What is a Pollen Allergy

Call it what you will – pollinosis, a nasal allergy, or just plain “hay fever” – millions of people suffer from the effects of pollen every day. The affliction ranges in form from a small and short sniffling in the morning hours to full-blown sneezing fits throughout the day. The condition is irritating and aggravating but, rest assured, it is not life threatening.

What exactly is pollen?

Pollen grains are part of the male portion of seed plants. It is an integral part of the plant ecosystem around us and by its very nature is commonplace. In fact, without pollen, life on the planet Earth would not even be possible – so get used to the fact that it will be around for some time to come. This last fact does not mean, however, that human healthcare specialists are unable to deal with a pollen allergy in any meaningful way.

What can be done to alleviate an allergy to pollen?

Healthcare professionals have developed a number of effective remedies but it really takes a specialist to recommend the most effective one. In particular, you may be prescribed antihistamines or decongestants to start, nasal corticosteroids if these first two do not prove effective or an ipratropium or a leukotriene modifier. If these medicines do not solve the problem, an allergy specialist may finally resort to immunotherapy administered by injection.

This information is of more than passing concern to any resident of the Phoenix area who is even mildly allergic to pollen. In fact, it is integral to their well-being. Keep it in mind whenever you have an allergic reaction to pollen and if you do need more information on the basics of pollen, why it provokes an allergic reaction and how best to treat it, please contact us at Adult & Pediatric Allergy Associates. We can be booked online, or reached directly at 602-242-4592.

Are you Allergic to the Arizonan Olive Tree?

According to Greek mythology, Athena, the goddess of wisdom, stuck her magic spear into the ground and it turned into an olive tree. Throughout history the oil produced from olives has sustained people in arid climates. The olive wood is beautiful and wonderful for sculptures. The olive branch is a well-known symbol of peace…   So, what's not to like in an olive tree?

                                                             Pollen.

Every spring olive trees produce clouds of pollen in the dry Arizona climate. The trees love it here. The desert is the perfect climate for them. They are beautiful, adorning landscapes of homes and businesses throughout the Phoenix area. And every spring people all over Arizona start to cough and sneeze and suffer from clogged sinuses because of allergies to the pollen.

What are the symptoms if you have allergies to olive trees?

• Runny nose with mucus production and irritation of the nasal membranes, causing sneezing.
• Head congestion
• Headaches
• Red, irritated eyes, sometimes with swelling of the lids or even the membranes lining the eye itself
• Coughing and even wheezing
  
  

Olive tree pollen is one of the most potent allergens around in desert areas. Scientists h ave found 20 separate proteins in the pollen that cause allergic reactions. The problem is so severe that many cities, such as Phoenix, Tucson, Albuquerque, Las Vegas and Amman, Jordan have placed a ban on the planting of new olive trees. But the older trees are still around since these trees can live for more than a century and are ornamental. www.reviewjournal.com/news/sneeze-breeze

Olive tree pollen can also cause the development of asthma as the pollen irritates the lining of the bronchial tubes that carry air to the lungs (also known as asthmatic allergies). The problem can even become life-threatening.

If you think you have an allergy to olive trees, you need to see a Board Certified Allergist ---someone with the training and knowledge necessary to treat this condition properly. Call our clinic today if you would like to learn more