By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    UV damage to eyes
    Warning Signs of Long-Term UV Damage to Your Eyes
    December 9, 2021
    degree for healthcare job
    The Ultimate Healthcare Recruiting and Staffing Guidebook
    March 21, 2022
    medicare part d benefits
    Everything that You Need to Know About Medicare Part D
    August 15, 2022
    Latest News
    Beyond Nutrition: Everyday Foods That Support Whole-Body Health
    June 15, 2025
    The Wide-Ranging Benefits of Magnesium Supplements
    June 11, 2025
    The Best Home Remedies for Migraines
    June 5, 2025
    The Hidden Impact Of Stress On Your Body’s Alignment And Balance
    May 22, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    Should Non-Physician PhDs be Called “Doctor” and be Practicing Medicine?
    November 1, 2011
    Medicare Now Provides Coverage for Obesity Treatment and Prevention
    December 3, 2011
    CMS to Announce ACO Regs Soon
    August 26, 2017
    Latest News
    Preventing Contamination In Healthcare Facilities Starts With Hygiene
    June 15, 2025
    Strengthening Healthcare Systems Through Clinical and Administrative Career Development
    June 13, 2025
    Building Smarter Care Teams: Aligning Roles, Structure, and Clinical Expertise
    May 18, 2025
    The Critical Role of Healthcare in Personal Injury Recovery: A Comprehensive Guide for Victims
    May 14, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Pollen 101: Everything You Need to Know About This Common Allergy Trigger
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Specialties > Allergy > Pollen 101: Everything You Need to Know About This Common Allergy Trigger
AllergySpecialties

Pollen 101: Everything You Need to Know About This Common Allergy Trigger

Kristel Staci
Last updated: February 24, 2021 7:49 pm
Kristel Staci
Share
6 Min Read
pollen allergies
Shutterstock Photo License - By Lightspring
SHARE

What Is Pollen?

Have you ever wondered how flowers keep blooming year after year in the wild? Even without gardeners, you find vast landscapes lush and green and brimming with life. All this is made possible by hordes of busy little bees that transport something called pollen from one flower to the next. 

Pollen is basically the sperm cells of male plants. When you closely inspect a flower, you will find male flowers producing stamens whose tip is coated with a powdery substance. This is pollen, and it is how many plants carry their genes forward to a new generation. 

More Read

Collaborative Care With Private Social Networks for Patients and Doctors
Fighting Heart Disease Using the Web: 3 Tips for Success
The Plague of Unnecessary Antibiotics
Is your Low Testosterone Affecting Beard Growth?
Tips for Hosting an Age-friendly Thanksgiving Dinner

Why Is Pollen Important?

Pollen contains the genetic information of a plant. Using pollen, you can cut out or encourage different traits in plants. In the wild, pollen is how nature keeps forests populated. Without pollen, these lands would slowly be depleted of the foliage that now covers them. Without pollen, we also wouldn’t have the variety of flora we have today. 

Pollen is spread through different ways through a process called pollination. It can be distributed by bees, the wind, or other insects. Because of the variety of pollen distributors, we get plants that are always evolving and becoming stronger. Thus, it plays a critical role in establishing and maintaining the ecosystem of different areas. 

Why Do We Get Allergies to Pollen?

Human allergies are a fascinating subject of study. No one has been able to pinpoint exactly why we have allergies. However, we have found out that we often develop allergies to things we are exposed to the most. Research has shown that there are some genetic traits that predispose us to become hypersensitive to substances around us. 

Pollen is in the air around us. Every springtime, the invisible natural world around us erupts with pollen carried around by the air and the insects. Though we don’t feel it in any way, humans are routinely exposed to a large amount of pollen beyond most geographical limitations. This is why we get allergies to pollen. Humans also develop allergies to other everyday things we are exposed to, like pet hair or milk. 

How Can I Stop Pollen Allergies?

There is no way to stop pollen allergies. Since you cannot stop breathing in the air around you, you will have to make your peace with being exposed to pollen.

Unless you have prohibitively expensive genetic testing done, you cannot be sure of whether you have the genetic predisposition of developing pollen allergies. However, you can keep an eye on the pollen index in your area to see when a flareup will occur. 

What Is the Pollen Index?

A pollen index or pollen count is the number of pollen spores in the atmosphere measured per cubic meter of air. A high score on the pollen index means that you should take precautions about your allergies or avoid going out that day. Pollen indexes are essential because hay fever is one of the most common allergies in the country and can keep people at home for days on end. 

What Steps Can I Take to Prevent Pollen Allergies?

There are a lot of great ways to fight pollen allergies. Some important tips are listed below.

Wear Eye Protection 

One of the ways pollen gets into your system is the eyes. During hay fever season, make sure you keep your eyes protected as much as possible. People who wear prescription glasses already have a certain amount of protection on them. For those who don’t, consider investing in wraparound glasses for when the pollen count is high. This can help you reduce the intensity of your allergic reaction by lowering the spore load you come into contact with when you go out. 

Body Care 

If you step outside during times the pollen index is high, your clothes and body will be covered in vast amounts of pollen. Since these are microscopic spores, you will not be able to simply brush them off. When you come back into the house, make sure you discard the clothes you wore outside. Try and take them off away from your bed or bathroom since you are likely to stay in them the most. Take a shower and thoroughly clean off your body. This will reduce the amount of spores you bring inside with you and get rid of any lingering on your skin. 

Vaseline 

Another entry point for pollen spores is your nose. You breathe in the pollen, and this triggers an allergic reaction in your body. While pollen allergies are easy to treat with antihistamines and corticosteroids, you don’t want to take medicines every day. It can reduce the efficacy of these medicines as you develop tolerance to them over the years. Instead, to reduce the amount of pollen you breathe in, you can put a small amount of petroleum jelly around your nasal openings. This will trap the pollen before it gets into your system. 

TAGGED:allergiespollen allergiespollen tips
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

healthcare facilities
Preventing Contamination In Healthcare Facilities Starts With Hygiene
Global Healthcare Infographics
June 15, 2025
from gut to glow
From Plate to Wellness: How Everyday Foods Nourish Your Body Inside and Out
Dental health Infographics Specialties
June 15, 2025
beyond nutrition
Beyond Nutrition: Everyday Foods That Support Whole-Body Health
Health Infographics
June 15, 2025
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) Therapy
How TMS Therapy Helps with Treatment-Resistant Mental Illness
Mental Health Therapies
June 13, 2025

You Might also Like

Dental Anxiety
Dental healthSpecialties

Preventing Dental Anxiety In Children: Tips For Stress-Free Dental Visits

January 10, 2024
dental implant
Dental healthSpecialties

Restore Your Smile: What To Know About Dental Implants

March 23, 2024

Digital Breast Tomosynthesis Brings Benefits to Patient Exams

December 21, 2013
Ophthalmology

What All Good Cataract Surgeons Have In Common

November 28, 2019
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?