In keeping with the green theme this month, let’s talk about this glorious season. It’s a time of renewal, a time to say goodbye to winter, a time to feel the anticipation of warmer weather, a time of hope for a new tomorrow, a time to have a 1.367 inch layer of green pollen on your car in the morning, a time to sneeze your itchy head off!
As the trees start to bloom and the pollen gets airborne, allergy sufferers begin their annual ritual of sniffling and sneezing. Each year, over 35 million Americans fall prey to seasonal allergic rhinitis, more commonly known as hay fever.
WedMD tells us the biggest spring allergy trigger is pollen -- tiny grains released into the air by trees, grasses, and weeds for the purpose of fertilizing other plants. When pollen grains get into the nose of someone who’s allergic, they send the immune system into overdrive.
The immune system, mistakenly seeing the pollen as foreign invaders, releases antibodies -- substances that normally identify and attack bacteria, viruses, and other illness-causing organisms. The antibodies attack the allergens, which leads to the release of chemicals called histamines into the blood. Histamines trigger the runny nose, itchy eyes, and other symptoms of allergies. So grab those hankies and head out into this a new green blossoming world!
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