Pollen allergy

Pollen allergies develop symptoms only when allergic pollens are in the air. Symptoms include a Flaky nose (also called rhinorrhea - this is usually a clear, small nose). What Is Pollen Disorder? Pollen is one of the most common causes of allergies and certain seasons. Most people know that pollen allergy is called "hay fever." Experts often refer to pollen allergies as “seasonal allergic rhinitis.” Every spring, summer, and autumn - even in winter in some states - plants produce small pollen grains to fertilize other plants of the same type. Most pollinators that cause allergies to come from trees, grass, and weeds. These plants produce small, light, and dry pollinated air. They can then find their way into your eyes, nose, and lungs, causing symptoms of allergies if you have a pollen allergy. Flowering plants that pollinate their insects - such as roses and other shrubs, such as cherries and pears - often do not cause rhinitis. There are three main types of pollen allergies: tree pollen allergies, grass pollen allergies, and weed pollen allergies. Pollen Allergy Drugs: Tree pollen is the first pollination that occurs annually in the United States. It is responsible for many of the symptoms of pollen allergy in the spring. It also often escapes pollen in the spring and summer. Across the United States trees produce more pollen from March to May. But in some areas, such as the South, the trees may produce pollen in early January and pick up several times during the year. Tree pollen Allergy: Alder, ashes, aspen, the beech, birch, box elder, cedar, cottonwood, elm, hickory, juniper, maple, a mountain elder, berries, oak, olive, pecan, poplar, and willow. Grass pollen Allergy:  If you have grass allergies, where you live may cause you to have symptoms. In the North the United States grass pollen is usually harvested in late spring or early summer. In the South, grasses can release pollen during most seasons and can cause symptoms throughout the year. There are hundreds of species of grasses, but only a few cause allergies. Your location may determine which grass may cause your symptoms. The most common types of grasses that cause symptoms of allergies are Bermuda, Johnson, Kentucky, Orchard, Rye, Nice vernal, and Timothy. Pollen Weed Allergies:  Weed pollen, especially ragweed, causes allergic reactions in many Americans. About 15% of people are allergic to ragweed pollen. Weed pollen emerges in late summer and autumn. Ragweed grows in 49 districts and can travel hundreds of miles in the air. This makes it difficult to avoid. Some weeds are also responsible for improper weed pollen. Common weeds that can cause symptoms include Ragweed, Burning forest, Ancestor, quarter-lamb, Mugwort, Pigweed, Russian tree, Groom brush, and Tumbleweed.

 

What is Pollen Count? Pollen count means how much pollen is in the air. To get pollen count, a device like an air sample is used to collect pollen, and pollen samples are identified and calculated. The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology’s (AAAAI) National Allergy Bureau ™ collects pollen and reports these figures to the United States. Some websites or weather news reports are also pollinated. Pollen forecasts are estimates, like weather forecasts. In most cases, pollen forecasts will only report on the most common types of pollen. This may help you to identify the type of pollen that is present in your area and causes symptoms of allergies. Pollination predictions can help you prepare, but you may also experience symptoms of allergies at times when the forecast predicts low or moderate pollen levels. What Are the Symptoms of Allergy? Pollen allergies develop symptoms only when allergic pollens are in the air. Symptoms include a Flaky nose (also known as rhinorrhea - this is usually a blurred, small nose). Runny nose (due to blockage or congestion of the nose - one of the most common and problematic symptoms): Sneezing, it bites the nose, eyes, ears, and mouth, red eyes and water, and swelling in the eyes. If you have asthma and pollen makes your chest worse, you may have asthma. It is the most common form of asthma.

How Do Doctors Diagnose Allergy? Doctors use two tests to detect pollen allergies. Skin Prick Testing (SPT): To diagnose scratching, the nurse or doctor places a small drop of potential substance on your skin. The nurse will then gently or scratches the area with a needle drop. If you have an immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibody (a protein in the immune system), the area will be red, swollen, and itchy within 15 to 20 minutes. You may also see a wheel. The wheel is a raised, circular area that looks like a nest. Usually, the bigger the wheel, the more likely you are to become allergic to the allergen. Constructive SPT in a particular pollen area does not mean that you have an allergy to certain substances. Doctors should compare skin test results with the time and location of your symptoms to see if they are compatible. Direct IgE Blood Tests:  A blood test is helpful if you have a skin disease or are taking medications that interfere with your skin test. It can also be used on children who may be performing poorly on skin tests. Your doctor will take a blood sample and send it to the laboratory. The lab adds a blood-resistant substance to your blood sample. Then they measure the number of antibodies your blood produces to attack allergies. This test is called the IgE (sIgE) Direct Blood Test. (This was previously called RAST or ImmunoCAP testing.) Like a skin test, a good blood test for an allergen does not mean that the allergen is causing your symptoms.

How Can I Avoid Pollen Allergies? There are steps you can take to reduce pollen allergy: Start taking allergy medications before the start of the pollen season. Many allergies are very effective when taken in this way. This allows treatment to prevent your body from releasing histamine and other chemicals that cause your symptoms. Limit your outdoor activities if the level of pollen is high. This will reduce the amount of pollen allergen you ingest and help reduce your symptoms. Keep windows closed during pollen or pollen seasons. Use a central air conditioner or air cleaner with CERTIFIED asthma & allergy friendly® filter and/or HEPA filter to minimize airborne allergies in the house (including pollen that can enter your home through doors, windows, your clothes, and pets). Wear sunglasses and cover your hair when you go out. This will help keep pollen from getting into your eyes and hair. Bathe daily before bed. This will remove pollen from your body and not get into your beds. Wash the bedding with hot soapy water once a week. Limit close contact with pets that spend a lot of time outdoors. Wipe the furry animals when they come in or wash them weekly (if necessary). Change and wash clothes worn during outdoor activities. Dry your clothes in a laundry room or indoors, not in an outdoor line.

Samina Zaheer (Health Tips, Health Care).