Options include relocating, finding ways to adapt, and making interior changes.
By Janet Groene, F47166
October 2015
More Americans are battling allergies than ever before, although it’s unclear why. It may be, as some experts point out, that allergies simply are understood better now and are being diagnosed more often than in previous generations. Regardless, allergies are nothing to sneeze at.
Fortunately for full-timers, there are ways to reduce the suffering. By relocating, people who live a mobile life may be able to escape — at least temporarily — the perils of pine pollen, hay fever season, or the dust from wood pulp mills. Then again, it’s possible to reduce exposure to allergens without leaving a favorite spot. Making changes to a motorhome also can help.
Moving On
If pollen causes you problems, visit www.pollen.com to see local and national allergy forecasts. Another useful website for travel planning is WebMD (www.webmd.com), which includes lists of the worst cities for fall and springtime allergies. City air can be far different from that in nearby rural areas, so your safe haven might be only a few miles away.
Planning an itinerary becomes more difficult if your allergies are either very rare or are so common that they are present almost everywhere all the time. It takes persistence and patience to research when and where to go. But it should be noted that, according to some experts, people who move to escape allergens often develop new allergies in their new location.
On WebMD, Dr. Miguel Wolbert, an allergist in Midland, Texas, points out that higher pollen counts are found in some river basins, such as the Ohio or Mississippi, because pollen thrives in higher humidity. Ragweed and chenopods (certain flowering plants) are a special nuisance in such popular travel destinations as the lower Mississippi basin.
WebMD notes that more than half of the worst allergy regions are in the sunny South, while some mountain states never make the list of worst regions. Dr. Wolbert said, “The higher the mountains, the fewer the plants,” resulting in less pollen overall.
A sea breeze sometimes can help to reduce allergens. Beachfront campsites are in high demand, so reserve as early as a year ahead, and try to stay no farther than a quarter mile from the water. But be aware that pollution in densely populated coastal areas can make allergies worse, despite a sea breeze. The exception is Miami, where the breeze is strong enough to counteract the pollen.
Although it has not been proven that air pollution causes allergies, air pollution is an important trigger for asthma symptoms. The website AirNow.gov provides the Air Quality Index — a measure of how polluted the outdoor air is — for hundreds of cities.
Portable monitors for consumer use also are available. Dylos Corporation (dylosproducts.com) sells its DC1100 Air Quality Monitor for $199.99. Designed for use indoors, it counts the number of airborne particles and stores up to 30 days of air-quality history.
Adapting To The Same Place
Knowing “which way the wind blows” is slang for street smarts, but take it literally when choosing a campsite. Look for a site where prevailing winds come from a nonallergenic source of air, such as a lake, rather than from a forest, bog, landfill, or prairie.
Simply staying indoors on certain days also can help. Dr. Clifford Bassett, an allergist in New York City, said pollen counts usually are higher on hot, dry, windy days. With that in mind, he advises planning outdoor fun on cooler, wet days with little wind.
Dr. Andrew DeMarco, chief primary care physician at ConnectedHealth in Wexford, Pennsylvania, said research indicates that lifestyle and environmental factors such as poor diet, stress, overuse of antibiotics, and air pollution can trigger allergy responses. “For travelers, inland allergies may present frequent, frustrating challenges,” he noted.
His recommendation: “Expose your respiratory system and skin to your new environment in small doses to give your immune system a chance to adjust. To modulate your skin exposure, you may want to apply moisturizer to trap the environmental allergens and prevent continued intake.
“Start small,” he said. “Sit outside for an hour or two or find an outdoor cafe for lunch. Gradually build up your environmental exposure. Save your big hiking or biking adventure for (later in the trip), when your body is better acclimated to your new environment.
“Get plenty of rest in an air-conditioned environment with clean sheets and pillowcases each day,” Dr. DeMarco stressed. “Give your body time to recover and catch up,” especially when you first enter a new area. He also noted that nutrition is good medicine, and exercise is important to health.
Travelers also might be able to connect with other allergy sufferers. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America website has a map that lists educational support groups around the United States; it’s at www.aafa.org/esg_search.cfm. If no support group is listed for a particular area, information is provided on how to start one.
Focusing On The Motorhome
Technology allows us to control a motorhome’s indoor environment. Your coach probably is equipped with air filters on the heating and air-conditioning systems, microwave oven, stove hood exhaust, and vacuum cleaner. Filters also guard incoming water, including the line to the ice maker. Other appliances, such as the coffeemaker, may have additional filters. You may wish to upgrade to the best filters available, and you should certainly change or clean them regularly.
Freestanding air-filter appliances have been available in a variety of sizes and technologies for years. One of the newest is the portable Air Angel from Air Oasis (www.airoasis.com). The device measures 4 inches by 7 inches by 1.5 inches, weighs 1 pound, and is said to provide clean air in spaces up to 250 square feet. Ask your allergist or pulmonologist to recommend the type and size of air filter for your allergies.
The following tips are well-worn but still make sense for full-timers who struggle with allergies.
- Wash bedding often and in hot water that is at least 130 degrees.
- Replace fleecy, fluffy, dust-trapping fabrics with hard finishes such as leather upholstery; use a shower curtain made of plastic, rather than fabric; choose hard-surface floors or carpet with a very tight weave; replace plush curtains with aluminum or vinyl blinds.
- In supermarkets, choose from among the reasonably priced cleaning products that are unscented or nonallergenic. They include not just soaps and sprays but also cleaning cloths and disposable dust catchers.