Exercise, which helps stimulate the cardiovascular system, is important for everyone. If you cut back on your exercise, you may end up gaining weight, feeling sluggish or getting the blues. You can stay in shape despite your allergies. Here are some tips for doing it safely:

• Don't exercise if you're sick or not feeling well.
• Be mindful of the type of exercise you do. Exercise that has stop-and-go activity tends to cause fewer problems for people with allergies because it causes less bronchial constriction, or tightening of the airways in the lungs, then continuous activity. No matter what exercise you choose, pay attention to your symptoms. If you start to feel wheezy or short of breath, take a break or slow down.
• Take weather conditions into account. If you can, exercise when pollen counts and pollution are low. Cold and dry or very dry weather can irritate the bronchial tubes. If it's freezing outside, work out indoors.
• Consider where you exercise. Choose a track over a freshly mowed field, for example. Don't jog or do other vigorous sports near heavy traffic areas where there is a great deal of exhaust from vehicles.
• If you have severe allergies to stinging insects, you'll need to take special precautions. Take along injectable epinephrine if you are exercising outdoors. Avoid wearing bright-colored clothing or strong perfumes or lotions that may attract stinging insects and increase your risk of being stung. Stay away from flower beds, flowering fields, bodies of water and other areas where stinging insects may be.