Ask Allergy Expert

People who are allergic to pollen should stay away from flowers. People should not plant flowers in their home if you are allergic to pollen. Yes, flowers will bring different ambiance and good look to your home but it may cause allergic reaction to you.

Cut flowers still have pistil and stamens, so they continue to spread pollen wherever they are kept. But if at all you are fond of gardening try to plant trees or shrubs and that too non flowering. By tree plantation around your home, you would be benefited by it. You would get nice shelter, fresh air to breath & if the tree plantation is more then cool environment.

Handling flowers

Flowers like Lilies and Arums have large stamens, these stamens are easily seen and can be removed easily. You can remove stamens and then put these flowers in home.
Handle flowers with gloves if you are allergic to pollen. Removing of the pollen should be done by wearing gloves only.
It is better if you don’t bring flowers at home which have very tiny or small stamens. Removing of stamens for such flowers is very difficult and we have no guarantee that all stamens from the flower are removed.
Most importantly, never to put plants or vase in your bedroom and not even children’s bedroom.

Here are some of the hay fever help tips, following these tips will help you avoid any hay fever reactions.

• Avoiding dust mites
• Taking necessary precaution during pollination season. Avoid going out when the pollen counts in the air is high. Normally the pollen count is high in morning, evening and windy days.
• If you find yourself allergic to pollen then the best precaution is to keep the doors and windows closed of the house. Keep your bedroom clean.
• Avoid smoking in the house. Smoking is injurious to health. Smoking will worse the hay fever symptoms.
• To keep your house clean, you need to regularly use vacuum cleaner to clear up all the dust present in the house. Need to cover every corner of the house, especially carpets.
• Also keep the windows of the car closed to keep pollen out. Use of HEPA pollen filters help.
• While gardening cover your body properly, to avoid mosquito bites. Wear glasses to cover up your eyes, cover your hair to avoid pollens getting into your hair. Cover your face with a mask to avoid dust and pollens while breathing.

Antihistamine for hay fever

Antihistamines are available in different forms like tablet, liquid, nasal spray or capsule. Antihistamines like loratidine and cetirizine are unlike older antihistamines, they don’t make feel drowsy. As your doctor or consultant about which antihistamine drug to choose that will suit you. Avoid having such drugs if you are pregnant.

Decongestants for hay fever

Decongestants are available in the form of sprays and drops. Decongestants are used to clean up the choked or stuffed nose. Decongestants are used for getting temporary relief. But if decongestant is used for a week and even then the problem is not solved then you should immediately stop using decongestant drug and consult your doctor about the problem. If the drug is not stopped then you may see a ripple effect latter. People having heart problems, kidney problems, liver problems or have diabetes should not use decongestants.

Anti-allergic treatments for hay fever

People use many drugs in their day to day life. People use nasal sprays to open up their chocked nose or eye drops or ointments etc regularly. Drugs containing sodium cromoglycate can help to control the symptoms of hay fever. Normally it is suggested not to wear contact lenses if any eye drops are used or applied.

Corticosteroids and hay fever

If the eye and nose inflammation is more then people use steroidal nasal spray. Corticosteroids help to reduce the inflammation of eye and nose symptoms. If you are less then 12 years old avoid using corticosteroids. If you are pregnant or doing breastfeeding then also avoid using such steroids.

Following are the list of allergens causing or triggering hay fever

• Anhydrides, resin and epoxy like chemicals can trigger or cause hay fever.
• Cosmetics like citronella oil can trigger hay fever.
• Fungi releases spores to which many people are allergic to, around May to October. Mould pollens like Aspergillus, Alternarian & Cladosporium are found to be the most common mould pollens to affect people.
• Grass pollens like rye (Lolium perennae), yorkshire fog grass (holcus lanatus), timothy grass (Phleum pratense), cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata) etc are also allergens that can trigger hay fever. Normally the pollination happens between June to July.
• Tree pollens like ash, elder, oak, plane, maple, pine birch, elm etc also affect people and may cause hay fever. Pollination happens between the month March and April.
• Peppermint oil or scented oil can trigger hay fever.
• Weather conditions also play an important role. If the weather is windy during the pollination season then the possibility of a person getting triggered to hay fever is high.

Here are some of the symptoms listed which can cause in case of Hay fever. It does not mean that all the symptoms will be seen in the sufferer.

Person suffering from hay fever can have Ear problems like

• “popping” in the ears
• Temporary deafness
• Earache

Other hay fever symptom would be eye problems

• Watering eyes
• Redness in eyes and eyelids
• Itching or burning feeling in the eyes
• Swelling of the whites of the eyes

Headache is one of the hay fever symptom. Headache is mainly caused because of sinus problems.

Nose problems are also observed as symptoms of hay fever:

• People tend to sneeze frequently.
• People every now and then have runny nose or blocked nose.
• Children rub their nose because of the itching sensation.
• Nose bleeding is also found as one of the symptom of hay fever.

Psychological problems are caused because of hay fever. Here are some of the symptoms:

• Irritability
• Depression and low self confidence.
• Sufferer feels tired throughout the day.

Hay fever and Respiratory problems

• Wheezing
• Sufferer frequently feels tightness in the chest
• Dry coughing
• Constant clearing of the throat