Pollen is a small natural component consisting of tiny grains made up of proteins, amino acids, vitamins, carbohydrates, lipids, and minerals, a highly important element for the maintenance of global fauna and flora, but have you ever wondered why this tiny particle has such high allergenic potential?
According to Doctor Janaina Melo, when pollen enters the respiratory tract of an allergic person, the body activates cells that release histamine and other substances, triggering the classic symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as coughing, sneezing, irritated eyes and throat, shortness of breath, and redness of the skin. This occurs because the immune system of an allergic person recognizes pollen as an invader.
Are all types of pollens, that is, grains from different plants, allergenic? Most types of pollen do have the potential to cause allergies; however, some external factors end up contributing to higher rates of allergies, such as, for example, atmospheric conditions. According to the allergist Mariana Couto, dry, hot, and very windy days are the most conducive to increased pollination, which, despite being good for the progress of nature’s reproduction, is more dangerous for allergic people, as they increase the concentration of pollen in the air and aggravate allergic symptoms. Rainy periods, on the other hand, act as a natural filter, drastically reducing these particles.
For most plants, spring and early summer offer the ideal temperature and humidity for pollination, however, it is worth noting that the pollination calendar varies, and different species bloom at distinct times throughout the year. Global warming also causes plants to bloom prematurely. As a result, the pollen season not only begins earlier but also lasts much longer than normal, prolonging the period of allergic crises.
In general, the pollen of some plant species is indeed more allergenic than others, such as, for example, some species of trees (like olive, plane, and birch), herbs (like pellitory, mugwort, and plantago), and shrubs. However, the great villain of respiratory crises caused by pollen allergy is, without a doubt, grass pollen (popularly known as hay).
Pollen from plants with very colorful flowers or large dimensions (such as pine trees) rarely causes allergies, as the size and weight of these grains hinder their airborne dispersion and entry into the respiratory tract. What frequently happens is an irritation caused by the strong odor of these plants, which ends up being mistaken for an allergic reaction. The pollen that actually triggers allergies is microscopic and completely invisible to the humans eyes.