Allergy season can be miserable when trees, grass, and other pollens cause runny noses, itchy eyes, coughing and sneezing.
Factors such as where you live, what you’re allergic to, and your lifestyle can significantly affect the severity of your allergies.
Last month, China Daily reported that hospitals across China saw a surge in allergy consultations as spring pollen peaked.
Experts say climate change is leading to longer, more intense allergy seasons, but they also note that treatments for seasonal allergies have become more effective over the last decade.
Pollen helps plants reproduce – and makes us miserable
Pollen is the powdery substance made by seed-producing plants and trees, and it is part of their reproductive process. Tree pollen is the main culprit earlier in the spring. Then, grasses pollinate, followed by weeds in the late summer and early autumn.
The best and first step to controlling allergies is avoiding exposure. Keep the windows in your car and your home closed, even when it’s nice outside.
If you go outside, wearing long sleeves can keep pollen off your skin to help ward off allergic reactions, said Dr James Baker, an allergist at the University of Michigan in the US. It also provides some sun protection.
When you get home, change your clothes and shower daily to ensure all the pollen is off you – including your hair. If you can’t wash your hair every day, try covering it with a hat or scarf when you go outside.
Don’t get into bed with your outside clothes on, because the pollen will follow.
Experts also said it is useful to rinse your eyes and nose with saline to remove any pollen. And the same masks that got us through the pandemic can protect you from allergies – though they won’t help with eye symptoms.
How to relieve allergy symptoms
Over-the-counter nasal sprays are among the most effective treatments for seasonal allergies, experts have said.
But patients often use them incorrectly, which can irritate the nose, said Dr Kathleen May, an allergist at Augusta University in the US state of Georgia.
She suggested angling the nozzle outward towards your ear inside your nostril, rather than sticking it straight up your nose.
Over-the-counter allergy pills like Claritin, Allegra and Zyrtec are helpful, but may not be effective as quickly since they’re taken by mouth, experts said.
If your allergy symptoms are impacting your quality of life, such as causing you to lose sleep or lose focus at school, it might be time to consider making an appointment with an allergist. Some medications can train your immune system not to overreact to allergens.
Some remedies for allergy relief that have been circulating on social media or suggested by celebrities – like incorporating local honey into your diet to expose yourself to pollen – have been debunked.
Dr Shyam Joshi, an allergist at Oregon Health and Science University in the US, said this is because the flowers that bees pollinate typically don’t contain the airborne pollen that causes allergy symptoms.
The climate is changing, with milder winters and longer growing seasons. There’s more opportunity for pollen to stay in the air, resulting in longer and more severe allergy seasons.
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What are the symptoms of an allergic reaction to pollen?
Histamine is the main chemical responsible for most allergic reactions. Your body uses it as a defence mechanism. When it is released, it triggers a series of responses aimed at getting rid of the suspected threat – in this case, pollen (see graphic).
Most people experience symptoms when they breathe in pollen as it travels through the air.
But some people have a reaction when they touch it or get it in their eyes.
In the nose and airways, histamine makes blood vessels dilate and allows fluid to pass through. This causes a runny nose and watery eyes. Histamine also stimulates nerves, causing sneezing and itchiness.
When the skin reacts to histamine, it causes itchy, red and swollen bumps called hives.
Histamine can make the muscles lining the airways tighten. This causes wheezing, coughing and trouble breathing, which are the main signs of allergic asthma.
