Horses, cattle and other animals at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo can be the source of allergies. In this March 3, 2022 file photo, a competitor works his horse to separate a cow during the NCHA Cutting $50,000 amateur finals at the Houston Rodeo.

Isabel Valdez has been breaking in a new pair of boots in anticipation of this year’s Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. She doesn’t want blisters to ruin her fun.

“The rodeo is not the day to break in the boots that you’re going to buy,” said Valdez, a physician’s assistant and assistant professor of medicine at Baylor College of Medicine. “The rodeo might be the day that you wear something more comfortable.”

Boot blisters are a common ailment for many attendees of the RodeoHouston, which kicked off its 2023 run on Tuesday. But they’re not the only malady that can damper your experience.

The timing of the rodeo always coincides with the tail end of what is considered “peak” flu season, just as spring allergy season is ramping up. Others may be affected by allergies to livestock, and there’s still the lingering risk of COVID-19, Valdez said.

“Unfortunately, the timing of hay fever and allergy season coincides with rodeo, and a lot of the things that happen in rodeo are outdoors,” Valdez said. “There’s always the flora and fauna out there that people will breathe in, and they’ll breathe in the pollen, and there’s a lot of dust as well.”

RodeoHouston will have four first-aid stations around NRG Park for minor health issues and medical personnel on standby for emergencies. There are other steps you can take to protect yourself against allergies and other minor ailments, though, and Valdez and her colleagues at Baylor offered some tips.

With much of the rodeo taking place outdoors, it’s important for anyone with allergies to stay up to date on their medication, Valdez said. Data from the Houston Health Department shows tree pollen levels have been “heavy” or “extremely heavy” each of the past five weekdays. Grass pollen levels were also “heavy” on Monday.

Horses, cattle and other animals, such as those found in the petting zoo, can also be a source of allergies.

To avoid a flare-up, keep from touching your face, wash your hands frequently and use hand sanitizer. The mask you wore to prevent the spread of COVID-19 could also reduce your exposure to allergens — though it won’t protect your eyes.

“If you feel comfortable wearing a mask, I encourage you to do so,” said Dr. Yasmin Uzamere, an assistant professor in family and community medicine at Baylor. “They’re great for reducing the spread of respiratory viruses.” 

If you do have a flare-up, a daily saline rinse could alleviate nasal symptoms, and rinsing your eyes with warm water could help relieve itchiness.

Being outdoors also carries a risk for sunburn. Getting sunburned accelerates skin aging, and repeated sunburns over time can increase someone’s risk for skin cancer. To protect yourself, wear sunblock with an SPF of at least 30, or a breathable long-sleeve shirt and pants.

A hat can also help, so Valdez recommends dressing for the occasion.

“You’re going to be at the rodeo,” Valdez said. “Wear a cowboy hat.”

The combination of being exposed to the sun and spending so much time walking around also heightens the risk for dehydration, so don’t forget to hydrate — probably more than normal.

“It’s easy to forget to drink your water like you normally would,” Valdez said. “But you’re using a lot of fluids while you’re enjoying yourself and walking over 10,000 steps around the grounds.”

It’s tempting to overindulge on classics like barbecue, turkey legs, sausage on a stick, pastries and sweets during the rodeo, but it’s important to pace yourself — especially if you're going more than once.

Dr. Chinwe Nwokocha, an assistant professor in family and community medicine at Baylor, recommends maintaining a diet that fits your lifestyle. Turkey and chicken are lower in fat and have fewer calories than beef, pork and other non-lean meats.

Watching what you eat is particularly important if you have a medical condition that can be exacerbated by too much salt or sugar. Fried foods are high in sodium, so anyone with high blood pressure should avoid eating too much of them, Valdez said.

Pastries and other treats are high in sugar, so Valdez suggests moderating your intake of sweets by saving some for later.

“If you really want to enjoy them because you’re just going to (the rodeo) the one time, maybe enjoy something there and, before you leave, buy another thing that you can take home and enjoy tomorrow,” she said.

There’s plenty to see at the rodeo, which means you’ll be doing a lot of walking — and potentially some blisters. Last year, the chairman of the 2022 RodeoHouston’s medical and safety committee told the Chronicle that boot blisters are the most common ailment for rodeogoers.

Avoid blisters by picking the right footwear, and bring some bandages along just in case, Valdez said. That way you can focus on the fun instead of your feet.

“Make sure that you’re wearing comfortable shoes so you can prevent blisters and having so much discomfort that you can’t walk,” she said. “That can really take away from the joy of it.”

Evan MacDonald is a features reporter for the Houston Chronicle, covering health and wellness for ReNew Houston.

He joined the Chronicle in 2022 after working at Cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer, where he covered health. He's also worked for news organizations in New York and Massachusetts.

A Boston native, Evan graduated with a bachelor's degree from Emerson College and a master's degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. He enjoys trivia and movies and is a fan of all Boston sports teams, for which he apologizes in advance.

He can be reached on Twitter at @evanmac3 or via email at Evan.MacDonald@chron.com.