Grass pollen: Info for allergy sufferers

by Johannes

When it comes to pollen allergies, only very few people think of grass pollen. When the keywords pollen and allergy are mentioned, flower pollen is almost always the first thing that comes to mind. But far from it: in fact, more people suffer from grass pollen than from flower pollen.

Grass pollen: What allergy sufferers should know

Whether grass pollen or flower pollen: For those affected, it is ultimately the same which pollen makes life difficult for them. Hay fever is unpleasant anyway, with watery eyes and a runny nose, but it is also particularly annoying during the most beautiful months of the year.

  • As a botanical layman, it is almost impossible to imagine, but in fact there are well over 8,000 different species of grasses, with plants such as maize also being included.
  • In our country, it is especially the sweet grasses, such as knotgrass, bentgrass or timothy grass, that can cause an allergy flare-up. Particularly dangerous for pollen allergy sufferers, however, is bluegrass.
  • In addition to maize, other cereals such as rye, oats, wheat and barley also belong to the sweet grasses. Rye is one of the most aggressive allergen carriers, as it sends the most pollen through the air by far.
  • In addition to the large number of different grasses that can trigger allergies, there are also quite different flowering times when the main allergens are released. The months of May, June and July are usually the most affected.
  • In fact, the first grass pollen whizzes through the air as early as March and there is usually a relatively high pollen load in the months of August and September as well. The classic hay fever season actually falls mainly in the months of June and July.
  • Almost all grasses show cross-reactions to each other. Rarely, cross-reactions to certain foods such as peanuts, soy, beans, peas and lentils can also occur.
  • By the way, not only the flowers of grasses contain allergenic substances, but all parts of the plant. If you cut grasses, you should take this into account.

These measures can help with allergies

If you know exactly which of the grass pollens cause you problems, it is important to banish them from your immediate environment as much as possible. There are also a few other measures you can take to make your life a little easier:

  • Particularly in the peak pollen season, you should already take off your clothes outside the living area if you could be contaminated by grass pollen, such as after a walk. This is not really practical in a high-rise building, of course, but if you live in a detached house, this measure is very easy to implement.
  • If necessary, a short shower after a walk in nature is not wrong. The hair should also be rinsed briefly in the process.
  • Pollen screens are also very helpful and are available in a wide variety of versions. Window and door protection is of course particularly useful if you live in a rural area.

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