Ragweed Pollen Allergy
There are quite a few different pollen allergies but the one that affects the most people by far is the ragweed. In most cases a ragweed pollen allergy is more of an irritant than it is a real danger. Unfortunately there is a small group of people for whom ragweed pollen can pose a serious risk. It is important to make sure that you know how to deal with a ragweed pollen allergy if you are in the second group.
Pollen are tiny spores that are given off by plants in order to pollinate other plants. They are very tiny, too small to be seen by the human eye and they are intended to be carried by the wind, pollen can actually travel hundreds of miles. Unfortunately in the process pollen is often inhaled by people where it causes an allergic reaction. Most plants give off pollen but only a few commonly cause allergies. The worst for causing allergies is ragweed. Ragweed gives off a lot of pollen and there are a large number of people who are allergic to it. The result is a lot of people suffering with ragweed pollen allergies.
In most cases reactions to ragweed pollen are fairly minor, usually itchy eyes and a runny nose. For these people ragweed pollen is more of a nuisance than a real health risk. Unfortunately for a small group of people the reaction can be more serious. In some cases ragweed pollen can cause difficulty with breathing and even anaphylaxis. This is most common in people who suffer from asthma. Ragweed can often trigger asthma symptoms as well so these people will need to be particularly careful.
The most common way to deal with allergies is to avoid the allergen; this is a problem with ragweed pollen. During late summer and early fall ragweed grows everywhere, it is very difficult to avoid. Staying indoors with the windows closed can help but the pollen is still going to get in. ragweed pollen sticks to everything so every time somebody comes into your house they will be bringing the pollen with them. Since ragweed pollen allergies are so seasonal and the season is quite short it might be possible for some people to move to a different location during ragweed season. Coastal and mountain areas have less ragweed so allergy symptoms will be less severe.
Since ragweed pollen really can’t be avoided you will need to be able to treat the symptoms. For most people with mild reactions an over the counter anti-histamine is usually sufficient to deal with the problem. Another option might be to get an allergy shot. This is a form of immunotherapy in which you will be exposed to a small amount of the allergen in order to build up your immune system. If you have asthma you will want to make sure that you have your inhaler with you. People who are prone to anaphylaxis will need to have an EpiPen with them in case they have a severe reaction.