• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
BlackDoctor.org
Where Wellness & Culture Connect

Where Wellness & Culture Connect

  • Health Conditions
  • Wellness
  • Lifestyle
  • Longevity
  • Resource Centers
    • Clinical Trials Resource Center
    • Wellness on the Yard
    • Cancer Resource Center
    • Immunocompromised Care
    • Top Blacks in Healthcare
  • Find A Doctor
  • BDO TV
Home / Health Conditions / Allergy / 10 Tips For Managing Allergies While Traveling

10 Tips For Managing Allergies While Traveling

african american family beach travelWhether you’re traveling for business or pleasure, it’s hard to enjoy yourself if you’re worried about how your allergies may act up. Outside of your usual routine, it can be challenging to manage food and pollen allergies in new environments, but it’s not impossible. Careful preparation before traveling will not only make things smoother for you, but also help you avoid a life-threatening allergic reaction or inconvenient sinus discomfort that could cost you a trip to the doctor instead.

Use these tips to help allergy-proof your next trip.

Food Allergies

Researchers estimate that up to 15 million Americans have food allergies, with the number steadily increasing, especially among children. According to Dr. William Calhoun of the University of Texas Medical Branch, it’s extremely important for people with food allergies to be even more cautious while traveling and “watch their dietary intake.”

  • Read labels and ingredients when shopping and eating away from home.
  • Bring your own snacks, especially if you’re on a flight serving peanuts and you have a peanut allergy.
  • Carry an ID card that lists all foods you’re allergic to, as well as your emergency contact information. You can present this card at a restaurant, or have it on you in case of a medical emergency.
  • Pack extra medications, including your epinephrine autoinjector. An epinephrine autoinjector, sometimes called by the shortened brand name Epipen, is the only treatment for anaphylaxis, a life-threatening reaction that can include difficulty breathing and closure of the throat.
  • Translate your allergies if traveling abroad in the language of your destination. Resources are available online to assist you.

READ: Foods That Trigger Asthma Symptoms

Environment Allergies

From outdoor pollen to indoor dust and pet dander, several things in your environment can trigger an allergic reaction. Dr. Clifford Bassett, director of Allergy & Asthma Care of New York, recommends being extra prepared no matter what environment you think you’re traveling to.

You May Also Like
9 Foods You Should NEVER Eat after Age 30
  • Bring dust mite-proof allergy covers for pillows and mattresses to protect against dust mites in unfamiliar sleeping quarters.
  • Pack a big hat and sunglasses to keep pollens out of your hair and eyes. The bigger the better!
  • Request a pet-free hotel room or floor.
  • Research the pollen levels in your destination and plan outdoor activities accordingly. You can check pollen levels via the National Allergy Bureau website.
  • Bring saline nasal spray to keep your nasal passages moist, especially on long, stuffy flights.

If you have serious allergies, or are planning an extended trip, the best prep may be to consult your doctor first!

Visit the BlackDoctor.org Allergy center for more articles.

March 18, 2014 by Gwendolyn Harris

Read Next Article

The Latest In Allergy

pet allergies

Are You Allergic to Your Pet?

Pets can be your best friends. If you have allergies or asthma, they can also be your worst enemy. Pets shed dander, a combination of dead skin cells and hair (or feathers), which can trigger asthma attacks and allergic reactions read more about Are You Allergic to Your Pet?
allergies

Are Your Allergies Ready to Head Off to College?

As you stare down your freshman year of college and contemplate living away from home, you're probably facing a few "firsts": First roommate who isn't a sibling; first time fending for yourself to make sure you're eating properly; and if read more about Are Your Allergies Ready to Head Off to College?
asthma attack

Your 3-Step Asthma Attack Action Plan

Once you're in the middle of an asthma attack, struggling for breath, the last thing you'll want to trouble yourself with is trying to remember your doctor's phone number or figuring out just where you put your rescue medication. Thinking read more about Your 3-Step Asthma Attack Action Plan
seasonal allergies

7 Ways You’re Making Your Allergies Worse

Are dry, itchy eyes hiding behind those dope sunglasses? The warmer months can be brutal for anyone with seasonal allergies, and summer fun-in-the-sun may bring even more allergy symptoms. If you've noticed that your allergies go into high gear this read more about 7 Ways You’re Making Your Allergies Worse
spring allergies

8 Drug-Free Tips to Fight Spring Allergies

Spring allergies can be brutal, and many, especially for those with asthma -- but by no means all -- sufferers reach for synthetic medications to combat their symptoms. Many others want something more natural, however. "These allergies cause unpleasant symptoms read more about 8 Drug-Free Tips to Fight Spring Allergies

Is There A Link Between Anxiety And Seasonal Allergies?

Recent studies are showing that people with allergies are also highly likely to have anxiety. According to a Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center study, 7-year-old patients with allergies were found to also have been diagnosed with depression, anxiety, and other read more about Is There A Link Between Anxiety And Seasonal Allergies?

Primary Sidebar

Subscribe to our newsletter

Poll

Popular Posts

6 Things In Your Home That Can Cause Cancer

things that cause cancer

3 Supplements You Should Be Taking Daily

daily report

World’s Oldest Woman Shares Secret to Long Life on Her 117th Birthday

World’s Oldest Woman Shares Secret to Long Life on Her 117th Birthday

Hip-Hop Legend of Bone Thugs-N-Harmony in ICU

Hip-Hop Legend of Bone Thugs-N-Harmony in ICU

Nelson Mandela’s Granddaughter Passes Away of Cancer at 43

Nelson Mandela’s Granddaughter Passes Away of Cancer at 43
Find a Culturally Sensitive Doctor

Footer

Where Wellness & Culture Connect

BDO is the world’s largest and most comprehensive online health resource specifically targeted to African Americans. BDO understands that the uniqueness of Black culture - our heritage and our traditions - plays a role in our health. BDO gives you access to innovative new approaches to the health information you need in everyday language so you can break through the disparities, gain control and live your life to its fullest.

Connect With Us

Learn More About

  • Hepatitis C
  • Diabetes
  • Sickle Cell
  • Mental Health
  • About Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Advertise With Us
  • BlackDoctor.org Advertising and Sponsorship Policy
  • Daily Vitamina
  • TBH

Copyright © 2023, BlackDoctor, Inc. All rights reserved.