Have you found yourself cooped up indoors this summer due to frustrating summer allergies? Instead of letting Mother Nature dictate your plans, Dr. Brauer can help you find relief. Discover three of the most common summer allergies and what you can do about them:
Grass Pollen
The spring season may be ending, but that doesn’t mean pollen has disappeared. During spring, most pollen is attributed to blooming flowers and trees. But, in the early summer, the main culprit of pollen is grass. In late summer, weed pollen causes allergy sufferers to experience an increase of allergy symptoms. Because it’s impossible to remove every pollen-bearing plant, we’ve come up with ways to outsmart your pollen allergy. Along with these tips, Dr. Brauer can create a personalized treatment plan to help you find relief during the summer months. Call us at 270-228-2811 to set up an appointment.
Insect Stings
The ACAAI reports that roughly “two million Americans are allergic to insect stings, and about 50,000 end up in emergency rooms because of a reaction to an insect sting.” Fortunately, stinging insects such as hornets and fire ants do not disturb you unless you are perceived as a threat. While most people go out of their way to avoid these colonies and nests, you may accidentally stumble upon them unknowingly. If this occurs, you may be a victim of their venom and experience an allergic reaction. If you’re allergic to insect venom, make sure you have an updated epinephrine injector on hand for immediate relief. If bitten, use your epinephrine injector and call 911.
Seasonal Foods
If you have a pollen allergy, you may be more susceptible to an allergic reaction related to seasonal foods. If you have an allergic reaction to a certain food, your immune system may actually be reacting to the pollen associated with that particular food. This is known as Oral Allergy Syndrome or pollen-food syndrome. The ACAAI has found that the following foods are often associated with certain types of pollen:
- Birch pollen: apple, almond, carrot, celery, cherry, hazelnut, kiwi, peach, pear, plum
- Grass pollen: celery, melons, oranges, peaches, tomato
- Ragweed pollen: banana, cucumber, melons, sunflower seeds, zucchini
If you eat one of these foods and experience itchiness or a burning sensation in your mouth, you’re likely having an allergic reaction. Dr. Brauer can determine your exact allergen and how to prevent future allergic reactions.