Ragweed Allergy Symptoms
What is ragweed?
These are the weeds that found through out the United States. These weeds are very common in the Midwest and Eastern states. This plant lives only in a single season but it spreads millions of pollens grains. The conditions such as humidity, warmth and breezes are helpful for the release of pollen grains that it further travels through air from one plant to another for the fertilization.
What is ragweed allergy?
Our immune system plays an important role to find out the substances like bacteria and viruses to get rid of them. This response is very essential protecting protects us from various diseases. But the people who are having very sensitive immune system get reacted to the substances called as allergens. The ragweed allergy happens when the person with sensitive immune system inhales the pollen grains from air with the symptom of fever.
Ragweed allergy is one of the most common seasonal allergies that affect the people. The pollens grains of the ragweed enter in the body through breathing that the sensitive people get allergic symptoms very soon. The symptoms of the ragweed allergy appear within an hour after the contact of the person with allergen.
In Africa about 75% of people are allergic to the ragweed. They may develop allergies to other pollens also. The people who get allergies due to ragweed pollens grains also may have possibility of having allergies if they eat banana and cantaloupe.
Symptoms of ragweed allergy:
The ragweed allergy also gives some common symptoms as like other allergies. The symptoms include sneezing, itchy and watery eyes, runny nose and congestion. Hay fever is another very important symptoms that the first indication or symptom of the ragweed allergy. Severe allergy may lead into asthma attacks, headaches, impaired sleep, chronic sinuses etc.
Hay fever can create complications such as ear infections, cough and headaches, sinusitis and sore throat. In advance symptoms there may be poor sleep, irritability and fatigue.
Diagnosis of ragweed allergy:
The diagnosis of the ragweed allergy depends on the medical history, testing and physical exam of patient. However, most of physician use to do skin sensitivity test to conform the suspected allergy.
In this test skin is used to prick with extract of ragweed pollen. If the person is sensitive to pollen grains, the site turns red, itchy and swollen. The tests are also useful to see if there is antibody to ragweed is present, but is longer and expensive process.
How can you control ragweed allergy?
- Avoid activities such as outdoor exercise and gardening
- Don't go outside during peak pollen time of day
- You can wear a pollen mask to protect the nasal passages
- Windy weather is favorable blowing of pollens, so avoid this weather
- Keep entering of the pollens by shutting windows, doors of the house and car
- Wash hair before to go bed
- It is important to change clothes after being outside
- Avoid wearing contact lenses when you are outside
- Change air filter and air conditioner of home at least for every three months
