People with pollen allergies suffer from various allergic diseases. Because pollen is spread by the wind, it flies well in the air, and when a person with pollen allergy comes into contact with it, allergic rhinitis or conjunctivitis occurs. In addition, when pollen is broken down through saliva or phlegm and reaches the bronchi or lungs, it can cause asthma symptoms. Learn about common triggers of pollen allergy and how to deal with them.
Common Triggers and Symptoms of pollen allergies
Low-Pollen Plants: Selecting Allergy-Friendly Options for Your Garden
Designing Spaces to Reduce Pollen Accumulation
What types of vitamins or supplements are the best for a strong allergy reliever?
Managing Allergies During Peak Pollen Seasons: Strategies and Precautions
Common Triggers and Symptoms of pollen allergies
Pollen allergies, also known as seasonal allergies, are most common in the spring and fall. Pollen from plants and trees is the main cause of these allergies.If you are allergic, the pollen from certain tree species may trigger your allergies. Common trees include birch, hackberry, plum, and olive trees. Plants also produce pollen that can trigger allergies. Some common examples include: buddleia, cacti, lilies, lavender, sunflowers, and chrysanthemums (safflower, gerbera, cosmos, etc.).
Allergic reactions can manifest differently in different people, and symptoms can vary in severity.The most common symptoms of pollen allergies are allergic rhinitis, conjunctivitis, dermatitis, and bronchial asthma. With allergic rhinitis, you may experience a watery, runny nose that won't stop, continuous sneezing, and alternating blockage of both nostrils. Other symptoms include itchy, rubbing eyes, red, watery eyes, and a persistent cough with redness and itchiness around the eyes, face, neck, hands, and arms. If you suffer from pollen allergies, it's important to protect yourself by avoiding outdoor activities during weather with high levels of avoidable pollen, and wearing a mask if necessary.
Low-Pollen Plants: Selecting Allergy-Friendly Options for Your Garden
To create an allergy-friendly garden, it's important to choose plants with low pollen count. You may want to consider plants that produce less pollen or spread less pollen into the air. Below are some plant options that can reduce allergic reactions.
Flowerless trees
Choose trees that don't have flowers or don't trigger allergies. Examples include pine, pine, zelkova, willow, birch, and maple.
Low-pollen plants
Plants that are less likely to produce pollen include camellias, lilies, roses, hyacinths, tulips, and subtropical plants.
Houseplants
Houseplants are easy to care for in that they don't produce pollen and most don't require special attention to watering.Examples include jasmine, monera, dracaena, eschera, and fittonia.
Designing Spaces to Reduce Pollen Accumulation
To reduce pollen, you need to improve outdoor air quality in addition to improving indoor air quality. To improve indoor air quality, you can use things like air purifiers and ventilation systems. Air purifiers help filter out fine particulate matter and allergens, including pollen. You can reduce pollen by placing plants or potted plants on a porch or in a separate room instead of indoors. When considering space design, high ceilings are recommended to reduce the amount of pollen that falls, and materials like metal and glass are preferable to wood because they accumulate less pollen and are easier to remove.
Other ways to improve outdoor air quality include planting plants and laying down soil.Consider flowerless or low-pollen plants as alternatives to high-pollen plants. For example, you can use artificial grass or include plants with beautiful leaves or branches in your plant garden instead of flowers.Keep your garden clean to reduce pollen buildup. Keep it tidy with regular pruning and weeding.Another way to reduce pollen is to install filters on your windows. By applying these methods, you can reduce pollen buildup.
What types of vitamins or supplements are the best for a strong allergy reliever?
You may want to consider taking vitamins and supplements to help relieve your allergies. However, the right vitamins and supplements for you may vary depending on your individual condition and health history, so it's best to consult your doctor or nutritionist for individualized advice.In general, the following vitamins and supplements may be helpful for managing allergies and boosting your immune system.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is known to boost the immune system and is a powerful antioxidant that can inhibit the release of histamine, which can help relieve allergy symptoms.
Quercetin
Quercetin is a mild antioxidant and anti-inflammatory that has been shown in some studies to help relieve allergy symptoms.
Omega-3 fatty acids
Omega-3 fatty acids have anti-inflammatory properties, which may help reduce the inflammatory response associated with allergies and asthma.
Probiotics
Probiotics are known to promote healthy gut bacteria and help strengthen the immune system, which may help alleviate allergy symptoms.
Managing Allergies During Peak Pollen Seasons: Strategies and Precautions
Consider the following countermeasures and precautions to help alleviate the symptoms of pollen allergy. Also, if you have severe allergies, it is important to consult your doctor to get an allergy test and to prescribe an appropriate allergy reliever. Also, if you have severe symptoms related to hay fever, it is necessary to know the contact information of the nearest hospital in case of an emergency.
Adjusting the timing of going out
Use the weather forecast or pollen count information to help you decide whether to go outside. Pollen spreads best on sunny days with high temperatures, and it travels farther in light winds of 2 meters per second than in strong winds. It may be helpful to avoid going out in the morning and evening when pollen counts are high, and to go out in the afternoon or on rainy days when pollen counts are low.If pollen counts are expected to be particularly high on a particular day, you can stay indoors and stay safe. In general, pollen counts are highest on warm, windy days and lower on cool, rainy days.
Wearing a mask
When you're outside, you can block airborne pollen with a mask to reduce its direct entry into your respiratory tract.While exercising outdoors, it's helpful to wear a mask or bandana to prevent pollen and other irritants from entering your body through your nose and mouth.
Allergy testing and preventive medication
Get an allergy test from your doctor to identify your allergens, and take allergy prevention medications as directed by your doctor.
Clean thoroughly
Clean carpets, curtains, furniture, and other crevices regularly to prevent pollen from accumulating.
Shower immediately after being outside
After going outside, it's a good idea to remove the clothes you wore outside and take a shower immediately to remove pollen from your body.During pollen season, your clothes and hair may be covered with pollen. Therefore, you may want to remove your clothes when you get home and take a shower to wash off any remaining allergens on your skin or hair.
References:
1.4 Pollen Allergy Symptoms and What to Do About Them
https://motioneffect.tistory.com/
2.Climate change is to blame...'pollen' season is longer and stronger https://imnews.imbc.com/replay/2021/nwtoday/article/6170210_34943.html.
3.Why the heatwave's 'pollen crisis' is becoming our 'food crisis'
https://www.bbc.com/korean/features-62046051.
4.Pollen allergy
https://www.amc.seoul.kr/asan/healthinfo/disease/