Pollen Allergy

Pollen count (or measure of how much pollen is present in the air) is in its highest during spring, summer and fall or when it’s warm, dry and breezy. People start to experience pollen allergy or seasonal allergic rhinitis during these times.

What is pollen allergy? When pollen is inhaled or when it reaches our throat, our body produces histamine and this result in pollen allergy. The histamine causes irritation, excessive mucus production and nasal passages to swell and leads to nasal congestion. The next time we are exposed to pollen (or allergen), we get allergic reactions.

Pollen comes from plants for reproduction. In order for a plant to reproduce, pollen is needed to be transferred form one plant to another of the same species with the aid of insects or by wind transport. Pollen is carried by wind over long distances and often times, a huge volume does not reach its expected destination rather, ends up reaching the human nose.

Some allergy causing pollens are produced by the following plants in the US:

Trees – birch tree, cypress, maple, cottonwood, acacia, pine trees, ash, elm, oak, hickory, pecan, mountain cedar, box elder

Grasses – Kentucky bluegrass, Bermuda grass, redtop grass, Johnson grass, sweet vernal grass, perennial eye, Italian rye, meadow fescue

Weeds - ragweed, redroot, lamb’s quarters, tumbleweed, cocklebur, yellow dock, English plantain, pigweed, scales, sagebrush

Pollen Allergy Symptoms

• Sneezing and coughing
• Itching of eyes, nose, throat
• Post nasal drip
• Conjunctivitis
• Upward rubbing of nose usually by a child


Pollen Allergy Treatments

• Medication with antihistamine, bronchodilators, corticosteroids, nasal decongestants
• Immunotherapy
• Stay indoors or wear face masks
• Use air conditioners and air filters
• Avoid irritants like insect sprays, dust air pollution that may trigger the symptoms of pollen allergy