What Is Allergy?
Allergy is a condition when your immune system reacts to substances in your environment that are harmless for your body including bacteria and virus. Your immune system will fight against the substances that are known as allergens, we call the conditions an allergic reaction when your body reacts to allergens. Most common allergens include certain food, pollen, dust mites, mold, animal dander, insect stings, latex, and medications. The problems your friend’s cat, certain plants, those dust “bunnies” under your bed.
What Is a Pollen Allergy?
Pollen is one of the most common triggers of seasonal allergy in the spring and fall. Health experts usually refer to pollen allergy as seasonal allergic rhinitis, which is comonly known as harfever in most people. Each spring, summer and fall known as pollen seasons, plants will produce pollen grains to fertilize other plants of the same species. Most of the pollens which might cause allergic reactions come from trees, weeds and grasses. The plants make tiny, light and dry pollen grains that carried by the wind.Grasses are the most common trigger of allergy. Ragweed is a main cause of weed allergies. Other common sources of weed pollen include sagebrush, pigweed, lamb’s quarters and tumbleweed. Certain species of trees, including oak, birch, cedar, also produce highly allergenic pollen.Plants fertilized by insects, like roses and some flowering trees, cherry and pear trees, do not cause allergic rhinitis.
What Is a Pollen Count?
A pollen count shows the amount of pollen in the air, used to tell people with allergy history that they might be affected, often reported during pollen seasons. Usually the main types of pollen are also reported.
What Are the Symptoms of Pollen Allergy?
People with pollen allergies only have symptoms when the pollens they are allergic to are in the air. Symptoms include:
- Runny nose and mucus production
- Sneezing
- Coughing and itchy throat
- Wheezing sounds
- Itchy nose, eyes, ears and mouth
- Stuffy nose (nasal congestion)
- Red and watery eyes that will not stop tearing
- Swelling around the eyes, including eyelids, eye stys
What Is the Treatment for Pollen Allergy?
Certain otc and prescription medications may help relieve pollen allergy symptoms.Antihistamines come in pills, liquid or nasal spray form. They can reduce sneezing and itching in the nose and eyes. They also reduce a runny nose and nasal congestion.Decongestants in pills, liquids, nasal sprays or nasal drops. They help reduce the lining of the nasal passages and reduce nasal congestion. Use decongestant nose drops and sprays only reduce allergy symptoms inshort term.Nasal corticosteroids are a type of nasal spray. They relieve inflammation in the nose and block allergy reactions. They are the most effective medication type for allergic rhinitis because they can reduce all symptoms, including congestion. Leukotriene receptor antagonists relieve the action of important chemical messengers (other than histamine) involved in allergic reactions.Cromolyn sodium is a nasal spray that blocks the release of chemicals that cause allergy symptoms, including histamine and leukotrienes. Talk to your doctor before use it for some few side effects. Many people with pollen allergy do not get complete relief from medications. This means they may be candidates for immunotherapy. Immunotherapy is a long-term treatment that can help prevent or reduce the severity of allergic reactions. It can slow the course of allergic disease by changing the your body’s immune response to allergens.