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 Ragweeds
are a genus of flowering plants from the sunflower family. Its pollen produces severe and widespread allergies.
What Is Ragweed?
Ragweeds are annuals, most commonly found in the eastern and Midwestern states of the U.S. And though ragweeds only
live for one season, in that season each plant can produce up to 1 billion pollen grains. Ragweed pollen is generally
at its heaviest after midsummer. The flowers generally mature by this time and begin releasing their pollen.
Warmth, humidity and breezes after sunrise help the release. With pollen being so light and easily airborne,
breezes can quickly and easily scatter ragweed pollen. As it travels, the pollen fertilizes other ragweed plants
for the following year's crop. In general, ragweed plants prefer drier areas, sunny grassy plains, sandy soils, river banks, and
roadsides, though you can find ragweeds growing nearly anywhere. Worldwide, there are 41 different species of ragweed that
live in varying climates, from the more temperate regions found in the eastern half of the United States to drier, more
desert-like locales.
What Is Ragweed Allergy?
Ragweed allergy, like nearly all other allergies, is the overreaction of the body's immune
system to what is essentially a harmless substance. In the case of people with allergies, the human immune system
is treating ragweed pollen as a harmful substance instead of ignoring it. In an effort to
rid the body of this mistakenly harmful pollen, the body produces a variety of reactions which we
commonly refer to as hay fever. Most often symptoms arise after inhaling ragweed's light, airborne
pollen, though there are a few insects that cross pollinate ragweeds, and contact with them can also cause
an allergic reaction. While not limited to just ragweeds, allergic reactions can be caused by other
pollinating plants in the same Family as ragweed (sage, groundsel bush, mugworts, burweed marsh elder, etc.).
Who Gets Ragweed Allergy?
Nearly 75% of all people who are allergic to pollen-producing plants will also be allergic to
ragweed. So in general, if your body reacts to ragweed pollen, it is more than likely to also react to other pollens.
ragweed. People with ragweed allergy may also get symptoms when they eat cantaloupe and banana.
Chamomile tea, sunflower seeds and honey containing pollen from Compositae family members can
occasionally cause severe reactions, including shock.
What Are Its Symptoms?
Even if you are not allergic to ragweed, you've most likely heard of the symptoms. Allergic reactions
to pollen producing plants is commonly known as hay fever. The symptoms range from mild irritation, runny nose,
puffy eyes, stuffy nose and sneezing to inflamed sinuses and a sore throat. More severe allergy sufferers may
exhibit these symptoms as well more severe reactions like asthma attack, sinusitis, headaches, and
insomnia.
How Is It Diagnosed?
Currently, the most common testing method is a skin sensitivity test. After a standard exam and review
of your medical history, this simple test can test your body's reaction to a variety of allergens, including ragweed.
For this test, the skin is scratched or pricked with extract of ragweed pollen. In sensitive people,
the site will turn red, swollen and itchy. Sometimes blood tests are used to see if an antibody to
ragweed is present. Though sometimes necessary, this takes longer for processing by a laboratory,
and it is more expensive.
What Can I Do About It?
There is no cure for ragweed allergy, and eliminating ragweed is essentially impossible. As with most allergies, the best control is to avoid
contact with the pollen. This is difficult given the amount of ragweed pollen in the air during pollination time and its proliferation across the
globe. But by taking control of your indoor environment and limiting your exposure you drastically reduce your reaction to pollen.
- Track the pollen count for your area. Anymore, you can usually catch the pollen count on the radio
or morning news before work. You also can call the National Allergy Bureau at
(800)-9-POLLEN, or reach it through the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and
Immunology (www.aaaai.org). Any of these avenues can provide you with a quick look at how the pollen
is shaping up in your area.
- Stay indoors in central air conditioning with a high efficiency
furnace filter when the pollen count is high. A HEPA filtered
air purifier in addition to your HVAC, would be the
most efficient when removing pollen from the indoor air.
- Get away from the pollen where possible. While moving your home isn't always an option, some folks
have taken to vacationing during the worst parts of the seasonal allergy season as a way to not only enjoy
a yearly vacation but also not have to deal with pollen counts that can border the absurd in many southern
states. If you do travel, be sure to check the pollen count there as well!
- Take antihistamine medications. These can work well to control hay fever symptoms, whatever the cause. The drowsiness
caused by older products is less of a problem with antihistamines now on the market. Anti-inflammatory nose sprays or
drops also help and have few side effects. Consider trying a natural approach to allergy medication with the
capsaicin-based treatment, Sinol-M Allergy and Sinus Relief Spray.
- Rinse your sinuses. Though it certainly feels awkward at first, using a neti pot or related
sinus rinse solution can be an effective, non-pharmaceutical approach to cleaning and moisturizing your sinuses and throat.
These methods can help rinse away reaction causing pollen while soothing inflamed, sore or dry sinuses. If you are
stuffy, nasal washing can help you breathe easier, and with a runny nose, these rinses can help clear out excess
mucus.
- If medication and environmental controls still do not provide enough relief, consider immunotherapy ("allergy shots"). This approach reduces the allergic
response to specific allergens. For it to work, the allergens must be carefully identified. The allergens are injected over
several months or years. If diagnosis and treatment are well directed, you may see major improvements in symptoms.
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