The warmer months and seasons of the year come with the much-needed sunlight and outdoor activities, but they also present a new problem: pollen allergy or allergic rhinitis. So, even though spending time outside in the sun may seem incredible, this may affect those suffering from allergic rhinitis because that’s when plants come to life and produce pollen which the air is full of during summer.
Pollen is a powdery, granular substance that trees, weeds, and plants produce that leads to the fertilization of various plants. The wind spreads pollen but can also be dispersed b insects such as bees. It can be hard to avoid during pollen season as it is in the air, and you can inhale it. However, there are measures you can take into practice that will help you minimize your exposure and over-the-counter medicines that will help you alleviate symptoms after you’ve already inhaled pollen. You can suffer from various pollen allergies or more than one. Multiple trees, weeds, and grass produce pollen in different months, sometimes overlapping, and it’s possible to suffer from pollen allergies during various months of the year.
Pollen allergy symptoms
There are various cold-like symptoms you can experience during the warm months of the year that indicate you suffer from pollen allergy. These include:
Sinus pressure, which may cause facial pain- Itchy, watery eyes
- Sore throat
- Cough
- Decreased sense of taste or smell
- Runny nose and nasal stuffiness (congestion)
- Sneezing
- Mucus that runs down the back of your throat (postnasal drip)
- Swollen, bruised-appearing skin under the eyes (allergic shiners)
- Extreme tiredness (fatigue), often due to poor sleep
Causes of pollen allergies
Allergies occur when you inhale, contact or consume the allergens. Your body mistakes these substances to be harmful and produces antibodies to fight the otherwise unharmful substances. When your immune system produces these antibodies when you aren’t in danger, it leads to widespread allergy symptoms all over the body. Besides this, the root cause of allergies, especially pollen allergy, is unclear. However, genetics may have a role to play.
Risk factors for pollen allergy
Even though we may not be sure what causes pollen allergies, certain risk factors put you at a more vulnerable point which in turn makes you easily sauce[tile to these allergies. These include:
- Suffering from other allergies or asthma
- Suffering from atopic dermatitis, or eczema
- Being related to someone who sufferers from allergies
- Exposure to strong odours or smells that irritate the lining of your nose
- Having a mother that smoked during the first year of your life
- Living or working in an environment that constantly exposes you to allergens
Pollen allergy testing
The simplest way to manage your pollen allergies is by stopping the guesswork and learning which pollen you’re allergic to. You can easily do this by taking an Allergy Test. this test will check for common allergens in your environment, food, and drinks and give you a list of things you’re allergic to. By taking such a test, you will know which pollen allergy you’re suffering from, which will help you evade it successfully by knowing the allergy season and avoiding contact with pollen at all costs. Knowing your allergies does simplify your tasks and gives you clarity on a lot. Most people suffering from pollen allergies sometimes assume that it’s a cold, even though they’re sure that colds don’t last for so long. Once you’ve learned of your allergies, you will no longer be ignorant of those symptoms; you will also know medicines that can help you relieve these symptoms.
Pollen allergy symptoms treatment
When you have pollen allergy symptoms, you may find it hard to concentrate at work or school, even when doing mundane tasks. If you can’t prevent contact with pollen, specific treatments can help relieve you of allergy symptoms you could otherwise suffer throughout the month or year.
- Medications: You can find over-the-counter medications such as antihistamines and decongestants. Other medicines combine both antihistamines and decongestants, which help relieve you of allergy symptoms.
- Allergy shots: These are recommended when medications aren’t enough to relieve your allergy symptoms. These allergy shots help reduce the severity of your allergic reactions.
- Home remedies: There are various home remedies that you can try to help you relieve allergy symptoms, like trying herbs and extracts and using a squeeze bottle to remove pollen from your nose. Other home remedies are meant to be preventative, which shud help you prevent these pollen allergy symptoms from occurring in the first place.
How to prevent pollen allergy symptoms
As with all allergies, the best way t prevent the symptoms is by avoiding the allergen, in this case, pollen. However, pollen may be challenging to avoid, but you can still minimize your exposure to pollen.
- Stay indoors on dry, windy days.
- During the pollen peak seasons, have others take care of your garden and tard work.
- Wear a dust mask when pollen counts are high
- Close doors and windows during peak seasons.
- Remove and wash clothing that you’ve worn outside.
- Use a dryer to dry your clothes rather than hanging them out where they can carry pollen.
- Use air conditioning in your car and home.
- Invest in a high-efficiency particulate air filter (HEPA) and use it regularly to clean your house.
- Periodically check on the updates on pollen counts in your area.
Final thoughts on pollen allergy symptoms
Our Allergy Test Box Kit
Pollen allergy symptoms like sneezing, watery eyes, and stuffy nose can interfere with the quality of your life. Specific lifestyle changes and medications can help prevent your allergies from ruining your life. The first step to prevent pollen allergy symptoms is to avoid the plants that can trigger your allergies. You can quickly achieve this if you stay indoors and shut your windows and doors, especially on high pollen count days. Avoiding outside when it’s sunny and windy is your best choice. You can, however, decide to go out on gloomy or rainy days when there are low pollen counts. An Allergy Test will help you learn what your allergies are so you can manage them successfully.
