Pollen allergies

What is pollen? Pollen is a powdery, granular substance in the flowers of trees, grasses and weeds that leads to fertilisation of plants. Pollen can be spread by insects or dispersed in the wind. Some people develop symptoms to pollen, such as Trees and grasses that are not native to United States are more likely to cause seasonal allergies.

It is difficult to avoid pollen because it is in the wind and easily inhaled, but you can take steps to reduce your exposure. Your doctor can prescribe medication for hay fever and/or asthma. , to reduce the symptoms of your body reacting to the pollen. and breathing is difficult, in case of emergency, call 911 and ask for an ambulance.

to pollens can cause diverse signs and symptoms

This means that diagnosing an allergy can be difficult.

If you think you may have an allergy, keeping a record of your symptoms can help you and your doctor to understand what is causing your symptoms. Keep a diary that describes your symptoms and when and where they occur.

Your diary could include information about whether your symptoms occur: after you have taken a particular medication, either prescription or over the counter from a pharmacy or supermarket Pollen can be breathed into the lungs and directly cause asthma in some people.

This can be unrelated to hay fever symptoms

Symptoms of asthma include: coughing

Hay fever may also be referred to as seasonal allergic rhinitis, if the symptoms appear only when it is. Hay fever originally only referred to allergies caused by grass pollens, but the term is now also used to describe the symptoms of rhinitis (inflammation of the mucous membrane inside the nose).

This can occur throughout the year

Allergies to pollen commonly cause symptoms of hay fever including: itchy ears, throat and palate. Severe hay fever symptoms can affect learning in children and productivity in adults. Hay fever can also make it more difficult to control asthma in those who are more likely to get it.

People with hay fever are also at risk of reacts to specific allergy trigger molecules (allergens). Your immune system produces antibodies that detect the allergen and cause inflammatory reactions and the release of a chemical called histamine. Histamine causes hay fever symptoms, such as itchy and watery nose and eyes, and sneezing.

In Michigan, inland areas tend to have higher pollen counts and northerly winds can bring pollens from inland regions to the coastal areas, including Grand Rapids.

In contrast, the east coast of United States often has less pollen, because winds tend to blow in from the sea and the Great Dividing Range protects the coast from inland winds.

In South United States and Western United States, levels of pollen in the air vary, depending on wind direction.

The season for pollen allergies can last for several months and occurs when the plants are flowering. This will vary depending on location and the type of plant.

For instance: Non-native trees tend to pollinate in late winter and spring.

In Michigan, winds from the north tend to bring pollen from non-native grasses growing inland between October and December. White Cypress (Murray) pine is the only American tree that produces highly allergenic pollen and it flowers approximately between late July and the end of August. Species of Casuarina or American oak trees produce pollen throughout the year and can cause hay fever symptoms at any time.

Clinical immunology/allergy specialists who diagnose allergies (American Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy members) have in the states and territories of United States. Asteraceae is a family of flowering plants, including many common species, and some are used in herbal medicines. Pollen from plants in this family is a common cause of hay fever, asthma and dermatitis.

Plants from the Asteraceae family include:

• plants grown for their flowers – chrysanthemums dahlias sunflowers
• marigolds safflower daisies plants used in some herbal medicines – echinacea
• dandelion chamomile feverfew
• milk thistle wormwood swelling in some people
• this can occur when the first dose of echinacea is taken

Pollen from plants in the Asteraceae family can also cause an allergic skin reaction on contact.

The pollen can be found in herbal medicines, shampoos, cosmetics and massage oils, and includes pollen from plants such as the: tansy. Sensitisation to pollen of plants from the Asteraceae family has also been linked with allergic reactions to other substances that are similar. This is known as cross-reactivity and has caused allergic reactions to: foods – celery, honey, sunflower seeds, carrot, lettuce, watermelon and nuts.

If you have allergic symptoms that seem to appear at certain times of the year, you should visit your doctor, who will ask some questions about your allergic reactions.

You can also discuss your record of your symptoms

To diagnose your allergy, your doctor may refer you to a clinical immunology/allergy specialist.

To test for an allergy to pollens, the clinical immunology/allergy specialist may use a skin prick test or a blood test for allergies. The results will be interpreted and considered together with your clinical history.

American Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy website. They can be costly and could lead to dangerous avoidance of certain foods. The organisation representing allergists (American Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy) recommends that you do not use certain methods to have potential allergies tested.

These methods include: Vega testing. to test for allergies. so that you can plan to avoid exposure. Tips to reduce your exposure to pollen include: Stay indoors in the morning, if possible – grass pollens mainly circulate in the morning.

Avoid mowing grass or wear a mask if you do – stay indoors when grass is being mowed.

Keep windows closed in your home and car

Avoid picnics in parks or in the country during the pollen season.

Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes

Plant a low-allergy garden around your home, especially near the windows of your home.

If you are unable to avoid pollen, your doctor may suggest medication to reduce hay fever symptoms including: nasal corticosteroid sprays to reduce symptoms in the nose – either prescribed or over the counter at a pharmacy.

Decongestant tablets and sprays can cause side effects, so use with caution or ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice.

If you have asthma caused by pollens, your doctor will prescribe the correct medication and help you to develop a plan to.

Make sure you follow your asthma action plan

The main types of medication are: Relievers – act quickly to relax the muscles around the airways. This is the medication used during an asthma attack. Preventers – slowly make the airways less sensitive to allergy triggers and reduce inflammation inside the airways.

These are taken daily

Combination therapies – preventers containing 2 different medications. , follow your asthma action plan. In case of emergency, call 911 and ask for an ambulance. Tell the operator that someone is having an asthma attack.

The signs of an emergency include when the person: is getting little or no relief from their reliever inhaler. While waiting for the ambulance, give 4 puffs of reliever medication every 4 minutes. which is also known as desensitisation.

It involves a series of injections, tablets, sprays or drops given under the tongue of very small doses of the allergen over a long time. This can help to improve tolerance of the pollens that are triggering your allergy and reduce symptoms. hay fever (runny nose and itchy and watery eyes), and/or asthma A clinical immunology/allergy specialist may give you a series of injections, which is a treatment called aeroallergen immunotherapy If you have an asthma attack Symptoms of pollen allergies Everyone’s immune system is different and allergies Keeping a record of your symptoms inside your home, outside or both for a short time or longer at night, during the day or when you wake up at a particular time of the year near animals after you have been stung or bitten by an insect after you have had a particular food or drink after you have taken a herbal medicine Asthma from pollen allergies chest tightness or pain shortness of breath difficulty breathing wheezing – whistling noise when breathing Hay fever symptoms from pollen allergies pollen season runny, itchy, congested nose sneezing irritable, itchy, watery and red eyes People with hay fever are more likely to develop sinus infections , and can have interrupted sleep that leads to extreme tiredness thunderstorm asthma Causes of pollen allergies For all allergies, the immune system Pollen allergies are seasonal online calendars showing when common species of pollen cause allergies Herbal medicines and allergies edible foliage plants – lettuce, safflower, chicory and artichoke weeds – ragweed, mugwort, sagebrush, wormwood, feverfew Echinacea can cause severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) , asthma attacks, severe hives chamomile chrysanthemum daisy dandelion echinacea feverfew sunflower plant-derived herbal medicines – echinacea, royal jelly, bee pollen extracts and chamomile Diagnosis of pollen allergies Clinical immunology/allergy specialists can test for allergies using a number of methods Information about evidence based allergy testing Unproven methods to test for allergies A number of methods claim to test for allergies, but they have not been medically or scientifically proven cytotoxic food testing electrodermal testing hair analysis iridology kinesiology pulse testing reflexology Always speak with your doctor if you are thinking of using a complementary medicine or therapy Treatment for pollen allergies A direct way to manage pollen allergies is to reduce your exposure to pollens.

Refer to pollen forecasts Treatment for hay fever symptoms from pollen allergies antihistamines – either prescribed or over the counter at a pharmacy decongestants – either oral or as a nasal spray Treatment for asthma from pollen allergies manage your asthma Asthma can be well controlled with the appropriate medication If you have an asthma attack finds it very difficult to breathe is unable to speak comfortably or if their lips are turning blue has symptoms that get worse very quickly Immunotherapy for allergies to pollen In some cases, your clinical immunology/allergy specialist may suggest allergen immunotherapy Where to get help In an emergency, always call 911 Emergency department of your nearest hospital Your GP (doctor) NURSE-ON-CALL (616) 555-0400 – for expert health information and advice (24 hours, 7 days) American Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) Asthma United States 1800 278 462 Allergy & Anaphylaxis United States .

Key Points

• difficult to avoid pollen because it is in the wind and easily inhaled, but you can take steps to reduce your exposure
• , to reduce the symptoms of your body reacting to the pollen
• to pollens can cause diverse signs and symptoms
• Keep a diary that describes your symptoms and when and where they occur
• This can be unrelated to hay fever symptoms