pollen allergies Archives - Mayo Clinic News Network

Mayo Clinic Minute: Tips to protect yourself from spring allergies

Ian Roth — Tue, 17 Apr 2018 06:00:21 +0000

Springtime brings warmer temperatures and blooming trees. But, for close to 1 in 3 Americans, it also brings annoying seasonal allergies.

Dr. Alexei Gonzalez Estrada, a Mayo Clinic allergy specialist, says there are steps you can take to protect yourself.

Watch: The Mayo Clinic Minute

Journalists: Broadcast-quality video pkg (0:59) is in the downloads. Read the script.

Dr. Gonzalez Estrada says the the telltale signs of allergies are easy to spot.

"This includes itchy, water eyes; itchy, watery nose; nasal congestion," he says.

And pollen is the most common culprit.

"So pollen affects people in the springtime because that's when trees are pollinating. And that pollen flies miles and miles around the area," Dr. Gonzalez Estrada says. "And it's such a small particle that goes through your nose, and it affects your upper airway."

When you have a pollen allergy, your immune system identifies the pollen as harmful and essentially overreacts.

Dr. Gonzalez Estrada says there are over-the-counter and prescription medicines you can take to treat allergy symptoms, as well as getting allergy shots in more extreme cases.

But the easiest thing to do, he says, is avoid or limit exposure.

"Obviously, you can't live in a bubble, but air conditioning is going to be your friend," he says. "So keep your air conditioning on in your car, in your house."

Dr. Gonzalez Estrada also recommends people change their clothes after coming inside to remove pollen that might have stuck to you, and showering before bed to get rid of pollen that might stick in your hair.

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Mayo Clinic Minute: Surviving seasonal allergies

Dennis Douda — Mon, 27 Mar 2017 16:30:13 +0000

Spring is officially here and, depending on where you live, many Americans are already officially sniffling with seasonal allergies. An estimated 30 percent of adults and 40 percent of children are affected by so-called nasal allergies.

In actuality, the entire respiratory tract is getting in on the act. “Proteins on pollens can trigger an inflammatory cascade, starting with the nasal passages, the sinuses, the throat, the trachea, and, of course, the lungs and the airways,” says Mayo Clinic allergy and immunology expert, Dr. Rohit Divekar. “It can have serious consequences, particularly if you have other health issues.”

Dennis Douda shares some of Dr. Divekar’s advice.

Watch: The Mayo Clinic Minute

Journalists: Broadcast-quality video (1:00) is available in the downloads. Read the script.

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Mayo Clinic Radio: Transplant Update/Springtime Allergies/Preventing Children’s Falls

Richard Dietman — Tue, 26 May 2015 12:46:20 +0000

Human organ transplantation has come a long way since the first heart transplant in 1967. But despite advances, there are still more than 100,000 people in the U.S. waiting for a donor organ. We'll get an update on the state of organ transplantation from the director of the William J. von Liebig Center for Transplantation and Clinical Regeneration at Mayo Clinic, Dr. Brooks Edwards. We'll also hear from transplant surgeon Dr. Charles Rosen, who led teams that performed five liver transplants in one 24-hour period. Also on the program, springtime allergies are at their peak, and allergy specialist Dr. Rohit Divekar has tips for reducing symptoms. And pediatric surgeon Dr. Christopher Moir explains how to prevent pediatric falls among young children.

Myth or Matter-of-Fact: The first organ to be transplanted in a human was a kidney, not a heart.

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