Actionsets help people take an active role in managing a health condition.  Allergies: Avoiding outdoor triggers

What? - What is the medical information or key concepts related to the action? What do I do first?

To avoid allergens, you need to know what you are allergic to. If you are allergic to outdoor pollens, you may have symptoms only at certain times of the year. If you have symptoms in:

  • Winter and spring, you are probably allergic to tree pollens.
  • Summer, you are probably allergic to grass and weed pollens.
  • Late summer and fall, you probably are allergic to ragweed or other weed pollens, such as tumbleweed or sage.

Always talk to your doctor about your symptoms. He or she can help you find out what allergens are causing them and where and when they are likely to be worse. When you know this, you can find ways to avoid the allergens.

For example, you may be allergic to a type of pollen that is present in a certain season or at a certain time of day. You can then decide when and how to avoid contact with these allergens while outdoors and how to prevent them from entering your home.

Test Your Knowledge

  1. To avoid allergens, you need to:

    1. Identify what you are allergic to.
    2. Determine when and where you are likely to be exposed to allergens.

Continue to Why? - Why the action is important? Why should I avoid outdoor allergens?
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Author: Debby Golonka, MPHLast Updated: August 8, 2007
Medical Review: Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine
Harold S. Nelson, MD - Allergy and Immunology

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