About Allergies: What Do Pollen Counts Mean?

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Allergies Allergies Symptoms / Diagnosis Treatment Coping From Daniel More, MD, your Guide to Allergies If you suffer from pollen allergies, you've probably been following the local pollen counts this time of year. These reports (or more accurately, forecasts) give us some idea of how much pollen is present in the air. Levels of tree pollen, grass pollen, and weed pollen are reported most often as being "low", "medium" or "high". Occasionally, these reports give further details on which kinds of tree and weed pollens are present, such as oak tree pollen or ragweed pollen, for example. But what exactly do these pollen counts mean? Learn how pollen counts are obtained, and what they mean for your allergy symptoms. Pollen Counts We've all seen the daily pollen count report on the news or in the newspaper. These reports (or more accurately, forecasts) give us some idea of how much pollen is present in the air. Levels of tree pollen, grass pollen, and weed pollen are reported most often as being "low", "medium" or "high". Occasionally, these reports give further details on which kinds of tree and weed pollens are present, such as oak tree pollen or ragweed pollen, for example. But what exactly do these pollen counts mean? See More About:  allergy symptoms  allergy diagnosis  allergy treatment How Pollen Causes Allergy Symptoms Pollen consists of tiny, egg-shaped, powdery grains released from flowering plants, which are carried by the wind or insects and serve to cross-pollinate other plants of the same type for reproductive purposes. When pollen is present in the air, it can land in a person's eyes, nose, lungs and skin and cause an allergic reaction. Symptoms of pollen allergy may include allergic rhinitis (hay fever), allergic conjunctivitis (eye allergies) and allergic asthma. See More About:  seasonal allergies  allergy diagnosis  allergy treatment How to Avoid Pollen Exposure If you have indoor allergies, there are things you can do to avoid pet dander and dust mites, reducing your symptoms. It's more difficult, though, to protect yourself from your trigger if you have a pollen allergy. It's no wonder those with outdoor allergies often suffer the way they do. If a person opens a window or a door, or simply walks outside, she will become exposed to pollen that is present in the outdoor air. Unless you want to live in a bubble, avoiding pollen is pretty difficult. See More About:  allergy symptoms  allergy diagnosis  allergy treatment Insect Allergies Discussion of common insect allergies, from stinging to biting insects and arthropods, allergic and non-allergic reactions are described with recommendations for treatment. Allergies Ads Nose Allergies Dust Allergies Allergies Treatment Mold Allergies Allergy and Asthma Featured Articles Anaphylaxis Allergy Shots and Drops (Immunotherapy) Alternative Therapies in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Allergies Glossary of Terms Information on the Most Common Allergy Medications Allergy Basics   More from About.com Financial Emergencies An unexpected change in your financial situation can be incredibly stressful. Here's how to cope. More> Retirement Planning Learn the top five things you need to do in order to start building a retirement nest egg. More> This newsletter is written by: Daniel More, MD Allergies Guide Email Me | My Blog | My Forum   Sign up for more free newsletters on your favorite topics You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the About Allergies newsletter. If you wish to change your email address or unsubscribe, please click here. About respects your privacy: Our Privacy Policy Contact Information: 249 West 17th Street New York, NY, 10011 © 2012 About.com   Must Reads What are Allergies? Symptoms of Allergies Diagnosis of Allergies Treatment of Allergies Preventing Allergies   Follow me on: Advertisement