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Ways to ease autumn's annoying allergies

Plan ahead to minimize the misery and enjoy the season.

I love late summer and early fall. The drop in mercury makes it a great time to be outdoors -- unless you're one of the 36 million Americans who suffer from seasonal allergies. If so, then the season probably is filled with sneezing, congestion, a runny nose and itchy eyes instead of observations about nature's majesty. But it doesn't have to be that way. I know, because I'm one of the allergy sufferers.

An effective strategy against many allergens is avoidance; by steering clear of an offending agent, you may stay symptom-free. But ragweed, for example, is a nasty critter. A major cause of hay fever, it grows almost everywhere, and its pollen particles are tiny and light, so they're champion floaters. And the smaller and lighter an allergen is, the more likely it is to be spread over a wide area. According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, one ragweed plant can produce more than a billion particles covering up to 400 miles! So don't think that because you keep your yard nicely groomed and free of ragweed, you're home free.

Avoiding exposure is difficult, so try changing your tactics. For starters, monitor the outdoor air. Go to aaaai.org and click on "Pollen Counts" to find out about conditions in your area. That way, you can determine which days may be better for gardening, exercise and other outdoor activities.

Next, develop a strategy in consultation with your doctor. Too many people wait until the onset of symptoms before doing something to ease the irritation (my wife will tell you I've been guilty of that). If you wait until you feel lousy before you start receiving treatment, it will take a period of "catch up" before you begin to feel better.

So don't delay. Fall comes around every year, and ragweed comes with it. Don't think for a second that, somehow, this year you won't get sick. Although I do believe in miracles, chances are that if you've been miserable during this season in the past, you won't escape ragweed's wrath again this year.

Be proactive. Your individual treatment strategy will depend on several factors, including the intensity of your symptoms and your own preferences for medical help -- such as whether you favor pills, inhalers or shots.

Enjoying the outdoors is something more of us should do. Don't let ragweed get in your way. Now if you'll excuse me, it's time for me to get my allergy shot.

Tedd Mitchell, M.D., president and medical director of Dallas' Cooper Clinic, writes HealthSmart every week.

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