Do you also suffer from pollen allergy? Let's learn about the causes, symptoms and remedies!

When the flowers are blooming beautifully and the surrounding environment looks lush, does your nose get blocked? Do you sneeze constantly? Do your eyes get red and itchy? Although many people think this is a common cold, it could actually be a 'Pollen Allergy'. Some people also call this ' Hay Fever '. Let's talk about this today, as if we were talking to a friend, and let's find out everything clearly.

What exactly is a pollen allergy?

Simply put, pollen is a very fine, powdery substance that plants release into the environment for pollination. It can float in the wind and enter our nose, mouth, and eyes. This pollen is usually harmless.

However, when these enter the body of a person with pollen allergy, the body views this innocent pollen as a dangerous enemy. As a result, the body's immune system is activated and begins a fight to drive out this 'enemy'. As a result of this fight, we experience symptoms such as a stuffy nose, itchy eyes, and sneezing.

Different plants release pollen at different times. Some people are allergic to tree pollen, which is most common in the spring. Others are allergic to grass pollen , which is more common in the summer. Still others are allergic to weed pollen, which is most common in the fall.

Why do we get allergies like this?

Think of your body as a well-guarded fortress. The immune system is the soldiers inside it. These soldiers usually attack the real enemies, the germs that cause disease.

But when pollen enters the body of someone with pollen allergy, these soldiers mistakenly think that the harmless stranger called pollen is a big enemy. Because of this misunderstanding, the body releases chemicals like 'histamine' . These are the ones that cause the symptoms we talked about earlier, like a stuffy nose, itchy eyes, and sneezing.

Below are some of the most common types of pollen that cause allergies .

What are the symptoms of a pollen allergy?

A pollen allergy can cause a variety of symptoms. You may experience one or more of these.

• Nasal symptoms: stuffy nose, runny nose, constant sneezing, itchy nose.
• Eye symptoms: Red eyes , tearing, itchy eyes, and swelling under the eyes.
• Throat and breathing: Respiratory problems such as itchy throat, sore throat, cough, and wheezing.
• Skin: Sometimes skin irritation or itching may occur.

How do you know if this is really an allergy?

If you continue to have these symptoms, especially if they increase during certain times of the year, the best thing to do is to see your doctor. He or she will ask you about your symptoms and the times when they increase.

Then, there are several tests to confirm exactly what kind of allergy this is.

1. Blood test : This is done to check if you have an antibody called `(IgE)` in your blood. This antibody is produced by the body in response to an allergen. Therefore, if it is present in the blood, it can be confirmed that you have an allergy.

2. Skin Prick Test: This is done by an allergist. Using a very small needle, a drop of liquid containing various types of pollen is placed on your skin and a fine prick is made. If the area becomes red, swollen, and itchy after a few minutes, it means you are allergic to that type of pollen.

Treatment and relief methods

Fortunately, there are several ways to manage pollen allergies and get relief from symptoms.

Non-drug methods

• Nasal Irrigation: Using saline solution (salt water) to rinse the inside of the nose can help remove pollen and reduce nasal congestion. You can use a device like a Neti Pot for this.

Types of drugs

• Antihistamines: These medications work by blocking a chemical called histamine that causes allergy symptoms. They can be taken as pills, liquids, or nasal sprays.
• Decongestants: These are a good solution for nasal congestion. They reduce swelling in the nose and make it easier to breathe. However, you should avoid using these for more than five days , as they can be addictive.
• Corticosteroid Nasal Sprays: These help reduce swelling in the nose and control congestion and other symptoms.
• Prescription medications: If regular medications don't help, your doctor may prescribe stronger medications.

Allergy Shots

If medications don't work, this is a good option. In this, an allergist injects a very small amount of pollen into your skin every few weeks. Over time, your body gradually gets used to the pollen and the allergic response decreases.

The strange relationship between food and pollen

If you have a pollen allergy, do you feel like your mouth, lips, and tongue are itchy and slightly swollen after eating certain raw fruits and vegetables? We call this 'Oral Allergy Syndrome' .

This is because the proteins in some fruits and vegetables are very similar to the proteins in pollen. As a result, our immune system mistakes the proteins in these foods as the same 'enemy' as pollen.

This condition is usually not dangerous. However, very rarely , it can cause difficulty breathing or a severe reaction such as anaphylactic shock.

Since these proteins are usually destroyed when food is cooked, this discomfort that occurs when eating raw food does not occur when cooked.

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