Tis the season for allergies!
This year, it has been reported that the pollen count is the worst it has been in years!
Allergies are very common, affecting about 20% of the population. When the body's immune system reacts to a normal, harmless substance (like pollen, for example) by creating an antigen to fight it, that's an allergy.
Types
There are so many different types of grasses, trees and plants that cause allergies that it can be hard to narrow down a specific allergy. Pollen and ragweed are two of the most common causes of season allergies, but any grasses, weeds and trees can cause them.
A person can be allergic to just pollen or some other allergen like ragweed, or he can be allergic to more than one, or several.
Symptoms
Sometimes the symptoms of seasonal allergies are hard to distinguish from symptoms of a cold. In fact, some people might think they have a cold or allergies, when in fact they have the other. People who get colds frequently in the spring or fall often are suffering from seasonal allergies instead of colds.
Runny nose, stuffy nose, watery and itchy eyes, coughing, sneezing, itchy throat, difficulty sleeping and even an inability to taste or smell as normal are symptoms of seasonal allergies
Causes/Risk Factors
With seasonal allergies, the body's immune system recognizes the inhaled substance as something dangerous like a virus or other bacteria and tries to flush it out, which causes the symptoms. Immunoglobulin antibodies are released, which release histamine and other chemicals. These chemicals cause the coughing, sneezing, nose running and eye watering designed to
flush those foreign bodies away.
Of those who do have seasonal allergies, some parts of the country and
locations tend to cause more symptoms than other, depending on what their particular allergy is to, and the kinds of grasses, trees and plants common in that area.
Treatment
Minimizing exposure to allergens is the best course of action, like staying in a climate-controlled environment when allergens are high and avoiding being outdoors between 5 and 10 a.m. when pollen counts are at their peak. Air-conditioned surroundings can help filter out many airborne allergens.
Seasonal allergies are often treated with over-the-counter and prescription antihistamines and decongestants,
nasal corticosteroids, and sometimes a 3 to 5 year course of allergy shots.
Until Next Month!
Ruth
