Pollen allergy is one of the most common types of allergy. Most people have an adverse reaction to inhaling pollen. The immune system defends the body against harmful invaders, but in people with pollen allergies, the immune system identifies pollen as a danger and produces chemicals to fight against this pollen. This is when an allergic reaction takes place.
Pollen is very fine particles, found in trees, flowers, grass, and weeds. Some people have an allergic reaction to pollen all through the year, while some have them only during certain times of the year.
The symptoms and signs of pollen allergy include:
Diagnosis of pollen allergy
If you have the above signs of pollen allergy, then your diagnosis will involve the following:
Allergy skin tests: In this diagnosis, your skin is pricked with an extract of a specific allergen, which is usually a little bit of pollen. The reaction to this is then observed. It is one of the most sensitive testing methods and provides immediate results.
Allergy blood tests: This involves a blood test. After drawing blood, the sample is checked to see if you have any sign of allergies.
Treatment For pollen allergies
The best way to avoid pollen allergies would be to avoid any contact with pollen. However, this cannot be possible at all times because pollen is almost everywhere. However, consider getting yourself air purifiers, humidifiers, and filters.
Some o the treatments for pollen allergies include:
Nasal steroids
Nasal steroids are anti-inflammatory sprays that help in decreasing any kind of inflammation, swelling and excessive production of mucus. Taking this in low doses can help in treating any signs of pollen allergy.
Antihistamines
Histamine is a substance that causes allergic reactions like an itchy nose, watery eyes and excessive sneezing. Antihistamines counter the effects of histamines, thereby preventing your body from having reactions like a running nose or watery eyes.
Cromolyn Sodium
Cromolyn sodium comes in a form of a nasal spray, and can help prevent and stop hay fever by blocking the release of histamines and other reactions caused by chemicals in your body.
Decongestants
Decongestants come in both capsule as well as spray form, and they thin the nasal secretion and reduce any swelling or complications like a sinus disorder.
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy by using allergy shots can provide great relief to allergy prone patients. It directly deals with the immune system, altering its response to the allergen or pollen. However, this treatment has side effects so it is always advisable to consult your doctor before opting for any medication or treatment.
A pollen allergy affects close to 30% of adults and 40% of children. Even though it is a common type of allergy, it is recommended that you consult your doctor if you experience any signs of pollen allergy.
While for years, popular fashion looked down on Christmas jumpers and sweaters but in recent times, ugly holiday sweaters are gaining popularity in a big way. Online sellers of various Christmas apparel, including Christmas suits and Christmas pyjamas, will vouch for the fame these sweaters have surprisingly attained in the recent decades. While there’s nothing subtle about an ugly Christmas sweater, most are downright outrageous, and these sell like hot cakes.
Celebrities sporting these cheap Christmas sweaters, make them even trendier. There was this famous instance of Justin Bieber wearing a Christmas sweater worth $1,650 during a live performance.
Somewhere at the turn of this century, three Indiana State University graduates were sharp enough to observe the rise in popularity of these sweaters during Christmas parties. From elf Christmas sweaters to reindeer sweaters to hideous sweaters sporting huge Christmas trees with decorations made of pompoms and appliqu, these garments appeared to have taken the holidays by storm.
Adam Paulson, Kevin Wool and Brian Miller, these graduates, are the men behind UglyChristmasSweaterParty.com. In their opinion, people are quite conscious and, therefore, sick to death of paying attention to what they wear and how they appear through the year, that during the Christmas season, they cannot wait to let their hair down, wear a Christmas sweater, be trendy yet uninhibited. Towards the end of that decade, they observed that people were having a tough time finding ugly cheap Christmas sweaters and started an online business. They bought 50 sweaters from Goodwill for an approximate $75 and everything sold in a matter of hours.
Today, online selling of cheap Christmas sweaters is a successful business with many making a good living from it. UglyChristmasSweaterParty.com, for instance, in the beginning of this decade sold nearly 15,000 sweaters for about $24 a piece during the holiday season.
Ugly Christmas sweaters have their advantages. For one, they make for great conversation starters. Nothing beats a hideous reindeer on bulky sweater as an icebreaker. Two, they make the perfect business gift for someone who has everything, or for anyone who doesn’t mind laughing at themselves. These sweaters can totally help one get into the spirit of things. Three, they are the perfect party idea. Ugly Sweater themed Christmas parties have been all the rage for years now and they don’t appear to be diminishing in popularity any time soon. Nothing like an “ugly themed” Christmas party with tacky sweaters and with hideous looking food and drink to boot to ensure everyone from children to the aged have fun.
In the USA, the day after Thanksgiving is called as Black Friday. It marks the unofficial start of the celebrated and looked forward to Christmas shopping season. Black Friday is not a Federal holiday, but in some States like Florida, California and the others, Black Friday is given utmost importance as a holiday. The Black Friday weekend, which starts from the day of Thanksgiving extends to the next Sunday, is amongst the busiest business and shopping periods in the USA.
Origins
There are several popular theories concerning the origin of the use of the phrase Black Friday’. Some suggest that it was in connection with the heavy traffic and pedestrian rush that occurred on the streets after the day of Thanksgiving. Some believe that the term was used in connection with the profit in sales for the sellers that is the day they mark in black. Snippet: black is marked for profit and red Is marked for loss.
The phenomenon
Black Friday deals include discounts on furniture, electronics, clothes, souvenirs and gift items, consumer essentials and what not. Electronics, specially cell phones, seem to be a popular category, as many people snap up best smartphone deals and best smartphone plans during this period, saving a lot. Other popular electronic categories include PlayStation, televisions, etc. Seasoned shoppers usually review the Black Friday emails and ads beforehand to see which items are available in stores and which are available online and decide what they wish to pick up in stores and order online. One tip: Remember to take note of the times listed for the items as some of them may be available only during particular time periods.
Even though the customers are assured of offers, surprise gifts, and low price tags, Black Friday is actually an awful day to go for shopping. All the shops will be crowded and mobs of shoppers will jam the retail outlets and shops. Bulldozed by crowds, bushwhacked by the noise and listening to the confusion in the air, shoppers have to face several challenges if they go for shopping on Black Friday. However, these problems could be avoided with the effective combination of cooperation of people and the stores and salespeople.
Not to forget, for the people who are interested in enjoying a day out shopping for or with their family, Black Friday is the ideal day. Thus, they forget the trouble of standing in long lines for hours and the rush for shopping and go home happily in the end.
Statistics
Black Friday became the busiest shopping day of the year in the USA in 2003 and has maintained that spot throughout all the following years. The only exception was the year 2004 where it came second to the Saturday before Christmas.
Be it a specialist or an all-rounder, splurging all your money on the wrong handbag can cause your woes. To prevent that, you have to do a bit of research and you should find yourself shopping for the right handbag in no time.
Handbags can give you freedom form carrying essentials hands-free or an expensive fashion statement. Depending on what you choose, shop for the right one and be happy forever.
Here are our top few tips on how to buy the best handbag.
Run An Assessment Test
Before you decide to blow your next month’s rent on the current ‘It’ bag, see what you’ve got in your arsenal currently. Are most of your handbags only tote or travel bags? Then maybe it’s time to buy a clutch or a messenger bag for a change.
Most shoppers buy on impulse and often find themselves buying the same thing – except a bit flashier with more features. Change is good and you should embrace it. Buy something different to expand your fashion repertoire.
Choose Your Function
There’s a difference between buying a good handbag and a great handbag. Great handbags are ones you use very often, almost every day. They become a part of your fashion identity. Before you embark on your handbag shopping spree, do a little window shopping and try out different handbags.
There are travel bags, tote bags, clutches, messenger bags, duffle bags, bucket bags and so much more. The fashion vocabulary is endless!
Dress Yourself Up
Whether you intend to use your handbag in winter season or in the summer, dress up to reflect the environment you are living in. To put it simply, wear the clothes you’d normally wear whilst using your handbag every day and go shopping like that. Test out your handbags by swinging them over your shoulder and trying them out.
The comfort factor is important and you shouldn’t overlook it for design.
Open It Up
Turn your handbag inside out and see if the fabric or material is as good as advertised. Chances are, good handbags look just as good on the inside as they are out. So, open it up, see how many layers of seams are and if the handiwork is good.
Put some items in the handbag. Carry it around and see. Notice how it holds up. Is it easy to open and access it? Simple enough to tote around without hassle? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then it might be your handbag dream come true!