Does the site of your long grass make you feel sick? Do you dread mowing your lawn in fear of the consequences? If mowing your grass, or even the thought of having to mow your grass makes your eyes water and your nose start to run, you are not alone. Allergies, from grass, account for almost one-third of all reported allergies in the United States. Mowing your lawn, when you are allergic to grass, can be difficult if you feel sick. Grass allergies are seasonal and are usually worse in the spring and summer months. Having grass allergies can keep you from living a full life, and cause you anxiety. Educating yourself about allergies, and what can be done, will greatly improve your health and well-being.
Causes of Grass Allergies
Allergies to grass are actually caused by the pollen that the grass produces. There are over 1,200 types of grass, but not all types of grass cause allergies. The pollen from grass is very small and can easily enter the body without you ever knowing it. An allergic reaction happens when the pollen is inhaled, or enters the body through the eyes. Once inside the body, your immune system views pollen as an infection and tries to fight it off. This can cause a variety of symptoms, depending on how allergic you are to the pollen. When you mow your lawn, or walk through a grassy field, you are stirring up the pollen and making it airborne. This results in you breathing in extremely large amounts of the pollen and cause symptoms to worsen.
Symptoms of Grass Allergies
Symptoms of grass allergies can vary from one person to another. The most common symptoms are coughing and dry throat. Grass allergies may also cause your airway to become restricted, making it hard for you to breathe. Many people also suffer from dry, red, and itchy eyes. In rare cases, grass allergies have been known to cause a fever. Some people describe grass allergy symptoms similar to those of Asthma.
What to do about Grass Allergies
Avoiding grass is the easiest way to combat grass allergies, but this is nearly impossible! Grass pollen is light weight and can travel long distances, making it even harder to avoid the pollen. Staying indoors between 5am and 10am can help, since pollen levels are at their highest during these hours. Keeping windows closed and running an air conditioner also helps to control the pollen.
