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4 ways to get allergy-smart
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The more you know, the less you may sneeze
By Avril Roberts
 You're religiously popping pills and have hermetically sealed yourself in an air-conditioned space until the pollen settles, but the sneezing and itching aren't totally gone. What else can you do to get a better grip on your seasonal allergy symptoms? Knowledge may be the best medicine, and here are some little known facts to add to your arsenal for greater relief.
1. Know your non-allergy triggers
You know you’re allergic to grass, tree, or ragweed pollen, so why are other things bugging you, too?
Recent findings from the University of Washington in Seattle show that when your airways are already irritated or inflamed by allergens, other sources, such as cold air, perfume, dust, cigarette smoke, and household cleaning products, can trigger your allergy symptoms.
"These irritants probably work on nerve endings in the nose," says Dr. Susan Waserman, an allergist and associate professor of medicine in the Division of Clinical Immunology and Allergy at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ont. "People with allergies appear to be more predisposed, but if you treat your allergies with appropriate medication, then the tendency to react to these irritants is better as well."
2. Stop eating pollen
Surprise, surprise – food allergy symptoms can actually be related to a seasonal pollen allergy in some individuals.
If your lips, mouth, or throat sometimes itch and burn shortly after eating certain foods, it may be ‘oral allergy syndrome’. It's an allergic reaction that some people with pollen allergies have to various proteins found in the skin and flesh of some fruits, vegetables and tree nuts, which closely resemble some proteins in pollen. For example, there are proteins in raw apples that are close to those in birch pollen. "These fruit proteins are 60-70 per cent homologous (similar), so the antibodies that your body directs against birch pollen set off the reaction with the fruit," says Dr. Charles Frankish, an Ottawa allergist and president of the Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
What to do? Try cooking the fruit or vegetable -- it eliminates the allergic reaction. Zap it in the microwave, bake it, or can it. "When you change the shape of the protein, the antibody no longer recognizes it as a problem," says Dr. Frankish. Or if handling a food causes a rash, wear gloves. Also, see your doctor or allergist for a proper assessment.
Pollen-food cross-reactions
| Birch pollen | apples, peaches, pears, cherries, nectarines, plums | | | carrots, celery | | | tree nuts – almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts | | Grass pollen | melons – watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew; tomatoes; oranges | | Ragweed pollen | bananas, melons | | Mugwort pollen | celery, melons |
3. Time your meds right
When you take your various allergy medications can affect how much relief you'll get with them. Dr. Frankish offers some advice on timing allergy medications for the fullest relief.
Antihistamines act quickly but they work best when used for several days in a row. Take antihistamines every day during pollen season to minimize or prevent symptoms.
Corticosteroid nasal sprays, especially some of the newer prescription ones, generally start to work within 12 to 24 hours but take several days for maximum benefit. Start your nasal spray about a week before the pollen season starts for the best results.
Prescription eye drops (which include "antihistamines" and "mast cell stabilizers") work best when used regularly for severe eye itching but can be used as needed for occasional itching.
4. Consider your air care
Some people swear by air purifiers to clear the air of allergens and irritants, but how much do they help?
"Some air purifiers are fairly good at removing irritants like cigarette smoke, while others can remove particles of pollen and cat hair," says Dr. Waserman. "How much they're able to remove depends on the size of the particle, the length of time it remains airborne, and the volume of air the cleaner can pull through its filters." Avoidance measures work well too, and without the big price tag.
Allergy-Free TravelBooked a summer getaway? Make your journey and destination easier to handle:
• Travel in the early morning or late evening -- less traffic means better air quality.
• Turn on the air conditioner for at least 10 minutes before entering the car, to remove dust mites and moulds.
• Drive with the car windows closed and the air conditioning on.
• Ask for non-smoking or allergy-free hotel rooms.
• Take an antihistamine four hours in advance for maximum relief of cat or dog allergy symptoms, if you visit friends who have pets.
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