With spring coming, people are running more outside. However, with the nice weather, allergies are also flaring up. So what should an allergic runner do?Dr. Chang was contacted by journalist Corey Stieg regarding this very situation, in an article published by Refinery29 on April 8, 2019.
Quoted from article:
If you have trouble breathing because your nose feels stuffy, for example, using a steroidal nasal spray ahead of time, such as Flonase or Nasacort, can be very helpful, explains Christopher Chang, MD, a board-certified otolaryngologist in Warrenton, VA. "Such nasal sprays minimize nasal congestion and blockage," because they're applied directly into the nose to reduce nasal passage swelling, he says. Plus, they tend to have minimal side effects.
To that point, many allergy sufferers might balk at taking an antihistamine medication before a run, such as Zyrtec or Benadryl, because they tend to make you feel very drowsy. But if you're someone whose allergy symptoms extend "beyond the nose," such as a skin rash, then you would benefit from an oral antihistamine, such as Allegra, before your run, Dr. Chang says. If you've never taken allergy medications before, it's a good idea to check with your doctor or healthcare provider first.
From there, your post-run routine is as important as the preparation. "When back home, take a shower immediately for good measure," Dr. Chang says. That'll help get any pollen or debris off of your face, skin, and eyelashes. Using a neti pot with a saline solution can also help flush anything out of your nose that would continue causing problems, he adds. Finally, if you're having trouble falling asleep after an evening run because of allergy symptoms, you may want to take Benadryl, he says.
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