Seasonal allergies: cutting your exposure to pollen
Small habits reduce symptoms as much as some medicines
Dr. Émilie Garnier
Allergist
In simple terms
Timing outdoor activity and rinsing pollen off changes how bad your season is.
Why symptoms vary by hour
Pollen counts usually peak in the early morning and again in the late afternoon, and rise on dry windy days. Rain washes pollen out of the air, which is why symptoms often ease during and just after a shower of rain.
Practical exposure control
- Keep windows shut during peak hours; ventilate late evening
- Shower and change clothes after being outdoors
- Do not dry laundry outside during your pollen season
- Wear wraparound sunglasses; use a saline nasal rinse
- Check the local pollen forecast and plan runs accordingly
Treatment that works
A daily non-sedating antihistamine controls sneezing and itching. For blocked nose and eye symptoms, a steroid nasal spray is more effective, but it must be used every day for a week or two before judging it, and aimed away from the septum.
When to consider immunotherapy
If symptoms persist despite good treatment, or if the season disrupts sleep, work or school, allergen immunotherapy over three to five years can change the disease itself rather than just masking symptoms.
The words explained
Medical terms used above, in everyday language.
- Symptom
- A sign you can feel or see that something is wrong, like pain, tiredness or a rash.
- Immune system
- Your body's defence team: cells that fight germs and repair damage.
When should you see a doctor?
- Your symptoms last more than a few weeks or keep coming back.
- They get worse quickly, or stop you doing everyday things.
- You notice sudden pain, breathing trouble, fainting or bleeding — seek urgent care.
- You already take medication and want to change anything about it.
This article explains general health information. It does not replace advice from your own doctor.
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