Dr. Wojo. Healthy Living. Simplified.

Notice more runny noses, sniffles and red eyes this year? Thanks to record levels of pollen around the nation, even those of us who haven’t experienced significant allergic reactions before may suffer from mild allergic symptoms such as headaches and irritated eyes and nasal passages.

Your immune system is your defense system. When it recognizes a threat, it takes defensive measures to combat that threat. In the case of allergies, your body is overreacting to an allergen - such as pollen - that is typically deemed a harmless substance. For someone not allergic to pollen, they inhale the grains and the grains are trapped in mucus that you then cough out or swallow.

If you are allergic to pollen, your body reacts differently - and defensively. Those same grains trigger your immune system to produce IgE - an antibody that attaches to mast and blood cells. The offending pollen grains become attached to the IgE and your body steps up its defenses - releasing histamines that attempt to eject the allergen via watery eyes, runny noses, sneezing or coughing. You may also experience itchy eyes, throat and nose or develop dark circles under your eyes due to restricted blood flow around your sinuses.

People with mild allergic reactions may use over-the-counter antihistamines that can bring temporary relief. These medications can bring relief, but they are simply masking the symptoms - not building your body’s immunity to the allergens. It’s best to speak to your physician before using over-the-counter medications because some of the medications can cause side effects such as drowsiness.

Prescription medications usually have internasal steroids that work better for those who have more debilitating reactions to allergens. For those with more acute allergies, their physician may recommend receiving immunotheraphy injections. The person is injected with increasing amounts of allergens in order to help the body eventually build immunity to the allergen.

Are there ways to avoid pollen? Not really. Pollen is airborne and so prevalent in spring and fall, that it’s nearly impossible to avoid. That said, you can take measures to avoid exposure. You can wear a regular dust mask when outdoors, keep your windows shut, and follow the “5 a.m. and 5 p.m.” rule - avoid being outdoors at dawn and dusk when pollen counts are their highest. Pollen counts also tend to be higher on dry and windy days. You should also leave your shoes outside the door when you go inside, change your clothing when you come inside and wash your hair at the end of the day to rid it of pollen. You can also use nasal saline rinses and use antihistamine eye drops for relief. Within your home, be sure to vacuum at least twice a week, clean your vents and air filters and consider purchasing an air filter.