If you’ve been told you have a pollen allergy, then you’ve had an allergic reaction to the fine powder that comes from the stamen of flowering plants.
The actual allergy to pollen is called hay fever, which is caused when pollen is dispersed through the air.
Because pollen is fine, it can be carried for great distances through the air current. It also is easily inhaled as it comes in contact with your nose, mouth and nasal passages.
If you have a pollen allergy, you may be affected by pollen in different allergy seasons from different type of plants. Spring blooming plants include oak, birch, hickory, pecan, and even some grasses produce pollen. If you suffer from pollen allergies in the late summer and fall, then most likely you are affected by ragweed.
Pollen allergies can trigger allergic reactions, which affect the sinus and respiratory tract of those with this allergy. Symptoms can include watery eyes, runny nose, rhinitis, sore throat, coughing, increased mucous, headaches and asthma.
One of the best ways to combat pollen allergies is to understand which pollens you are allergic to. An allergist is able to easily test you for various types of trees, weeds, and grasses, and provide you with a list of pollens that affect you adversely.
Below are a few types of plants that are known to cause pollen allergies:
Depending on where you live, your individual sensitivity may differ dramatically. If a person lives in a geographic area that has hot, dry, windy days, then there is more of a chance that pollen is in the air.
Whereas if you live in areas where the air is cool or there are more rainy days, the pollen is washed to the ground and is less likely to affect you. Understanding the pollen count in your area helps you to combat pollen allergies.
Allergy pollen counts allow you to see how you could be affected by pollen right in your own hometown or anywhere throughout the nation.
The free national and local pollen count service offered by Pollen.com enables you to not only see what the pollen count is throughout the nation, but also provides you with a 5-day forecast for your area. At a glance you’ll be able to see "Today’s Worst Cities" for pollen allergies, as well as "Today’s Best Cities". It also gives you the opportunity to sign up for the 2-day allergy alert email service.
Allergy forecast information could be easily obtained from the Pollen.com allergy service by clicking on the map, selecting a state or entering a ZIP code. A 5-day allergy forecast will be provided that details the predominant pollens in the area and what to expect for much of the week ahead.