Flowers love the spring, and humans love their beauty---but not their pollen. At certain times of the year, when the world is in bloom and the wind is high, the sheer volume of pollen in the air can trigger an allergic reaction that causes your lungs to tighten and wheeze. If you find your breathing is labored in the spring, there are a few things you should know about the causes and effects of pollen in the lungs.
What Is Wheezing?
Springhouse's "Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms" describes wheezes as "breath sounds with a high-pitched, musical, squealing, creaking, or groaning quality." Wheezing is caused by the narrowing of an airway, which obstructs the flow of air. You must work harder to breathe, and the increased air pressure through the narrowed airway creates the wheezing sound. There are many possible causes of wheezing, but Springhouse generally associates pollen with asthma.
Hay Fever and Asthma
Pollen is an allergen, meaning that it causes an allergic reaction in some people. Pollen allergies are commonly called "hay fever." According to a 2005 report by Johns Hopkins Medicine, pollen allergies cause sneezing, congestion, runny nose and itchy throats; they do not, however, cause wheezing. They do trigger asthma symptoms in asthmatics who are also allergic to pollen. If you are wheezing and think it is related to pollen, see a doctor to be examined for possible asthma treatment.
Wheezing In Children
A 2007 article in "The New York Times" explored the connection between wheezing and childhood asthma. According to the article, asthma is a particularly common disorder in childhood. It affects 9 million children, or 6.5 percent of children under 18. However, asthma in children can vary in intensity. Symptoms may include a lingering cough, rapid breathing or shortness of breath, among other things. Dr. Sandra Braganza, a professor of pediatrics in the Bronx, told the "Times" that parents should be aware of the signs of asthma. If your child is wheezing, particularly after exposure to pollen, talk to a doctor for more information.
Diagnosis and Related Conditions
Family practice physician Dr. Stuart Stoloff told "The New York Times," "there are no easy markers or a single blood test to tell when it's asthma and when it's not." Wheezing can also be caused by anxiety, airway obstruction and many other issues. According to the World Allergy Organization, anaphylaxis can be indirectly caused by pollen allergy. Someone with a severe allergy to certain types of pollen may also have an allergic reaction to foods related to that pollen. This can cause wheezing as the throat swells.
What You Can Do
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Springhouse's "Guide to Signs and Symptoms" both recommend that you first relax. Shortness of breath can be normal in certain situations, according to the NIH. You should go to the emergency room only if the wheezing comes on suddenly and gets much worse, is accompanied by chest pain or fever or causes you serious trouble. Do speak with your doctor about any shortness of breath, however. Johns Hopkins also recommends that you avoid outdoor activities when pollen is high, particularly in the early morning. Keep windows closed, and avoid hanging laundry outdoors.
References
- "Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms," 5th ed.; Springhouse; 2006. Reproduced by Wrong Diagnosis.
- Johns Hopkins Medicine: Health Alerts: Avoiding Environmental Triggers for Asthma
- The New York Times: The Wheezing That Could Signal Childhood Asthma
- World Allergy Organization: Anaphylaxis
- U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health: MedlinePlus: Breathing Difficulty
