If you have airborne allergies that are triggered by fall pollen that summer weeds start to emit around the middle of August, you are not alone. There are over 50 million people in the U. S. alone who suffer from fall allergies (often referred to as hay fever).

Fall allergens include the notorious ragweed pollen as well as curly dock, lambs quarters, pigweed, plantain, sheep sorrel and sagebrush pollen. Pollination usually starts around August 15 (hence the unofficial start of hay fever season) and can last through late October or until the first frost. Here are 5 ways to successfully navigate through the season with your health and sense of humor in tact.

Know Before You Go--Check your area's pollen count daily. This is publicized on the web in newspapers and on local TV and radio stations. Schedule outdoor activities for days when the count is low. And if you have a choice about when in the day to go, try going before 10 in the morning or after 4 in the afternoon. Stay inside on dry windy days as the count is usually considerably higher.

Delegate, Delegate, Delegate--Leave outside work to someone else. Have them trim weeds routinely, and landscape your yard so there is no standing water as mold spores can also cause problems. If you must do yard work or if your garden brings you joy, be sure to wear a mask while outdoors. Remove your clothes and launder them immediately if possible. Take a shower to get rid of pollen that may have attached to your skin and hair.

Kip a Lid On It--Minimize the exchange between inside and outside air. Keep windows and doors closed, and use air conditioning or heat to keep temperatures comfortable. Avoid using whole house fans that pull air from outside. Keep windows closed when traveling in the car, and shut the vent that allows outside air to enter.

Don't Go It Alone--You may be able to manage your symptoms with over-the-counter medications. But if your allergies are severe enough to cause you miss time from school or work, getting professional help in the form of an allergist can help you get your life back. Exploring all your options with a medical professional can save lots of misery and suffering which can drastically improve your quality of life.

Eliminate the Cause--How on earth can you do that? Control your indoor pollen count even as the outdoor count continues to climb. Continuous filtration of your air with a high efficiency particle arresting (or HEPA) air purifier can greatly reduce the amount of airborne pollen in your home or office.

And since this type of filtration is also designed to remove airborne particulates that are as small as.3 microns in size, it will also take out other allergy triggers such as dust, dust mites, mold spores and pet dander as well.