Guest Post: How to Minimize Irritation If You’re Working Out with Allergies

Exercising can feel like a hassle with a busy office schedule, a family and a social life to maintain; let alone if you have to deal with annoying allergy symptoms. Which can turn even your best days at the gym into a total disaster. A runny nose, incessant sneezing, coughing and wheezing if you’re lucky enough to suffer from allergy-induced asthma; all contribute to an increased feeling of exhaustion and destroyed. Here’s some tips to help ease irritation if you’re working out with allergies.

However, to avoid skipping another training session or missing that PR; you can take many precautions and make the most of each one of your workouts.

What’s your kryptonite?

With spring and summer quickly setting up camp; they bring a whole range of allergens your immune system can react to during the day. Most people, unfortunately, are unsure which irritants in the air are the primary culprits of their troubles, so it’s highly advisable that you check what your system is most sensitive to and at which time of day are you most exposed to it whether you’re outside or exercising indoors.

Pollen, dust, mold, animal hair, cigarette smoke, and various plant-based irritants are the most common causes, some of which can trigger any allergic reaction such as a severe asthma attack, or only bug you with persistent sniffles and watery eyes. Either way, narrowing down your most likely perpetrator will help you determine the best exercise routine; as well as the most suitable place to work out during allergy season.

What’s your magic potion?

The perfect set of circumstances that allows you to perform and feel your best during your workout needs to be based on the right environment, medication, nutrition and rest. Limiting your exposure to allergens with the help of an air purifier for dust and other irritants, introducing plenty of greenery in your home and switching to a diet that is based on anti-inflammatory foods will all help you reduce your symptoms significantly.

Moreover, consulting your doctor will help you learn which medication is most suitable for your symptoms and your health condition; to avoid the potential side-effects, such as sleepiness, and increase your quality of life during allergy season. You might also have to adapt your routine so that it is less strenuous on your respiratory system, and resort to other activities; such as swimming (but ideally not in water teeming with chlorine), yoga, or moderate weight training in a clean gym.

Be Prepared

Despite your best efforts, some days will be more challenging than others; to adapt your weekly training plan, you should check the weather forecast on a regular basis for perfect workout situations. Such as right after the rain. Pollen is usually quickly dispersed when the wind blows; while rain can wash away most of it, and leave a bountiful of fresh air for your lungs to enjoy and use for a workout.

Limiting your exposure to allergens with pure indoor air, regular showers to wash off the irritants from your skin, and an adapted schedule to boost your performance when the risk of irritation is lowest will help you not only minimize your symptoms, but also take full control of your workouts and do your best no matter what your fitness forte might be.

While it can be challenging to continue your workout regime uninterrupted during the allergy season; you can manage your symptoms with the help of these guidelines, stay fit and enjoy your training as much as possible. Your fitness goals should not suffer due to a setback such as your allergies; on the contrary – use them to fuel your desire to overcome your limitations, outgrow your current mindset, and with their help, become a better, stronger athlete!