In the spring months, Maryland’s air fills with pollen, ragweed, and other seasonal allergens that leave the state’s residents wheezing, sneezing, and suffering. Of course, the Old Line State doesn’t have a monopoly on seasonal allergies—some 50 million people across the entire country struggle with the affliction and, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine, allergies are the sixth-leading chronic illness in the U.S. Whenever a condition affects that many people, myths are bound to propagate. Whether it’s the idea that eating local honey can cure seasonal allergies or that over-the-counter nasal sprays are addictive, the health industry just can’t seem to shake a few of these fictional claims.
The myth: Local honey will help cure allergies.
The truth: The pollen that causes allergies isn’t the same as the pollen that bees carry from flower to flower. The idea that eating local honey can desensitize you to pollen seems logical—which is probably why this is one of the most common myths surrounding seasonal allergies—but it’s pollen from trees and grasses, not flowers, that cause seasonal allergies. No scientific evidence even suggests that honey, local or not, can have an effect on sniffling.
The myth: The newly opened flower blossoms make allergies worse.
The truth: As previously mentioned, it’s tree pollen, not flowers, that cause seasonal allergies. Of course, the brightest culprits always get blamed, but it’s actually the least inspiring of trees that cause the worst allergies—oak, birch, and maple, all of which have pollen that can travel miles by the wind. While some flowers, such as hydrangeas and roses, could be irritating for people who get up close and personal with the blossoms, they pollinate by insects, not the wind.
The myth: You can move to the Southwest (or any other location in the U.S.) to escape seasonal allergies.
The truth: There are allergens everywhere, even Arizona, which is often touted as a mecca for allergy-free living. While the Southwest states might not have the same types of pollen as Maryland, you could be allergic to cactus flowers, sagebrush, or mold, all prevalent on the other side of the country. And indoor allergens, such as pet dander, can occur anywhere. In other words, don’t call your realtor quite yet.
The myth: If you didn’t have allergies as a kid, you wouldn’t have them as an adult.
The truth: Allergies can show up at any time in your life. Too many adults suffer from seasonal allergies, claiming that it “must be a bad cold” because they never had allergies previously. However, you can develop hay fever in your 20s, 30s, or beyond. A quick way to differentiate: Colds, which typically end in about two weeks, won’t cause your nose, eyes, or roof of your mouth to itch.
The myth: Nasal sprays are addictive.
The truth: The sprays aren’t addictive, but they do stop working as well after a few days of continuous use. Plus, you’re not crazy—your congestion does get worse when you stop using the sprays. It’s called a “rebound effect,” though, and it’s not an addiction. You can decrease the effect by only using nasal sprays for five days or less (three days is ideal), as well as rotating through classes of sprays, including steroid sprays, antihistamine sprays, or saline sprays.
