| Is
it fact or fiction that only ragweed causes hayfever? Ragweed
occurs naturally in several species that grow across the United
States. Ragweed pollen can be detected in the air from the
middle of July, peaking in early September, and continue high
until the first hard frost when the ground freezes. Ragweed
is far from being the only culprit that triggers hay fever.
Fact: Pollens from various grasses and trees
also play a part in this. Pollen is the plant equivalent of
sperm in the animal kingdom. Since pollen is carried by the
wind, some of it lands where it can fertilize other plants.
Fact: Weeds generally pollinate in the late
summer and fall, trees in the late winter and spring and grasses
in the late spring, going into summer.
Fact: Seventy-five percent of the people who
suffer from hayfever are allergic to ragweed. Not only is
ragweed an irritant, but the pollens from birch, alder, hazel,
hornbeam and horse chestnut trees, cause distress. Grasses,
such as rye and timothy also release allergenic pollens into
the air, along with nettles, members of the sorrel family
and the dock family. While this may not be true for everyone,
people who are allergic to ragweed pollen may also be allergic
to chamomile tea, sunflower seeds, and bananas.
Fact: Mold spores also contribute to the discomfort
people experience with hayfever. Allergic reactions to windblown
spore are most common from midsummer to early fall. Though
basements and other damp rooms in the house can also harbor
mold, and be decidedly uncomfortable for anyone who is sensitive
to it. Investing in an air filtration system benefits everyone
in your home, not just the person who experiences hayfever
symptoms.
Fact: Pollen levels tend to be at their highest
in the morning, and at their lowest immediately after a rainstorm,
as the rain tends to wash the pollens into the ground. If
it is possible to wait till late in the morning to leave the
house, it is often better to do so. Those times after a good
rainstorm, when the air has been washed clean, may be good
times to take your walks. Many people have found that wearing
Millipore face masks to be helpful when they go outside. Keeping
windows in your home and car closed and relying on air conditioners
and air filtration systems to keep the air fresh is generally
a must, if you are allergic to those pollens.
Fact: Clothes can pick up pollens from the
air when they are hung outside on a line to dry. This may
cause needless irritation to the person who suffers from these
allergies.
Fact: Washing your hands and face frequently
may seem pointless when you are trying to protect yourself
from air-born pollens and pollutants, but it does help. When
you wash your hands regularly, you are less likely to rub
pollens into your eyes, which are also sensitive to allergens.
Washing your face helps to get rid of any build-up around
your eyes and nose.
Fact: Some people have found that applying
a thin coat of Vaseline around their eyes and nostrils helps
prevent pollens from entering there as easily. And some people
have found that wearing wrap-around sunglasses when they are
outside also helps to protect their eyes.
Fact: There are nasal sprays and antihistamines
to help relieve the symptoms. Over the counter medications
are not as strong as the prescription meds, and they are more
likely to cause drowsiness than the prescription medications.
Fact: Skin sensitivity or scratch testing
is the most accurate way to test for allergic reactions. There
is no cure for the common allergies, but allergy shots that
help accustom the body's immune system to the pollens are
often helpful.
Living
With Spring Hayfever |
Supplements
for Hay Fever | Allergies
- Quality Of Life |
Allergies
- Allergy Shots| Allergy
skin test | Avoiding
allergens | Alternative
to hayfever medication |
Why
does an allergic reaction occur? |
Allergies
And Clean Air | Benefits
Of Chamomile Tea |
Ten
Facts About Hayfever
|
