Allergy to Roses

Millions of people suffer from some form of pollen allergies each year. Most people think that they are allergic to specific plants such as roses, but instead they are actually allergic to a variety of pollens that are released during the same general time. Roses are usually considered a high allergen plant, but they are actually among the safest, allergy-wise, of all the plants out there.

What is an Allergy

• According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, an allergy is the bodies' sensitivity to a substance that is normally harmless and that does not bother most people. Similarly, immunologist Dr. Michael Levi calls allergies a sort of "phobia" that our immune systems develop. The consensus is that allergies are not a disease or illness, but an over-reaction to some substance.

Allergic Reactions

• The bodies' immune system is responsible for defending the body against invading substances such as viruses and bacteria. When dealing with allergies, the body's immune system is reacting to a "false alarm." When the body first encounters the allergen it treats it like an invader and produces large amounts of immunoglobin E (IgE). The IgE attaches to various cells around the body and in the blood stream and when the IgE encounters the allergen, the body releases powerful chemicals such as histamines, which cause the various symptoms of the allergic response.

Rose Fever

• Rose fever is the name given to seasonal allergies that occur during the spring, when roses begin to release their pollen, as do hundreds and hundreds of other species of plants. Rose fever is quite common; however, most people who have rose fever are not actually allergic to roses, but to all sorts of other pollens. Roses produce pollen that is usually too big to actually become airborne and infiltrate our respiratory system. When most people suffer from an allergic reaction to roses, it is from smelling roses, which causes them to breathe in the pollen in the flower.

Treating Allergies

• Even though having rose fever is not a disease, it is still uncomfortable. To help treat allergies, there are a number of methods including medication, avoidance and immunotherapy. Avoiding allergens may sound like an easy step, but you must know what you are allergic to and you must then move to a place where none of that substance or pollen exists; for this reason, most people choose to treat their allergies instead of avoiding the issue. To treat allergies with medication, most people will take an antihistamine, which cancels out the effects of the histamines that the body produces to "fight off" the allergen. A major issue with antihistamines is that they often cause drowsiness or a loss or alertness, which many allergy sufferers find almost more uncomfortable than their itchy eyes and runny nose.

Living Allergy-Free

• There are ways to live allergy free without having to result to drastic measures such as daily medication or relocating yourself to a place with none of the allergens. Today there are many varieties of plants, trees and grasses that are completely or nearly completely allergen free, because they don't produce pollen. With a little bit of searching you will be able to find carriers of pollen-free or reduced-pollen plants near you and then you too can live without the fear of allergies.