Pollen is one of the most common causes of allergies in the United States.  It sometimes referred to as “hay fever.”  I suffer from pollen allergies, and last weekend was a high pollen count, which meant that I had to stay inside all weekend blowing my nose and putting drops in my eyes.  The fact that I felt terrible did not help my mood.  Physical symptoms can have a big  impact on mood.  This weekend pollen is very low, so I am feeling well and able to be outside.

Pollen is a very fine powder produced by trees, flowers, grasses, and weeds to fertilize other plants of the same species. Many people have an bad immune response when they breathe in pollen.  The immune system normally defends the body against harmful invaders — such as viruses and bacteria — to ward off illnesses.  In people with pollen allergies, the immune system mistakenly identifies the harmless pollen as a dangerous intruder. It begins to produce chemicals to fight against the pollen.  This is known as an allergic reaction, and the specific type of pollen that causes it is known as an allergen. The reaction leads to numerous irritating symptoms, such as: 

• Sneezing
• stuffy nose
• watery eyes
  
  If you are having these symptoms, you may have a pollen allergy.  You can look up the pollen count in Kissimmee here:  https://www.pollen.com/forecast/current/pollen/34741
  
  Check it to see if your symptoms happen at the same time the pollen count is high.
  
   Some people have pollen allergies year-round, while others only have them during certain times of the year. For example, people who are sensitive to oak pollen usually have increased symptoms during the spring when oak trees are in bloom.
  
   About 8 percent of adults in the United States experience hay fever, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (AAAAI)
  
    Symptoms can be treated with medications and allergy shots. Over the counter medications can be helpful, along with wearing a dust mask when doing outside chores, keeping doors and windows closed or staying inside.