Battling Allergies on the Road

Spring finally arrived! Well, sort of, in most places. One benefit of the eternal winter of 2018 was a temporary reprieve from many allergy symptoms. With warming temperatures and spring ready to burst, allergies will be out in full force. Even if your hometown is not too much of a trigger, you may find yourself traveling to a place that is. Since travel does not afford a lot of downtime to recover from a flare up, you might need to have more than just the usual Kleenex and Claritin on hand.

Luckily, there is a lot of solid advice online that deals precisely with this issue. WebMD recommends keeping on top of the pollen and mold counts at your destinations in order to make sure you pack enough medication. It is also important to keep medications in their original package in order to reduce hold-ups when passing through security and customs. Keep in mind many allergy medications are not readily available in certain countries. It is also recommended to bring saline solution with you because it keeps your nasal passages hydrated and less irritated when traveling in confined spaces like planes.

And lastly, choose your hotel room wisely. If you suffer from mildew issues, don’t get a room near the pool, but rather one that is sunny and dry. If you have pet allergies, do not stay in a hotel that allows them. The dander lingers and will irritate you. If dust is a concern, then bring the same pillowcases or protections you use at home.

If you suffer from asthma, consult the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. They offer detailed and life-saving tips.