Hayfever Allergy between pollen For allergy sufferers, the most arduous season has begun: Pollen alarm. What hay fever sufferers can do to t...
Hayfever Allergy between pollen
| For allergy sufferers, the most arduous season has begun: Pollen alarm. What hay fever sufferers can do to their complaints. |
Hay fever is one bad reaction: The organism responds to an actually harmless substance (here: the protein of pollen). Inhalation or direct contact with pollen that floats in the air, swollen conjunctiva and nasal mucosa. The symptoms are similar to a cold: itching (in the palate, nose, and ears), sneezing, fluent coryza , nasal congestion, itchy or watery eyes.
Hay fever , known in the jargon pollinosis, is the most common in our part of the allergic disease . In Switzerland suffer approximately 1.2 million people, or about 15 to 20 percent of the population, it. In two out of three affected grass pollens are the triggers. Although Of hats in the country tend to have more - but live in urban areas than average Allergy. This is probably related to air pollution: Researchers have shown that pollen grains by nitrogen oxides and ozone are changed such that they trigger allergies easier. Grass pollen can not escape, and this for a long time: from May until well into the autumn. Therefore, grasses allergy are especially plagued.
The best way is the anti-allergy medicines (antihistamines). The tablets, nasal sprays, and eye drops relieve the symptoms fairly reliable. The previously common side effects (especially fatigue ) are in modern preparations hardly an issue.
If it's bad, the doctor must be found
But for many people, this is not enough. You should take specific immunotherapy eye. In this so-called desensitization, Removal or a physician pollen allergens injected into the fatty tissue of the upper arm. Initially very little, then more and more in order to acclimatize the body to the fabric. Thus, the cause of the allergy is fought, namely the overreaction of the body's immune system to the pollen. Before spraying, an allergy evaluation by a specialist is necessary: With skin and blood tests will determine to what you are exactly allergic. The insurance companies will pay for it.
Such treatment takes three to five years. After each of a total of up to 50 syringes has to wait half an hour under medical supervision - just for working people a burden. Therefore, only really sufferers have plenty of stamina for this ordeal. For immunotherapy is successful 80 to 90 percent of treated patients report significant relief of symptoms.
Similarly, there is an allergy vaccination in tablet form. She also works on the principle desensitization. The tablet is placed under the tongue so that the oral mucosa can absorb the active ingredient. The complex medical appointments account for it. And: According to findings of the World Health Organization, the tablets therapy able to influence the course of disease and quality of life is increasing in adults and children.
Untreated rhinitis can cause allergic asthma after a few years. This so-called "allergic march" - the problem sliding in the body down a floor - is much more difficult to treat than the original hay fever.
Behavior Tips for allergy sufferers
At homeMost people prefer to take a shower in the morning - Allergy but better at night. And to vacuuming the others.
Tip: While showering in the evening the pollen are rinsed from the skin and from the hair that would otherwise end up on the pillow and inhaled. Therefore, the clothes should not undress in the bedroom or let it dry laundry outside. In the pollen season is airing the best in the rain or in the early morning hours. Fans swirling lying on the ground pollen repeatedly scratch. Pollen filter in the car and pollen screens on windows can provide relief. Vacuuming and mowing should be left to others.
During sports
Windy, sunny days are sheer agony for hay fever patients. Nevertheless, they have to do without moving out.Tip: After the rains, the air is clean; on windless days fly less pollen. A pair of sunglasses with side shields keep pollen away from the eyes and protects the already irritated eye mucosa. Caution with outdoor sports activities. Under great stress, the body reacts more strongly than usual allergic Who is in drug treatment, can also operate outside sports. But beware: take medication one hour before exercise. While jogging and cycling one is exposed to the greatest pollen.
During the meal
When a hay fever patient in December is eating an apple and then feel an itch on the face, lips or palate, the birch pollen can it be to blame.Tip: Up to two-thirds of all hay fever patients prone to so-called cross-allergies, so are also sensitive to certain foods, whose proteins have similar structures. Whether a cross allergy exists, a doctor can clarify. Particularly common are the following combinations: birch with hazelnut, walnut, almond, apple, cherry, peach, kiwi, carrot or celery; Grass pollen with melon, peanut or tomato. Even honey, because it contains pollen, cause discomfort. Many foods call only raw cause symptoms, boiled or however not heated. An allergic reaction while eating fruit can often already be prevented if one peels before or Raffle.
Drugs
Antihistamines block the body, the binding sites for the inflammatory substance histamine, which is distributed in allergy and causes the symptoms.Tip: Many patients take the funds only if they have complaints. The effect is better if one takes the pills preventively. That is best done with taking shortly before the pollen season. The usual preparations are in small packs (ranging from 10 to 14 days) available without a prescription, in larger quantities only by prescription. Then the costs are covered by health insurance. Are the drugs do not, is a medical examination of a possible desensitization (see main text) appears. In milder cases suffice general-counter anti-allergic drugs such as nasal sprays and eye drops. can rinse the nose with a sea salt solution also, be helpful.
On holiday
Thus, the holiday is really relaxing, allergies should select the timing of vacation and targeted information about the pollen count at the destination.Tip: Then travel when flying home most allergenic pollen. Namely to places where this is less the case: on islands, the seaside or in the mountains. Rule of thumb: about 2000 meters the air is almost free of pollen. However, topography and vegetation play an important role. Investigations have shown that the pollen count on the Alp Grüm (on the Bernina Pass, at 2100 meters) is significantly higher than the 500 feet below Davos. The reason: In Davos there is little wind and a relatively sparse flora. Hay fever patients should be informed beforehand about the pollen count of vacation destinations.
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