Spring is approaching, and it’s a great time of the year to head outdoors and do some jogging. The big problem for many people is the heavy pollen in the air that can cause miserable seasonal allergies. If you suffer from seasonal allergies, don’t let this keep you from getting the fresh air and exercise you need. There are precautions you can take to keep your allergy symptoms from getting in the way of your outdoor workout routine.

Monitor Pollen Levels
Planning your outdoor workout for times of the day when pollen counts are not so high can help. Ragweed and grass produce some of the highest levels of pollen, and it pays to avoid the outdoors when their levels are at their highest. For instance, grass pollen counts peak in the late afternoon and early evening hours. Ragweed pollen counts are at their highest during the early afternoon hours—schedule outdoor workouts to avoid the times of the day when pollen counts are at their highest.

Reduce Bodily Exposure to Pollen
Whatever you do, don’t bring pollen back into your home on your skin or clothes. You might transfer the pollen on your skin and clothing to your furniture and never experience any relief from your symptoms. This is one of the reasons it’s so essential for allergy sufferers to bathe immediately after returning home from an outdoor workout.

It might also help to cover your hair with a hat or some other head covering to minimize your exposure to pollen. Grains of pollen can land on your skin, nose, and eyes, so protecting your eyes with sports goggles or sunglasses is a good idea. If you wear glasses, you can purchase an elastic band from most pharmacies to keep the lenses on your glasses close to your eyes as you move.

Know When to Take Allergy Medications
Some allergy medications can make you sleepy and tired, and this can get in the way of a good workout. While it’s best to take allergy medications before the symptoms show up, you might want to wait until after your outdoor workout before taking them. You can also talk with your doctor about non-drowsy prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) allergy medication options.