What Is an Allergy?
An allergy is the reaction of a person's immune system to a foreign body, such as grass pollen, that triggers a response by the immune system. Foreign bodies that trigger allergic reactions are called allergens.
Grass Pollen as Allergen
Grass pollen is one of the most common allergens effecting people. Pollen is produced by grass and other plants in order to reproduce. Pollen consists of microscopic-sized round- or oval-shape grains containing the plant's seed.
Grass Pollen
The pollen of only a handful of the more than 1,200 species of grass causes allergic reactions in people. The most common grass pollen allergens are Bermuda grass, Johnson grass, Kentucky bluegrass, orchard grass, redtop grass, sweet vernal grass and timothy grass.
Grass Pollen Allergy Symptoms
The most common symptoms of grass pollen allergies are a running or congested nose, sneezing, wheezing and itchy and watery eyes.
Night Symptoms of Pollen Allergies
The night symptoms of pollen allergies are similar to those of the daytime. However, at night, allergy suffers often find their sleep is disturbed as the nasal passages and sinuses become inflamed and clogged up, preventing the sufferer from breathing through her nose.
Controlling Pollen Allergies at Night
A good source of relief is the use of antihistamines nasal irrigation, which entails gently washing the nasal passages and sinuses with a saline solution. Nasal irrigation will remove allergens, dust and mold that cling to the mucus membranes lining the nasal passages and sinuses, thus reducing inflammation.
Tags: most common, nasal passages, nasal passages sinuses, passages sinuses, allergic reactions, grass pollen, Grass Pollen