Caution :
- Like other allergies, the best treatment is to avoid the allergen. Minimize your exposure to birch pollen by staying…
- Do not visit gardens, parks or other areas with a lot of trees during spring time
- Avoid gardening work during the peak seasons. Ask someone else to take care of such a work
- Wearing a dust mask can help when you step out of your house
- When pollen counts are high, close windows and doors
- During allergy seasons, limit your intake of raw foods and go for cooked foods, example- cooked vegetables.
Medical treatments, home remedies, and changes in some lifestyle habits can help ease symptoms of pollen allergy. Over-the-counter antihistamine medications, such as cetirizine (Zyrtec) or loratadine (Claritin). A person should start taking these medications a few weeks before allergy season begins.
The doctor will evaluate the symptoms and test results, select the therapy, and give advice on how to reduce the effect of the allergen. Birch allergy can be treated with a medication, which is not a treatment in fact, but is intended to relieve symptoms during flowering.
The birch pollen related pollen-food syndrome (oral allergy syndrome) It is not uncommon for itchiness of the mouth and the lips upon eating apples, pears or celeri (among others) to be the first clue of a birch pollen allergy. Hazelnuts and peanuts can also be involved in this particular type of food allergy related to birch pollen allergy.
If one in your yard clearly causes symptoms, prune back the branches to reduce the amount of pollen it releases. You could also take it out and replace it with one that’s less likely to cause allergies, like apple, cherry, dogwood, fir, or pine trees. Treat it. Medicine — antihistamines — can ease or prevent allergy symptoms.
How to treat birch pollen allergy?
Treat your birch pollen allergy with sublingual immunotherapy. While anithistamines and topical nasal steroids can help control the symptoms of a seasonal allergy such as birch pollen allergy, these medicines do not interfere with the risk of further allergies or the development of asthma.
Other trees’ pollen such as beech, oak, maple and poplar can also cause springtime respiratory allergies and their symptoms.
Birch trees are common in Canada, the Eastern US and Scandinavia. Birch pollen allergy is a major cause of seasonal allergies in Canada, particularly in the eastern provinces. Book an appointment for testing.
As for other respiratory allergies, birch pollen allergy often becomes evident through rhinitis (inflammation of the lining of the nose) with sneezing (often in fits), nasal congestion, nasal discharge and itchiness. At the level of the eyes and in the same way as grass or ragweed pollens associated to hay fever, birch pollen can cause conjunctivitis with itchy, watery eyes and swelling of the very lining of the eyes.
The birch pollen related pollen-food syndrome (oral allergy syndrome) It is not uncommon for itchiness of the mouth and the lips upon eating apples, pears or celeri (among others) to be the first clue of a birch pollen allergy. Hazelnuts and peanuts can also be involved in this particular type of food allergy related to birch pollen allergy.
Hazelnuts and peanuts can also be involved in this particular type of food allergy related to birch pollen allergy. This is the pollen-food syndrome or oral allergy syndrome associated to birch pollen protein Bet v 1. Molecular allergy has determined that this birch pollen protein is but one of a vegetal family of stress proteins also found in …
Whether to ascertain birch pollen allergy before immunotherapy or in the context of food allergies, AVANT GARDE MédicalMD can represent unique expertise in using molecular allergy to further refine the diagnosis of allergy. While some scientific papers suggest that birch pollen allergy immunotherapy can lessen or resolve the corresponding pollen-food syndrome, further studies will be needed before we have an official word from science in this regard.
How to confirm birch pollen allergy?
To confirm a birch pollen allergy, your allergist may ask you about the symptoms, when they started and how long they persisted. Explain the allergist in detail if such symptoms have occurred for the first time or if you have experienced it before. Tell your doctor if the severity of symptoms increases at a certain time of the year, for example spring.
Birch Pollen Allergy. Allergy to birch pollen is known as birch pollen allergy. Certain protein present in birch pollen causes over-reaction of the immune system. Such pollen allergies are caused when pollen from the grasses, weeds and trees are released into the air to fertilize each other. If a person allergic to pollen comes in contact …
A single protein called ‘Bet V 1’ is responsible for birch pollen allergies. Bet V 1 is a major pollen allergen that causes type 1 or immunoglobulin E-mediated allergies. Studies have found that it acts as an allergen only when devoid of iron. If Bet V 1 does not bind to iron, it triggers allergic reactions in humans. This allergen manipulates the T helper 2 cells, cells of the immune system that combat parasites. ( 1)
Cross Reaction: Individuals who are allergic to a certain food whose protein is similar to the birch pollen protein, increases the risk for birch pollen allergy ( 3) Spring Season: Birch pollen allergy worsens and increases during spring time because birch trees are in bloom.
If a person allergic to pollen comes in contact with it, his/ her immune system overreacts and causes signs and symptoms of allergy. The body then releases immunoglobulin E, an antibody that travels to different cells, which release a chemical called ‘histamine’ that causes allergic reactions in the body. Birch pollen allergies are worst …
When pollen counts are high, close windows and doors. During allergy seasons, limit your intake of raw foods and go for cooked foods, example- cooked vegetables. Cooking may alter the allergy-causing protein.
It causes inflammation of the intestinal mucosa, which may further lead to: Abdominal cramps. Stomach pain. Nausea.
Where does birch pollen come in contact with the body?
People with birch pollen allergy notice the symptoms mainly in parts of the body with which the birch pollen directly comes into contact – the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose and mouth. Those affected often suffer from typical hay fever symptoms such as: [7]
Sneezing and sniffling, red eyes, tiredness and drowsiness – flying pollen can cause a lot of discomfort for those affected. Various flowering trees, grasses, grains and herbs can trigger pollen allergy, but many sufferers react particularly to birch pollen. Not just that, more and more people on the planet suffer from birch pollen allergy – but why?
Why do birch trees have allergies?
Heredity is one of the main causes of birch allergy. When there are allergy sufferers among moms and dads or grandparents, then there is a high probability that the child will also have a reaction. Ecological situation. The deplorable state of the ecology in cities causes many diseases, including allergies.
The easiest way to tell an allergy from a cold is to take an antihistamine. If the general condition after taking antihistamine has improved, you can suspect an allergy.
During a strong wind, allergy sufferers’ condition deteriorates significantly, since not only pollen rises into the air, but also particles of animal droppings, mold spores that are on the ground.
I never would have thought I’d be interested in botany. Allergy stimulated my dormant interest in trees and herbs, especially birch and alder. Now I take pictures of birch catkins, carefully examine alder pollen and do many other strange things for the delight of children and bystanders.
After a light rain, the pollen becomes more aggressive. For pollen grains, air humidity is a signal for reproduction. Pollen emits proteins, allergens, into the atmosphere, which are smaller than a pollen grain and more easily penetrate the bronchi.
Scientists count about 65 species of birch trees.
Birches also have advantages, they are beautiful and perfectly clean the air from unpleasant odors and pollution, therefore they are often planted next to busy highways.
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