In line with its mission, the Editorial Board of MedTvoiLokony makes every effort to provide reliable medical content supported by the latest scientific knowledge. The additional flag “Checked Content” indicates that the article has been reviewed by or written directly by a physician. This two-step verification: a medical journalist and a doctor allows us to provide the highest quality content in line with current medical knowledge.
Our commitment in this area has been appreciated, among others, by by the Association of Journalists for Health, which awarded the Editorial Board of MedTvoiLokony with the honorary title of the Great Educator.
Watery runny nose, fits of breathlessness, conjunctivitis, and an itchy rash? Some of us have an allergic reaction to the “green environment”. Meet ten plants whose pollen can cause allergies.
grass
During the pollen season, that is from June to the first half of July, they are the fear of allergy sufferers. There are about 200 species of grass in Poland. These include both cereals (wheat, rye, barley, oats, millet, maize, rice, sorghum) and grasses (meadow foxtail, sweet wood, cocksfoot grass, timothy meadow, meadow grass).
Pollen allergens are the most common cause of symptoms of allergic rhinitis and atopic pollen asthma in our country. According to the ECAP (Epidemiology of Allergic Diseases in Poland) study, 16 percent of Patients with symptoms of allergic rhinitis develop allergic symptoms after contact with grass pollen allergens, and positive reactions in the skin spot test are found in 21,3%. patients with allergies. Increased symptoms may appear during walks in the meadow or while mowing grass.
Birch
After grasses, it is number two on the list of allergenic plants. The pollen season in Poland falls on the second half of April and the first days of May. Common clinical signs in allergic individuals, such as nasal itching, sneezing, tearing, burning and reddening of the conjunctiva, appear suddenly.
When exposed to very high concentrations of birch pollen, you can expect symptoms of pollen asthma, such as shortness of breath, paroxysmal cough and a feeling of tightness in the chest. Interestingly, it was found that birches growing in urban areas near busy streets they give off more allergens than trees growing away from car traffic. Additionally, components of industrial pollutants, such as ozone or nitrogen oxides, can damage the epithelium of the respiratory tract, facilitating the penetration of allergens.
- See also: Pollen allergy – how to deal with it?
Alder
Also called alder, it belongs to the birch family. In Poland, you can find black, gray or green (only found in the western Bieszczady). Alder pollen allergens appear in the air immediately after hazel pollen allergens and after birch pollen, they are the most common cause of periodic allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis in the spring. Clinical symptoms in allergic individuals appear suddenly, which is usually caused by a rapid onset of alder pollen and the occurrence of very high pollen concentrations in the first days of the season.
Hazel
Only one species grows wild in Poland: common hazel. It occurs in forests, clearings and clearings all over the country. Its pollen appears in the air first – usually in February, and the beginning of hazelnut flowering is considered to be the beginning of the “botanical early spring”.
You don’t have to worry about it in large cities, but in suburban areas and near allotments, hazel pollen concentrations can be high.
The most common symptoms of an allergy are itchy nose, sneezing, watery eyes, redness and burning of the conjunctiva. Lower respiratory symptoms are very rare and are found almost exclusively in people professionally involved in the cultivation of hazel or living nearby. Hypersensitivity to hazel pollen allergens is usually accompanied by allergy to birch and alder pollen allergens, as well as to food allergens, such as hazelnuts.
Lipa
The greatest threat to us is in June, lower concentration of linden pollen is observed in the period from July to August. One of the primary symptoms of allergies is an intense runny nose, accompanied by a feeling of clogging, itching and bouts of sneezing. Additionally, there may be headaches, problems with concentration, conjunctivitis and a dry cough that intensifies at night and in the morning.
It is worth remembering that an allergy to pollen may be exacerbated, among others, by eating chocolate, pickled products, smoked fish, raspberries, strawberries, citrus and cheeses, especially blue and yellow cheeses.
Beech
In Poland, there is only one species in its natural state – European beech, and its land is Pomerania. In the western and northern part of the country, it is one of the basic forest-forming trees, creating pure beech stands, the so-called beech forests.
The beech pollen season occurs at the turn of April and May, and the grain of its pollen is relatively large and heavy, therefore high concentrations of beech pollen are recorded mainly near flowering trees – in parks and forests. Tree pollen allergens cross-react with birch, alder, hazel, hornbeam and oak pollen allergens. Symptoms of bronchial asthma may occur in people professionally exposed to beech wood dust.
Willow
Willow starts to dust quite early – in early February. However, the highest concentrations of its pollen are observed at the turn of April and May. During this time, allergy sufferers may develop well-known symptoms – runny nose, tearing and coughing. People who are allergic must give up not only bases in a vase, but also honey and beekeeping products – many of them contain willow pollen.
Paradoxically, allergy sufferers find it more difficult to tolerate allergies in cities than in villages. In urban space, willows grow in many parks, and allergens are transported by the wind from place to place between buildings, which may cause allergies for a long time.
Ash
It is a wild forest tree, it is mainly found in wet forests. Only one species grows wild in Poland: the common ash, growing up to 30-40 meters in height. Ash pollen appears in our air almost simultaneously with birch pollen in the second decade of April. Unfortunately, it has strong allergenic properties.
Allergy sufferers can expect symptoms of allergic rhinitis and bronchial asthma. In people with hypersensitivity to ash pollen allergens, there is a risk of cross-reactions between the allergens of ash, olive and privet planted in Poland in the form of hedges.
- See also: Not only pollen and dust – what else causes allergies?
Elm
There are about 30-40 species in the world, three of which exist in Poland – English elm, mountain elm and field elm. Elms are one of the trees that bloom the earliest in spring (right after hazel). In the second half of March – mountain and field elms bloom.
The pedunculate elm in the pollen calendar shows activity approximately 2 weeks later. Elm pollen allergy causes allergies in the months of February, March and April, with the main symptoms being runny nose, coughing, wheezing, watery eyes, headache and sinus pain.
Ragweed
It belongs to the Asteraceae family and is native to North America. At the end of the 60s, it came to Europe – first to France, northern Italy and Austria. For several years, it has also been present in Poland and is a nightmare for allergy sufferers. Its pollen season falls on the second half of August, September and early October. Interestingly, its pollen is very volatile – cases of allergies have been reported in places hundreds of kilometers away from the place of its flowering.
Common symptoms of ragweed allergy are runny nose, headaches and sinus pains. The skin can be stinging and itchy, and so is the throat. Sinusitis and coughing can also occur. Cross reactions can occur after eating a banana, watermelon or sunflower seeds.
See also:
- What is an indication for allergy testing?
- What is an allergy?
- Throat protection in spring and summer