2. PROTECT YOURSELF FROM POLLEN

As much fun as taking medicine and visiting doctors may be, the most effective treatment for hay fever is to keep the distance between you and the offending particles. How can you possibly avoid something like pollen and mold spores? It's not that tough if you take our advice:

  • Find out what the peak pollen season is for your region. Different plants thrive in different various parts of the country, so you need to know what's happening in your neighborhood. This chart shows when and where trees, grasses, and weeds do their thing. If you know when to expect the onslaught, you'll be prepared. Generally, trees peak first, then grasses, then weed season starts in late summer to early fall.

  • Keep a diary. An allergy sufferer might be sensitive to one particular kind of tree pollen, to every kind of weed pollen, to all kinds of pollen, or to pollen, mold, mites, dust, perfume, cats, dogs, fish, and midgets. Every individual is unique, and allergic sensitivities can change. Keep track of when, where, and how you are suffering, in order to help you and your allergist identify the specific characteristics of your condition. The more information you have, the easier it will be to avoid and to treat reactions.

  • Watch pollen forecasts. In this wonderful civilization of ours, there are people who count the amount of pollen in the air in cities across the United States and attempt to predict what the count will be over the next few days. These are incredibly interesting people who are fun to talk to at parties. We suggest, however, that you visit pollen.com and plug in your zip code. You'll get a pollen count analysis of your neighborhood, and they'll even send you free e-mail alerts. Will the fun ever cease?

  • Don't go out during the worst times. Unfortunately, most of us lead busy lives and the condition of our nasal organ must take a backseat to more important things - like life, for example. Still, it might occasionally be helpful to know that plants are busiest churning out the bad stuff between 5 and 10 a.m. and just before dusk. So try to wait until after 10 a.m. before you go jogging. Also, be aware that pollen concentrations are higher on warm, windy days (the heat stimulates production and the breeze spreads it around). Wet, cloudy days are better, as the moisture washes pollen out of the air.

  • Keep the windows of your home and car shut. Make use of air conditioning, and change the filters regularly.

  • When you come inside on a high-pollen-count day, you're probably covered in invisible pollen, so change your clothes, and if you're having a really bad day, maybe take a shower and wash your hair. Same goes for your pet.

  • Keep your grass cut short - this reduces pollination. But don't do it yourself, since mowing stirs up whatever is there already. Pay a kid $2 to mow your lawn so he can develop his own allergy ailments.

  • Don't line-dry sheets or clothes outdoors.

  • Avoid travel in "the country" during peak pollen season and at harvest time.

  • Tips for gardeners: Your hobby brings you into close contact with the enemy. Consider wearing a mask, and do your work in the mid-afternoon when concentrations are lowest. When you're planning a garden, be aware of what the good and bad plants are. A good rule of thumb is that the more colorful the flower, the better. Brightly colored flowers are insect-pollinated rather than wind-pollinated; their heavier pollen is less likely to find it's way up your schnoz. Check out this chart for an allergy sufferer's list of good and bad garden plants.