Travel Tips

Traveling with Allergies

Whether you're on a family holiday or a business trip, it can be a real inconvenience to develop a runny or stuffy nose or start sneezing when traveling away from home. And even if your nasal allergy symptoms are seldom severe at home, you never know how you may react in a new environment. To help make your time away more pleasant, here are some travel tips to keep in mind.

Pack Your Allergy Medication

Even if you aren't often bothered by nasal allergy symptoms at home, they can flare up when you're in a new place. Travel can expose you to allergens that can trigger your nasal allergies.

• Remember—always take your allergy medication with you when you travel
• Be sure to pack your nasal allergy medication in your purse or carry–on bag, so that you'll have it when you need it. Travel can be unpredictable

Pollen Allergy: Count on Pollen Wherever You Go

It may not be pollen season at home, but it may very well be pollen season where you're traveling. Check the pollen count before you leave.

• For an online map of fairly current pollen counts throughout the United States, visit www.aaaai.org or www.accuweather.com
• When you arrive at your new destination, turn on the Weather Channel or listen to local weather reports to get an accurate pollen count
• If you are allergic to pollen, be sure to sleep indoors in a room with air conditioning. If you're going to be staying in a hotel, call in advance to be sure that your room will be air–conditioned
• You may also want to avoid outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, and canoeing during seasons—or in areas—where pollen levels are highest
• Some locations, such as the seashore, tend to have lower pollen counts. So if you're thinking about taking a vacation away from home, plan carefully for both climate and location

Car Travel Can Expose You to Allergens

Don't let outdoor allergens into your car, if you can avoid it.

• Keep the car windows closed and run the air conditioner to prevent pollen and mold spores from coming in
• It's also a great idea to run the air conditioner or heater with the car windows open for about 10 minutes before heading off on a road trip. This may help to remove dust mites or molds that have built up in your ventilation system since you last used the car
• Traveling in the early morning or the evening, when air quality is usually better, may also be helpful

Allergens May Be Hiding in Your Hotel Room

Many people who travel spend a good deal of time in hotel rooms. Nasal allergy symptoms often flare up as a result, because allergens often lurk in hotel rooms.

• If you are allergic to mold spores, avoid using hotel closets and dresser drawers. Since mold spores grow in dark, damp areas, closets and dressers are common breeding grounds
• Carpets may also collect dust mites, pollen, and mold spores
• Research allergy friendly hotels and ask for a nonsmoking room if they are available
• You may also want to try to avoid rooms near the swimming pool, beach, or woods, since they are likely to have a higher concentration of molds or pollens

Don't Forget About Dust Mites, Cockroaches, and Pet Dander

• If you are allergic to dust mites, be sure to bring your own allergy–proof covers for pillows and mattresses. Allergy–proof cases may help keep dust mites away. Some hotels may have these covers available—it never hurts to ask when you're making your reservation
• If you're staying in a city, or your hotel is near a restaurant, you may not be able to avoid cockroaches. Many people with nasal allergies are particularly sensitive to cockroach droppings. If you have doubts about the cleanliness of your room, request another or don't unpack; just go elsewhere
• Request a room that has never had pets in it. Remember, animal dander can stick around long after a pet leaves the room

Help Make Airplane Travel More Pleasant

• Keep in mind that if you have an ear or sinus infection, high altitude can cause some discomfort. Be sure that you have talked to your doctor about your ear or respiratory problem before your trip so that you can treat it for several days prior to your plane ride
• When you're in the airport, beware of smoking lounges. Many airports have special areas that accommodate smokers before they board, so remember to steer clear of these lounges if you have nasal allergies
• Most airlines today do not allow smoking on the airplane, but if you're an international traveler on carriers that permit smoking, ask to be seated in the no smoking section. Cigarette smoke can worsen nasal allergy symptoms
• If you'll be crossing time zones, ask your doctor how to adjust your nasal allergy medication schedule, if needed

Use Caution Even When Visiting Family and Friends

When you travel to visit family and friends, you may be spending a great deal of time indoors in new environments, where you're exposed to many sources of irritants and allergens, such as these:

• Dust mites on holiday decorations and recycled gift wrap
• Molds on Christmas trees
• Wet leaves and logs that have collected mold, which may be used in wood-burning stoves
• Animal dander shed by family pets
• Local, seasonal pollens

If it's not pollen season where you live but you will be traveling to a high-pollen area, remember to take your nasal steroid for a week or two before your trip, because it can take that long for the nasal allergy medication to reach its maximum effect. Don't let a flare-up of your nasal allergy symptoms ruin your vacation. Carry your doctor's phone number with you in case you have a question, or if your nasal allergy symptoms become bothersome.