Springtime on a college campus is marked by blooming flowers, flowing sundresses and picnics on the quad. But that one thing that dampens the ideal picture of springtime is pollen — the thing that some people dread the most. Understanding how spring allergies work and some ways to lessen the symptoms is a start to enjoying the springtime.
Every spring, trees release pollen into the air to fertilize other plants. When pollen enters our body through the nose, it essentially sends the immune system into overdrive. The immune system releases a substance called antibodies that mistake pollen as harmful bacteria. Histamines are then released into the blood and trigger the typical spring allergy symptoms (runny nose, itchy eyes, coughing, sneezing).
On breezy days, the pollen count is at its highest. According to Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, the top five spring allergy capitals in 2011 are:
1. Knoxville, Tenn.
2. Louisville, KY
3. Charlotte, NC
4. Jackson, Miss.
5. Chattanooga, Tenn.
Knowing which places have the highest pollen count in the spring can help you prepare for travel plans, so you can have allergy medicine handy, which brings us to the topic of how to relieve the symptoms.
Although there are no cures for spring allergies, there are ways to manage the symptoms. Most people use over-the-counter drugs that come in forms of antihistamines, decongestants, eye drops and nasal spray. There are a wide variety of OTC drugs in stores, and they work differently for individuals.
Some allergy medicines may prove to be affective for one type of pollen in the air while others may not. Many OTC allergy drugs take about 30 to 60 minutes to take effect, and some antihistamines may make you drowsy.
The symptoms of spring allergies can cause you to suffer during class and cause you to dread going outside. Taking simple steps such as cleaning surfaces in your room where pollen can collect, taking a shower after being outside and washing your bedding can greatly help relieve the pesky symptoms.
Before you leave the house, check the pollen forecast in the area. Some websites provide a five-day forecast, so you can be better prepared for the week. If the symptoms are really severe, then go see a doctor and you may be given a prescription drug or allergy shots, which relieve the body of symptoms for longer periods of time.
So ladies, how to deal with all the pollen in the air?
- Wear oversized sunglasses. (Not only is it a fashion statement, but it will actually help prevent pollen from entering your eyes.)
- Choose a golden or yellow based concealer to cover up a red, irritated nose.
- Use bronzer with brown undertones to keep down the puffiness in the face and eyes due to spring allergies.
- Love to run outside? Try pushing back your run until after sundown since the peak of pollen production is at its highest during the hottest time of the day.
- Don’t be so rough on your skin. (Harsh scrubbing face washes can strip away the layer of protective skin cells and allow allergens in the air to penetrate your skin.)
- Using eye drops to relieve the red eyes? If you wear contacts, make sure you take out the contacts before applying the eye drops and wait 5 minutes before putting them back in. (This prevents the contact from absorbing the eye drops.)
Don’t let spring allergies ruin springtime for you. Taking the appropriate steps to lessen the severity of the symptoms will allow you to enjoy mother nature and venture out every beautiful spring day!
Sources:
http://www.pollen.com/pollens.asp
http://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/allergens-0
http://www.aafa.org/display.cfm?id=9&sub=30
http://www.webmd.com/allergies/features/how-to-survive-spring-allergies?…
http://www.treehugger.com/pollen-helps-allergies-phot.jpg (photo)
http://www.wallcoo.net/1440×900/sky_flowers_02_1440x900/html/wallpaper10.html (photo)