What to do About Pollen

What is Pollen?

What is pollen?

Pollen is a fine yellow powder produced by certain plants when they reproduce. During the spring, summer, and fall seasons, it's released into the air and picked up by the wind, which brings it to other plants to fertilize them.

What kind of pollen is released in March and April?

Tree pollen is the first pollen to appear each year in the United States. It is responsible for most spring pollen allergy symptoms. It also often overlaps with grass pollen in the spring and summer. Throughout the U.S., trees produce the most pollen from March through May. In the Charlotte area, mold is also a common allergy in March.

How does pollen affect public speaking?

Allergies can influence your voice in various ways. First, allergens can irritate and inflame the vocal cords, leading to hoarseness. Second, the congestion from a stuffed nose or postnasal drip can make it difficult to breathe easily. Finally, the medicines you take for allergies can affect your voice. Antihistamines, while effective in drying up mucus, can also dry up the protective layer of mucus on your vocal cords. Dry vocal cords can become stiff or inflamed, resulting in a raspy voice.

How to check pollen count and what does that tell me?

The Weather Channel is one resource that will tell you the overall level of pollen in the area as well as the level of tree, grass and ragweed pollen. The overall pollen count will give you a look at how bad your allergies may be for that day. If you know what kind of pollen you are allergic to, the breakdown of the type of pollen can let you know how severe your allergies may be on any given day.

What can you do about it?

Non-medical options:

- Spicy food can clear congestion but can make a runny nose worse
- Use honey for sore throats
- Avoid the outdoors during peak pollen times from 5am to 10 am
- ALWAYS shower before bed during pollen season
- Hydrate to help alleviate congestion
- Hot showers can help congestion and runny noses

Medicine that can help:

*Always consult your doctor before taking any medication. These are recommendations*

Antihistamines:

Allegra
Claritin
Zyrtec
Benadryl
Antihistamine eyedrops

These are the most common antihistamines. One way antihistamines work is by drying up the mucus in the sinuses. This has the same affect on the protective layer on your vocal cords which can contribute to a hoarser voice. Benadryl is fast acting and lasts for around 6 hours with the added side affect of drowsiness. Allegra, Claritin and Zyrtec take longer but lasts for 12 or 24 hours. The Allergy and Asthma Network suggests starting to take an allergy medication 2 to 4 weeks before exposure to fully protect against pollen allergies. Antihistamine eye drops are very helpful. When you rub your eyes or touch your face, the pollen transfers there and can irritate the eyes. It is important to note that antihistamines can help with sneezing, itching and runny noses. They do NOT help with congestion.

Nasal Steroid Sprays:

Flonase
Nasonex
Nasacort
Saline spray
Afrin

These nasal sprays do not affect the mucus levels in the body which means that they do not dry out the throat. Saline spray can be used to remove allergens from the nasal passage but they do not treat symptoms. Flonase, Nasonex, and Nasacort all help with sneezing, runny nose and decongestion and can be taken daily if needed. Afrin is a very powerful decongestant that should only be taken for a few days.

Decongestant:

Sudafed (most effective if purchased from pharmacist)
- Options include 4 hour, 12 hour and 24 hour
Mucinex

The decongestant ingredient phenylephrine has been found ineffective when taken orally by the FDA so check what the active ingredient is in the decongestant before you by it. Sudafed, when purchased from a pharmacist and not taken from available shelves, has the active ingredient pseudoephedrine which is more effective. The Sudafed that is available on shelves contains phenylephrine. Mucinex has the active ingredient Guaifenesin which has mixed results for congestion according to the American Academy of Family Physicians.

Where can I get medication if I need it?

Nearest Walgreens to campus: 8538 N Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28262

Nearest Walmart to campus: 7735 N Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28262

Nearest Target to campus: 8120 University City Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28213

Nearest CVS to campus: 11430 N Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28262

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