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It is a common misconception that nothing can be done to treat seasonal allergies. Dr. Rachel Miller, director of the division of pediatric allergy and immunology at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center, and Dr. William Reisacher, director of allergy in the department of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery at New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, offer the following strategies to help allergy sufferers survive the winds of spring and summer:

• Minimize early morning activities. Pollen counts are usually highest between 4 a.m. and 8 a.m.
• Run the air conditioner instead of using a window fan. Air conditioners filter out large airborne pollen particles, whereas window fans draw pollen in
• Keep your windows closed and clean your air conditioner filter regularly
• Have several "safe" outfits available for pollen season. These are clean outfits that you only wear indoors and change into as soon as you get home
• Shower as soon as you get home to rinse the pollen off of your skin and hair
• Take eye drops, nasal spray and non-sedating antihistamines an hour before exposure to allergens to decrease the severity of symptoms
• Allergic to bees? Avoid wearing brightly colored clothing, flower prints, or perfumes and lotions with flowery scents
• Always wear shoes when walking in the grass, and cover your body as much as possible when working outside
• Don't forget to carry medication in case of an emergency

NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital

NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, based in New York City, is the nation's largest not-for-profit, non-sectarian hospital, with 2,353 beds. The Hospital has nearly 2 million inpatient and outpatient visits in a year, including more than 220,000 visits to its emergency departments — more than any other area hospital. NewYork-Presbyterian provides state-of-the-art inpatient, ambulatory and preventive care in all areas of medicine at five major centers: NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center, NewYork-Presbyterian/Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital, NewYork-Presbyterian/The Allen Hospital and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Westchester Division. One of the most comprehensive health care institutions in the world, the Hospital is committed to excellence in patient care, research, education and community service. NewYork-Presbyterian is the #1 hospital in the New York metropolitan area and is consistently ranked among the best academic medical institutions in the nation, according to U.S.News & World Report. The Hospital has academic affiliations with two of the nation's leading medical colleges: Weill Cornell Medical College and Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.