Getting in shape is good news for your health.  But if you have allergies or asthma, the hidden triggers at the gym may be bad for your condition. 

Dr. Steven McEldowney of Allergy and Asthma Care of Blakeney, a member of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI), suggests the following tips to keep your visits to the health club sniffle, sneeze and wheeze free:

• Bring your own mat – Yoga isn’t relaxing if you break out in hives thanks to that cushy mat likely made of latex. That doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy yoga or other floor exercises.  If you’re allergic to latex, bring your own latex free mat. 

• Not everyone in the pool – “Swimming is an excellent form of exercise for most people, particularly those with asthma. Sometimes, though, heavily chlorinated water can trigger symptoms from irritation - itchy red eyes or a rash - to trouble breathing,” said allergist Dr. McEldowney.  Your allergist can help you determine whether you should stick to swimming in fresh or salt water or opt for the treadmill.

• Check the label before you energize – Energy bars and protein shakes can help you make it through your workout.  But if you have a nut, wheat, egg, soy or milk allergy, be sure you carefully read the ingredients first.

• Protect yourself from the disinfectant – Gyms often use a disinfectant spray to try to keep equipment germ-free.  But many of those sprays have a strong odor and contain problematic chemicals or VOCs (volatile organic compounds).  That could be why you sneeze or wheeze every time you hit the gym, so it’s a good idea to use your allergy or asthma medication before you work out.

• Make sure your skin breathes, not itches – Many exercise clothes are made of polyester and nylon, which helps keep sweat off of your skin. But if you are sensitive to synthetic materials, these fabrics can make you itch like crazy. Check clothing labels before you purchase. Lycra (spandex) – which gives clothes that comfy stretch – is higher quality and less likely to irritate.

• Warm up and cool down – Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) can cause chest tightness and trouble breathing in people who have asthma, and sometimes in others, too.   If you run into breathing problems when you exercise, ease in and out of workouts and use an inhaler before exercise. Breathe through your nose rather than your mouth. And if you have a cold, take it easy as viruses can be an asthma trigger.

Holiday gatherings are festive fun, but it’s not easy to be the life of the party when you’re sniffling, sneezing and wheezing. From the host’s overpowering perfume to the nuts in the snack bowl, holiday parties can be a challenge for people with allergies and asthma.

“During the holiday season you’re exposed to multiple allergens,” said Dr. Steven McEldowney, of Allergy and Asthma Care of Blakeney, an allergist specializing in diagnosing and treating allergies and asthma. “Be aware of potential problems and triggers so you can deal with them.  And then, have a good time!”

Let your host know you’ll be at the party with bells on after following these suggestions from Dr. McEldowney and the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI):

1. Medicate before you go: There’s almost no avoiding the dusty decorations, the holiday candles, the potpourri or the perfume-doused reveler, and any of them may cause an allergic reaction. Your best bet is to take your antihistamine before you go. See an allergist, who can prescribe appropriate medication.
2. Be the designated driver: Toast your host with sparkling water. In addition to being more clear-headed and safer on the road, you’ll avoid a possible reaction to ingredients, including preservatives in beer or wine. If you think you’ve had a reaction, it’s a good idea to see an allergist to determine the cause your misery.                                                      
3. Eat smart: From the creamy dip to the gooey chocolate dessert, holiday goodies can be tempting, but may contain many common allergens, including dairy, nuts, soy and wheat.  Ask your host if the munchies contain anything you’re allergic to. And if you suffer from severe food allergies, always carry your injectable epinephrine.
4. Steer clear of smoke: The cozy fire in the hearth can warm your cockles but make your lungs wheeze – smoke is a common asthma trigger. Go mingle in another room.
5. Don’t let the greens make you blue: Christmas trees and other holiday greenery that deck the halls look pretty, but are associated with several possible allergens. You may be allergic to the mold commonly found on the trunk or the terpene in the tree sap of a natural tree. And the artificial kind can be covered with dust – a common allergen – after spending the year in the attic. Be sure to thoroughly clean your tree before putting it up. Poinsettias, a member of the rubber tree family, are everywhere this time of year. Stay away if you have a latex allergy
6. Go on the defense: You could exchange more than conversation during cocktail party banter. Flu germs are everywhere and the illness can worsen asthma. Play it safe by getting a seasonal flu shot.

Halloween can be a frightful time for parents of kids with allergies and asthma. Nut-filled candy isn’t the only bogeyman that can ruin the fun. Allergy and asthma triggers can hide in other, unexpected places, too, from dusty costumes to leering jack-o-lanterns.

“When people think of Halloween-associated allergies, they focus on candy and often overlook many other potential triggers,” said Dr. Steven McEldowney, of Allergy and Asthma Care of Blakeney. “By planning ahead, you can ensure not only safe treats, but also safe costumes, make up, accessories, and decorations.”

Dr. McEldowney suggests watching out for these six sneaky triggers to keep Halloween sneeze-, wheeze- and reaction-free.

1. Tricky treats – Food allergy triggers abound on this candy-filled holiday, and it’s not just the usual suspects such as chocolate that can hide triggers. An article published in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology shows gummy bears and other seemingly innocent candies may contain gelatin, a potential allergen which is a less common trigger. Your best bet? Consider taking your child to an allergist for allergy testing and help in developing a food allergy treatment plan.  For Halloween night, have some non-candy treats for your child such as stickers, pencils and small toys to swap for sweets.
2. Devilish costume details – Watch out for nickel in costume accessories, from cowboy belts and pirate swords to tiaras and magic wands. Nickel is one of the most common causes of allergic contact dermatitis, which can make skin itchy and spoil trick-or-treating fun. 
3. Haunted hand-me-downs – Halloween costumes packed away in a box for months can be laden with dust mites, which trigger asthma and allergies. So unless you want your little one sneezing or wheezing from house to house, wash the hand-me-down costumes in hot water. Or consider visiting the store for a new costume.
4. Menacing makeup – Cheap Halloween makeup may include preservatives that can cause allergic reactions.  Instead, opt for higher quality theater makeup.  Because it can take a few days for a rash, swelling or other reaction to appear, test the makeup on a small area of skin well in advance of Halloween.
      
   
5. Frightful fog – If you’re considering renting a fog machine to make your house extra spooky, think again.  Fog – real or man-made – can trigger asthma in some sufferers.
6. Perilous pumpkins – Beware of pumpkin carving and pumpkin pie if you think you might be allergic. Pumpkin allergies, though rare, can cause everything from itching to chest tightness and can pop up quite suddenly, even if you haven’t had a problem before.  And keep in mind that pumpkin patches are often moldy and dusty, allergy and asthma triggers for some. Consider buying a pumpkin from a grocery or discount store.

The new school year means new clothes, new classes, new teachers – and the same old misery due to sneezing and wheezing for children who have allergies or asthma. From the class hamster to dust mites residing in carpet to germs from cold and flu viruses, asthma and allergy triggers lurk throughout the classroom.

It’s not so surprising, then, that back-to-school season is associated with a 46 percent increase in asthma-related emergency department visits by grade school children. And allergies and asthma account for more than 14 million school day absences. But seeing an allergist can keep kids in the classroom: studies show patients treated by allergists for asthma have better symptom control, including less wheezing and fewer absences, at lower costs.

“To keep kids focused on their studies instead of their allergy and asthma symptoms, it’s important that they receive proper diagnosis and treatment, as well as work with their parents to develop a plan for avoiding classroom triggers,” said Dr. Steven McEldowney, of Allergy and Asthma Care of Blakeney. Dr. McEldowney is an allergist, a doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating allergies.

Make sure your child doesn’t suffer or miss school by following the advice, below, from Dr. McEldowney and the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI): 

• Dust and mold and pollen, oh my – Many common triggers lie in wait for the allergic student. Dust mites and other allergens multiply in the class carpet, so suggest your child sit in a chair to read a book. Mold can grow in bathrooms and other dank areas, but are easily cleaned if brought to the janitor’s attention. And ask teachers to keep windows closed this fall and next spring to keep sneeze-prompting pollens out of the classroom.

• The germ incubator – It’s tough for the child with asthma to avoid germs at school, since they are pretty much everywhere from the pencil sharpener to the edge of the teacher’s desk. The best defense is a good offense, so be sure your child gets a seasonal flu shot.  Washing hands regularly and using tissues and antibacterial hand sanitizers also can help.

• Tag, you’re – huff, puff – it – Jumping jacks during gym, tag during recess, soccer after school – these and other common school activities can trigger exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB), commonly referred to as exercise induced asthma. About 80 percent to 90 percent of those with asthma have EIB and 10 percent of people without asthma have EIB.  If your child has difficulty breathing during or after exercise, see an allergist who can work with you on a prevention and treatment plan. Be sure to give teachers, from gym to homeroom, a heads up and make sure your child has medication available at school.

• Fear of furry friends – Kids love class pets, but many have allergies to the hairy or furry variety. Allergic children should be reminded not to touch the pet. You also might suggest the teacher consider a non-furry pet, such as fish or a hermit crab, which offer plenty of learning opportunities without the allergy-triggering dander. Children who have pets at home also may have pet dander on their clothes, triggering symptoms in a pet-allergic child. A new seat assignment may help.

• Food safety patrol – If your child has food allergies, potential problems can crop up almost anywhere, from the lunchroom to the classroom. Tell the teacher about foods that cause problems for your child. Also be sure to alert scouting and other club leaders, and suggest an allergen-free snack policy. It‘s also important to teach your child about what foods might trigger a reaction and advise them to ask a teacher or adult before eating food they are unsure about. Share a plan with teachers, coaches and the school nurse for dealing with an allergic emergency and make sure your child has medications with them like injectable epinephrine.

• The back of the class – Sitting at the front of the classroom – near the chalkboard – is a bad idea for kids whose allergies or asthma are triggered by chalk dust. And washing hands after writing on the chalk board is a must.

Considered the most allergenic of all pollens, ragweed pops up throughout the East and Midwest starting in mid-August. One plant alone can produce up to one billion pollen grains, and each grain can travel more than 100 miles.

One in 10 Americans is affected by the sniffling, sneezing and itching of ragweed allergies. Dr. Steven McEldowney of Allergy and Asthma Care of Blakeney is an allergist, a doctor who specializes in treating people with hay fever, as well as asthma and other allergies. Dr. McEldowney and the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) suggest those who suffer from hay fever follow these six steps for relief:

1. Get a jump start – Mark your calendar to remind you to take medication before ragweed allergy symptoms start. August is when the plant blooms in most of the country, but it’s a little later in the South.
2. Keep the pollen outside out – Ragweed travels with the wind, so close windows in your house and car.
3. Come clean – After spending time outdoors, shower, change and wash your clothes.  Clean your nasal passages, too, by using a salt water rinse.
4. Mask your misery – Wear a face mask when you garden or mow the lawn. Better yet, assign those tasks to family members who don’t suffer from hay fever.  
5. Consider a cure – If non-prescription medication isn’t doing the trick, it may be time to see an allergist who can provide more effective treatment. One option is immunotherapy – allergy shots. The treatment involves regular injections with pollen allergens.  Immunotherapy can significantly lessen or get rid of nasal and eye allergy symptoms altogether. “Allergy shots can not only reduce allergy symptoms and medication use, it can prevent the development of asthma and the development of other allergies,” said allergist Dr. McEldowney.
6. Don’t let up too soon – Because the nasal and eye symptoms associated with ragweed allergies can linger after the pollen can no longer be detected in the air, don’t stop your allergy medication immediately.