As we watch summer slowly fade away, millions of us are facing a season of suffering: hay fever season.

Fall allergies are often triggered by ragweed pollen, which typically starts to bloom in mid-August and finishes wreaking havoc sometime in October. For the 35 million Americans who suffer through seasonal allergies, the return of this plant means the return of those all-too-familiar symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes and sore throat. Ragweed can also make asthma worse.

Although there's no cure for ragweed allergy, this nasty passage to fall can be controlled by following a few steps.

Avoid the outdoors, if possible, between 5 and 10 a.m. when pollen counts are at their highest.
Keep windows in your home and car closed to lower exposure.
Remove your shoes at the door so you don't track pollen from room to room in your home.
Be aware that pets can also transport pollen.

If your allergies are really bad, you may want to talk to your doctor about allergy medication.