It’s that moment of the year when plant pollen production is increasing, and people who suffer from allergies are feeling the full effects. That’s particularly true if you enjoy working out and exercising outside. When you take a deep breath, as happens when exercising, pollen can cause coughing fits, gasping, and trigger an asthma attack. If you enjoy exercising outside, it might seem unimaginable to bypass allergy episodes when allergy season is at full strength. But there are some ways you can still get to exercise outdoors without surrendering to some of allergy season’s most discomfiting consequences. While allergies and exercise don’t always go well with each other, there are two key ways to safely get your exercise routine in when outdoors.
Allergies and Exercise: How to Workout with Allergies
Plan Your Exercise Activity to Coincide with Low Pollen Counts
Many have noticed that seasonal allergies can have more significant impacts at particular times throughout the day. Pollen totals from allergy-causing sources, like grass, ragweed, flowers, and trees, peak roughly about noontime. For instance, grass pollen is normally higher in the late afternoon into evening, and ragweed pollen starts to decline in the afternoon. It’s a good idea to plan your activity around your sensitivity; if you are more allergic to grasses, schedule your workouts for the morning and make sure to wear an activewear. If you are more affected by ragweed, wait until evening. The same is true for different times of the year. As the pollen and allergy count rise and fall throughout the year, adjusting your outdoor workout schedule with the seasons will help you avoid attacks during your workouts. If you are unsure precisely what you are allergic to, make sure to speak with your doctor about taking an allergy test. Knowing your sensitivities will ensure you can find the correct times to exercise outside.
Be Aware of Local Weather Patterns
Weather changes can drastically alter the local pollen counts. For instance, there’s more possibility that pollen will get blown around if it has been windy and dry. Conversely, during a rainstorm, lots of airborne pollen will get pulled down by rain; however, any wind that follows the storm can quickly dry out pollen and send it back up into the air. Rain activity can strike flowers and plants, loosening more pollen and allowing more to float away in the breeze when things dry out. Many allergy sufferers choose to do things like jogging directly after a rainstorm.
For asthmatics, humid or muggy weather can make it difficult to breathe while exercising despite how low the pollen count has dropped. If you know you’re susceptible to moist, humid air, try to hold off on your outdoor workout until everything dries out.
There are numerous options for keeping track of the allergen levels in your area. Local news outlets like television, newspapers, and phone apps, are all at your fingertips to help plan your outdoor workout routine. So if you suffer from allergies and exercise often, plan ahead to help you breathe.