Plagued by Pollen

Many fruit trees and plants with colorful flowers, such as roses and daffodils, have larger pollen grains that don't blow around. You don't need to worry about them. It's the tiny pollen that you can't see that causes sneezing and itchy, runny noses.

Pollen isn't the only problem, though. Some people are allergic to molds from compost and bark mulch as it breaks down. Buy finished compost if you have a mold allergy.

This pesky weed, which grows across the U.S., bothers 75% of Americans with pollen allergies.

If you have a ragweed allergy, watch what you eat and drink. Bananas, cucumbers, zucchini, melons, and sunflower seeds can cause you to itch and swell around your mouth.Your body confuses the proteins in these foods with the proteins in the plant.

It washes off pollen that might be in your hair and on your skin, and keeps it off your pillow and bed. An evening bath works fine, too.

If you’ve been outside when the pollen count is high, change your clothes near your washing machine if you can. That'll keep you from bringing the pollen throughout your home. Put them in the laundry before bathing.

It's also a good idea to keep windows and doors shut, and use an air conditioner with a HEPA filter.

Trees put out pollen in the late winter and spring, and grass releases the sneezy stuff in the late spring and summer.

Weeds cause hay fever -- the common name for seasonal allergies -- in the late summer and fall.

Some people are allergic to pollen in cedar trees, which peak in late winter as well as spring. Warmer winters cause trouble for people with spring allergies. That’s because their symptoms start earlier.

Pollen levels usually peak between 5 a.m. and 10 . Plan outdoor activities for the afternoon, if you can. 

Warm, dry, and breezy days help pollen travel. Rain washes it away, and counts are usually lowest during or just after a downpour.

Don’t expect to feel better right after your first one. Everybody reacts differently, but it usually takes 4 to 6 months of shots before you feel relief.

Most people's symptoms get better after the first year of the treatment.

Allergy shots contain a small amount of the thing you're allergic to, so your body can slowly get used to it and not react to it anymore.

Using an OTC decongestant nasal spray for more than 3 days at a time could make you more congested. When the effects of it wear off, the tissue inside your nose and sinuses could swell more.You might then use more spray -- making the swelling worse.

Consider using a steroidnose spray, which reduces swelling, if you're congested often.

If allergies are making your eyes watery, itchy, and red, consider wearing a hat with a wide brim when you're outside. It will help keep pollen from blowing into your eyes.

Wear sunglasses, too. And use saline drops after being outdoors to wash away any pollen from the lining of your eyes.

Taking a vacation might clear up your symptoms for a while, but moving won’t make your allergies go away. Some plants and grasses grow all over the U.S., making them tough to escape. Andwithin a few years, you’d likely get allergies to plants and grasses near your new home.