Allergies are caused by a reaction of the immune system to otherwise harmless environmental particles. Many people suffer from the effects of an allergy to pollen. According to a study led by Samual J. Arbes and published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 40 percent of Americans suffer from at least one outdoor allergen, including pollen.
Symptoms and Causes
There are multiple symptoms that affect allergy sufferers. As stated by the National Institute of Health (NIH), these symptoms may include sneezing, coughing, post-nasal drip, congestion and itchy eyes, nose or throat. These symptoms are often collectively called hay fever.
Allergies are a result of an the immune system responding to an inappropriate trigger: the pollen. The immune system senses pollen when it enters the nose, and responds by producing antibody that binds to the pollen, much the same way antibody binds to a germ that infects the body. Specialized cells then detect the antibody and respond by producing the chemical histamine. Histamine is the main cause of the symptoms felt by the allergy sufferers.
Asthma
One very serious possible symptom of an allergy to pollen is asthma. Asthma is a tightening and swelling of the airway in the lungs, causing wheezing and difficulty breathing. Allergic asthma is controlled by preventative medicines, such as inhaled corticosteroids that limit the immune response to allergens. Acute asthma attacks are treating by fast acting "brochodilators," which open up the airway in a matter of minutes.
Prevention and Treatment
The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) advises keeping car and home windows closed, and drying clothes in an automatic dryer, rather than hanging them outside where they can trap pollen particles.
Furthermore, a great way to prevent symptoms from a pollen allergy is to avoid spending a great amount of time outside when pollen levels are high. The NIEHS advises those suffering from pollen allergies to limit their time outside, especially in the morning from 5:00 to 10:00 a.m. Furthermore, the National Allergy Bureau (NIB), a section of the American Association of Asthma, Allergy, and Immunology (AAAAI), has nation-wide pollen counting stations that report the levels of pollen in the air, sorted by location. Checking the pollen counts before venturing outside may prevent high exposure to pollen.
There are also many different over-the-counter and prescribed medications that are used to prevent allergic symptoms. Talking to a doctor or pharmacist is a great way to get advice on the best way to treat your specific allergies.
References
- "The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology." Prevalence of positive skin test responses to 10 common allergens in the US Population. Samuel J. Arbes, Peter J. Gergen, Leslie Elliott, Darryl C. Zeldin. August 2005. p. 378
- National Institute of Health: Hay Fever
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences: Pollen
