Gfpacificbee’s Insights & photography

Everyone welcomes spring, a time for warmer weather, new growth, and new life. Even those who are extremely sensitive to pollen are glad that the cold 🥶 freezing weather of winter has gone for another year. But do they welcome the fresh pollen that abounds throughout the air? I do not think 🤔 so. I welcome the bright sunshine and days filled with warmth from the sun but I don’t relish the pollen the soars amidst the beautiful skies.

Pollen is a mass of microspores that appear as powdery substances produced by seed plants. The pollen is t4ransported in various ways such as wind, water, or insects. It can cause health problems for humans. People who are known to hay fever are affected when they breathe in the pollen. Once inhaled it can cause sneezing, congestion, and a runny nose. For some, it can also cause red, watery, or itchy eyes. I am affected by all of these symptoms. Common sources of hay fever symptoms and asthma are pollen from grass, weeds and trees.

Over thirty million people are affected by the springtime allergy, hay fever. The above collage shows today’s temperature, pollen count, and the outlook for three types of pollen. As you can see tree pollen is very high and grass pollen is at a moderate risk for today. I am affected by both types of pollen; however, I cannot stay inside all day. My grandson loves the outdoors too much and he’ll sneak out of the house if I don’t go outside with him. Therefore, I have to go outside since he is too young to be outside by himself.

Today, as I was sitting outside with my grandson, i observed several bees hard at work pollenating the flowers. The pollen count for my area was 56 grains today. How is a pollen count calculated? The pollen count is a measure of the pollen density in the air. A device such as an air sampler is used to capture pollen and then it identifies the sample pollens and counts them.

Are you affected by seasonal springtime allergies like I am? If so, what do you do about them? Use allergy medication? Avoid being outdoors? I do use allergy medicine; however, I wait until it is absolutely necessary before I take them. The following is a list of tactics you can use when battling seasonal allergies.

1. Monitor pollen count. Some weather programs and apps record and inform the public about the pollen count.
2. Start your allergy medications early. I use Claritin-D, but what works for one person does not necessarily work for someone else. Find what works for you, either over the counter or prescribed by your doctor.
3. Avoid being outdoors. My grandson and I love the outdoors, so we just manage to deal with the sneezing and watery eyes. It is recommended that you take a shower upon coming in from outside to reduce the amount of pollen you are bringing indoors.
4. Change the filters and get an air purifier. If you can, it is highly recommended to purchase a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) air purifier that will trap the harmful particles and not allow them to recirculate back into the air you breathe.
5. Rinse your sinuses. A nasal saline rinse helps wash out the pollen out of your nose.
6. Talk to your doctor. Your doctor is the best person to seek advice from to help overcome your seasonal allergies.

We’ve welcome spring once again, now let us be prepared and take precautions for the seasonal allergies that occur and may we be vigilant about keeping pollen outdoors as much as possible and not indoors to dwell amongst us.

Thank y’all. Remember I appreciate y’all. Feel free to like, comment and follow. Have a Blessed day!