Heigh-ho, heigh-ho, off to work we go — despite sneezing, sniffles, watery eyes and itchy throats due to seasonal allergies. It was entertaining to see the antics of Sneezy, who could not control his severe sneezing in the Disney animated film "Snow White." But for many children and adults it is not so amusing because seasonal allergies can interfere with work and learning.

With summer coming to a close, that means vacation is over and it's time to return to jobs or school and the fall routine. It is estimated that approximately 40 million Americans have an indoor/outdoor nasal allergy more commonly called hay fever.

For many of these sufferers, trees, grass, weed pollen and mold spores can be triggers for hay fever symptoms. And there are more allergens in the air in the fall, with ragweed and molds accounting for much of the increase.

Allergies account for 17 million medical visits, and those visits are more frequent in the spring and fall accounting for roughly half of all allergy-related visits. Nearly 8 percent of those over the age of 18 have hay fever.

A kiss from Snow White could prevent an explosion of symptoms for Sneezy. Tying his beard and whiskers around his nose was another solution. But these are the remedies of fairy tales. The National Institutes of Health makes the following suggestions for those suffering severe fall allergies:

  • Stay indoors with the doors and windows closed when pollen is at its peak (usually in the mornings).
  • Check pollen counts in your area.
  • Before you turn on your heat for the first time, clean your heating vents and change the filter. Bits of mold and other allergens can get trapped in the vents over the summer and will fill the air as soon as you start the furnace.
  • Use a HEPA filter in your heating system to remove pollen, mold and other particles from the air.
  • Use a humidifier if you need to, to keep your air at between 35 percent and 50 percent humidity.
  • Wear a mask when you rake leaves so you don't breathe in mold spores.

Hay fever can be diagnosed by a healthcare provider through the reported symptoms and physical examination. Skin tests and blood tests may also be appropriate. The medical provider may prescribe medication or nasal sprays in some cases.

Characters like Sneezy are considered good targets for a laugh, but seasonal allergies take a real toll. Allergic rhinitis contributes to as many as 10.7 million lost workdays a year and children being absent for more than 2 million school days every year.

Allergies are nothing to laugh about.