Stay healthy from allergies when traveling

Seasonal allergies can plague people with stuffy noses, hoarse coughs and red, scratchy, watery eyes any time of the year. As seasons change, trees start pollinating, flowers bloom and seasonal allergens can fill the air. They vary by region throughout the United States, so you could actually feel fine in one part of the country and then have an allergy flare-up when traveling this summer to another region.

Common outdoor allergens

One of the most common outdoor allergens is tree pollen, which is released when trees start to awaken from their winter slumber and grow new leaves. This process begins at different times of the year; here’s a snapshot of allergy seasons around the U.S.:

• In Southeastern states, which have naturally warm climates, tree pollen season can begin before the official start of spring. As summer nears, grass pollen fills the air, and in the fall, ragweed takes over.
• South Central and Southwestern states follow a similar allergy season timeline, with a few odd surprises, like mountain cedar, which pollinates during winter!
• In the Northeast and Midwest, you’ll have a shorter window to encounter allergy problems because the cooler climate delays the onset of tree and grass allergens. Oddly, though, this also means that ragweed could begin raging in August. The shorter allergen season could be great for your spring and fall travel plans, but if you visit these areas during the height of allergy season, you’ll want to be prepared if local allergies begin to affect you. And remember that you can reach Teladoc 24/7wherever you are in the country!
• Out west, allergy season is on a completely different schedule. Pollen outbreaks in the warmest areas—the Southwest—can last year-round, and some trees don’t go completely dormant. In the Mountain region, tree pollen can bloom in March, and then ragweed can come out in June, which mixes with the allergens already in the air! This double whammy could be especially hard on hay fever sufferers.
• While the Pacific Northwest is a much wetter climate, you can’t escape from allergy season there, either. Thousands of trees that thrive in the rain can begin pollinating as early as January!

When planning your summer travel, you can keep track of your destination’s pollen count (which is different from a pollen forecast). The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology’s National Allergy Bureau (NAB) maintains accurate pollen and mold counts throughout the country.

Talk to a doctor

More about allergies

• If you have allergies that last longer than a season or two, it’s possible you have a mold allergy
• To learn more about allergies and asthma, take our quiz
• This guide can help determine if symptoms are caused by allergies or something more serious like COVID-19
• If you don’t know what you are suffering from, our U.S. board-certified doctors can diagnose your condition—like whether you have allergies or a cold—and recommend treatment options

Get medical help

At the first sign of symptoms while traveling, just contact Teladoc. (Helpful tip: download our mobile app before you leave home.) Our board-certified doctors can diagnose your condition — even if you can’t tell whether you have allergies or a cold — and recommend treatment options. When medically necessary, they can also send prescriptions to the pharmacy you choose through our convenient app.

Schedule my visit
 

More about allergies

At the first sign of symptoms while traveling this summer, just contact Teladoc. (Helpful tip: Download our mobile app before you leave home.) Reach out to Teladoc online or by app 24/7 to speak with a Teladoc doctor and get relief from your allergies today.

Updated June 28, 2021