Why Do We Develop Allergies in the Spring?
Pollen is just trying to make baby trees, but it can also cause seasonal allergies. Find out more from House Call Doctor
Up to 40% of children and 10-30% of adults have symptoms from seasonal allergies. Seasonal allergies occur when the body is invaded by that most dangerous of substances, pollen, which is very prevalent as the temperatures rise. Pollen can come from trees, grasses, or other plants, but no matter its origin, pollen is small enough to float in the air and right up your nose.
Don’t blame pollen — it’s just trying to make baby trees, it’s not trying to hurt us. But for some reason, the body thinks otherwise and puts up defenses in the respiratory tract, specifically in the nose. In certain people, their bodies have decided that pollen is a real threat, and so put a bunch of antibodies against the pollen in the person’s nose. The histamine released causes swelling of the tissue in the nose as well as an increase in mucous production. Thus, allergies!
Image courtesy of Shutterstock