RAGWEED ALLERGIES SYMPTOMS
Seasonal allergies, sometimes called “hay fever” or seasonal allergic rhinitis, are allergy symptoms that occur during certain times of the year, usually when outdoor molds release their spores, and trees, grasses, and weeds release tiny pollen particles into the air to fertilize other plants.
Symptoms
The symptoms of allergic rhinitis may at first feel like those of a cold. But in the case of hay fever, symptoms usually appear when a person encounters an allergen, such as pollen or mold.
Symptoms include itchy eyes, itchy nose, itchy throat, itchy ears, sneezing, irritability, nasal congestion and hoarseness. People may also experience cough, postnasal drip, sinus pressure or headaches, decreased sense of smell, snoring, sleep apnea, fatigue and asthma, Josephson said.
Many of these symptoms are an immune overreaction by the body attempting to protect the vital and sensitive respiratory system from outside invaders. The antibodies produced by the body succeed in keeping the foreign invaders out, but also cause the symptoms characteristic of allergic responses.
People can develop hay fever at any age, but most people are diagnosed with the disorder in childhood or early adulthood. Symptoms typically become less severe as people age.
Often, children may first experience food allergies and eczema before developing hay fever. This then worsens over the years, and patients then develop allergies to indoor allergens like dust and animals, or seasonal rhinitis, like ragweed (hay fever), grass pollen, molds and tree pollen.
Hay fever can also lead to other medical conditions. People who are allergic to weeds are more likely to get other allergies and develop asthma as they age. But those who receive immunotherapy, such as allergy shots that help people’s bodies get used to allergens, are less likely to develop asthma, he said.
Tests & diagnosis
A physician will take patient history and do a thorough physical examination if a person reports having hay fever-like symptoms. If necessary, the physician will do an allergy test. People can get a skin prick test, in which a specialist prick the skin on a person’s arm or upper back with different substances to see if any cause an allergic reaction, such as a raised bump called a hive.
A person can also do an allergy blood test. This test rates the immune system’s response to a particular allergen by measuring the amount of allergy-causing antibodies in the bloodstream
Hay fever treatments
Short of staying indoors through hay fever season, allergy sufferers may choose to combat symptoms with medication designed to shut down or trick the immune sensitivity in the body. Whether over-the-counter or prescription, most allergy pills work by sending chemicals that bind naturally to histamine — the protein that reacts to the allergen and causes an immune response — coursing through the body, negating the protein’s effect.
Other allergy remedies attack the symptoms at the source. Nasal sprays contain active ingredients that decongest by soothing irritated blood vessels in the nose, while eye drops both moisturize and reduce inflammation. Physicians may also prescribe allergy shots for those particularly afflicted, Josephson said.
Alternative and holistic options, along with acupuncture, may also help people with hay fever. People can also avoid pollen by keeping their windows closed in the spring, and by using air purifiers and air conditioners at home.
For allergy sufferers, the best treatment is to avoid the offending allergens altogether. This may be possible if the allergen is a specific food, like peanuts, which can be cut out of the diet, but not when the very air we breathe is loaded with allergens, such as ragweed pollen. Air purifiers, filters, humidifiers, and conditioners provide varying degrees of relief, but none is 100 percent effective. Various over-the-counter or prescription medications offer relief, too.
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Antihistamines. These medications counter the effects of histamine, the substance that makes eyes water and noses itch and causes sneezing during allergic reactions. Sleepiness was a problem with the first generation of antihistamines, but the newest medications do not cause such a problem.
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Nasal steroids. These anti-inflammatory sprays help decrease inflammation, swelling, and mucus production. They work well in combination with antihistamines and, in low doses for brief periods of time, are relatively free of side effects.
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Cromolyn sodium. A nasal spray, cromolyn sodium can help stop hay fever, perhaps by blocking release of histamine and other symptom-producing chemicals. It has few side effects.
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Decongestants. Available in capsule and spray form, decongestants thin nasal secretions and can reduce swelling and sinus discomfort. Intended for short-term use, they are usually used in combination with antihistamines. Long-term usage of spray decongestants can actually make symptoms worse, while decongestant pills do not have this problem.
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Immunotherapy. Immunotherapy (allergy shots) might provide relief for patients who don’t find relief with antihistamines or nasal steroids. They alter the body’s immune response to allergens, thereby helping to prevent allergic reactions. Current immunotherapy treatments are limited because of potential side effects.
Learn Do-It-Yourself Measures
It may sound obvious, but avoiding the allergens is the No.1 measure suggested by allergy experts. There are many steps you can take to eliminate or minimize your exposure to allergens and improve seasonal allergy symptoms. Among the often-cited measures:
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Wear a protective mask when gardening or doing yard work.
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Modify the indoor environment to keep out allergens.
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Check pollen counts before you travel. Or check your local weather report; some provide pollen and mold spore counts.
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Protect your eyes. On vacation and at home, wear sunglasses when outdoors to reduce the amount of pollen coming into the eyes.
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Wash your hair at the end of the day to wash out pollens. That will help avoid pollen transfer to the pillowcase.
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Exercise in the morning or late in the day when pollen counts are typically lower than at other hours. Know that pollen counts typically are higher on a hot, windy, sunny day compared with a cool day without much wind.
Beware of Foods That Trigger Your Symptoms
If you have seasonal allergies to ragweed, be aware that eating certain foods may trigger your symptoms. About one-third of people with fall seasonal allergies will have a cross-reaction to certain foods. Foods that might provoke symptoms in those with ragweed allergies, according to AAAAI, include bananas, cucumbers, melons, zucchini, sunflower seeds, and chamomile tea.
