Pollen Allergy: Treatment and Protection
January 19, 2021 | Farah Jassawalla

Pollen Allergy: Treatment and Protection

Pollen allergy is a very common allergy that can trigger a wide range of symptoms in people allergic to pollen. All symptoms go away on their own after a while but can be frustrating to deal with for the time they last. Some people have symptoms that last year-round, while others are only triggered during spring and early Autumn.

Pollen is a powdery substance that is essential for fertilization in plants. These tiny particles can be a source of misery for those allergic to it. When pollen particles enter the human body, the immune system identifies it as a threat and is triggered in a way that causes various symptoms. Pollen allergy causes some mild to severe symptoms in humans. Some of these include:

Nasal congestion

Watery eyes

Itchy throat 

Itchy eyes

Sneezing

It helps when you are well-prepared to handle these symptoms. Following are a few ways you can prepare for pollen season:

Do your research

To better deal with pollen allergy and pollen season, you should take a mental note of which time of the year the symptoms are the worst. Next time that time of the year approaches, you can take several steps, such as taking allergy shots or medications that boost your immunity and builds up resistance to pollen.

Take Precautions while going outside

During Pollen season, try avoiding going outside, especially when it's windy. Since that cannot always be possible, you should get used to wearing dusk masks so that your body does not breathe in any pollen in the atmosphere. While indoors, you should ensure that all doors and windows are properly shut to prevent any pollen from entering. 

OTC drugs and shots

If the symptoms seem to worsen despite the precautions, many Over-the-Counter drugs can be taken to ease them. These drugs include:

Anti allergies

Nasal sprays

If none of these medicines help, allergy shots can be taken that directly inject patients with anti-allergens for a faster response.

Home Treatments

Along with medications, a few home remedies can also provide relief from some symptoms. These remedies include:

Drink herbal trees such as ginger tea to help with throat irritation.

Use HEPA filters to trap the pollen particles in its mesh so that you remain safe from them.

Consume more probiotics in your diet. Probiotics such as yogurt contain microorganisms that can treat allergic rhinitis. 

Be mindful of frequently changing sheets and clothes and wash them in hot water so that pollen attached to those fabrics does not enter your body. 

Using saline nose irrigation tools to flush your system every once in a while.

 

What is Pollen Count?

You have probably heard the phrase pollen count a lot. If you do not know what it means or why it is important, fret not! The pollen count predicts the number of pollen particles to be present per cubic meter of air. If the number is higher than average, you should avoid going but if it is unavoidable, then make sure you take the precautions mentioned above. 

However, the pollen count itself is not a good indication to gauge the potential harm. A more detailed report should be studied that mentions the type of pollen in the air. The overall pollen count may be very low, but the specific type of pollen you are allergic to may be high. 

If you have trouble recognizing the allergy symptoms, you can talk to a medical health professional to help you through them. Shifa4U allows you to consult with doctors all over the country online. Visit Shifa4U today.

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Farah Jassawalla

Farah Jassawalla is a graduate of the Lahore School of Economics. She is also a writer, and healthcare enthusiast, having closely observed case studies while working with Lahore's thriving general physicians at their clinics.