Monthly Archives: April 2017

Image is from Everyday Health

If you’ve ever seen acorns scattered about a residential lawn – or countryside, for that matter – as the fall seasons approaches, then you intuitively know what pollen is. Much like trees cast off these acorns so that they can perhaps grow into trees later on down the line, many plants, weeds and grasses cast off pollen in order to reproduce. The grains are usually very small – microscopic, in fact – and so are carried great distances on a springtime breeze.

How Does Pollen Affect People?

The primary mechanism by which pollen in its natural state affects people is the size of the individual grains. Some trees cast off large grains of pollen that are sticky (usually, these are fruit-bearing trees), and these don’t generally cause allergic reactions. The large size restricts the ability of the wind to carry them far, and the stickiness tends to keep them rooted to the ground or other surface objects.

The microscopic grains of pollen are the troublemakers for many humans; the breeze can carry them quite some distance from the progenitor, and they can get inside your body through your mouth and nose. Once inside, your immune system treats the pollen as an invasion and marshals a response to it. This is precisely what most allergies are; the following are the resulting symptoms of your body’s defense:

• Sneezing may be one of the most common causes to breathing in the fine powder that comprises pollen
• Runny or stuffy nose – general nasal congestion
• Watery eyes
• An allergic response can trigger a decrease in your ability to taste and smell food
• Sinus pressure
• Asthmatic reactions
• Hay fever
• Allergic rhinitis

Allergies to pollen can’t be cured – and the reason why makes sense when you think about it. After all, your body is actually trying to protect you from an alien invasion of very fine pollen grains. The origin is the immune system, itself, and it is conducting what would ordinarily be its most useful service. It simply doesn’t recognize that pollen is generally harmless; it simply “knows” that it shouldn’t be in your body and so takes steps to defend against it.

How Can You Fight Pollen-Induced Allergies?

Most health professionals agree that avoidance is the best measure when feasible. Plants such as ragweed, oak pollen and grass pollen are trying fertilize at the same time every year – sometime around late spring and very early fall.

There are national broadcasts detailing days when you can expect high pollen counts; usually, the fine powder is in the air in the early to late morning hours. If you can avoid it, or protect your nose and mouth, then this will significantly reduce the chances that you trigger an immune response. Dry, windy days are when people who are susceptible to pollen allergies should try to stay indoors as much as possible. Invest in a dust mask if you must go outside, and make sure to close windows and doors to avoid letting in insects that carry pollen grains.

If you are beset by allergy symptoms, then you can always see a doctor. Most are well aware of the range of allergens, and can refer you to a specialist if needed. Over-the-counter antihistamines work adequately well for many people, as well as decongestants to provide relief for symptoms. There are home remedies to help you avoid pollen altogether, such as HEPA filters, dehumidifiers and air conditioning. An allergy shot is always an option as the season for plant fertilization nears; these tend to do a great job of dampening your immune response to pollen.

Image is from Pollen.com

As we roll into spring and then the summer months (they’ll be here before you know it), the presence of pollen in the air starts to become a concern for millions of Americans. In fact, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (the AAFA), about 18 million adults and 7 million kids will be affected each year by dust and pollen. It is helpful to know what kind of pollen is in the atmosphere, and the sources from which they derive.

Grass – Ryegrass Pollen

Even if you didn’t know the name before now, if you’ve ever been to a rural area where farmland is abundant and the vegetation is lush, then you’ve likely seen the tall green stalks of ryegrass. Although there are ryegrass extracts that are marketed to help with noncancerous enlarged prostate glands, the natural pollen can cause allergic reactions in those susceptible to it.

Grass – Timothy Grass Pollen

This pollen derives as the offshoot of a grass that grows up to four feet tall. The spores are especially small, and you may inhale them without knowing it – only to be beset by a mild to serious allergic reaction later in the day. Allergy season for Timothy grass pollen generally starts in June and ends a month later.

Tree Pollen

Tree Pollen is of a wide variety, and includes Willow, Hazelnut, Cedar, Hornbeam, Birch, Alder, Olive and more. Early spring is the harbinger, which is around very late March. Usually the dust is even smaller than grass pollen, and so can be carried very far on the wind. An interesting fact is that trees that bear flowers tend to have larger pollen grains, which don’t trigger allergies nearly as much since they can’t easily be carried on the wind.

The closer you live to tress such as Cottonwood or Elm, the more likely you could be subject to allergies caused by their airborne pollen. The good news is that there are alerts as when the pollen count is high, and all you have to do is avoid being outside unprotected during those times (as well as keeping your windows and doors shut). Also – avoid eating the fruits from such trees, as they can trigger your propensity to getting an allergic reaction from the pollen.

Weed Pollen

Weeds are plants that pollinate, too, and the some of the ones to watch out for are Ragweed, Sorrel, Mugwort, Goosefoot and Nettle weeds.

In particular, Mugwort weed releases very allergenic pollen that derives from a 6-foot tall plant in North America, Asia and Europe. You’ll find it in rural areas and places where the terrain is rough; where a hardy plant is required in order to survive. In North America, pollen season for Mugwort is from late summer to early fall – not very long. However, it is known to cause oral allergy syndrome and hay fever.

Nettle actually comes in a large variety of weeds; all of which generally possess small spikes. There’s the Stinging Nettle, Dwarf Nettle, California Nettle and Dog Nettle as examples. Strangely enough, nettle leaves can also be used to help relieve allergies when made as a tea – it has antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds. In its pure form, however, the pollen it releases can cause you to sneeze all summer long.

For the most part, the types of pollen that exist are covered in the general categories of trees, grass and weed. They all have the potential to react negatively with your immune system, which treats it as a foreign object and engages an immune response.