Ragweed Allergy: Symptoms and Treatment

Seasonal Allergies

Ragweeds grow throughout the United States and are very common in the Eastern and the Midwest states. One plant can produce a million pollen grains. These pollen grains fill the air and can travel for miles with the wind. The seeds of the ragweed plant can stay in the soil for months, as they await the right season to grow out into a plant. The pollen count of this weed increases severely in the months of August, September, and October.

People, who are sensitive to these pollen grains, suffer from ‘ragweed allergy’ when they inhale these pollen grains. If the rainfall in spring is more than usual, then the situation may worsen, as the count of ragweed pollens, also increases more than normal. Almost 75 percent of people, who are allergic to plant pollens, are allergic to ragweed pollen. The basic work of the immune system in the human body is to fight viruses and bacteria, that might enter the human body in the form of allergens. So, it can be easily deduced that people allergic to ragweed, are not immune to its allergens. Studies by various medical and research institutes have revealed that approximately 10 percent of the entire U.S. population is sensitive to ragweed.

Symptoms

The first signs of a ragweed allergy are a runny and stuffed nose. Fever and headaches soon follow. The fever caused by ragweed is known as hay fever. The patient also suffers from sneezing and extreme irritation in his eyes, nose, and throat. Many people also experience tightness in the chest that causes severe coughing, wheezing and difficulty in breathing. For people with asthma, the allergy can result in asthma attacks. Extremely sensitive people also suffer from chronic sinusitis. People who are allergic to ragweed, are also prone to oral allergy syndromes (OAS), which cause the person suffering from ragweed allergy, to be allergic to certain types of food too.

Treatment

If you know that you are allergic to ragweed pollens, it is better that you start medical treatment before the season starts. Though you cannot escape from its pollen grains, it will be beneficial if you move to those parts of the country, where the count of ragweed pollen is low. The basic idea is to avoid coming in contact with ragweed pollen grains, as much as possible. If you show any hay fever symptoms, then take some antihistamines (Allegra, Zyrtec, Claritin, etc.), but on a doctor’s prescription only. Various inflammatory nose sprays and drops are available, that can help in treating the nose, eyes and throat irritations, caused by this allergy, but these sprays have their own side effects.

If the medication does not help you, then you can take ‘allergy shots’. The process, known as immunotherapy, increases your body’s resistance against the allergens. The pollen grains which you are allergic to, need to be identified and you are given the appropriate allergy shots. If the process of identification and treatment goes well, then you will notice significant improvements in the symptoms. Immunotherapy is, however, the last resort that a person suffering from a ragweed allergy should take. Before doing so, it is necessary that you consult a medical practitioner, who is completely aware of your medical history.

One very important aspect in the treatment of ragweed allergy, is its diagnosis. Just because you exhibit the symptoms, doesn’t mean that you are suffering from it. Generally the person’s past medical history is reviewed by the medical practitioner and a skin test is carried out to complete the verification. It is one of the most serious allergies that a person can suffer from, but not much can be done to actually treat it. One can only take preventive measures which can reduce the severity of the symptoms.

ABOUT ME


Hi, I'm Angela and welcome to my blog.

I've been interested in allergies and how to manage them since I was diagnosed myself after years of struggling with different conditions. I thought I had to live with them forever, but over time I learned how to control and manage them.

I have compiled in this blog articles that helped me to go through my allergies and get to the other side of the tunnel.

Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you find something to help you along the way.

Angie

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

How to Prevent Pollen Allergies

How to Prevent Pollen Allergies

Pollen allergies can take you by surprise in any season and in any situation. For many, the worst times are during spring, when flowers are in full bloom and there is plenty of breeze to carry pollen and seeds in the air. The second worst season is during early...

read more
Symptoms of Seasonal Allergies

Symptoms of Seasonal Allergies

An allergy is the immune system's response to an allergen that the body perceives as harmful. In many cases, the allergen may be harmless, but a hypersensitive immune system may react to the allergen through a defensive attack. Seasonal changes can often trigger an...

read more