Pollen Allergy : Symptoms and Management

Plants, trees and flowers are all around us. There are millions and millions of species present all around the world. Some of them have some medicinal attributes while some are considered harmful because they are poisonous. But there's also one more thing that most people miss out on. This plant life is also responsible for allergies! The process of pollination causes this reaction. During the period of pollination, seeds from the plants are airborne making them one of the prominent reasons for pollen allergy. Often mistaken flowers as the reason behind pollen allergy but instead, it's the trees that trigger a reaction.

As we've mentioned above, there are hundreds of different plants that can cause different pollen allergies. Here are the common ones:

• Tree pollen allergy

As the name suggests this allergy is triggered by trees. When the birch trees pollinate, they release tiny grains of pollen that can be airborne effortlessly with a gust of wind. Similar to birch, oak trees release pollen during their pollination season and are also easily airborne. While the oak pollen allergy symptoms are only mild, they do last for a longer time.

• Grass pollen allergy

It's one of the most common triggers for pollen allergy in the world. Many people mistake flowers as the potential triggers but it's the grass that is responsible for it. It causes some of the most severe and difficult-to-treat symptoms.

Now that you're familiar with the different types, let's look at the pollen allergy symptoms. Here are a few common ones:

• Sneezing
• Nasal congestion
• Runny nose
• Watery eyes
• Itchy throat and eyes
• Wheezing

Pollen is also known to aggravate asthma symptoms in some cases, which can give you troubled breathing and severe wheezing.

Allergy Diagnosis

Allergy testing is the most common way to confirm or determine the allergy. It's better if your doctor is well versed about your medical history and your symptoms, including when they started and how long they’ve persisted. For proper diagnosis, your doctor/physician might suggest skin prick testing to determine the specific allergen that triggers the reaction. During this testing, you will be pricked in different areas of the skin with a small needle. They will insert a small number of several allergens to see how your body reacts. If you’re allergic to any of the allergens, your skin will show redness, swelling, and itchiness within a few minutes. This will not only help in determining which allergen triggered the reaction but also will be easier for the doctor to recommend a proper allergy management plan.

Management

There's no specific treatment for allergy but with proper care can be managed. The best way is to avoid the allergen altogether but that cannot be completely possible. So, we've put down a few points that will help you manage your allergy in a better way during high pollen count season.

You can minimize your exposure to pollen by:

• Trying to stay indoors when the pollen count is high
• Ensuring you restrict yourself from any gardening work during peak seasons
• Wearing a mask if you have to go out
• Vacuuming the floor regularly also helps in keeping the pollen away

Allergies are hard to manage and you need a proper plan for it. Please make sure you contact your doctor if the symptoms persist. Work out a plan for better allergy management.