Healthy Traveling With Allergies
by
Mary Calvagna, MS
Be aware that a vacation can actually trigger an allergy attack because it often brings a change in climate, foliage, and accommodations. While you cannot allergy-proof your vacation, you can take steps to minimize the effects that allergies may have on you. Before You Leave TOPResearch where and when you want to take your vacation. This way, you can select a time and place that will not make your allergies worse. Consider these tips when you are making your plans:
No matter how you travel, there are ways to minimize your exposure to allergens on your way to paradise. Traveling by Car TOPHitting the open road? Follow these simple steps can make your car allergy-friendly:
That covers the ground, now tips for the air... Traveling by Plane TOPWhen you take to the sky, follow these guidelines to make your trip easier:
You made it this far. Find out how to make your hotel room experience more pleasant. At the Hotel TOPDust mites and molds can live in the carpet, bedding, and upholstered furniture in a hotel room. There are some things you can do to decrease your chances of having these irritants in your room.
At Your Destination TOPWhen you have arrived and checked in to your hotel, it is still important to be vigilant about controlling your allergies. Try to have a flexible schedule that can accommodate your allergies. On some days, you may have to change your plans depending on the severity of your symptoms. Make sure to keep track of the local pollen count. For days with higher allergen counts, consider an indoor activity like touring an art museum or visiting a historical building. Ask the hotel’s concierge for some fun tourist attractions that are in areas that are pollen-free and allergy friendly. And remember to have fun—you are on vacation! RESOURCES:American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology http://www.aaaai.org American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery http://www.entnet.org CANADIAN RESOURCES:Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology http://csaci.ca Public Health Agency of Canada http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca References:Avoid allergy and asthma triggers and keep the "bah humbug" out of your holidays. American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology website. Available at: ...(Click grey area to select URL) Accessed October 25, 2016. Gehring U, de Jongste JC, Kerkhof M, et al. The 8-year follow-up of the PIAMA intervention study assessing the effect of mite-impermeable mattress covers. Allergy. 2012;67(2):248-256.
Terreehorst I, Hak E, Oosting AJ, et al. Evaluation of impermeable covers for bedding in patients with allergic rhinitis.
NEJM.
2003(3):349:237-246.
Travel tips for people with asthma. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at: ...(Click grey area to select URL) Accessed October 25, 2016. Traveling with allergies. Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America website. Available at: ...(Click grey area to select URL) Updated September 2015. Accessed October 25, 2016. Last reviewed October 2016 by Michael Woods, MD Last Updated: 10/25/2015 |
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