Do you also sneeze during this flower season? It could be a pollen allergy!

Are you sneezing a lot these days? Do you have a stuffy nose, red eyes, and itchy eyes? You might think it's just a common cold. But if it only comes around the same time every year, the cause may be something you don't think about. That's what we're talking about today. That's allergies caused by pollen that accumulates in the air from flowers and trees.

Simply put, what is pollen?

Pollen is a powdery substance produced by plants during their reproductive process, usually yellow in color. It is very light, so it can easily float in the wind and enter our nose, mouth, and eyes. Pollen is usually harmless.

However, for some people, when pollen enters their bodies, their bodies react to it. In other words, their immune system sees the pollen as if it were a dangerous germ that has entered their bodies. This causes symptoms such as a stuffy nose, itchy eyes, sneezing, and headaches. Different plants, such as trees, grasses, and weeds, release different types of pollen. The pollen is most abundant in the environment when these plants are in bloom. This is when people with allergies are most at risk.

Why does our body react this way?

If you have a pollen allergy, here's what happens: Your body's defense system, the immune system , mistakenly thinks that this harmless pollen particle is a disease-causing germ.

You may be allergic to only certain types of tree pollen. Another person may be allergic to grass pollen. Symptoms occur depending on when these are in bloom.

What are the common symptoms?

The symptoms of pollen allergy can vary from person to person, but there are a few common symptoms. Let's take a look at what they are.

Can it hurt your throat?

Yes. When you have allergies, your body produces more mucus. This mucus is there to trap allergens and help them drain out of your nose. But sometimes this mucus doesn't come out of your nose, but instead flows down the back of your throat. This is called ``postnasal drip.'' This can irritate the delicate tissues in your throat, causing swelling and pain.

How do you know for sure if this is an allergy?

If you have these symptoms and suspect that it's a pollen allergy, the best thing to do is to see your doctor. He or she will ask about your symptoms and whether they tend to increase during certain times of the year.

There are two main testing methods to confirm this:

1. Blood Test: This is done to check if you have an antibody called `(IgE)` in your blood. This `IgE` is something that the body makes to cause an allergic reaction to things like pollen. So, having these in your blood means that you may have an allergy.

2. Skin Prick Test: This is done by an allergist. In this test, a very small needle containing a small amount of pollen is gently pricked on the surface of your skin. After a few minutes, the area will be red, swollen, or itchy, which can help determine which type of pollen you are allergic to.

Treatment methods and how to get relief

Fortunately, there are several ways to manage pollen allergies and relieve symptoms. However, do not use any medication without medical advice.

• Nasal Irrigation: Rinsing the nasal passages with a saline solution helps to remove pollen particles from the nose and provides relief from nasal congestion.
• Medicines taken on medical advice:
• Antihistamines : Tablets, liquids, or nasal sprays that block a chemical called histamine, which is produced by the body during allergies. Histamine is what causes things like itching and sneezing.
• Decongestants: Medicines that reduce swelling inside the nose that causes nasal congestion. These come in the form of pills, liquids, or sprays. However, you should avoid using these continuously.
• Corticosteroid Nasal Sprays: These reduce swelling in the nasal passages and make breathing easier.
• Allergy Shots: This can be a good solution for those who have difficulty controlling their allergies with other medications. In this, very small amounts of pollen are injected into your body over time, allowing your body to become accustomed to the pollen over time.

What can we do to protect ourselves from allergies?

The best thing to do is to stay away from pollen as much as possible, rather than trying to treat it. These things will help with that.

• Be aware of high pollen days: Generally, days that are hot, dry, and windy can have higher pollen counts. Stay indoors as much as possible on such days. Rainy, cool days have lower pollen counts.
• Prevent pollen from entering your home: It is better to use air conditioning (AC) than to keep the doors and windows open. Drying clothes outside can trap pollen, so it is a good idea to use a dryer.
• When you come back from outside: Change your clothes and take a good shower. Especially wash your hair. Otherwise, you can breathe in the pollen on your clothes, hair, and bedding all night long.
• Protect yourself outside: Wear sunglasses. This will prevent pollen from getting in your eyes. Wear a hat. This will reduce pollen from getting on your hair.

The relationship between pollen and certain foods (Pollen-Food Allergy Syndrome)

If you have a pollen allergy, do you feel a tingling sensation in your mouth, lips, tongue, or throat after eating certain fruits, vegetables, or nuts? This condition is called ``Oral Allergy Syndrome.''

Simply put, some foods contain proteins that are very similar to the proteins in pollen. So, our immune system sometimes confuses the two. For example, when it sees the proteins in an apple, the immune system thinks it's pollen. So it starts an allergic reaction against it.

This is usually not a dangerous condition. However, very rarely, some people may experience severe reactions such as difficulty breathing or ``anaphylactic shock.''

The good news is that the allergenic proteins in these foods are destroyed when they are cooked. So, foods that are only a problem when eaten raw can be eaten cooked or canned.

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