How to Manage Seasonal Allergies with Exercise

Avoiding allergies
Photo by Jonathan Borba on Unsplash

While allergies can be an incredibly frustrating thing to deal with, there are some ways to help manage symptoms. Exercise in particular is a great way to improve blood flow and support your immune system, both of which are especially important when it comes to getting hay fever under control. While any form of exercise is beneficial, here are some things to consider when exercising while experiencing allergies:

Don’t Overexert Yourself

Even small amounts of low-impact exercise can help. Choose practices like yoga or pilates that allow you to breathe deeply. The important part is to get your heart pumping so that allergens are moved through your bloodstream more quickly.

Indoors

It’s best to perform whatever exercises you choose indoors so as not to expose yourself to more allergens and pollutants. Consider going to a gym or studio over a park or outdoor track.

Keep It Early

Pollen counts are lowest in the morning and tend to increase throughout the day as the air gets warmer and dryer, so it makes sense to do your workout shortly after waking up.

Clean Up

When you’re finished, take a hot shower and throw your clothes directly in the wash. This ensures you’ll remove any pollen you may have picked up on the way.