Hitch hiking on soft breezes and currents of air is pollen, the coarse powder containing pollen grains that wanders from one flower to another. With their mission to fertilize, most never reach their target and land into human noses and throats, causing a great deal of discomfort. Then, what is triggered is called pollen allergy, or seasonal allergic rhinitis, hay fever or rose fever, the latter two depending on the season in which the allergy occurs.
Pollen is the most pervasive cause of allergy. While other causes of allergy such as certain foods, drugs, animal, and even dust are somewhat escapable, there is no way to avoid pollen unless you decide to stay cooped up in your homes. And, wind borne pollen may find it's way there too!
In pollen allergy, an individual has sensitivity to the normally harmless pollen, which provokes a reaction, such as a skin problem or constant sneezing. This tendency to be allergic to pollen could either be inherited or may be a result of exposure to pollen at a time when the bodys defenses are weakened because of a viral infection, during puberty, or during pregnancy.
An allergic reaction to pollen occurs because of a false alarm of the immune system, that treats pollen as an invader. Hence to counter such an attack, the immune system releases a type of antibody called immunoglobulin E, or IgE. Different pollens generate different IgE, for instance, the antibody produced to react against oak pollen would be different from the one produced against ragweed pollen. These IgE molecules attach to body cells, and make the latter produce powerful inflammatory chemicals like histamines, prostaglandins, leukotrienes. These chemicals affect various parts of the body to cause reactions, which are the symptoms of allergy.
Allergic pollen is usually that which is produced by trees, grasses, and weeds, as opposed to the pollen from flowers. Major culprits include ragweed, sagebrush, redroot, pigweed, lamb's quarters, Russian thistle and English plantain. Grasses and trees that produce highly allergenic pollen include timothy grass, Kentucky bluegrass, Johnson grass, Bermuda grass, redtop grass, orchard grass, sweet vernal grass, oak, ash, elm, hickory, pecan, box elder, and mountain cedar. Pollen allergy is of course seasonal in nature.
Symptoms of pollen allergy are:
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Sneezing with a runny or clogged nose
● Itching eyes, nose, and throat
● dark under eye circles
● watering eyes
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Conjunctivitis
Pollen allergy may result in asthma that returns every year with the coming of pollen. However, this may eventually become chronic, and prove fatal. Lasting summer colds or any respiratory concern that seems to last longer than two weeks, requires medical attention. Skin tests and blood tests may then reveal which pollen is the culprit.
Pollen allergy treatments include avoidance, medication and immunotherapy. No definite cure for pollen allergy has been discovered as of yet. Even though there is no escaping pollen, there certainly are ways to ease the symptoms of hay fever, and there are more and more scientists conducting research on Allergy treatment. Advanced research on Allergic diseases shall provide a better understanding of the causes of allergy, the methods that can be employed for correct diagnosis, preventive measures and treatments.