Are you allergic to grass? If so, the arrival of winter could provide you a welcome vacation from your allergy symptoms. But people who live in regions with warm temperatures year 'round might not be able to escape so easily from this troublesome trigger.

Year-Round Grass Allergy

Warm temperatures, blooming flowers, and lush lawns in January can be quite appealing. Yet in places where summer weather lasts all year long, residents often have to cope with extended, or even ongoing, exposure to grass pollen and other seasonal allergens.

Grass Allergy Symptoms

The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (AAAAI) reports that having a grass allergy can negatively impact your quality of life even more than other similar allergies.

Some common symptoms you may experience from grass pollen include:

  • Sneezing
  • Nasal congestion
  • Itchy eyes and nose
  • Itchy, burning throat
  • Allergic asthma

Take Control

Whether your grass allergy is seasonal or sticks around indefinitely, you don't have to take your symptoms lying down. Here are some things you can do to feel better:

  • Find out exactly when grass pollen is a concern in your region and follow the daily pollen counts from the National Allergy Bureau (NAB) either through AAAAI's website at www.aaaai.org or in your local newspaper or radio station.
  • Stay inside with the windows closed and run your air conditioner when the pollen count is high.
  • Plan outdoor activities for afternoons, since pollen counts are highest in the early morning.
  • Avoid spending too much time outside on warm, dry days when pollen counts peak.
  • Hire someone to mow your lawn or wear a facemask if you must do it yourself.
  • Ask your doctor about taking antihistamines and nasal sprays to combat your symptoms.
  • Consider allergy injections if other efforts aren't providing you relief.

Hope for the Future

In the future, it may become even easier to get the upper hand on a grass allergy thanks to a new treatment method called sublingual immunotherapy. This approach is successfully used in Europe. Patients there take a once-a-day tablet called Grazax, which contains miniscule amounts of grass pollen to build up the body's tolerance to grass.

Studies have found that patients taking this drug for a three-year period had a significant improvement in their grass allergy symptoms. Even more encouraging, the results remained a year after patients discontinued the drug. This mediation is currently undergoing clinical trials in the United States toward approval. Once it's available, you may be able to give your grass allergy the boot no matter where you live or what the season.

Sources:

Durham et. Al. "Long-term clinical efficacy in grass pollen-induced rhinoconjunctivitis after treatment with SQ-standardized grass allergy immunotherapy tablet. "Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. Volume 125, Issue 1. 131-138. Jan. 2010. Web. 20 Oct. 2010.

Durham et al. "Sublingual immunotherapy with once-daily grass-allergen tablets: A randomized controlled trial in seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis." Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. Volume 117, Issue 4. 802-809. JACI Online.  April 2006. Web. 20 Oct. 2010.

"Tips to Remember: Outdoor Allergens." American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, AAAAI. 2010. Web. 16 Oct. 2010.

"Topic of the Month: April 2005: Staying Ahead of Spring Allergy Season." American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, AAAAI. 28 Feb. 2005. Web. 16 Oct. 2010.