Exercise indoors on high-pollen days

What to Do

Shift outdoor workouts to the gym, home exercise equipment, or indoor activities when pollen counts are high. If you must exercise outdoors, go in the late afternoon or evening.

Why It Works

Exercise increases breathing rate and depth, pulling more pollen deep into the airways. A 30-minute outdoor run on a high-pollen day exposes you to significantly more allergen than a 30-minute walk. Moving workouts indoors on peak days reduces this exposure while maintaining fitness.

Tips

• Pollen counts are lowest after rain and in the late afternoon/evening
• Take your antihistamine 30-60 minutes before outdoor exercise as a buffer
• Use a nasal corticosteroid spray consistently if you exercise outdoors regularly during allergy season
• Swimming pools are excellent allergy-friendly exercise environments