What You Should Know About Pollen Allergy
by Christiane Tourtet
MCS
Every spring, summer, and fall, trees, grasses, amd
weeds release tiny pollen grains, which hitch rides on currents of air and are supposed
to fertilize parts of other plants. But many times
they do not reach their target. Instead, pollen enters
the noses and throats of people, and thus triggers pollen allergy, a sort of
seasonal allergic rhinitis, which many people know as hay fever. Many things can cause allergy, such as foods, animals,
insects, dust, medicines, which can be avoided to a great extent but pollen is
one of the most common cause of allergy, there is really no easy way for
avoiding, airborne pollen, even while staying indoors with the window closed
when the pollen count is high.
Plain looking plants, such as trees, weeds, grasses, that do not have showy
flowers, usually are the most common cause of allergic reactions. These plants make light, small and dry pollen grains that
are transported by wind. Scientists have been able to
collect ragweed pollen 2 miles high in the air and 400 miles out of sea, due to
the fact that air born pollen can drift for many miles. It
does not really do much good to get rid of offending plants in a given area. The majority of allergenic pollen comes from plants that
produce it in enormous quantities. For instance, a single ragweed plant
can produce a million grains of pollen a day.
The main factor that determines whether the pollen is likely to cause hay fever
is the type of allergens in the pollen. For instance,
even though pine tree pollen, which is produced in large amounts by a common
tree, would seem to be a good candidate for causing allergy, it causes
relatively little allergy due to the type of allergens in pine tree pollen,
which appear to make it less allergenic. Although
there are more than 1,000 species of grass in
Some trees that produce pollen are: mountain cedar, pecan, box elder, elm, ash,
and oak. Some grasses are: sweet vernal grass, Bermuda
grass, orchard grass, redtop grass, Timothy grass, Johnson grass, Kentucky
bluegrass. Pollen allergy is seasonal in nature and
people have symptoms only when the grains of pollen they are allergic to are in
the air. Every year, each plant has a pollinating
period which is more or less the same. Depending on
the relative length of day and night, and thus on geographical location, a
plant will start to pollinate. Weather conditions during
pollination can affect the production and distribution
of pollen in a specific year. For instance, the
farther north you go, the later will be the start of the pollinating period and
consequently, the later of the start of the allergy season.
Many people are familiar with the pollen count from local weather reports,
which measures how much pollen is in the air and represents the concentration
of all the pollen or of a particular type, such as ragweed, in the air at a
specific time in a certain area. Over 24 hours, grains
of pollen are collected per square meter. Pollen
counts have a tendency to be the highest in the early morning, on days that are
dry, warm, and breezy, and lowest during periods that are wet and chilly. Even though pollen count is an approximate changing
measure, it is useful for general guidance as to when it may be wise to avoid
contact with pollen and stay indoors. Avoiding pollen,
by moving to a place where the offending substance does not grow and is not in
the air may offer only temporary relief because people sensitive to a specific
pollen may develop allergies to new allergens after being exposed to them
repeatedly. Allergy specialists usually do not
encourage this approach, as relocating is not a solution that is considered
reliable. There are other ways to reduce exposures to
offending pollen, such as remaining indoors with all windows closed in the
morning when the pollen outdoor is at its highest.
Windy and sunny days can be really troublesome. If you
have to be outdoors, wearing a face mask designed to filter pollen out of the
air and keep it from reaching the nasal passage would help. Planning
a vacation at the height of the expected pollinating period, such as
vacationing at seashore or on a cruise, may be an effective way to avoid pollen
allergies.
Many people having allergy symptoms, such as the runny nose of allergic
rhinitis. may think, at first, that they have a cold. But if the "cold" symptoms persist it is best to
be tested for allergies. Allergists use skin tests to
find out whether a person has IgE (immunoglobulin E)
antibodies in the skin that react to a specific allergen. The
weakened extract from an allergen is applied to a puncture made on the back or
arm or is injected under the skin of the person. If the reaction is
positive, a small, reddened and raised area called a wheal (hive) with a
surrounding flush called a flare will show up at the site of the test. The size of the wheal is an important diagnostic clue for
the doctor. However, a positive reaction does not
necessarily prove that a particular allergen is the cause of symptoms. The reaction is an indication that there is the presence
of an IgE antibody to a specific allergen, and that
respiratory symptoms do not necessarily occur as a result of it. Skin testing is the least costly way to identify
allergies.
If it is not possible to adequately avoid airborne allergens, such as pollen,
symptoms can often be controlled by medicines. You can
buy medicines without a prescription that can give you relief of your allergy
symptoms. However, if they cause unwanted side
effects, such as sleepiness, or do not give you relief, then your health care
provider may prescribe antihistamines, which for many years have proven useful
in relieving sneezing, itching of the eyes and nose, and helping to reduce
swelling and drainage of the nasal passages. However,
many people taking antihistamines have rather distressing effects, such as loss
of coordination, alertness, and drowsiness. Adults may
mistakenly interpret such reactions in children as behavior problems. Antihistamines that cause less side-effects are usually
available over-the -counter or by prescription. They
are as effective as other antihistamines to prevent histamine-induced symptoms,
and are non-sedative. And most of them do not cause
sleepiness.
Your health care provider may prescribe topical nasal steroids, which should
not be confused with anabolic steroids, which can have serious side effects and
are used sometimes by athletes to enlarge muscle mass. The
chemicals present in nasal steroids are quite different from those in anabolic
steroids. Topical nasal steroids are medicines that
are anti-inflammatory and stop allergic reactions. They
can have side effects, but are usually considered safe when used at recommended
doses. If you have moderate or severe allergic
rhinitis, the combination of nasal steroids and of antihistamines is a very
effective way to treat it. Cromolyn
Sodium, when used as a nasal spray, may help prevent allergic rhinitis. It usually has few side effects when used as directed, and
helps significantly to manage allergies.
Your doctor may recommend using nasal or oral decongestants along with
antihistamine, to reduce congestion and to control allergic symptoms. However, you should not use over-the-counter or
prescriptions decongestant nose sprays and nose drops for more than a few days,
as these medicines can lead to even more swelling and congestion of the nasal
passages if used for longer periods. It is important
to know that due to recent concerns about the bad effects of decongestants
drops and sprays, some have been removed from store shelves.
Immunotherapy, or a series of allergy shots, is an available treatment that has
a real chance for reducing your allergy symptoms over a long period of time. These injections done under the skin, of increasing
concentrations of the allergen(s) you are sensitive
to, reduce the level of IgE antibodies in the blood
and make the body to produce a protective antibody called IgG.
Approximately 85% of people with allergic rhinitis will see a significant drop
in their hay fever symptoms and of the need for medicines within 12 months
starting immunotherapy. The persons who benefit from
allergy shots may continue for 3 years and may then consider stopping. Many people are able to stop the injections with
satisfactory results that can last for years, however other people do get worse
after the shots are stopped.
Although there are several factors that provoke allergic responses, scientists
are fully aware that heredity plays a major role in determining who will
develop allergies, and therefore are trying to identify and describe the genes
that make a person susceptible to allergic diseases. They
are also increasingly becoming aware of the role of environmental factors in
allergies; and they are evaluating ways to control exposures to environmental
allergens and pollutants in order to prevent allergic disease These studies are very promising to improve the control and
treatment of allergic diseases and give the hope that, some day, allergic
diseases will be preventable.
Resource
© 2008 Christiane Tourtet
Reprinted with Permission
Editors Note
Not all conventional allergy treatments may be suited for individuals
with co-occurring multiple chemical sensitivity.
Please see your health care provider for evaluation and treatment. This
article is not to be considered medical advice.
About the Author
Christiane Tourtet graduated with an Associate in Science and an
Associate in Arts degrees, both with high honors, from Florida Junior College,
and with a Bachelor in Arts, from Jacksonville University, Jacksonville,
Florida. She is a well-known, writer,
photo-journalist, photographer, poetess, former teacher and college instructor,
radio producer/air personality, publicity model and television voice over
talent and artist. Her biography has been included in
numerous world wide publications, notably in Who's Who in America and Who's Who
in the World, and as a role model for Society her biography has been published
in the Millennium 54th Edition of Who's Who in America which was chosen to be
included in the White House Millennium Time Capsule
Copyrighted © 2008 MCS America