeping services. Many hotels ask if they can change the sheets every other day or when you leave. That may be fine for most people, but someone with allergies needs clean sheets daily.

In Your Car

These days, we often treat our car like an extension of our home and office. We chat on the phone, check our e-mail, eat, even take naps. Since most cars are continually exposed to the elements, they can quickly become land mines when it comes to allergies and asthma. To keep yours as allergen-free as possible, follow this advice.

Sniff the air. If your car smells like dirty socks, you've probably got mold. Check the air-conditioning coil, the carpeting in the car and trunk, and that old blanket you threw in the backseat after watching your son's soccer game in the pouring rain.

Avoid air fresheners. The scent can exacerbate asthma.

Clean your car regularly. That means more than running it through the car wash. It means steam cleaning the carpeting and upholstery every couple of weeks (unless you have leather upholstery), regularly wiping down the interior with a damp cloth, and throwing out any trash daily.

Time your commute. If at all possible, avoid congested streets and rush-hour traffic that can emit high levels of fuel exhaust.

Keep the insides dry. Wet feet, spilled drinks, or a window left open throughout a rainy night can all be the catalyst for some serious mold. If your car's interior does get wet, do what you can to dry it quickly. Use towels to sop up the moisture, and a fan to evaporate the remaining dampness.

Eat elsewhere. A car full of crumbs, shriveled French fries, lettuce leaves from the burger, and apple cores in the ashtray is a car full of mold and bacteria.

Use the A.C. Even on cool days. And set the air conditioner's air flow switch to "recirculation." This combination minimizes the external pollen and dust that comes into the car.

At Work

Numerous chemicals and odors in office buildings can trigger allergy or asthma attacks, particularly given today's sealed-tight office environments. Additionally, some office equipment, such as photocopiers, computers, fax machines, and printers, give off ozone and other irritants that can exacerbate asthma.

The Occupational Safety & Health Administration estimates that 11 million workers are exposed to some 200 substances associated with occupational asthma, and about 15 percent of "disabling" cases of asthma are related to the workplace. If you fall into this category, you have two options: change jobs or change your environment. To create a healthier work environment, make the following moves:

Treat your work space like your home. Identify the most likely sources of allergens and irritants, and make as many improvements as your boss will allow.

Keep your space clean. Piles of paper, books, tools, and product samples cause two problems. First, they attract dust and allergens; second, they prevent the cleaning staff from doing their jobs thoroughly.

Clear away food and drink. Old cups of coffee, bagel crumbs on the floor, a half-eaten sandwich left overnight on your desk all contribute to dirt, mold, and a generally unhealthy atmosphere.

Speak up. Don't be afraid to talk to your boss if, say, a co-worker's perfume or office environment makes you wheeze. The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, which requires employers to take reasonable measures to accommodate employees with special health issues and disabilities, covers asthma.

Winter Warnings

Bundle up your face. Wear a scarf or face mask over your nose and mouth on very cold days to warm the air you breathe. And wrap your face before you head outside--all it takes is a few full breaths of raw, cold air to set off an attack. If cold air is a trigger for your asthma, try taking a dose of your inhaler 10 minutes before heading outside.

Take it slowly. If you live in a snowy locale, you know that the mere act of walking outside during winter can be tough exercise. So if you are susceptible to exercise-induced asthma attacks, be particularly careful as you walk, shovel snow, or play. Start your activity slowly, and only increase exertion if your body has responded without any sign of stress after at least 15 minutes of activity.

Spring Storms

Watch out for rain. If thunderstorms are predicted, try to stay indoors in the air conditioning. At the very least, keep all your windows closed. Studies find that airborne fungal spores nearly double during thunderstorms, significantly aggravating asthma.

Get rid of the rot. No matter how well you cleaned up four months earlier, spring--particularly in snowy areas--reveals the allergy-inducing remains of the past autumn: rotted leaves, crumpled flower remains, broken branches, fallen pinecones. Rain and warmer weather can turn all the organic waste into a haven for mold and mildew.

Summer Smog

Pay attention to ozone. Ozone tends to be worst during the May-to-October "smog season," so try to limit outdoor activities on bad ozone days. Most municipalities now issue smog or ozone alerts during the summer when the air is particularly bad.

Beware of hot air. For some people, hot, dry air can be as irritating to the lungs as icy, cold air. If the temperature exceeds 85 degrees, be cautious as you go about your outdoor business. If your lungs start responding poorly to the hot air, get back inside.

Autumn Alerts

Hands off the leaves. Ideally, have someone else pick up your leaves, which harbor mold and other allergens. If that's not possible, buy a leaf blower. By blowing the leaves rather than raking them, you'll come into less contact with the mold that wet leaves can harbor. And wear a face mask to filter the air.

Clean out the garden. Cut down old perennials and rake out dead leaves and plants. The more air that circulates, the less mold is likely to develop.

Do a fall cleaning--inside. Why wait until spring to do a thorough home cleaning? Instead, do a preemptive top-to-bottom cleaning each October. Get your home in the best shape possible for several months of comfortable, allergen-free nesting.