It may be contrary to your thought, but some people have more sick days in warmer months. This can make it more difficult to get outside and play. Swimming and water skiing are a couple of the signature summer sports. The enjoyment of these activities can be decreased by seasonal allergies and illness.

Summer is a great time for travel. When we travel we not only expose ourselves to new pathogens, but we can bring those back home. That's not something that we normally think about, but that how things like bird flu and SARS make the jump from their Asian origins to areas in North America and Europe.

An allergic reaction happens when the immune system treats common substances as a threat. In some cases that is pollen, in others it's certain kinds of dust or chemicals such as exhaust fumes.

These things are not normally harmful, but the body reacts as if it does. Even though a bit of plant pollen may enter an airway or nasal passage, this does not really constitute a threat to our health. This is a manufactured threat by the body. Putting the immune system back in balance can fix many of these reactions.

The immune system can take some time to adapt as we transition from indoor to outdoor activities. We are now not only exposed to more and different allergens, but there are also different possible exposures to viruses and bacteria.

One preventative measure to take in both of these cases is learning how to strengthen the immune system. This works equally well to reduce the affect of both allergens and disease. A stronger, more balanced immune system can be developed by increasing the body's production of interferon. When the immune system gets back into balance the reaction to allergens will not be as strong.

There are several natural supplements available that can boost the immune system. It's important to investigate the claims on each to make sure that it not only works, but is safe for long term use. Check for data on these factors and look over the research material available.