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| Exercising with Allergies |
If you have allergies like I do, then you know that living with them is not any fun. Exercising when my allergies are acting up…even less fun.
With that being said, I didn't want to stop exercising, so I had to do a little research and spent a little time adjusting my workouts to make it through the tough allergy season.
I became an expert on tracking the high pollen days and limited my outdoor exercise on bad days. Working out indoors can be just as fun. If you are doing so in your own home, use an air purifier to help remove as many pollen spores as possible. If working out inside isn't an option for you, train later in the day on those peak pollen days. Pollen counts typically spike between 5 and 9 am. A side note for people with grass allergies: people are less likely to mow their lawns in the early morning or late evening, so go out for your run then!
You can also use prescription or over-the-counter allergy medications before you exercise. Before you do this, check with your doctor. Some people get relief with a medicine such as Claritin, this helps me on my bad congestion days.
If you are feeling really bad, do not exercise. Your immune system is more likely to react severely to allergens when you’re tired, sick or overly stressed. It is better to take a rest day when you feel bad than to strain yourself.
If you exercise outdoors, change your clothes and shower as soon as possible to remove allergens from your skin and hair.
Your body produces extra adrenalin while exercising which temporarily lowers your body’s allergic response, so get out there and work out…just don’t’ forget to check your pollen counts first!
I became an expert on tracking the high pollen days and limited my outdoor exercise on bad days. Working out indoors can be just as fun. If you are doing so in your own home, use an air purifier to help remove as many pollen spores as possible. If working out inside isn't an option for you, train later in the day on those peak pollen days. Pollen counts typically spike between 5 and 9 am. A side note for people with grass allergies: people are less likely to mow their lawns in the early morning or late evening, so go out for your run then!
You can also use prescription or over-the-counter allergy medications before you exercise. Before you do this, check with your doctor. Some people get relief with a medicine such as Claritin, this helps me on my bad congestion days.
If you are feeling really bad, do not exercise. Your immune system is more likely to react severely to allergens when you’re tired, sick or overly stressed. It is better to take a rest day when you feel bad than to strain yourself.
If you exercise outdoors, change your clothes and shower as soon as possible to remove allergens from your skin and hair.
Your body produces extra adrenalin while exercising which temporarily lowers your body’s allergic response, so get out there and work out…just don’t’ forget to check your pollen counts first!
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