Friday, May 5, 2017

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


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

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