adult woman in a nature suffering allergies

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It’s Allergy Season! Are You Prepared?

Take this quiz before your sneezing gets really bad

Matt McMillen

Updated May 26, 2021

En español

Updated May 26, 2021

12 Questions

cd85c0cd-46b6-4df0-9bb4-70cda2852468

It’s Allergy Season! Are You Prepared?

[ {
  "question" : "When do spring allergies commonly begin?",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "February",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  }, {
    "answer" : "March",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "April",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "May",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "While allergy season starts at different times in different areas of the country, spring allergies get underway in February in many parts of the U.S. Temperatures help determine how early it begins, as a mild winter can lead to early pollination. In some parts of the South, allergy agony can begin in January!",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : "Getty"
}, {
  "question" : "Pollen is a major trigger for people who suffer from allergies. What’s the best way to prevent sneezing, congestion and other miseries?",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "Do yard work, such as weeding and mowing the lawn, in the morning or evening",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Shower after you’ve been outside on a high-pollen day",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Avoid the outdoors on dry, windy days",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "All of the above",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "As much as possible, limit your exposure to pollen and other allergens. Pollen counts are highest at midday, so do outdoor tasks early or late in the day, or enlist a family member to do them for you. If you have to do the work, wear a pollen mask for protection. Once inside, change your clothes and take a shower to get rid of any pollen that’s clung to you. The best time to be outside is after it has rained, because showers help clear pollen from the air.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
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}, {
  "question" : "True or false? Start taking your allergy medication as soon as you begin to experience symptoms.",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "True",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "False",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "If you know you will suffer from hay fever (also known as allergic rhinitis), start your medications about two weeks before symptoms are expected. This will help prevent your immune system from releasing histamines, which cause the inflammation responsible for sneezing, congestion, runny nose and other allergy symptoms. Talk to your doctor about which medications are right for you and when to start taking them.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
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}, {
  "question" : "Tree pollen hits hard during the spring. During what other times of the year are airborne allergy triggers a concern?",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "Late spring and early summer",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Late summer and fall",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "July to early fall",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "All of the above",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "Grass pollen tends to strike in late spring through early summer. Fungus spores can cause trouble from July into early autumn. Ragweed rounds out the remainder of the year, extending into November. In some warm climates, pollen can be present all year.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "True or false? You can avoid allergies by moving to another part of the country.",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "True",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "False",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "You can run, but you can’t hide. Unfortunately, the allergens that trouble you are likely to be found no matter where you go. Worse, you may find that your new home boasts a whole new cast of allergy triggers. Your best bet: Stay where you are and learn the best ways to combat the triggers that trouble you.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "Allergy shots help build up your body’s defenses against allergy triggers such as pollen. What happens if you receive allergy shots year after year?",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "They become less effective",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "They become more effective",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  }, {
    "answer" : "They provide the same relief each year",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "After three years, allergy shots will reduce your symptoms by 55 percent, according to a Polish study of hay fever sufferers between the ages of 65 and 75. The same study, published in February 2016, also found that shots will reduce your need for allergy medications by nearly two-thirds.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
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}, {
  "question" : "True or false? Global warming may make your allergies worse.",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "True",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  }, {
    "answer" : "False",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "A 2021 study found that the pollen season has lengthened by 20 days and contains 21 percent more pollen since 1990, likely due to a warmer climate that has prolonged the growing season.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "Allergy or cold? Sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference. What common symptom indicates that you’re having an allergy attack?",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "Fatigue",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Stuffy nose",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Itchy eyes",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  }, {
    "answer" : "Runny nose",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "If you suffer from hay fever or another type of seasonal allergy, allergens in the air, such as pollen or mold, trigger the antibodies in your eyes to release histamine, which causes them to become itchy, red and watery. To protect your eyes, wear glasses outdoors and avoid rubbing your eyes.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "Like to keep a garden? Which of the following produce should you avoid planting if you want to keep your property’s pollen count down?",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "Lilacs",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Apple trees",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Ornamental grasses",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  }, {
    "answer" : "Daffodils",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "Purple fountain grass and other ornamental grasses release pollen, so it’s best to avoid them. If you are committed to planting grasses, find a garden center that can sell you female members of the species you like. Only male grass plants produce pollen. In general, stick to plants, flowers and trees that don’t release pollen into the wind. Your gardening store or local extension service can help you pick the right ones for you.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "True or false? If you have a pollen allergy, you should also watch what you eat.",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "True",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  }, {
    "answer" : "False",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "Some people with pollen allergies also have oral allergy syndrome (also known as pollen-food allergy syndrome), which causes a brief allergic reaction to raw fruits and vegetables, as well as to some nuts. If you are allergic to grass pollen, for example, melons, tomatoes, oranges, Swiss chard and peanuts may cause itching, tingling, slight swelling and bumpiness in your throat or lips.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "True or false: Allergies are worse during the day than at night.",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "True",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "False",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "Allergies can wreak havoc on your ability to get a good night’s sleep. In fact, allergies that stuff up your nose increase your risk of snoring and obstructive sleep apnea, both of which can impair your sleep — and the sleep of the person you share your bed with. Missed sleep can in turn leave you too sleepy for daytime activities, and it can boost your likelihood of developing chronic conditions such as heart disease and sexual dysfunction. Sleep deprivation also may make you more prone to depression.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
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}, {
  "question" : "Many people each year try complementary medicine in an attempt to find allergy relief. Which of the following is effective?",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "Honey",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Butterbur extract",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Nasal irrigation",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  }, {
    "answer" : "Acupuncture",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "Irrigating your nasal passages with a saltwater solution (think neti pot) may provide some relief  — and it’s also safe, as long as you use and clean your device properly. No scientific evidence suggests that honey or acupuncture offers any help for allergy sufferers. Some studies suggest that butterbur extract, derived from the roots and leaves of the butterbur shrub, may be helpful, but it’s not clear that it’s safe to use over the long term. It may also cause allergic reactions in people who are sensitive to ragweed and other plants.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
} ]

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