How Can I Overcome the Juniper Pollen Allergy?

Tree pollens such as the Juniper pollen cause symptoms in allergic individuals when the pollens are transported by the wind are inhaled. If you are allergic to Juniper pollen, you can visit your doctor for advice and treatments to alleviate symptoms, but there are ways that you can prevent your Juniper pollen allergy symptoms before they occur.

Avoid Exposure to Juniper Pollen

• The first thing to do is to try to avoid inhaling Juniper pollen. Find out when the Juniper pollen season occurs in your area and be careful not to expose yourself. During this period of time, keep your windows closed, including your car windows so pollen doesn't accumulate in your home or car; avoid outside activities during high Juniper pollen count days; but if you must be outside, wear a pollen mask and then remove your pollen filled clothes and take a shower when you come indoors; wash your hair in the evening before going to bed, so that Juniper pollen that may have stuck to your hair during the day isn't transferred to your pillow where you are inhaling it all night; if you have a pet, keep it bathed to prevent Juniper pollen on your pet's fur from contaminating furnishings throughout your house; rinse your sinuses with saline solution or sprays to remove pollens from your sinuses; don't hang laundry outside to dry on days where Juniper pollen counts are high; and if possible plan to take your annual vacation during Juniper pollen season, but in a location free from Juniper pollen, so you can escape the Juniper pollen altogether.

Get Allergy Shots

• The most effective preventive treatment for your Juniper allergy is to get desensitized to the Juniper pollen allergen with allergy shots. Your doctor or allergist will first have to confirm that Juniper pollen is causing your symptoms by doing an allergy skin prick test or blood test. Once the allergy is confirmed, your doctor can prepare allergy injections for you and give them to you over a series of years in gradually increasing doses. This way your body builds a tolerance or immunity to the Juniper pollen allergen over time.

Use Preventive Medications

• There are many medications your doctor can prescribe that will actually prevent your Juniper allergy symptoms from occurring. All of these medicines must be used on a daily basis over a long period of time to provide relief of Juniper allergy symptoms.

  Cromolyn sodium nasal sprays, inhalers and eye drops are available by prescription from your doctor. You should begin taking this medication before the Juniper pollen season. Cromolyn sodium coats your airways preventing allergy symptoms from occurring. Astelastine is an antihistamine that comes in the form of a nasal spray. It will block histamine from being released in your body when you are exposed to Juniper pollen. Histamine is what causes allergy symptoms and inflammation, so blocking it will prevent nasal allergy symptoms. Leukotriene modifiers, available in pill and inhaler form, stop the chemical reaction in your body that creates the allergic reaction you have from Juniper pollen. It also helps to reduce the inflammation and decrease the mucus that can form in your airways when you're exposed to Juniper pollen. Nasal corticosteroid sprays can help to prevent the inflammation in your sinuses caused by Juniper pollen as well. Antihistamines block the release of histamine caused your Juniper allergy symptoms, and are available in over-the-counter and prescription forms. Antihistamines used to cause drowsiness, but the newer ones are non-sedating.