There are specific times of the year that allergy sufferers across the country are hit with a wave of dread at the coming pollen season. Pollen season can be a difficult time of the year for those with tree, weed or grass sensitivities. But there are still several ways get outside without worrying our immune systems will kick into hyper-drive. It all comes down to three things: understanding, awareness, and preparation.
To begin, understanding what occurs in our confused nasal passages is key to managing pollen’s effects. Pollen is the reproductive material of a plant that is blown through the air — sometime hundreds of miles from its source — to mate with its female counterpart. Tree, ragweed and grass pollen are the biggest culprits, all overlapping in their primary season of growth. When these powder-like particles reach our nasal passages, they break down into proteins and confuse our immune system, convincing them to fight off what they believe is foreign bacteria. Our body then produces histamines, sending the fluid that collects in your nose and sinuses to create a barrier against the foreign material. This leads to headaches, sneezing, pressure in the sinuses and other general ‘hay fever’ symptoms. However, pollen is harmless and luckily we can take antihistamines to alert the body not to send our systems into action each time we come in contact with it.
Identifying Your Pollen Allergies
Each person’s immune system has a unique reaction to different types and species of pollen. The first incredibly important step is to visit your doctor to determine which types of pollen affect your sinuses. Overuse of antihistamines could lead to the drying out of sinuses, causing other complications such as sinusitis, so it is important to talk to your doctor about a balance of prevention and management options.
When meeting with an allergist, they may test you for the following categories:
1. Tree:
Tree pollen arrives in one of the earliest waves of allergy season, commencing at the end of winter and early spring. Depending on your location across the country, you may be affected by the western coast’s prominent species, such as eucalyptus, alder, juniper, cedar, birch, poplar and cottonwood trees.
Surprisingly, the olive trees in the South-Atlantic region of America are one of the largest culprits for those who suffer from pollen allergies, followed by the palm tree and several of the offenders listed above from the west coast assortment.
If you’re in the New Jersey area, you may be aware that pine trees carry some of the largest particles of pollen in the area, coating cars and streets as they begin to emit their clouds of pollen in the spring. Oak and Mulberry are the other major pollen-creators in this region.
And finally, the Midwest has very similar tree issues as the west coast, but also have an abundance of Elm trees, which can begin pollinating as early as January.
2. Grass:
Throughout the majority of the summer months, there are several varieties of grass — among the thousands of species throughout North America — that affect allergy sufferers. Luckily, grass allergies may seem less extreme due to a lower pollen count, but its effects are counterbalanced by the summer-long life of its pollination season. Grass allergies also cause skin and eye irritation, especially due to our constant physical contact with a variety of grass species. The most prominent culprits are Johnson grass, Bermuda grass, Timothy grass, orchard grass, rye grass and Kentucky bluegrass — the most common grass used in lawns across America.
3. Ragweed:
In the heart of a hot, dry summer day, ragweed takes the lead in pollen complications. If you live in a rainier, humid area, you may be saved by this notoriously uncomfortable air, since ragweed has trouble releasing into this moisture-filled environment. Among other frequent allergy-causing weeds, ragweed is the highly recognizable stalk-like plant, adorning small yellow buds that are often confused with Goldenrod. The larger variety of ragweed can grow as tall as 15 feet in size, and lasts until the frost kills it off at the end of the fall.
Managing Your Pollen Allergies
Once you have an understanding of your body’s response to different types of pollen, there are plenty of ongoing, simple lifestyle changes to help you manage the upcoming or current pollen season. First off, all medications should be approved by your allergist. Finding the right approach for each body type is key to avoiding additional problems and maintaining your body’s natural balance.
1. Spring Cleaning
Cleaning your living space may be one of the most effective ways to maintain long-term pollen balance. Pollen collects on surfaces inside our homes the moment we open the windows in the spring. Even before that, we could be suffering from unrelated allergies from the dust and mold that builds up over the winter months. Kicking into spring-cleaning mode the second the winter months roll away is a great start to a solid pollen defense.
Air Purifiers to Help You Breathe Easy
2. Air Purifiers
Once tree allergy season begins, purchasing a high-quality air purifier may help maintain a pollen-free home, especially as particles start to creep in through windows, hair and clothing. This could also be your best protection against pollen buildup throughout the season. Air purifiers with HEPA filters use glass fibers to filter out particles in the air including dust, soot, mold and, of course, pollen. When we use an air purifier, we create a haven away from the abundant pollen outside — therefore allowing our sinuses to heal and rejuvenate. Try placing the air purifier inside your bedroom, as this can be one of the most effective ways to combat sleeping issues, when symptoms are the most noticeable.
3. Daily Habits
Once your home is set up for success, the only other factor you have to worry about is facing the outdoors. Avoiding the outdoors between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m. is ideal for serious sufferers, but since this is unavoidable for many, talk to your doctor about how to avoid the pollen-fog when heading outside. Once you head back in at the end of the day, water is your best defense. Be sure to shower and wash your clothing to avoid carrying pollen with you throughout the house, and consider using a Neti Pot to cleanse your sinuses.
So whether you are in the heart of allergy season or a less serious time of the year, there are plenty of steps you can take to build a strong defense again pollen. Understand your symptom with the help of your doctor, learn about your area and its seasonal trends, and lastly, use these suggestions to build a sanctuary for pollen-free living.
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