The sources of cedar allergies include true cedar trees, such as Atlas and aromatics in the cypress and juniper families, such as mountain cedar. The latter tree disperses huge clouds of pollen during the winter months in the south-central United States.
Allergy sufferers there experience severe health effects that cause illness to the point of debilitation. Patients can avoid or minimize serious respiratory reactions by understanding, anticipating and managing their seasonal allergies to cedar.
Function
Seasonal allergies to tree pollen can be strong because pollen counts, or allergen parts per cubic meter of air, can be very high. According to the Allergy and Asthma Center of Austin, trees such as the mountain cedar produce cones that simultaneously burst open upon optimal temperature and humidity conditions.
Tiny, light, buoyant cedar pollen granules can infiltrate the air and travel for long distances. These qualities also make them easy for humans to inhale and then develop adverse health effects.
Identification
Depending on where patients live, area cedar trees may be identified as the source of allergy symptoms in winter or spring, as the National Institutes of Health report. Western red cedar and Eastern red cedar, for instance, pollinate in March and April.
Mountain cedar pollen, which generates some of the world's highest pollen counts in December through February, may trigger allergy and asthma health effects. Patients may need the help of allergists to identify cedar allergies initiated by storms of pollen that can travel across states.
Features
Cedar allergies, then, can occur even when no trees grow on an allergy patient's property. It takes only a minute level of allergens in the bloodstream to produce an inflammatory response. The Cleveland Clinic relates that histamine-induced swelling and accumulation of fluids represent the body's effort to expel, block and neutralize cedar allergens, which it mistakes for dangerous bacteria.
Effects
Cedar allergy symptoms include itchy, watery eyes, runny or stuffy nose, sneezing and postnasal drip. The Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Clinic of Georgetown, Texas, notes that individuals with mountain cedar sensitivities, or "cedar fever," may also develop facial pain, headache, fatigue, sore throat and ear congestion. Loss of sleep and poor concentration can keep patients from work, school or other important activities.
Solution
The health effects of cedar allergies can be managed with antihistamines, decongestants and nasal corticosteroid drugs, the Cleveland Clinic reports. Allergy doctors recommend beginning oral and nasal drug regimens before pollination seasons begin. Allergy injections, or immunotherapy, also successfully treat allergies to cedar pollen by reducing patients' sensitivity levels over the long term.
