Pollen grains from trees, grasses and weeds can float through the air in spring, summer or fall. But on their way to fertilize plants and tree flowers, pollen particles often end up in our noses, eyes, ears and mouths. The result can be sneezing spells, watery eyes, congestion and an itchy throat.

The collection of symptoms that affect the nose when you breathe in something you are allergic to is called allergic rhinitis; when the symptoms affect the eyes, it's called allergic conjunctivitis. Allergic rhinitis caused by plant pollen is commonly called hay fever — although it's not a reaction to hay and it doesn't cause fever.

Pollen allergy affects about one out of 10 Americans, according to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. For some, symptoms can be controlled by using over-the-counter medicine occasionally. Others have reactions that may more seriously disrupt the quality of their lives. Allergies can trigger or worsen asthma and lead to other health problems such as sinus infection (sinusitis) and ear infections in children.

Many people with allergic rhinitis notice a seasonal pattern with their symptoms, but others may need a health care professional's help to find out for sure if pollen is the source of their misery. If symptoms crop up year-round, dust mites, pet dander or another indoor allergy trigger (allergen) could be the culprit. This year-round condition is known as perennial allergic rhinitis.

When to Get Treatment

See a health care professional if you experience allergies for the first time, your symptoms interfere with your ability to function, you don't find relief from over-the-counter drugs or you experience allergy symptoms over a long period.

You may need an allergy test, the most common of which is a skin test that shows how you react to different allergens, including specific pollen allergens like ragweed and grass pollen.

Avoid Pollen

Once you know you have seasonal allergies, try to avoid pollen as much as possible. Pay attention to pollen counts and try to stay indoors when pollen levels are highest. Pollen counts measure how much pollen is in the air and are expressed in grains of pollen per square meter of air collected during a 24-hour period.

• In the late summer and early fall, during ragweed pollen season, pollen levels are highest in the morning.
• In the spring and summer, during the grass pollen season, pollen levels are highest in the evening.
• Some molds, another allergy trigger, may also be seasonal. For example, leaf mold is more common in the fall.
• Sunny, windy days can be especially troublesome for pollen allergy sufferers.

It may help to:

• Keep windows closed in your house and car and run the air conditioner.
• Avoid mowing grass and doing other yard work, if possible.
• Wear a face mask designed to filter pollen out of the air and keep it from reaching nasal passages, if you must work outdoors.