Winter in Montana can be rough, but it does provide a brief respite for many people with allergies. Then spring arrives, trees bud, flowers bloom and grasses green which all lead to spring allergies. Juro’s Pharmacy Health and Wellness wants to know if you deal with the sneezing, itchy eyes and wheezing and coughing as a result of spring allergies? What causes those allergies? What can you do about it?
Although spring is a beautiful season here in Montana, it does carry risks for those allergic to pollen.
The most common spring allergens are grass and tree pollens. Pollen are tiny, egg-shaped male cells found in flowering plants and trees that plants use during the fertilization process.
The biggest offenders of the grasses and weeds are: Bermuda, Fescue, Johnson, June, Orchard, Perennial rye, Redtop, Salt grass, Sweet vernal and Timothy. Most don’t know the difference between the grasses, but we would notice what they do to our allergies.
Some trees are worse offenders than others too. Some of the biggest pollen and allergy producers are Elm, Poplar, Hickory, Maple, Oak, Ash, Birch, Sycamore, Cypress, Western Red Cedar and Walnut. Checking your lawn and neighborhood for these trees may help explain your sudden allergy symptoms. Avoid sleeping with the windows open especially if there are trees close to your home.
There are some common spring allergy symptoms including itchy, watery eyes, sneezing and chronic cough. Coughing is one of your body’s normal defense mechanisms designed to expel infection, mucus and other foreign material from your body. Sinus issues (caused by allergies) and drainage often produce a tickling sensation and coughing occurs.
Wheezing is also a common reaction to pollen-causing spring allergies, especially for people with asthma. When airways of the lungs narrow as a result of inflammation (as a result of allergens), it becomes more difficult for air to flow through the lung. This creates a wheezing sound.
Not all chronic cough and wheezing are a result of spring allergies. They may be a sign of other respiratory issues including bronchitis, pneumonia and COPD. If your coughing or wheezing started before the spring allergy season or lingers for more than three weeks, see a doctor right away.
If you are dealing with respiratory issues caused by allergies or any other reason, Juro’s Pharmacy Health and Wellness has products and equipment to help. Browse our online catalog or stop in and see our oxygen and respiratory experts today.
