Simple Tips for Traveling with Environmental Allergies

Studies show that a significant amount of children with food allergies also have asthma. In 2012-2013, Dr. Ruchi Gupta conducted a study within the Chicago school system which identified 18,000 students that had asthma and 4,000 that had a food allergy. Of the food allergic students, 40.1% had asthma (complete study can be viewed here). Given those ratios, it's no wonder that so many who travel with allergies, food or otherwise, are always on-edge and reluctant with the possibility looming that their overnight stay may be less than comforting.

With numbers like this, I was excited to find Pure Room. They offer certified hotel rooms geared specifically toward people with environmental allergies in multiple locations. I am even more thrilled to share a special guest post from Kevin Arnold who writes about allergies and asthma, travel and healthy living for PURE Solutions.   

It can be hard enough dealing with allergies when you’re at home, let alone while you’re traveling.  Travel takes us out of our comfort zone and exposes us to a new and unfamiliar environment.  That’s part of what makes it fun but it’s also why traveling with allergies can become a real burden.

Allergies should never be a reason to forgo a vacation or business trip.  We want to make sure you stay safe and healthy while you’re away from home by offering a few easy allergy travel tips,including ways to find an allergy-friendly hotel!

Be prepared.  A little bit of planning can make the difference between a great trip and a not-so-great one.  Start checking the allergen forecast at your destination to get an idea of the conditions you’ll be facing.  Keep in mind that other regions of the country have different allergy seasons as well as different varieties and quantities of pollinating plants.  The more information you have, the better prepared you will be.

You’ll also want to research health care facilities and emergency services in the area where you’ll be staying.  Hopefully you won’t need them but you’ll feel better knowing that you’re ready just in case.

Carry your asthma and allergy medications with you at all times.  Whether it’s a rescue inhaler, EpiPen or antihistamine, you’ll want to be sure you have these medications on-hand should you need them.  Be sure they are packed in a carry-on rather than a checked bag or, even better, carry them on your person in a pocket or purse. Keeping your medications close by ensures that they will not be effected by temperature changes within baggage transport and that they won't be lost or delayed, leaving you without anything in case of an allergic episode.

Stock up on allergy travel items.  Be sure to pack plenty of hypoallergenic bath soaps, lotions, cosmetics and other personal products, as these may be difficult to find while you’re traveling.  A hypoallergenic travel pillow or herbal tea can also make your journey a lot more comfortable.  Visit takepurehome.com and use the promo code “NUTRIPURE20” to save 20% of some of your favorite allergy travel items like tea tree oil diffusers, anti-allergen spray and hypoallergenic bedding!

Seek out allergy-friendly hotels.  Your best option for a comfortable and relaxing stay away from home is a hotel room that has been designed with your allergies in mind.  These rooms feature air-purifiers, hypoallergenic bedding and are specially treated to protect against the environmental irritants that trigger allergy symptoms.  Log-on to pureroom.com to search and reserve an allergy-friendly room at nearly 300 hotels nationwide!

BYOB.  Bring your own bedding, that is.  If you can’t find an allergy-friendly room, pack your own hypoallergenic sheets, pillows, blankets, and even a portable air-purifier/humidifier if it’s feasible.  Anything that makes you more comfortable at home, try to bring it with you.  The more you can make your environment consistent with what you’re used to experiencing at home, the better you’ll feel.

For more tips and information on traveling with allergies, you can check out all of Kevin's posts for Pure Room here as well as visit Allergy & Asthma Network’s Travel Tips page (Click Here).