Individuals
with allergies often take special precautions to keep them from
flaring up on a daily basis; however, most people know their allergy
triggers,
and when they’re at home, they can do a fairly good job of avoiding
them.
While
on vacation or when out of town on business, most people don’t have
as much control over their environment and things that could make
their allergies flare up. That’s why it’s important to always
follow a few basic precautions when traveling if you’re allergy
prone.
Food
Allergies
When
people travel, they have a tendency to want try whatever is in sight.
This is especially true for people traveling abroad, where food
customs are different, and different foods make up the daily diet
than in the United States.
However,
if you have food
allergies,
you need to be diligent about checking
ingredients,
especially if your allergies are severe. It might sound annoying to
start asking about what’s in every dish, but it’s a lot better
than spending a portion of your trip in your hotel room bed, instead
of seeing the sights or conducting business as planned.
If
you’re planning a trip to a foreign
country,
where there could be a language barrier, having your allergies
printed on a small card beforehand that you can present to the chef
or staff can be incredibly helpful.
Planning
ahead of time by calling the restaurant to let them know about your
allergies, especially if you’re going with a group and need
reservations, can make presenting allergy information less of a
circus once you sit down at the table.
If
you have severe food allergies, keeping an epinephrine autoinjector
(more commonly known as an “epi pen”) with you is always
important to prevent anaphylaxis.
Pet
Allergies
People
with allergies to pets should avoid being around the animals that
cause problems whenever possible while traveling. You can save
yourself a lot of trouble by making sure that the hotel you’re
staying doesn’t
allow pets
on the premises.
If
you’re staying in private residence and you know there are going to
be pets around, keeping a supply of effective
medicines,
including antihistamines,
decongestants
and nasal
steroids.
These medications will likely be more effective if you do not have
severe pet
allergies,
but if you do, consider a hotel room, even if friends or family
offer you a free place to stay.
Pollen
and Dust Allergies
There’s
not much you can do about pollen
counts
in the air while you’re traveling or dust you might encounter in a
certain place; however, you can do a few things to help keep pollen
and dust from irritating you and making your trip a nightmare.
When
traveling, always pack a wide-brimmed
hat and
a hooded sweatshirt, which can help keep pollen out of your eyes and
hair if it’s blowing around in the air. Keeping a mask that can
help filter out some of the dust is also a good idea – just in case
you have to spend time in a dusty space you can’t immediately get
out of.
You’ll
also want to make sure to pack antihistamines, decongestants and any
other nose sprays or eye drops that might work for you, just in case
you can’t keep pollen or dust away. Pseudoephedrine
allergy medications
are often beneficial for pollen and dust allergies as well and they
can work quickly.
Consider
Getting Tested
If
you think you may have allergies, whether they may be food allergies
or allergies to pet
dander,
taking the time to get tested
for allergies
can be very beneficial. After all, if you don’t know what you are
allergic to, your doctor will not be able to accurately recommend
ways to help you control your symptoms.
The
results of allergy
tests
can take some time to get back, so try to schedule your allergy test
a few weeks before your trip. That way, you have a chance to get the
results and find a solution for the problem before you leave town.
Marcela De Vivo is a freelance writer, world traveler and mother of three in California. She works with VapeWorld to educate others about the importance of air quality and their allergies. When traveling to different countries with her family, she always makes sure to be prepared with the proper allergy medications for her children. Follow her on Twitter today!
