Ragweed Allergy-Causes, Symptoms And Prevention
Even though a lot of men and women respect spring up to prime pollen period, 1 kind of pollen wreak havoc at the late summer and autumn. Ragweed pollen normally reaches peak levels in mid-September; this kind of pollen may cause seasonal allergic rhinitis (more commonly called hay fever), which affects as many as 23 million Americans.
There are 17 species of ragweed from the USA. The weeds increase in many areas, generally blooming and generating a fine-powder pollen from August to November.
Symptoms of Ragweed Allergy
Symptoms of ragweed allergy are similar to those of other pollen allergies:
- Sneezing
- Runny nose
- Nasal congestion
- Headaches
- Irritated eyes
- Itchy throat
Ragweed pollen can also aggravate asthma symptoms, leading to increased coughing and wheezing.
Management and Treatment of Ragweed Allergy
If you are suffering from hay fever symptoms in the late summer or fall, consult with an allergist concerning the chance of a ragweed allergy. Your allergist will confirm a diagnosis with a skin evaluation — employing a diluted allergen into the surface of your skin and waiting about 15 minutes to find out whether there’s a response, like a raised red bump that itches.
Ragweed allergies can be treated with antihistamines and other allergy drugs. Much like pollen period in the spring, then you may attempt to get before those allergies by beginning your medicine fourteen days before you expect your symptoms to maintain their worst. Consult your allergist whether some of your medicines can be obtained before symptoms develop.
2 immunotherapy options are available for acute cases of ragweed allergy:
- Allergy shots can help your body build resistance.
- Tablets that dissolve under your tongue are available by prescription. Pills must be started 12 weeks before the beginning of ragweed season.
Other tips include:
- To avoid pollen, know which pollens you are sensitive to and then check pollen counts. In spring and summer, during tree and grass pollen season, levels are highest in the evening. In late summer and early fall, during ragweed pollen season, levels are highest in the morning.
- Keep your windows closed at all times, both at home and in the car.
- Remember that pollen can be tracked into your home via your clothes, your hair or your pet — so change your clothes after being outside for long periods of time, shower before going to bed and wash your hands after petting an animal that has been outside.
