WEST HARTFORD, Conn. -- Dr. Jim Rosen, an allergist in West Hartford, said a little prevention can go a long way to making you feel better. He said his best tip is to take allergy medicine at night, not in the morning.

"When you take your antihistamine at nighttime, you'll have a much higher antihistamine level in the morning than if you took your antihistamine in the morning," he said.

He said limiting what allergens make it into your home can be a big help, too.

Web sites such as healthychild.org have a checklists to help you do that.

Rosen’s other tips include running an air conditioner, washing sheets in hot water to kill dust mites and vacuuming carpets with HEPA filters.

Another helpful hint, he said, is to wipe your dog down before it goes inside for the day. He said pollen gets in dogs’ fur and is tracked into the house.

"It’s also very important that when you go to bed at night that that you wipe your hair and you face if you are not an evening showerer,” Rosen said.

Luanne Woltersdorf said she’s religious about taking her medication for runny noses and watery eyes. She said that really helps.