Ambrosia is one of the most common allergens. When a person inhales ragweed pollen, his immune system may react as if the body hit the substance that causes the disease that may be accompanied by many unpleasant symptoms.
There are about 50 species of ragweed in the United States grows, 17 of them, and in Ukraine 4. Ragweed blooms, usually in the period August to September. Just one plant can release about 1 billion pollen grains, which later grows a new ambrosia, making allergies more common. In this article you will learn about the symptoms and causes of allergies to ragweed and also on how to deal with them and prevent in the future.
Symptoms
Allergic to ragweed can cause many symptoms, including:
- Itchy eyes, nose and throat
- Swelling of the eyes
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Sneezing
- Difficulty sleeping
Symptoms of allergies to ragweed tend to emerge at the end of the summer and may not take place until early fall when the ragweed pollen begins to spread. In mid-September, the spread of the pollen typically reaches a maximum. After this period, a person may notice that the symptoms began to gradually subside and then disappear.
In addition to the above symptoms allergic to ragweed can irritate the upper respiratory tract that causes coughing and wheezing in people with asthma.
When and where ragweed grows?
Ragweed can grow anywhere from the countryside and wastelands to megacities. The most common place for the growth of this weed include river banks, roadsides, fields, and various vacant plots of land.
Ragweed seeds may be in so-called hibernation for 10 years or more, and then still receive the plant. To ambrosia include:
- Sage
- Wormwood
- Elder
- Stevia
- Baccharis
The warm temperatures, wind and humidity contribute to the growth of ragweed and carry pollen over long distances. According to Fund asthma and Allergy of America, pollen was found at the distance of 650 km in the sea and 3.5 km in the air.
Ambrosia is very resistant to herbicides, casetrusted its destruction, even for farmers and gardeners whose plots are also attacks this plant. The amount of pollen ragweed usually is at its peak, when it’s the hottest time of 10 to 15 hours.
Foods to avoid if you are allergic to ragweed
People with allergies with ragweed will often also be sensitive to certain products. This is due to the fact that some plants can contain pollen, like ragweed. This condition is known as oral Allergy syndrome.
Products that can cause unpleasant symptoms in people with allergies to ragweed, include…
-
Bananas
Bananas can cause unpleasant symptoms if you are allergic to ragweed.
-
Melon
Melon often causes allergic symptoms in reaction to ragweed.
-
Chamomile tea
Chamomile tea may cause unpleasant symptoms if you are allergic to ragweed.
-
Cucumber
Be careful with the cucumbers, if you are allergic to ragweed!
-
Honey containing pollen
Allergic to ragweed can appear in exactly the same way as for other pollen. Concerned about runny nose, red and watery eyes, sore throat, cough, pruritus. If you suffer of Hotellerie to ragweed, it is better refrain not only from honey and cucumber, but turbotv. Almost all allergies affected during flowering ambrosia, I think, the August-September peak season of flowering ragweed, the most exhausting period of the year.
Honey can cause unpleasant symptoms if you are allergic to ragweed.
-
Sunflower seeds
Be careful with seeds if you are allergic to ragweed!
-
Zucchini
Succinimidyl cause unpleasant symptoms if you are allergic to ragweed.
Some people may experience mild symptoms such as a runny nose or sneezing during the use of these products. To reduce the impact of the oral Allergy syndrome by using heat treatment, cleaning products from the skin and seeds, as well as conservation.
Reasons
Allergic to ragweed occurs when the human immune system is sensitive to pollen of this plant. When a person comes in contact with ambrosia, his body begins to produce compounds of the immune system called IgE. These compounds are designed to remove the pollen, but they also signal the release of inflammatory compounds called histamines.
Histamines occur in the area that was hit by the pollen, often causing swelling and irritation in the nasal passages or throat. As a result, a person may experience scratchy, sneezing and itching of the nose, throat or eyes.
Diagnosis
Doctors often can diagnose allergies to ragweed, solely based on the described symptoms. You can ask about when you first noticed these symptoms, and will ask you to tell me when the symptoms worsen or improve.
To confirm the presence of Allergy to ragweed, your doctor may suggest to do a skin test to the allergen. This assumes the room is small diluted drops of ambrosia pollen on the skin, and then applying a small scratch or prick. If allergic to ragweed really is, you should see a mild reaction, e.g. swelling, itching or redness.
Another option to confirm the Allergy blood test. A lab can test the blood for presence of antibodies to ragweed, which indicate allergies.
Treatment
Unfortunately, there is no cure for allergies to ragweed. However, there are numerous treatments that help to cope with the symptoms. To reduce the symptoms of allergies to ragweed, the person may:
- Daily to learn about the pollen count and avoid staying outside for extended periods of time when the pollen count is high.
- Frequently change your clothes or have a shower after going outdoors during the ragweed season.
- Keep Windows closed in car and home. This can save you from getting pollen on personal territory.
- Use air filters in rooms with certified asthma and allergic filters.
- To take Allergy medications. These include cetirizine, loratadine, levocetirizine and Fexofenadine. Ideally, it is better to start taking these medications 1-2 weeks before the appearance of seasonal Allergy symptoms.
- Use antipruritic anti-inflammatory eye drops or nasal sprays to reduce itching.
- Refrain from drying clothes outdoors to avoid contact with pollen.
- Regularly wash with shampoo Pets if they go outside, not to let them bring the pollen into the room.
- Wash bed linen in warm soapy water once a week, so the pollen doesn’t linger on it.
In more severe symptoms, the doctor may recommend immunotherapeutic injections. Such injections can cure Allergy symptoms to ragweed for years to come. If you are afraid of needles, you can discuss with your doctor options such as pills or drops that are also able to reduce the manifestation of allergic reaction.
Fortunately, the Allergy to ragweed lasts all year round. Although it can cause discomfort for several weeks, symptoms will disappear when the ragweed plants stop producing pollen. Until then, OTC drugs and limiting time outdoors will help reduce Allergy symptoms.