It’s not your stuffed-up imagination; the spring allergy season really is off to early start this year (and, thanks to climate change, may be trending in this direction). You can read all about it in today’s Charlotte Observer and The News & Observer, in a story I contributed to.

That story is about spring allergies in general. But what about their effect on the more active among us? How does a body already taxed by exertion deal with the added stress of allergens? And what can you do about it?

“Obviously, you’re in a position to be more exposed and exacerbate the problem with exercising,” says Dr. John Sundy with Duke Medicine’s Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care. “You’re breathing more times per minute.”

If you have known allergies, come into the season prepared. “The more tools you have in the chest, the more likely you are to have success,” says Sundy.

If you use a steroid nasal spray, for instance, Sundy says to start using it in anticipation of a pollen outbreak. “You need to use it on a daily basis for several days,” he says. “Don’t wait for the peak to treat a flare-up of symptoms.”

Antihistamines are a little more forgiving. “They’re effective when they’re on board,” says Sundy, meaning you can use them more immediately before an outdoor workout.

You might be able to help yourself by working out later in the day. “Pollen counts are highest in early morning and settle as day goes on,” says Sundy. Mid-afternoon on is best.

And try to avoid working out on dry, windy days, he adds, when pollen on the ground tends to get kicked up.

That advice may help, says Sundy. But it’s not a given. “There’s still going to be pollen out there.”

Ditto shifting your workout indoors. You’ll likely reduce your exposure, especially in an air conditioned, tightly sealed gym. But the little pollen particles can still worm their way in.

A mask? Not so practical with the labored breathing associated with exercise, says Sundy. Besides, there’s that third key orifice of allergen entry, the eyes. (Goggles?)

It can also be helpful to know what you’re allergic to. If you’re allergic to tree pollen, spring will be your worst time. Grass pollen tends to be released in summer, while weeds let loose in the fall.

While wives’ tales abound about the effect of diet on allergies, Sundy says there’s no evidence proving that specific foodstuffs hinder or help allergic reactions to pollen.

Ratcheting down your training during peak pollen periods can also help. According to WebMD, “The more stressful the exercise, the faster you breathe; the faster you breathe, the more allergens and irritants you inhale.” Could be a good time to concentrate on stretching exercises, yoga or weight training.

By the way, adds Sundy, what goes for adults when it comes to allergies applies to kids as well. Teen allergy sufferers, he notes, may need prompting to remind them to take their medications.

Presumably you do this anyway, but don’t dally after a workout: shower immediately. And toss your pollen-coated workout gear into the wash.

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Additional thoughts

WebMD.com offers more tips with “Allergy Tips: Your Outdoor Exercise Checklist.”

You say allergies couldn’t be worse than where you live? If you live in Knoxville, Tenn., you’re right. Here’s the 2010 ranking of the worst places to have a spring allergy, based on a 2010 survey by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America:

1. Knoxville, Tenn.
2. Louisville, Ky.
3. Chattanooga, Tenn.
4. Dayton, Ohio
5. Charlotte, N.C.
6. Philadelphia, Pa.
7. Greensboro, N.C.
8. Jackson, Miss.
9. St. Louis
10. Wichita, Kan.
12. Columbia, S.C.
28. Greenville, S.C.
39. Virginia Beach, Va.
51. Charleston, S.C.
71. Raleigh, N.C.

100. Harrisburg, Pa.

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“Dogs can be a great motivator for physical activity,” study author Mathew Reeves, an associate professor of epidemiology at the Michigan State University in East Lansing, told MedlinePlus. “People who walk their dogs, walk more. They walk about an hour longer each week,”  added Reeves, who is also a vet.

Of the 6,000 people, who participated in the 2005 Michigan Behavioral Risk Factor Survey, 41 percent owned a dog. Of those, nearly two-thirds reported walking their dog for at least 10 minutes at a time. The remaining one-third didn’t regularly walk their dogs. Overall, the dog owners were 69 percent more likely to partake in leisure-time physical activity than the non-dog owners.

If you’re now thinking of getting a dog for exercise, consider that the survey found that smaller dogs led to shorter walks, younger dogs afforded more exercise. The dog-as-exercise regimen proved especially helpful for folks 65 and older, and those earning $20,000 a year or less.
Read more here.

Running feet, runny nose

If you ran in yesterday’s Tobacco Road Marathon (congratulations to Chapel Hill’s Kipyegon Kirui for 2:24:27 first-place finish) and woke up today with itchy eyes, runny nose and congestion, there’s a reason: Turns our you’re more susceptible to allergies after running 26.2 miles.

A study of 150 runners from last year’s London Marathon found that one-in-three suffered allergy-induced symptoms following the spring race. Such symptoms are common after a race, but were thought to be the result of infections taking advantage of a run-stressed immune system. Blood tests of the London runners found the presence of immunoglobulin E antibodies, a sign of an allergic reaction. Only 8 percent of the runners were taking meds for allergies.

“These post-event sniffles might seem minor, but there are clear risks that people could go on to develop exercise-induced asthma and airway inflammation,” cautioned Dr. Paula Robson-Ansley, who lead the team conducting the study. In short: Don’t be so quick to write off those post-race sniffles.

Read more here.

Photo: Astro helped George Jetson keep trim.

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