Outdoor Allergy Quiz

Unless you're out before 5 a.m., try to limit your time outside until the evening, during and after rain or on cloudy, humid and calm days.

It's important to dust and vacuum frequently. This will help reduce allergy symptoms related to pollen exposure.

Chemical irritants such as fumes from a wood-burning stove and cigarette smoke can worsen your pollen-related allergy symptoms.

Although you may want to air out your home, you should keep your windows and doors closed during summer months to avoid pollen exposure. Also consider purchasing a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter for your air conditioner, which can filter out pollen.

If you're very sensitive to pollen, consider wearing wraparound glasses and a mask over your nose and mouth when the pollen count is high. Avoid wearing contact lenses, as pollen can get trapped in your eyes and cause irritation.

It's worthwhile to hire a landscaping service if you have pollen-related allergies. Cutting the grass and raking up leaves can stir up large amounts of pollen.

Typically, beaches and places that are 5,000 feet above sea level have less pollen. Consider these destinations if you want a sneeze-free vacation.

Pollen season can begin as early as January, with the pollination of trees. Weeds are the last to pollinate in the late summer and fall.

Not all pollen triggers seasonal allergies. Small and light pollen, which is produced in high quantities, is the major source of pollen-related allergies.

Seasonal allergy sufferers despise trees in the spring, grass in the late spring and summer, and weeds in the late summer and fall, due to their high quantities of pollen.

Pollen counts fluctuate throughout the day. Grass only releases its pollen first thing in the morning, between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m.

You may hear “the daily pollen count” mentioned during a weather forecast. It predicts how severe your pollen-related allergies will be for that day. It's the average number of pollen grains per cubic yard of air.

It's very important to plant low-pollen-producing trees and plants around your home if you suffer from pollen-related allergies. Your pollen-related allergies could decrease tenfold if you follow this wise recommendation.

Female shrubs will never produce pollen. Alternatively, male shrubs produce tons of pollen every spring.

Azaleas, boxwood, cherry, dogwood and a whole host of other plants produce heavy and large pollen. This type of pollen is less likely to become airborne and cause pollen-related allergy symptoms.

Allergic rhinitis refers to the runny nose, itchy, watery eyes, wheezing and congestion due to allergens in the air.

Homeopathy can help alleviate congestion, and acupuncture can help relieve sinus pressure.

Some people claim honey can help treat pollen-related allergies. However, this claim is anecdotal because there is no solid research evidence to substantiate it.

The prevailing theory of how honey can treat seasonal allergies is that it acts like a vaccination. Because honey contains pollen spores, it may help your body grow accustomed to pollen, resulting in less likelihood that your immune system will release histamine when exposed to pollen and hence a reduced allergic reaction.

One unpublished research study, from Xavier University in New Orleans, found that ingesting two teaspoons of honey per day has therapeutic effects for decreasing seasonal allergy symptoms.