For someone allergic to a specific airborne allergen (e.g. tree pollen), how fast does the body react to being exposed to that allergen?
More to the point, if I’m currently experiencing really bad symptoms, does it represent the current pollen count, or cumulative over the past couple of hours, or longer? If I wake up with those symptoms, does it necessarily mean the pollen count was fairly high in the bedroom, or could it be from exposure during the previous day?
I’ve certainly noticed very fast reaction times in terms of symptoms starting up - within seconds of getting near a flower arrangement with lilacs in it, or walking by an oak tree. I’m not sure how quickly they tail off, though - it can take a while in a filtered airspace for my symptoms to subside. I doubt they’d last overnight.
Based on my own experience, acute symptoms are the result of a very recent (e.g., on the order of minutes) increase in the concentration of the allergen. Just a couple of weeks ago, locally, the cedar trees started their annual assault on my immune system and the first day, I could tell something was up almost as soon as I was awake, but it wasn’t until I went outside into the “fresh” air and got a full dose that it really hit me. By the time I got to work (< 15 min.) I needed a Benadryl.
Sneezing is an almost immediate IgE mediated response following binding of pollen to Mast Cells. It is only effective if the response is fast, and sneezing is not designed to counter pollen, but rather inhaled pathogens. Here is a link -
Other symptoms can take some time, but most are really rapid. I can give this question a better explanation when I get off work later if needed -
Thanks for the responses.
It’s just frustrating because I can’t figure out where I’m getting the most exposure to pollen… I spent a couple hours Sunday afternoon riding a bike through the countryside (sort of) and didn’t even sneeze once. All the symptoms - including a bad sinus headache - started that evening and still continues as of Tuesday morning, even though I have air filters in the bedroom and the office.
Don’t rule out the possibility that this is not an allergic reaction. You could have a mild bacterial or viral infection.
Sorry, that was supposed to make you feel better. 
Are you bringing the pollen inside with you on your clothes, or in your hair? If you aren’t showering after your time outside or if your polleny clothes are lying on your bed etc… you may be exposing yourself to a lot of pollen indoors before your air filters can deal with it Especially if it’s gotten on your bed or in your hair and you are sleeping with your face in it. Your air filters will only remove pollen that’s airborn, and then only to the degree that air cirulates well in your room, they usually aren’t strong enough to deal with pollen that’s on fabric or hair etc. (also make sure that your filters have been changed or cleaned recently.).
It’s also entirely possible that you have a cold or other infection and not an allergy, or that you’ve developed an allergy to something inside your home.
It’s possible, but I think I know the symptoms pretty well by now - it’s exactly the same as this time last year.
I did shower after the bike ride on Sunday. And anyway from the responses above, it seems like if I picked up airborne allergens during the ride, I should have reacted to it during the ride, not just after.
There is that. I’m just hoping it’s not our new kitten. (Though I think it’s unlikely - the kitten sleeps in a separate room.)
p.s. Mandatory kitty pictures and bonus YouTube video.
