ALLERGIES

SEASONAL ALLERGIES: Allergies are a short-term inflammation of the mucous membranes that line the nasal passages. "Hay fever," as the condition is commonly called, is caused by airborne pollens from trees, grasses, flowers, and weeds. Allergy season typically kicks off in the spring and fall when certain trees or grasses pollinate. When pollen season starts and how long it lasts varies throughout the country. Although it's usually not a dangerous condition, it can be very uncomfortable and, for some people, can severely disrupt daily activities. The standard reactions include sneezing, itchy throat, headache, swollen sinuses, runny nose, and itchy, watery eyes.

Causes

In allergies, airborne pollen from various seasonal plants—or, in some cases, spores from mold—enter the body through the eyes, nose, or throat, and trigger an allergic reaction. Normally, the immune system does not respond to mild substances like pollen and mold. But in sensitive individuals, the body's defense mechanism views these allergens as it would an infectious agent and mounts an attack. Once the immune system has detected the "invader," it unleashes a cascade of chemicals such as histamine and other compounds resulting in localized inflammation that leads to irritation and discomfort. The symptoms of allergic reaction begin 5 to 10 minutes after allergen exposure, subside within an hour, and may return two to four hours later.

What are Seasonal Allergies?

A seasonal allergy is an allergic reaction to a trigger that is typically only present for part of the year, such as spring or fall. This type of allergy refers to a pollen allergy, such as trees, weeds and grasses. Perennial allergies, on the other hand, are usually present year-round, and include allergens such as pet dander and house dust mite. Molds can be a seasonal or perennial allergy trigger.

What are the Symptoms of Seasonal Allergies?

Symptoms of seasonal allergies include sneezing, runny nose, nasal congestion, itching of the nose, and post-nasal drip. Not all people experience all of the symptoms of hay fever, and in some people, only one symptom will predominate. It may be difficult to tell the difference between seasonal allergies and the common cold, and only an allergist may be able to tell the difference.

How Does Pollen Cause Seasonal Allergies?

Pollens are tiny, egg-shaped powdery grains released from flowering plants, which are carried by the wind or insects and serve to cross-pollinate other plants of the same type for reproductive purposes. When pollen is present in the air, it can land in a person’s eyes, nose, lungs and skin to set up an allergic reaction. Symptoms may include allergic rhinitis (hay fever).

Pollens that are spread by the wind are usually the main cause of seasonal allergies, while pollens that rely on insects (such as the honeybee) to be carried to other plants do not. Most plants with bright, vibrant flowers (such as roses) are insect-pollinated and do not generally cause seasonal allergies since the pollen is not usually present in the air.

Pollen can travel long distances and the levels in the air can vary from day to day. The pollen level can be quite different in various areas of a particular city or region. Levels of pollen tend to be highest from early morning to mid-morning, from 5AM to 10AM. Avoidance of pollen can be difficult, but is theoretically possible.

What Causes Spring Allergies?

Spring allergies are a result of pollen from trees, which can start pollinating anytime from January to April, depending on the climate and location. Trees that are known to cause severe allergies include oak, olive, elm, birch, ash, hickory, poplar, sycamore, maple, cypress and walnut.

In certain areas of the world, some weeds will also pollinate in the springtime.

What Causes Summer Allergies?

Grass pollen is typically the main cause of late spring and early summer allergies. Grass pollen is highest at these times, although grass may cause allergies through much of the year if someone is mowing the lawn or lying in the grass. Contact with grass can result in itching and hives in people who are allergic to grass pollen; this is called contact urticaria.

Grasses can be divided into two major classes -- northern and southern grasses. Northern grasses are common in colder climates, and include timothy, rye, orchard, sweet vernal, red top, and blue grasses. Southern grasses are present in warmer climates, with Bermuda grass being the major grass in this category.

What Causes Fall Allergies?

Weed pollen is the main cause of seasonal allergy in the late summer and early fall. Depending on the area of North America, these weeds include ragweed, sagebrush, pigweed, tumbleweed (Russian thistle) and cocklebur. In certain areas of the world, some trees can pollinate in the fall as well.

How Do I Know Which Pollens Cause My Seasonal Allergies?

An allergist can help determine if you have seasonal allergies, and the types of pollen to which you are allergic. This is accomplished through allergy testing, which typically involves skin testing or a blood test (RAST). Allergy testing can be helpful in predicting the times of the year that you are likely to experience allergy symptoms, and is needed if you are interesting in taking allergy shots.

Action Plan

Avoid Pollen Exposure?

Unlike avoidance of pet dander and dust mites, it is more difficult to avoid exposure to pollen, since it is present in the outdoor air. Here are some tips to minimize pollen exposure:

• Keep windows closed prevent pollen from drifting into your home.

• Minimize early morning activity when pollen is usually emitted -- between 5-10 a.m.

• Keep your car windows closed when traveling.

• Take a vacation during the height of the pollen season to a more pollen-free area, such as the beach or sea.

• Avoid mowing the lawn and freshly cut grass.

• Machine-dry bedding and clothing. Pollen may collect in laundry if it is hung outside to dry.

• Stay indoors on dry, windy days — the best time to go outside is after a good rain, which helps clear pollen from the air.

• Delegate lawn mowing, weed pulling and other gardening chores that stir up allergens.

• Remove clothes you've worn outside; you may also want to shower to rinse pollen from your skin and hair.

• Don't hang laundry outside — pollen can stick to sheets and towels.

• Wear a dust mask if you do outside chores.

Take extra steps when pollen counts are high

• Seasonal allergy signs and symptoms can flare up when there's a lot of pollen in the air. These steps can help you reduce your exposure:

• Check your local TV or radio station, your local newspaper, or the Internet for pollen forecasts and current pollen levels.

• If high pollen counts are forecasted, start taking allergy medications before your symptoms start.

• Close doors and windows at night or any other time when pollen counts are high.

• Avoid outdoor activity in the early morning when pollen counts are highest.

Keep indoor air clean

• There's no miracle product that can eliminate all allergens from the air in your home, but these suggestions may help:

• Use the air conditioning in your house and car.

• If you have forced air heating or air conditioning in your house, use high-efficiency filters and follow regular maintenance schedules.

• Keep indoor air dry with a dehumidifier.

• Use a portable high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter in your bedroom.

• Clean floors often with a vacuum cleaner that has a HEPA filter.

Try an over-the-counter remedy

Several types of nonprescription medications can help ease allergy symptoms. They include:

• Oral antihistamines. Antihistamines can help relieve sneezing, itching, runny nose and watery eyes. Examples of oral antihistamines include loratadine (Claritin, Alavert), cetirizine (Zyrtec Allergy, others) and fexofenadine (Allegra Allergy). Older antihistamines, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl) and chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton), are also effective, but they can make you drowsy.

• Decongestants. Oral decongestants such as pseudoephedrine (Sudafed, Afrinol, others) can provide temporary relief from nasal stuffiness. Decongestants also come in nasal sprays, such as oxymetazoline (Afrin) and phenylephrine (Neo-Synephrine). Only use nasal decongestants for short-term relief. Long-term use of decongestant nasal sprays can actually worsen symptoms (rebound congestion).

• Nasal spray. Cromolyn sodium nasal spray can ease allergy symptoms and doesn't have serious side effects, though it's most effective when you begin using it before your symptoms start.

• Combination medications. A number of allergy medications combine an antihistamine with a decongestant. Examples include the oral medication Drixoral, which combines the antihistamine dexbrompheniramine maleate with the decongestant pseudoephedrine sulfate, and the nasal spray Claritin-D, which combines the antihistamine loratadine with pseudoephedrine sulfate.

Rinse your sinuses

Rinsing your nasal passages with distilled, sterile saline solution (nasal irrigation) is a quick, inexpensive and very effective way to relieve nasal congestion. Rinsing directly flushes out mucus and allergens from your nose. Look for a squeeze bottle or a neti pot — a small container with a spout designed for nasal rinsing — at your pharmacy or health food store. Use water that's distilled, sterile, previously boiled and cooled, or filtered using a filter with an absolute pore size of 1 micron or smaller to make up the saline irrigation solution. Also be sure to rinse the irrigation device after each use with similarly distilled, sterile, previously boiled and cooled, or filtered water and leave open to air-dry.

Interested in alternative treatments? Consider these

A number of natural remedies have been used to treat hay fever symptoms. Treatments that may help include extracts of the shrub butterbur and spirulina (a type of dried algae). A number of other natural remedies are used to treat allergies, but the benefits aren't clear and some may not be safe — so talk to your doctor before trying one.

When home remedies aren't enough, see your doctor

For many people, avoiding allergens and taking over-the-counter medications is enough to ease symptoms. But if your seasonal allergies are still bothersome, don't give up. A number of other treatments are available.

If you have bad seasonal allergies, your doctor may recommend that you have skin tests or blood tests to find out exactly what allergens trigger your symptoms. Testing can help determine what steps you need to take to avoid your specific triggers and identify which treatments are likely to work best for you.

For some people, allergy shots (allergen immunotherapy) can be a good option. Also known as desensitization, this treatment involves regular injections containing tiny amounts of the substances that cause your allergies. Over time, these injections reduce the immune system reaction that causes symptoms.

The health tips on this website are for informational purposes only, and they are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice.

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References

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hay-fever/in-depth/seasonal-allergies/ART-20048343?pg=2

http://www.webmd.com/allergies/features/relieve-allergies-natural-way

http://www.pdrhealth.com/diseases/seasonal-allergies

http://allergies.about.com/od/allergies101/a/seasonalallergy.htm

https://www.google.ca/search?q=image+of+allergies&biw=1021&bih=892&tbm=isch&imgil=H

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