Control exposure indoors

While it's hard to dodge pollens and molds outdoors, seasonal patients will suffer less if they control their exposure to allergens indoors, believes Dr. Kingsley Chin of Piedmont Ear, Nose, Throat and Related Allergy. in Atlanta.

The bedroom is the particular battleground where Chin encourages patients to focus on "environmental control," since that's where most people spend a third of their lives. If you can get make your resting place as free of allergens as possible, then those eight hours of sleep give your system a chance to recover, leaving you in better shape to ward off outdoor enemies the next day.

Here's are some of Chin's suggestions for controlling allergens indoors, culled from a patient handout:

. If you've been outside a lot during the day, pollen is on your body and clothes. Don't bring them into the bedroom. Upon arriving home, immediately take a shower and change clothes.

. Use allergy covers over pillows and mattresses. These zippable and washable covers trap dust mites, microscopic critters who live in mattresses and pillows by the millions and whose droppings stir allergies.

. Wash all bed coverings weekly in hot water, which kills dust mites.

. Purchase a HEPA filter, which will significantly reduce allergens in a typical bedroom. A HEPA filter should exchange the air in a bedroom about six times an hour, so keep it going on high even when the room is unoccupied and keep the door and windows closed. It can run at a quieter level when it's sleep time.