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Don’t Let Allergies Ruin Your Camping Fun

By U.S. News & World Report

It’s here: hiking and camping season! Summer is an ideal time to explore the great outdoors with family and friends. But what if you have allergies or asthma? What can you do to make sure you’re ready for the fun?

If you have hay fever — especially to grass pollen — know that it’s in the air from early to mid-summer. Make sure you’re taking allergy medicine such as antihistamines and nasal steroids. These medicines work better as protection rather than waiting until symptoms start. You don’t want to be sneezing and have a stuffy nose while playing under the open sky.

[See: 8 Surprising Facts About Asthma and Seasonal Allergies.]

If you have asthma, it’s important not to miss your daily medicines. Always have your rescue inhaler with you. Along with outdoor pollen, beware of other potential triggers for coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath while camping and hiking. Steer clear of campfires. Everyone loves s’mores, but campfire smoke can irritate lungs and lead to asthma symptoms.

Another condition to be aware of is called thunderstorm asthma. It can happen when severe thunderstorms create winds that lift grass pollens and mold spores high in the air. Then the heavy rains break up the pollens and spores into smaller pieces that come down. Due to their smaller size, they are easily breathed in in high numbers, triggering asthma.

Don’t let a food allergy stop you from enjoying the outdoors. For camping and hiking, pack all your own food so you’re sure what you eat is safe. Of course, accidents can happen even when you’re careful, so don’t go anywhere without at least two epinephrine autoinjectors, and always wear your allergy alert bracelet. Make sure someone in your group knows you have a food allergy and can give you the epinephrine autoinjector if needed. If you have a food allergy, know how to get to the nearest emergency room or hospital.

[See: Is it Healthy to Sleep With Your Pets?]

For people with insect sting allergies, bees, wasps, yellow jackets and hornets are scarier than bears, snakes and other animals in the woods. There are some simple rules to help lower your risk of being stung. Don’t wear bright clothing and/or use fragrances because both attract stinging creatures. Avoid areas around garbage cans, and take care drinking sugary beverages, since stinging insects love them and may fly into your cup or can. Don’t go barefoot or wear sandals, which expose your feet to bites and stings. If you’re allergic to insect stings, wear your allergy alert bracelet, carry your epinephrine autoinjectors and know where the nearest emergency room or hospital can be found.

No matter the outdoor threat, it’s vital to know where the nearest emergency room or hospital is in case you experience a major allergy or asthma flare-up and your rescue inhaler or emergency medicines don’t lead to rapid relief. Remember, asthma flare-ups and severe allergic reactions are medical emergencies.

[See: 7 Lifestyle Tips to Manage Your Asthma.]

All of the above conditions can be controlled, and in the case of grass and insect allergy, usually cured, by allergy shots or tablets, known as immunotherapy. For grass allergy, shots and tablets placed under the tongue can desensitize you to the pollen. For insect allergy, shots can help get rid of your sensitivity to insects. With the help of a board-certified allergist, who you can locate using the “Find an Allergist” tool at AllergyandAsthmaRelief.org, you will be ready to conquer the great outdoors.

More from U.S. News

How to Survive Ragweed Allergy Season

8 Surprising Facts About Asthma and Seasonal Allergies

7 Ways Pets Can Make You Healthier

Don’t Let Allergies Ruin Your Camping Fun originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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