Coughing. Sniffling. First cold of the season? Maybe. Or maybe you’re reacting to all those leaves you’ve been raking.

Outdoor allergens include molds and pollens. According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI), they affect 20% of adults, and are the cause of more sick days than any other culprit.

Never been allergic before?
Many adults who have never experienced allergic reactions are surprised when they find out they’ve developed sensitivities. They may not realize their symptoms are due to allergens.

A doctor once told me, "You can become allergic to anything at any time." He related how he used to work as a National Park Ranger and would show off to tour groups by rubbing poison oak on his skin. He was one of the rare few individuals who isn't allergic to those plants. However, one day he had a serious reaction. His body had become sensitized due to being exposed to poison oak time and again.

In the same way, after years of exposure to certain pollens and molds, you can have a reaction that you've never had before. For most adults, these reactions only get worse with each exposure.

Think you can manage allergic reactions yourself?
You may be able to manage your reactions with over-the-counter medicines, especially if your symptoms are mild.

However, allergies can lead to serious asthma-like symptoms. Certain pollen allergens share similar protein structures found in certain foods. So if you're allergic to ragweed, you may develop allergic reactions to watermelon, honeydew, zucchini and cucumber. And if you suffer from birch-pollen allergies, you may end up reacting to pears, apples and pitted fruit such as cherries and peaches.

The bottom line? If you have allergic reactions after gardening or yardwork, you should follow up with your doctor. Your allergies may be more extensive than you might suspect.

Resources
AAAAI: The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology web site offers a wealth of information, including the National Allergy Bureau, where you can view local mold and pollen counts and sign up for e-mail alerts.

"Gardening with Allergies": A short list of gardening "friends" and "foes" from the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.

Allergy-free Gardening: This book by Thomas Leo Ogren suggests that by using male-only pollen-producing trees and plants (for tidiness since they produce no seeds, fruits, messy flowers or old seedpods), landscapers have unwittingly contributed to seasonal allergy problems. Ogren provides a detailed list of plants along with a number-rating as to how allergenic they are.