Coping with Allergies: How World Champion Gymnast Shannon Miller Manages her Allergy Symptoms
Coping with Allergies: How World Champion Gymnast Shannon Miller Manages her Allergy Symptoms
(ARA) - As host city of the 2008 Summer Olympic Games, Beijing will introduce thousands of spectators and athletes from around the world to an array of new customs and sights, but many of these visitors may also experience allergy symptoms like sneezing and itchy, watery eyes as they explore this new environment.
Allergy sufferer Shannon Miller, America's most decorated gymnast, has teamed up with Claritin to share how managing her current allergy symptoms helps her achieve peak performance.
As a seven-time Olympic medalist known for winning the first U.S. gold medal on the balance beam in 1996, Miller is no stranger to facing physical and mental challenges that require her full attention. Over time her allergies became increasingly severe, and bothersome symptoms like sneezing and itchy, watery eyes interfered with her gymnastics touring and professional speaking engagements.
"I am still performing so it is essential for me to be able to focus on the four-inch balance beam without being distracted by my allergies, so I can't risk taking an allergy medication that may make me drowsy," says Miller. "Now I take Claritin because it works hard to provide relief from my worst allergy symptoms all day without making me drowsy. Whether I'm speaking professionally, spotting children at gymnastics clinics, or hosting my own television show, I need to stay alert and focused so I can perform my best."
Miller is one of the estimated 50 million Americans who suffer from allergies. As an allergy sufferer she understands the importance of treating her allergy symptoms with a non-drowsy allergy medication. In addition, experts offer the following tips to help allergy sufferers ease their symptoms:
* After you've been outside, change your clothes and take a quick shower. Pollen from the air can collect on your clothes and hair.
* Keep your home and car windows closed to keep out pollen and other outdoor allergens. Instead, use air conditioning and change the filters often.
* Monitor pollen counts and adjust outdoor activities accordingly. Dry, windy days - especially after a rainy day - can be particularly high in pollen.
To learn more about treating allergies, visit www.claritin.com.
Courtesy of ARAcontent