Ragweed is a flowering plant which can produce 1 billion pollen grains, causing ragweed allergies in late summer and autumn. Ragweed plant survives only for one season, but it causes about 75% of the total pollen allergies.
Ragweed usually grows where there is less vegetation, like vacant areas, river banks etc but, ragweed pollen can travel many miles from its source to urban areas causing allergies.
How does it Affect?
The ragweed pollen are light and can travel more than 400 miles. When a person allergic to pollen comes into contact, the immune system reacts producing the symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose, itchiness of eyes, nose and throat, watery eyes etc. Children with ragweed allergy can develop asthma if they are exposed constantly to high amounts of pollen.
How to manage Ragweed Allergy?
Here are some of the ways to manage ragweed allergies:
- Check the pollen count: Check the pollen count in your area and try to stay indoors when the pollen count is high
- Time: From the daybreak to the noon, pollen count is high. During that time avoid outdoor activities such as gardening and exercise. Wearing a pollen mask would also help you to limit the exposure
- House proof: Keep the windows closed and use an air conditioner enabled with high efficiency disposable pleated media filter with a MERV rating of 8 to 12, which can effectively remove pollen in the air
- Wash: If you have spent time outdoors, showering would remove the pollen collected in your hair. Washing clothes after being outside would also remove the pollen. Also make sure you wash your hands after handling pets as they may collect pollen
- Take the prescribed medications: Medications such as oral and nasal antihistamines or cortisone nasal sprays can be taken before the exposure to the allergens. This would help you to cope with the symptoms of ragweed allergies
- Allergy Shots: If medications do not provide relief, allergy shots and immunizations can be a long-term option to manage ragweed allergies
Global warming and ragweed allergies:
Ragweed pollen increase in number when the weather is hot, dry and windy. Due to increase in global warming and climate change, ragweed pollen can increase up to four times than the previous years. Hence people should be more prepared to deal with ragweed allergies.
People with ragweed allergies cannot totally prevent pollen. However, they can be cautious and manage to minimize their contact with pollen.
