Spring and summer riot of nature pleases not everyone. When some gather bouquets, walking through fields and forests, others sit at home, sneezing and coughing from the ubiquitous pollen. Allergic disease caused by the pollen of plants, called pollinosis. The most frequent manifestations are conjunctivitis, rhinitis, bronchial asthma. They are very reminiscent of a cold: a person has a stuffy nose , watery eyes, he constantly sneezes and coughs. But unlike the common cold, which can be affected at any time of the year, the symptoms of pollinosis are characterized by a clear seasonality. And this is due to the periods of flowering plants. Roses and tears - all about the flower allergy you can find in this article.
In that people are tormented by allergic diseases, they are to blame ... they themselves. More precisely, their own immunity. As you know, mother nature, he is called to protect the body from harmful bacteria and viruses. But sometimes immunity starts to consider as enemies absolutely harmless things, for example pollen of plants. And then antibodies are produced in the blood, which enter into a fight with allergens. This frees a large amount of histamine and other biologically active substances, resulting in damage to cells of the skin and mucous membranes.
Pollinosis overcomes people from very old times. Even the ancient Roman physician Galen described the runny nose, arising from the smell of roses.
Season of pollen.
To date, scientists have counted on the globe several
dozens of different trees, herbs and cereals that cause allergies. The time of their flowering depends on weather conditions, so the season of pollinosis even in the same area in different years never starts at the same time. Approximate dates of flowering of plants in the middle zone of Russia are known. From year to year they can shift for a maximum of two weeks depending on the weather. In the first half of May the air is permeated with pollen of blooming birches, poplars and maples. Then they are replaced by oaks. In the middle of June, the cones of pine and fir trees are "dusted," and under them the dandelions are blooming. At the end of the month, a lime blossom appears. July is the month of wide flowering of meadow grasses, such as fescue, wheatgrass, timothy grass, bluegrass. And in the middle of August - beginning of September, allergies are trapped by pollen of wormwood, ragweed and swans.
Risk factors.
The manifestation of allergies is largely due to hereditary predisposition. If one of the parents suffers from an allergy, then the chance to pass this property of the organism to the next generation is 50 percent. If the acute reaction to allergens was fixed both in mom and dad, the probability that children will follow in their footsteps reaches 75 percent. Hypersensitivity to certain substances can also go to grandchildren from grandparents. However, the predisposition to allergies obtained from ancestors does not always develop into a disease. To the body "rebelled", he additionally needs to get under the influence of certain negative factors. Scientists believe that it is the environment that is to blame for the aggravation of allergic reactions among our contemporaries, especially the townspeople. In their opinion, the mucous membranes of our body suffer greatly from various chemical compounds contained in the air. Particles of this poison, of which the well-known smog consists, react with moisture, and as a result, acids are produced. And innocent city residents inhale them, damaging their mucous membrane. And she, in turn, reacts sharply to such seemingly natural phenomena of nature for a man as the flowering of trees, grasses and other small grass. So the number of victims of pollinosis grows every year, and nothing can be done about it.
Menu under the microscope.
If you notice an allergy to pollen of birch, hazel, alder or apple, you better not drink birch sap. Do not also get involved in cherries, peaches, carrots, nuts, celery, potatoes and kiwi. Those who once experienced an allergic reaction to the pollen of grass grasses should be careful when using wheat bread and oatmeal, as well as dishes from sorrel. Did you feel bad after you held the "head" of a sunflower in your hands or sniffed a bouquet of dahlias, chamomiles and dandelions? Perhaps, you will have the same reaction to melons, chicory, sunflower oil and halva. In addition, as medicinal herbs, you should not use calendula, croup, elecampane, mother-and-stepmother. Allergy to pollen of swans is a signal that you should not include beets and spinach in the menu.
There is an exit!
If you suffer from hay fever, be sure to contact an allergist and he will help you. First, the doctor must determine the type of plant that worsens your well-being. To do this, he will perform uncomplicated skin testing using the entire set of pollen allergens common in your locality. In addition, there are now many other, more sophisticated diagnostic methods. Some allow you to identify the reaction to certain allergens. These methods include enzyme immunoassay. Other methods check the reaction immediately for several dozens of substances, for example, mast-diagnostics. Identify the "enemies" and with the help of a blood test, which shows the presence of serum antibodies to this allergen. The main condition: analyzes must be done outside the flowering period.
For the treatment of pollinosis, there are several groups of drugs:
Antihistamines reduce the inflammation of the mucous membranes. Recently, nasal sprays have been developed to treat allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis. These modern drugs do not have a large list of contraindications and do not cause drowsiness.
Vasodilators in the form of drops and aerosols quickly restore nasal breathing. That's only apply these drops can be no more than 3-5 days, since there is a danger of overdose and undesirable side effects.
If for several years the allergy does not disappear, the doctor can offer treatment by the method of specific hyposensitization, which operates on the "wedge-shaped" principle. In increasing doses, a small amount of the culprit in the allergen disease is gradually introduced into the patient's body. Over time, antibodies appear in the blood, which increase the body's resistance. Usually it takes about three years.
8 tips for allergic people.
1. Avoid medications and cosmetics that contain plant extracts.
2. Do not go to nature during the flowering period. In extreme cases, go to the forest in the early morning, when the grass is still dew.
3. During an exacerbation of pollen, wash every two hours and two or three times a day get under the shower.
4. If possible, install an air ionizer or air cleaner at home. Daily spend at home wet cleaning. Do not breed geraniums and primulas at home, but do not plant lilac, jasmine, roses, violets and lilies of the valley at the dacha. These flowers can cause a cross allergic reaction with pollen of trees, meadow grasses and weeds.
6. Do not dry your clothes and clothes on the street or on the balcony, as the pollen is firmly deposited on the fabric.
7. While driving, keep the windows closed. The movement of air draws the pollen into the car's interior.
8. Planning a vacation, keep in mind that the best allergy sufferers feel at sea or in the mountains.