Do you start sneezing when the trees change color? You may be allergic to mold, says Neal Jain, M.D., an allergist in Gilbert, AZ. “Mold grown on vegetation such as fallen leaves, and moving them disperses spores into the air, where they can be inhaled,” he says. If you suspect you’re allergic, of if you have asthma (many allergens can trigger attacks), be careful when doing yard work. Take an antihistamine an hour before, wear a mask that filters out small particles (look for the N95 rating), and change and shower afterward. Better yet, let someone else do the raking and admire the foliage from afar.
(“Turn Over a New Leaf.” Editorial. Shape Magazine Oct. 2013)
