Pollen seasonal allergies solution

Pollen-Seasonal Allergies Solution

Pollen allergies are a response from an allergic individual to pollen. Wind pollinated plants generally cause pollen allergies. Trees pollinate in the spring. Grasses pollenate in the summer. Weeds pollinate in the fall. Blowing pollen can land on noses and eyes and cause problems.

Causes of pollen allergies:

Pollen can cause nasal itchiness, sneezing, runny nose, post nasal drip, and nasal congestion. Pollen causes watery, itchy, and red eyes. Pollen allergies can trigger an asthma flare. Some people who are very allergic to grass can develop hives from rolling around in the grass.

How to diagnose pollen allergies?

We take a clinical history to find out when patients have allergy symptoms. That can give us a big clue because plants pollinate in different seasons. A skin prick test pokes a drop of an allergen through the skin to look for an allergic response. Specific IGI testing looks for the presence of an allergic antibody in the blood.

Symptoms of pollen allergies:

The signs of an allergy to pollen can appear similar to other conditions. So, what does a pollen allergy actually look like? Symptoms like a runny nose, nasal congestion, and sneezing can occur with a cold. But if you also have watery, itchy eyes, and your symptoms last longer than two weeks, then they may be caused by an airborne allergen like pollen.

 Another clue is where and when your symptoms strike. Do they:  flares up outdoors and improves indoors. Does it peak around midday, when pollen counts are usually highest? Does it get better after it rains when the pollen count is low? If your answer is "yes,” then pollen may be to blame. Seasonal symptoms can point to the specific type of pollen allergy you have.

 Allergies in late winter and spring can be caused by pollinating trees. Late spring and summer may be due to grass pollen, and late summer through late autumn fall within the weed pollen cycle. Allergies to multiple types of pollen can cause symptoms that come and go throughout the year.

Seasonal allergies:

Seasonal allergies can be excruciating, and there's a lot of misinformation out there about what causes allergies and how to avoid them. You can develop allergies as an adult. This one is a fact. Adults are not immune from developing new allergies or getting them for the first time later in life.

 Allergies are your body’s response to substances that your immune system mistakenly identifies as harmful. As we age, our immune systems become weaker, which, in turn, weakens our hyper-allergenic reactions. Typically, most adults who experience allergies later in life have had a previous allergic episode that they may not remember.

 These can start during early childhood and lay dormant through your teenage years, then pop back up later in life. So, if you’re feeling the sniffles but assume it couldn’t possibly be allergies, think again.

 Eating local honey helps relieve allergy symptoms. I wish it were true, but unfortunately, this one is fiction. There’s been a lot of buzz around this idea because bees collect pollen from local plants and use it to create their honey. Therefore, it could help build your immunity to those local allergens.

 Believe it or not, flower pollen is actually one of the least common allergens. What really triggers most people’s seasonal allergies are pollen from trees, grass, and weeds, which won’t be found in local honey. So, while honey is delicious, your best bet for allergy relief is over-the-counter medication.

 Using nasal spray frequently can be bad for you. This is a fact, and it’s a serious one too. Nasal decongestant sprays can work like a charm, but they are meant for long-term treatment of allergy symptoms and can cause serious harm if not used properly.

These sprays contain chemicals that shrink the enlarged blood vessels that are causing your congestion. After more than a few days' use, those blood vessels can become dependent on the drugs, causing you to need to use more and more of them to get the same results. This is called the rebound phenomenon, and over time, it can lead to chronic sinusitis and other serious nasal problems.

 As an alternative, try some other remedies like oral antihistamines or decongestants, and if you do opt for a nasal spray, use nasal corticosteroids rather than decongestants. They’re very effective in relieving symptoms and don’t carry the same risk. When it comes to seasonal allergies, it’s best to be pro-active and keep a consistent treatment plan to manage your symptoms.

Tips to ease your seasonal allergies:

May has brought warmer temperatures and full-on allergy season. Many people will need medication, but there are other ways to reduce your symptoms. So, really, the first step in helping people feel better is to try to get them to reduce their exposure to pollen as much as possible. That means making your home a pollen-free zone by keeping doors and windows closed.

 Indoors, you can track on your hair, clothes, and shoes. So, wearing a hat , wrapping around sunglasses and washing clothing when you get home helps. Don’t forget to wipe down your pets and avoid drying laundry outdoors. Even a one-hour exposure to pollen can trigger symptoms for days.

 For some people, they may want to consider using a salt water rinse because it just rinses the pollen out of their nose when they come in. So, will certain foods ease your symptoms? A good diet is always important for good health, but the impact on allergies is probably fairly minimal. HEPA filters have shown some benefits, but the studies are mixed.

 No objection, but would I spend a lot of money on it? In hoping it would be the cure all, I probably would not spend a lot of money on it. The jury is also out on using acupuncture for allergy relief. Two other approaches health experts recommend are propping the head up during sleep and using nasal strips.

 They can be used at night to hold the nose open, and that sometimes gives some temporary relief for nasal congestion and will get them over the hump. For anyone with allergies, it’s important to know your triggers, so seeing your doctor or allergy specialist is recommended.