Pollen Allergy Treatment in Charlotte
Dealing with seasonal allergies can be frustrating and inconvenient, especially when pollen counts peak. At Carolina Asthma & Allergy Center, we understand how these symptoms impact your lifestyle and well-being, and we’re committed to providing comprehensive care to help you manage this condition.
Our team of board-certified allergists and experienced healthcare professionals is dedicated to creating personalized treatment plans and providing ongoing support to help you live life to the fullest. Whether you need a diagnosis, treatment, or ongoing management so you can get outside and enjoy the air, we’re here to help every step of the way.
How to Request an Appointment
At Carolina Asthma and Allergy Center, we offer comprehensive evaluation and treatment for pollen allergies. If you suspect you may have a pollen allergy or have experienced seasonal symptoms, you can request an appointment with our team of board-certified allergists and experienced healthcare professionals.
During your appointment, our allergists will review your medical history, perform a physical exam, and conduct any necessary allergy tests to determine the cause of your symptoms. Based on your evaluation, we’ll develop a personalized treatment plan to help manage your reactions and prevent future episodes, especially during peak pollen seasons.
What are Pollen Allergies?
During spring and on into summer and fall, plants release tiny grains of pollen—a very fine powder designed to fertilize other plants. These lightweight grains are small enough to travel via wind, as well as birds, insects, and other animals.
Unfortunately, when you breathe in this pollen, your body may view it as a threat, triggering your immune system and causing an allergic reaction. For some people, even a few grains are enough to provoke symptoms.
When inhaled, pollen releases water-soluble proteins onto the lining of the respiratory system. Usually, these proteins are harmless, but they can be mistaken for harmful substances. When this occurs, the body creates IgE antibodies that attach to mast cells, which then release histamine—the substance responsible for allergy symptoms.
What are Different Types of Pollen Allergies?
Various types of pollen exist and may affect people differently. Some of the common types of pollen allergies include:
- Trees such as oak, cedar, or birch
- Grasses such as Timothy or Bermuda
- Weeds such as ragweed or pigweed
Grass allergies are the most common. However, everyone reacts differently—some individuals have symptoms when trees begin to flower, while others experience worsening symptoms when grasses start growing.
Some people with these sensitivities may also react to certain foods, a condition called oral allergy syndrome. It’s important to talk to your allergist about how your sensitivities could impact the foods you eat.
What are the Symptoms of Pollen Allergies?
People with a pollen allergy who inhale pollen, experience symptoms such as:
- Itchy eyes
- Wheezing
- Sneezing
- Itchy throat
- Runny nose
- Nasal congestion
- Watery eyes
- Swelling and redness around the eyes
- Itchy nose, mouth, or ears
For people who have asthma, pollen may aggravate asthma symptoms and lead to wheezing, cough, shortness of breath, or chest tightness.
How Can Pollen Allergies Be Diagnosed?
Allergists typically use two different tests depending on what’s right for you and your symptoms.
Skin Prick Test (SPT)
This test involves placing a small drop of a potential allergen on the skin, then lightly scratching or pricking that spot with a plastic device. Within 15-20 minutes, if you’re allergic to the substance being tested, a small itchy wheal or “hive” will appear. The larger the wheal, the more likely you are allergic to that allergen. In some cases, skin prick testing may be followed by intradermal testing for confirmation, which involves placing a small amount of diluted allergen under the skin using a tiny needle.
Just remember, a positive reaction doesn’t always mean you have a clinical allergy. Your allergist can help determine whether a positive test is clinically relevant.
Specific IgE Blood Test
If you’re taking medicines or have a skin condition that may interfere with the skin prick test, blood tests may be helpful. These tests involve giving a blood sample, which is sent to a lab. The lab adds the allergen to the blood sample and measures the antibodies against that particular allergen in the blood sample.
Pollen Allergy Treatment in Charlotte
A variety of treatments may be used to help manage seasonal allergy symptoms. These include medications, allergy shots, and sublingual immunotherapy, any of which may be right for you depending on the severity of your symptoms.
Allergy Medications
Medicines, both over the counter and prescription, often help reduce symptoms. Some popular medications include:
- Antihistamines, which combat the histamine production that occurs with an allergic reaction, are one of the most common treatments and come in pill, liquid, or nasal spray form
- Nasal corticosteroids are a type of nasal spray that can block allergic reactions and reduce inflammation in the nose, and are extremely effective for allergic rhinitis since they reduce all symptoms and have few side effects.
- Decongestants, which come in nasal spray, drop, liquid, or pill form, help shrink the lining of your nasal passages to relieve nasal congestion
- Cromolyn sodium is a type of nasal spray that blocks leukotrienes and histamines, which cause allergy systems
- Leukotriene receptor antagonists help block chemicals other than histamines that help create allergic reactions
Allergy Shots
Allergy shots, which are called subcutaneous immunotherapy, have been very well studied and have been used for decades to help provide relief from and potentially cure pollen allergies. This involves a series of injections that contain larger and larger amounts of a specific allergen to help improve symptoms over time by teaching the immune system to become tolerant to that allergen.
Sublingual Immunotherapy
Like allergy shots, sublingual immunotherapy treatment uses allergy drops or tablets containing allergens that are placed beneath the tongue for a minute or two before being swallowed.
How Can Exposure to Pollen Triggers Be Reduced?
Beyond taking medications to treat seasonal allergies, you can take measures to reduce exposure, prevent symptoms, or treat your allergy with home remedies.
Ways to minimize contact include:
- Delegating tasks like pulling weeds or mowing the lawn to avoid direct contact with allergens
- Avoiding hanging laundry outdoors as pollen may stick to towels and sheets
- Staying indoors when it’s windy and dry; go outside after it rains since rain clears pollen from the air
- Removing clothing and showering after being outdoors to wash away pollen
- Wearing a pollen mask if you’re doing outdoor chores
Additional Steps During High Pollen Counts
When pollen counts are high (check your local weather channel), take additional precautions:
- Check your local forecast, radio station, TV or CAAC’s website for the current pollen level and the pollen forecast
- Take allergy medicines before symptoms occur if there are high pollen counts
- Avoid being outdoors in the morning when the pollen counts are generally highest, as this is when most people experience their worst morning allergies
- Close windows and doors at night or at any time when the pollen counts become high, as allergies at night can worsen when pollen enters your bedroom
Clean Indoor Air
While it’s difficult to eliminate all allergens from your indoor air, a few tips that may help include:
- Using a dehumidifier to keep indoor air dry
- Using the air conditioning in your car and home
- Installing high-efficiency filters if you have air conditioning or forced-air heating
- Changing the filters regularly
- Cleaning your floors often with a vacuum that includes a HEPA filter
- Putting a high-efficiency air filter in your bedroom
When Should You See a Doctor?
If you’re not sure what’s causing your allergies, or if your allergy symptoms are interrupting your daily life, it might be time to see an allergist. Allergists are specially trained to help patients diagnose and treat allergies and other immune issues.
Summary
At Carolina Asthma and Allergy Center, we are dedicated to providing compassionate care and ongoing support to help you live your life to the fullest. Contact us today to request an appointment and take the first step towards managing your pollen allergy.
Pollen Allergy FAQs
How do you know if you are allergic to pollen?
You may have a sensitivity if you experience symptoms like watery eyes or a runny nose around the same time every year. However, only a doctor can diagnose a pollen allergy, which is done using a skin prick test or a blood test called a Specific IgE Blood Test.
How long do pollen allergies last?
Seasonal allergies generally last around three months. According to Cleveland Clinic, tree pollen season usually lasts between March and May, grass pollen season from mid-May to July, and ragweed season between mid-August and the first frost.
What are the different types of pollen allergies?
The most common types are tree, grass, and weed allergies. Tree allergies commonly include oak or birch, grass allergies tend to be some of the most stubborn, and the most common weed trigger is ragweed.
Why does pollen cause allergies?
In individuals with pollen allergies, when pollen is breathed in through the respiratory system, the immune system thinks the pollen is a danger to the body. It starts making chemicals to fight the pollen, causing an allergic reaction. Histamines released as a part of this reaction lead to the symptoms of allergies like a stuffy nose, watery eyes, and sneezing.
