Australia’s spring brings new flora to life and with it, tons of pollen upon 30% of Australia’s population allergic to the substance. Oh yes, spring means the dreaded hay fever or seasonal asthma for everyone sensitive to those itty-bitty plant particles called pollen. And in just over a month, it’s going to be spring again!
Pollen allergy seems to be the most common allergy type afflicting Australians. A huge part of pollen allergy is triggered by these airborne particles from grasses, weeds, and trees predominantly in the Northern Hemisphere.
What is Pollen?
Pollen is a group of microscopic oval and round grains produced by plants for their fertilization and reproduction. Pollen, a plant’s semen pods, may be either borne by insects or the wind to fertilize flowers, the female reproductive organs of plants. Because wind-borne pollen is produced in vast quantities and is so much lighter than the insect-borne type, these can be carried over long distances. Ease of transport and mass quantities allow this substance to affect a great number of allergic people, even those residing way across the Australian continent from the source. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare reports on The National Health Survey’s statistics of 2007-2008 which points to 3.1 million Australians suffering from allergic rhinitis. A large chunk of these sufferers are sensitised to pollen.
The prevalence of allergic rhinitis in the Australian continent has necessitated the creation of sites and apps dedicated to pollen forecasts which have become indispensable tools for millions of pollen-sensitized Australians. Yet, these forecasts are not as accurate as we like them to be. The Australian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) has announced its commitment to creating the first pollen allergy map of Australia which will standardise the pollen monitoring program all throughout the continent. The project aims to offer current, reliable, and accessible information on pollen measurements and forecasts in different locations through apps, websites, and social media.
Why Pollen Allergy is Common
Pasture grass pollen like that of rye and Bermuda grass is one of Australia’s worst offenders for hay fever. Pollen allergy is so common because pollen seems to perpetually exist in the air, its abundance seasonally reliant on temperature and rainfall. Abundance is a major factor to the commonality of pollen allergies. One typically develops allergies to substances to which one is regularly exposed to as a child. Thousands of pollen grains can occupy one cubic meter of air. Imagine regularly breathing in millions of these tiny grains every day. It’s enough to jolt our immune systems, albeit wrongly, to assume pollen as a health threat; so, out come the big guns with our antibodies prodding our white blood cells to manufacture their ammo, histamine. Histamine is what brings about our defensive sneezing and other annoying and even debilitating side effects such as rashes, swelling and itching. The unfortunate effect of all these is that once your immune system has made up its mind about an allergen, there’s no talking it out of its stance. Pollen will simply and always be an allergen trigger.
What to Do About Pollen Allergy?
The best medicine is prevention; in this case, avoidance is the cure. It is, however, next to impossible to avoid pollen altogether unless you hide yourself off to the Arctic. The next best thing is to tone down your level of exposure by:- Being fastidiously aware of the pollen count through pollen forecasts. These may not all be that accurate, but at least, you can be better prepared.
- Staying indoors in air-conditioned areas when the pollen count is high and during blustery days. In addition, do not go outside during or after a thunderstorm. Keep windows and doors shut at all times.
- Do not mow the lawn. If you must, wear a mask or hire someone else to do it. Then stay indoors.
- Identify and root out indoor and outdoor plants that contribute to you allergies. Be aware of the various culprit types and their seasons of pollination. Start with this pollen calendar as your guide.
- Consult with your physician about drug treatments and allergy injections to significantly tamp down the symptoms. Many allergic symptoms can be counterproductive and debilitating so it is well worth the expense and effort.
- If you can’t help but be outdoors, shower immediately upon reaching home. Do not lie in bed or sit on your sofa with the clothes you wore outside. Pollen or spores that have stuck to your outfit may now rub off on your upholstery or linens, exacerbating your allergies indoors where you were supposed to have created a safer haven from it.
- Wear shades when outdoors to prevent pollen from getting into your eyes.
- Smear Vaseline or some nasal ointment in your nostrils. The ointment should act as a trap, preventing the usual full measure of pollen from being inhaled.
- During pollen season, avoid parks and the countryside like the plague.
- Lay off the alcohol. Beer, wine, and other alcoholic beverages contain histamine, the very same compound released by your white blood cells that provokes allergic reactions.
- Vacuum with a HEPA filter which has a mesh fine enough to trap minute particles such as pollen, spores, and pet dander.
- Remove dust off furniture, walls, and bric-a-brac with a damp cloth.
- Escape your pollen infested area by taking a vacay away from it. As mentioned, the only real cure for pollen fever is avoidance of the substance in the first place.
