Ozone exacerbates pollen woes

USA Today (Society for the Advancement of Education), July, 2007

The good news for allergy sufferers is that springtime mountain cedars and tree pollens have sub sided substantially. The bad news: It's summertime.

"For summer, it will be grass pollen along with high ozone levels combining for a one-two punch," points out David Khan, associate professor of internal medicine at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas.

While heat does not influence the amount of pollen in the air, it does aid in the formation of ground-level ozone, which, in turn, can exacerbate allergy symptoms. To cope, Khan offers these tips:

* Limit outdoor exposure during peak times--from mid morning to midday.

* Air-conditioning filters out some allergens. Keeping windows closed lessens the amount of allergens that travel into the home.

* Wear a mask while mowing the lawn or doing yard work.

* If you are out for long periods during the day, take a shower before bedtime to wash off allergens and prevent them from being transferred to pillows. "Your hair can be like a pollen magnet." Khan warns.

* Take allergy medications before going outside so they have time to work into your system.