There are so many things that can cause allergies, from foods to dust and so much more. An allergy is a reaction of your immune system to a foreign material that isn’t typically harmful to your body. Allergens are foreign compounds that cause allergic reactions. 

Furthermore, one of the many allergies that is getting much attention is pollen allergies. To know better about it, we will discuss the causes of pollen allergies and the things you can do to deal with them.

Causes of Pollen Allergies

One of the most common causes of seasonal allergies is pollen. Experts also refer to pollen allergy as seasonal allergic rhinitis.

Furthermore, plants release tiny pollen grains in the spring, summer, and fall to fertilize other plants of the same genus. Trees, weeds, and grasses produce the majority of pollen that causes allergic reactions. Pollen grains from these plants are thin, light, and dry, and the wind carries them.

Allergies to grasses are the most common. Ragweed is one of the most common causes of weed allergies. Sagebrush, pigweed, lamb’s quarters, and tumbleweed are all widespread sources of weed pollen. Also, pollen from such tree species as birch, cedar, and oak, is highly allergenic.

What You Should Do If You Have Pollen Allergies

The best cure, as with other allergies, is to avoid the allergen. Pollen, on the other hand, is extremely difficult to stop. Here are some ways you can defend yourself from pollen allergies.

Manage Stress

Although stress is normal, it is still a factor in many severe illnesses. Stress hormones disrupt the body, especially in the immune system, exacerbating seasonal allergies. Consider stress-relieving techniques such as meditation and self-care, and stop overcommitting your schedule.

It is also essential to address your stress issues as soon as possible because it will not only trigger allergies, such as this one. But also, it affects your entire health, which leads to other severe illnesses in the future.

Clean your Nose

It is not something that we need to remind you of because you should clean your nose daily. But for people who have pollen allergies, cleaning your nose might help you deal with it. If you don’t know, pollen sticks to our mucus membranes and causes irritation. If you don’t clean your nose, then the pollen will stay there, causing allergies.

Drink some Apple Cider

If you suffer from allergies, you’re well aware that there’s only so much you can do to avoid the severe scratching, tickling, sneezing, and sniffling that comes with them.

It’s no wonder that apple cider vinegar, the wellness world’s favorite panacea, is another well-known method for “naturally” alleviating allergy symptoms. Apple cider vinegar is said to help break up mucus, strengthen the immune system, and facilitate lymphatic drainage.

Detox

Toxins in the body also aggravate allergies. Allergies can flare up while the liver is working overtime, metabolizing stress, drugs, alcohol, and processed foods. Remove fried foods, sugar, alcohol, and other contaminants from your diet to detox your body.

Furthermore, one of the most often mentioned advantages of detox is the increased vitality it provides. By removing all chemicals and waste from your body, your body can use less energy to absorb them, freeing up more energy for other activities. 

Take some Shots for Allergies

If drugs aren’t working, allergy shots might be an option. Every few weeks, see an allergist and get a tiny amount of the allergen that’s triggering your problem injected under your skin. Your body should become accustomed to the stimulus after a few months, and your symptoms should improve.

Furthermore, allergy shots are injected daily for some time — usually three to five years — to prevent or minimize allergy attacks. Immunotherapy is a form of treatment that includes allergy shots. Just beware because each allergy shot contains a trace of the substance or substances that cause an allergic reaction.

Be Cautious

The best thing you can do is avoid the pollens, and it is the simplest yet the hardest thing to do. However, there are things that you can do to avoid pollen allergies to happen. You can at least turn on your air conditioner instead of opening your windows, may it be in your houses or your cars. Also, look for a HEPA filter in your air conditioner.

Furthermore, if you hang your clothes outside, the tendency is that your clothes may suck up the pollen. You might want to consider using your dryer instead. 

Also, before going to bed, change your clothes, shower, and wash your hair if you’ve been outside. You’ll transfer pollen to your pillow and sheets if you don’t, and you’ll breathe it in all night. Allowing your pet to spend time outside is fine. Just avoid letting them enter your bedroom.

Medication

Start taking your allergy medications about a month before spring arrives in your area, and start right away if you begin to develop allergy symptoms. The good news is that many allergy drugs that you can get without a prescription. Try a different one if one doesn’t fit after some time.

You can choose from over-the-counter drugs, such as antihistamines. Antihistamines prevent the body from producing histamine. If your nose is stuffy, medications will help you breathe more easily. Some nasal sprays can also help with allergy symptoms.

However, if the over-the-counter medicine does not do any good to you, you can visit your doctor and let them assist you with a drug that will best fit your needs. Some prescription medications work by blocking chemicals other than histamine that cause allergies. Others treat the effects brought on by pollen from some types of weeds or grasses.

Takeaway

Remember that the best thing you can do to avoid pollen allergies is to take care of yourself. The list above might help you somehow, but above all, you should make sure that you are healthy. 

Furthermore, allergies may occur when your immune system is weak. The discomfort you’re experiencing is your immune system fighting a threat it perceives. Thus, strengthening it should be your priority.