Basic Facts:
In the late summer and early fall, some 36 million Americans, which is about 10 to 20 percent of the population, begin to suffer from seasonal allergy symptoms, which can also aggravate asthma symptoms. The reason? Ragweed pollen begins to circulate through the air. This continues until frost kills the ragweed plant off sometime in the late fall.Ragweed is a weed that grows freely almost everywhere in the U.S. It is most common, though, in rural areas of the eastern and Midwestern states. It is commonly found in areas where the soil is bare of other vegetation, such as vacant lots and along roadways and river banks. Each plant only survives one season, but during that time can put out as many as 1 billion grains of pollen. Ragweed pollen is extremely light and can be carried for many miles on air currents. Ragweed seeds can also often survive for years in the soil, growing when conditions are right.Symptoms of Ragweed Allergy:
Not everyone is allergic to ragweed pollen. But in sensitive people, coming into contact with the pollen stimulates the immune system to overreact. When that happens, allergy symptoms and asthma symptoms result. This can include:- Sneezing
- Stuffy, runny nose
- Itchy eyes, nose & throat
- Wheezing
- Chest tightness
- Coughing
- Difficulty breathing
In addition, in people who have severe allergies, asthma attacks, chronic sinusitis, headaches, and trouble sleeping may also occur.
Who Is at Risk:
Of people who are allergic to plant pollen, fully three-quarters – or 75 percent – are allergic to ragweed pollen. Allergy tests can be done to determine if you have a ragweed allergy, but chances are, if you begin to notice an increase in your allergy and / or asthma symptoms each year after about the middle of August, there is a good chance you have ragweed allergy.What You Can Do:
If you have ragweed allergy, there's not a lot you can do to cure your condition. However, there are steps you can take to reduce the frequency and severity of your symptoms.Avoid contact with ragweed pollen if you can. This isn't easy since there tends to be so much ragweed pollen in the air during August, September and October. Still, you can watch the pollen count for your area, and stay indoors when it is high. Keep your windows closed and the air conditioning on, both in the house and in your car when you go out. It's also helpful if your air conditioner has a HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filter to remove pollen from the air.Move to a more pollen-free area if you can. It's not easy to get away from ragweed pollen, but you might find some relief by going to the western part of the U.S. (especially in the mountains) or to the seashore, where pollen counts are often lower.Take your medication as prescribed. Antihistamines, such as Allegra, Zyrtec, or Claritin, can help control allergy symptoms. There are also anti-inflammatory nasal sprays and eye drops that can help with some symptoms. It's also important to take your asthma medication every day as prescribed, and be sure your rescue inhaler is always close at hand.
Allergy shots may help if medication doesn't provide adequate control. Medicine doesn't work well for everyone. If you find that your symptoms cannot be controlled, you may want to talk with your doctor about whether allergy shots, or immunotherapy, might be right for you.