With the allergy season already here and if you are allergic to grass pollen, your allergies will be worse in spring and summertime.
Grass pollen is a common allergen. Every year, grasses release their pollen to fertilize other plants of the same species. This happens every spring and summertime, and unfortunately, people who are allergic to grass pollens will experience allergic reactions due to this natural occurrence.
Grass pollens are not visible in the air but when people come across it and are allergic to it, their bodies can react to it even in the smallest amounts. The symptoms of a grass pollen allergy may include:
- Runny nose
- Sneezing
- Coughing
- Itchy nose, eyes, ears, and mouth
- Stuffy nose (nasal congestion)
- Red and watery eyes
- Puffy Eyes
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Hives
There are a lot of grass species but here the most common types of grasses that cause allergies:
- Bermuda
- Johnson
- Kentucky
- Orchard
- Rye
- Sweet Vernal
- Timothy
Ways to Prevent Allergic Reactions to Grass Pollen
- While this is not a guarantee to avoid allergic reactions to grass pollen, here are some ways you can do to reduce it.
- Don’t spend too much time outdoors especially when the pollen count is high. Always check the local forecast and pollen count daily.
- Trim your lawn and keep it short. If you are allergic, ask or hire someone else to do it for you. Remember to close your doors and windows before mowing.
- During the allergy season, it’s best to keep your windows closed to prevent the pollen from going inside your house and use air conditioning instead.
- Before going to bed, take a bath and wash your hair to avoid contaminating your bed with pollen and other foreign particles you got by being outdoors.
- Wash your beddings once a week and dry them indoors.
- Went going outside, wear sunglasses and hats to keep the pollen from your eyes and hair. If the pollen count is high, it’s also recommended to wear a mask.
- Change and wash your clothes after doing outdoor activities. If you can’t avoid contact with grass, make sure to wear jeans or long pants.
- Wipe your pets with a damp towel before letting them inside the house if they spent a long time outdoors. It would also be helpful to keep your pets out of your bedroom during this season.
- Vacuum your floors at least once a week and it’s best if you remove the shoes you’re wearing outside before coming inside your home.
Managing your Symptoms
To know how to properly manage your allergy symptoms, the first thing you need to do is to get tested and diagnosed. Once you know exactly what your triggers are, you can work with your allergist to create the best plan to manage your symptoms.
Over-the-counter medication and prescription medicines can also help reduce your bothersome symptoms. These include antihistamines, decongestants, nasal sprays, and more. Most of the allergy medicines work well when you start them before the pollen season even begins because they will prevent your body from releasing histamines and other chemicals that cause your symptoms.
However, some people do not get complete relief from these medications. They can undergo immunotherapy, which is a long-term treatment to reduce the severity of allergic reactions.
Grass allergy symptoms can be easily managed when you avoid coming in contact with your allergens. Always have antihistamines on hand to help you when you can’t avoid going outdoors.
If you experience severe symptoms like extreme chest tightness, shortness of breath, and difficulty of breathing, seek medical attention immediately.
