Welcome Spring, But Take Care

By Dr. Magdy Badran

CAIRO, March 23 (SEE) - Spring is the traditional start for the growing allergy season, when newly blossoming trees, weeds, and grasses produce billions of infinitesimal pollen spores.

Pollen is one of the most common triggers of seasonal allergies. Pollen is the male gametophyte of seed plants. It is a very fine powder produced to fertilize other plants of the same species. Both gymnosperms (cone-bearing plants) and angiosperms (flowering plants) produce pollen as part of sexual reproduction.

Pollen comes in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and surface markings characteristic of the species. Pollen size ranges from 15 to 200 μm; its shape, when dry, is generally oval or spherical.

Pollination is the transport of pollen from its site of production to the female landing site. If successful, it is followed by fertilization and seed development.

Exposure to pollens usually reflects the types of plants growing in a particular location, since most pollen settles close to their origin. However, because pollen is fine, it can be carried for great distances through the air current traveling many hundreds of kilometers from their original source.

The effects of climate change on pollen include impacts on pollen production and atmospheric pollen concentration, pollen season, an earlier start of the allergy season, plant and pollen spatial distribution and pollen allergenicity. Duration of the pollen season has extended, especially in summer and in late-flowering species. Longer pollen seasons lead to increased duration of allergy symptoms.

Weather variables, mainly air temperature, sunlight, and rainfall together with carbon dioxide are among the main factors affecting phenology (the times of the appearance of first leaves, first flowers and autumn leaf coloration) and pollen production by a plant.

Plants that thrive in higher carbon dioxide environments sprout more flowers and produce more pollen. Plants exposed to carbon dioxide and ozone may also produce pollen with more allergenic proteins.

Global warming, wind speed, and humidity induce an advanced and prolonged pollen production that starts earlier in the spring and lasts further into the fall. Increases in temperature lead to earlier onset of and longer pollination seasons, changes to crop patterns, with the potential to introduce new allergenic pollens into the atmosphere.

Thunderstorms during pollen seasons may induce hydration of pollen grains and their fragmentation which generates atmospheric biological aerosols carrying allergens.

The pollen count is the measurement of the number of grains of pollen in a cubic meter of air. Pollen count varies at different places and is affected by the topographical factors, local vegetation of the area, and meteorological factors.

High pollen counts can sometimes lead to increased rates of an allergic reaction for those with allergic disorders. Pollen calendars are prepared on the basis of monthly pollen counts of various plants. Pollen calendar is a useful tool in the diagnosis and management of allergic disorders.

We come into contact with pollen by breathing it in through the airways. Pollen is easily inhaled as it comes in contact with your nose, nasal passages, and mouth. It also becomes attached to the skin, hair, and eyes.

Symptoms of pollen allergy include stuffy nose (nasal congestion), runny nose, mucus production, sneezing, itchy nose, eyes, ears and mouth, red and watery eyes and swelling around the eyes. Sufferers increasingly breathe through the mouth and so the air going down into the lungs is not warmed up, humidified and cleansed of pollen.

This can trigger or exacerbate asthma. During pollen months, the number of allergy patients visiting the hospital has been shown to increase.

Pollen allergy may cause tiredness and reduced ability to concentrate. This leads to poorer performance in relation to school, studies, cognitive functioning, problem-solving ability, work, and family or recreational activities.

Grasses are the most common cause of allergy. Grasses tend to start growing in early spring. In the late spring and early summer, they release pollen into the air. The wind can carry it for miles, especially when it's dry and sunny.

When it's cold or damp, pollen counts are usually lower. If you're allergic to grasses, symptoms are more likely to be triggered by particular fruits and vegetables that have proteins like those in pollen like fresh peaches, melons, celery, and oranges.

Ragweed is the main cause of weed allergies. Increasing carbon dioxide and temperature increase pollen production ragweed. Symptoms of ragweed allergy are similar to those of other pollen allergies. Ragweed pollen can also aggravate asthma symptoms, leading to increased coughing and wheezing.

Tree pollen allergy is a common cause of the allergy, especially in the early spring. Certain species of trees, including birch, cedar, and oak, also produce highly allergenic pollen. Tree pollens that trigger allergies tend to be very fine and powdery. Inhaling even small amounts can trigger allergy symptoms.

If you're allergic to birch trees, you may get allergy symptoms after eating apples, kiwi, peaches, pears, plums almonds, carrots, celery, cherries, coriander, fennel or hazelnuts.

High levels of pollen exposure during the last 12 weeks of pregnancy were associated with an elevated risk of hospitalization for asthma within the first year of life. High pollen exposure of pregnant with pollen allergies can have allergic reactions and asthma symptoms that may also affect the unborn child's environment and affect immune system development.

Pregnant women with severe reactions to pollen suffer complications and sometimes give birth earlier than they otherwise would have done, which in itself increases the risk of respiratory problems in the child.

The United Nations predicts that 60% of the world's population will live in cities by 2030. Many city authorities are actively planting more trees and green spaces as these have recognized physical and mental health benefits.

To reduce the effects of pollen on people living and working in cities, it is recommended to increase urban plant biopersity, replace male plants with females where possible and encourage proper maintenance of green areas.

Planting plants of the same species, particularly those that produce large quantities of pollen, can cause an increase in pollen allergies amongst people living nearby. Introducing non-local species can cause an increase in pollen allergies, and introductions of new species need to be carefully controlled. Planting large numbers of a single species close together can significantly increase the local pollen count.

Increasing the space between plants in tree-lined roads can reduce local pollen concentrations. It is recommended to choose low pollen-producing plants for urban green spaces to minimize effects on allergy sufferers.

Tips to reduce allergic reactions to pollen: limit your outdoor activities as much as possible on days when the pollen count or humidity is high and on windy days and wear a dust mask to decrease exposure to stirred-up pollen.

Daily pollination tends to be greatest in the morning hours, and pollen counts temporarily fall after rain, so choose the time to be spent out of doors with less exposure.

Limit visits to areas with heavy tree and grass growth. Instead, a vacation in an area with lower pollen levels, such as near the beach. Start taking allergy medicine before pollen season begins.

Wash bedding in hot, soapy water once a week, wear sunglasses and a hat, limit close contact with pets that spend a lot of time outdoors, change and wash clothes worn during outdoor activities. Dry your clothes in a clothes dryer, not in an outdoor.

Keep your windows closed at night to prevent pollen from drifting into your house. Keep your car windows closed when you drive. Shower after you've spent time outdoors in order to remove pollen and mold spores that may have settled on your skin and hair.