5 Reasons You May Struggle Through Grass Allergies
5 Reasons You May Struggle Through Grass Allergies
Feeling itchy and sneezy
this time of year? From late spring to early summer, our world turns greener
and brighter as trees, grass and flowers bloom – causing a collective “achoo!”
Grass can cause a lot of
issues for those who are allergic because it’s such a versatile allergen – it
has a sticky pollen, it’s difficult to avoid, direct contact is possible, and
more. Read on to learn more about why grass allergies are so bothersome to so
many.
1. Grass has pollen
It’s too small to see, but
grass does create pollen similar to allergens like trees, ragweed and other
weeds. Pollen circulates through the air and when inhaled, symptoms arise,
including:
Runny nose
Itchy, watery eyes
Sore throat
Headache
There are some measures you
can take to minimize being exposed, like keeping your windows shut and wearing
sunglasses when outside. But avoiding it and its related symptoms completely is
nearly impossible.
2. Direct contact is nearly
unavoidable
With most environmental
allergies, you won’t have direct contact. Typically, people aren’t picking
ragweed or touching mold, but grass can be a more hands-on allergen – walking
barefoot, sitting on the lawn, golfing a round, falling to the ground while
playing football.
Not only does it get into your nose and eyes more easily, but some people experience contact dermatitis after direct contact with weeds like parthenium. This could be a rash or skin irritation that appears after contact, making grass an even more annoying allergen.
3. Grass pollen is sticky
Grass pollen is sticky.
First, you’re outside and pollen is circulating through the air; it sticks to
clothing, shoes, and hair. Then, you walk in your home and track the pollen and
related symptoms inside with you. This gives you a constant exposure, with no
break from grass allergy symptoms.
4. Cutting the grass doesn’t
always help
Experts say that keeping the
grass short can help keep allergies low. Unfortunately, actually mowing the
lawn can kick grass pollen into the air, temporarily creating more symptoms.
Other allergens that live in the grass – like mold – can circulate and cause an
even bigger allergy mess.
If you have severe grass allergies, it’s best to pass the chore of mowing the grass on to someone else.
5. Certain foods cause
reactions
One of the lesser known side
effects of an allergy to grass pollen is Oral Allergy Syndrome. Those allergic
to grass can experience mild mouth and throat itching after eating certain
fresh fruits and vegetables, including these and many others:
Legumes including peas, all
beans, and soybeans
Apple
Carrot
Celery
Tomato
Zucchini
These reactions occur
because the raw fruits and veggies have similar protein structures to grass
pollen, so the body can misinterpret the food and respond with an allergic
reaction.
How can I feel better?
There are three options for
reducing symptoms. You can choose one, two, or all of these measures for best
results.
Eliminate exposure by
following these tips.
Treat your symptoms
temporarily with antihistamines, nasal rinses and topical creams.
Build long-term tolerance to
grass allergies over time with immunotherapy.
Allergy specialists helps connect patients to providers that offer
custom allergy drop immunotherapy to treat the cause of environmental
allergies. Allergy drops are tailored to each patient’s specific level of
sensitivity, with gradually increasing doses that train the body to not react
to offending allergens. It’s an allergy treatment that can help you fully enjoy
spring and summer for the years to come without the perpetual need for
medications.
Environmental allergies
aren’t something you have to struggle with each year. Consider treating the
cause for long-lasting relief.
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