Sneezing on the Job

When allergies hit hard, work is probably the last place you want to be. Chances are your coworkers, while they may be sympathetic, aren’t too thrilled about your dripping nose and sneezing fits, either.

So what can you do to control allergy symptoms at work? A lot, actually, says Steven Rubinstein, M.D., chair of allergy and immunology at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation’s Mountain View Center. But your strategies may vary depending on what you’re allergic to and when your symptoms hit. Are you reacting to airborne pollen that you whiffed while walking your dog before work? Might the bushes surrounding your office parking lot be to blame? Or is the dust piling up in your cubicle kicking your allergies into overdrive? 

Sometimes it’s simple to discern what’s sparking your symptoms, but it’s not always clear-cut, especially since we tend to move through multiple environments during the day. Plus, Dr. Rubinstein says, sometimes allergens set off symptoms immediately, while other times they won’t trigger trouble until several hours later, making it difficult to identify the offending allergen. And if you’re allergic to multiple things—maybe a combo of indoor and outdoor allergens—pinpointing the issue or issues can be even trickier. Seeing an allergist can be a big help. He or she can perform a skin-prick test or other exam to root out which substances pose problems for you.

Before Work

If you discover that tree pollens, grasses or other outdoor allergens are your biggest beast, take extra caution before you get to work. If you spend time outside in the morning—going for a jog, fetching the newspaper, walking your kids to the bus stop—Dr. Rubinstein recommends using a saline nose rinse before work. “These rinses flush allergens and other irritants out of the nose before they can cause symptoms,” he says.

You can also try taking an over-the-counter non-drowsy antihistamine in the morning, which Dr. Rubinstein says are safe, don’t usually cause side effects and don’t normally interact negatively with other medications. “Antihistamines are basically a cover-up,” he says. “You’re still allergic to what you inhale, but they block histamine for few hours so you can stave off symptoms.”

Another option, Dr. Rubinstein’s treatment of choice, are cortisone nose sprays. “These are now available over-the-counter, and they more proactively tell your body not to react to allergens,” he says. The caveat with cortisone sprays, however, is you must take them daily, and they can take up to a few weeks before becoming effective.

When driving to work, Dr. Rubinstein says to keep your windows rolled up—no matter how beautiful the weather. “Use the ‘recirculate air’ setting to keep the fresh air in and pollen out of the car during your commute,” he says. “When you pull in air from outside, pollen accumulates in the vent.” As soon as you arrive at work, wash your hands to avoid bringing any lingering pollens or other outdoor allergens into your work space.

At Work

If indoor allergens, such as dust mites or coworkers’ colognes and perfumes, provoke your systems, “keep a portable saline rinse in your desk drawer so you can pull it out throughout the day to use as needed,” Dr. Rubinstein says. Also keep your work space as clean and dust-free as possible—computers and other electronics collect dust, and even soft-sided cubicle dividers can harbor allergens.

As much as you can, steer clear of overhead and wall vents, which are common problem zones. “If you’re consistently feeling lousy, gently nudge management to check the filtration system to make sure there’s a good filter in place,” Dr. Rubinstein says. If you can find an inexpensive, small, portable air filter to set up in your office or workstation, that may help, too. But don’t consider hauling in a humidifier. Even though dry air can irritate your nose, you’re much better off lubricating it with a saline solution, since humidifiers only encourage dust mites and mold to thrive.