Adjusting Your Allergy Regimen While Traveling
The winter months are great for travel, with holiday getaways, warm weather retreats and spring break trips. Leaving your usual environment can bring on new allergens, and the last thing you want is symptoms on your vacation. Here are a few tips for feeling your best while enjoying your travel.
New Environment = New Environmental Allergens
Going to a new area, whether a new city or a new country, can bring on new-to-you allergens. Check pollen counts before you go to know what’s causing the most symptoms, and when to avoid outdoor activities if you’re highly allergic.
Even the best kept hotels or rental units can also have dust mites, mold, fragrances, laundry detergents or other irritants that cause reactions. Some may be able to provide linens cleaned with fragrance-free detergents if requested, but there is no real way to avoid dust and mold. Bringing an air purifier may help, as well as choosing a newer property without carpeting.
Be Prepared in Case of Emergency
You can hope for no allergy flare ups, but it’s best to be prepared in case of a reaction. Pack an allergy care kit with items you usually have on hand at home, just in case. Think of things like:
- Antihistamines
- Itch creams
- Inhaler
- Epinephrine, if prescribed
It’s also good to look up where the local urgent care and emergency room are, especially if you have a life-threatening allergy. If traveling out of the country, find out what the equivalent of 911 is in that country in case of emergency.
Continue Allergy Treatment
If you’re treating the cause of your allergies with immunotherapy, lapses in treatment (like when you’re on a trip) can be counterproductive to your progress. The idea of immunotherapy is to continually expose the body to the allergens that cause symptoms, so that over time, the body gets used to them and doesn’t react.
Allergy shot immunotherapy must be done in a provider’s office, so on longer trips, a lapse in treatment is inevitable.
Allergy drop immunotherapy following The La Crosse Method™ Protocol is a liquid drop taken under the tongue three times daily and can be taken wherever you are. Appointments are less frequent, so you can gallivant around Europe or hike the Rockies without a worry of missing critical immunotherapy doses.
If you’re a frequent traveler and think allergy drops may be a good option or alternative for you, start by finding a provider near you that offers testing and treatment to learn more.