How can pollen affect you

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Climate and Health. Section Navigation. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate. Pollen and Your Health. When you have hay fever, your immune system identifies a harmless airborne substance as harmful. Your immune system then produces antibodies to this harmless substance.

The next time you come in contact with the substance, these antibodies signal your immune system to release chemicals such as histamine into your bloodstream, which cause a reaction that leads to the signs and symptoms of hay fever.

There's no way to avoid getting hay fever. If you have hay fever, the best thing to do is to lessen your exposure to the allergens that cause your symptoms. Take allergy medications before you're exposed to allergens, as directed by your doctor. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products.

Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Hay fever, also called allergic rhinitis, causes cold-like signs and symptoms, such as a runny nose, itchy eyes, congestion, sneezing and sinus pressure.

Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. More Information Seasonal allergies. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Rhinitis overview. American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. Accessed June 28, Allergic rhinitis: Clinical manifestations, epidemiology and diagnosis. The spread of pollen helps to fertilize plants — and can mean misery for seasonal allergy sufferers. If you have a pollen allergy and breathe in pollen-heavy air, you may experience symptoms such as:.

Find an allergist to pinpoint the cause of your symptoms and help you find relief. One key tip is to get ahead of pollen season. For example, if your symptoms are typically at their worst in mid-April, start taking your medications at the end of March. Likewise, if the weather calls for a run of warm weather toward the end of winter, it might be smart to begin taking your medication at that time as well. Ask your allergist about medications that can be taken in advance of pollen season.

Two immunotherapy options are available for those with severe pollen allergies:. If you are planning to be outside working around plants or cutting grass, a dust mask can help.

There are many types of pollen — from different kinds of trees, from grass and from a variety of weeds. The opposite can be true, too: The pollen count might be low, but you might find yourself around one of the pollens that triggers your allergies.

Through testing, an allergist can pinpoint which pollens bring on your symptoms. An allergist can also help you find relief by determining which medications will work best for your set of triggers.