Allergy sufferers suffer from early birch pollen flight

Early and heavy birch pollen flight causes allergies

03/28/2014

Birch pollen are traveling earlier and in higher concentration in Berlin this year. Meteorologists at Freie Universität Berlin recently confirmed this with measurements. For allergy sufferers it extends the time of suffering. On the website of the Pollen Information Service you will find relevant information about the local pollen load.

Birch pollen has been causing allergies this year since the beginning of March
56 birch pollen per cubic meter were measured on 22 March in a pollen trap on the roof of the FU Institute for Meteorology in Steglitz. Since the pollen records began in the capital in 1984, an earlier onset of birch pollen flight was first registered in 1990.

Normally, birches bloom from late March to late April. In the past year, the first birch pollen was measured only on 18 April, since the winter was long and cold. By contrast, temperatures were already very mild this year in February. The average temperature of 5.1 degrees Celsius had been too warm for the month by 4.6 degrees, inform the scientists. In addition, it was only frosty for seven nights. „At the beginning of March, spring came at a rapid pace“, explained meteorologist Thomas Dümmel. „The high pressure areas Helmut and Ingo gave us a lot of sunshine and temperatures up to 20 degrees.“ Thus, March could be about four degrees too warm. Due to the above-average temperatures, the birches would have started to bloom early, especially in very protected or sun-exposed locations, and released their allergenic dusts into the air, Dümmel said.

Pollen information service informs about local birch pollen pollution
The Institute of Meteorology of the FU Berlin not only publishes the current pollen levels, but also publishes a forecast for the next few days, so that allergy sufferers better plan, for example, if a trip to the lake is too stressful. This type of prevention is available to those affected three times a week with data on the current air pollution of the allergologically relevant pollen. In addition, allergy sufferers can enter their symptoms in a pollen calendar, which is deposited on the website of the institute. Daily reports of symptoms such as swollen nose, heavy sneezing and watery eyes make it easier for doctors to make a diagnosis. Final certainty provides an allergy test.

Tips for everyday birch pollen allergy
For the coming weekend, allergy sufferers should arm well, because the beautiful weather is accompanied by an increased concentration of birch pollen in the air. The German Allergy and Asthma Association (DAAB) advises those affected, among other things, not to take off their clothes in the bedroom and to wash the hair, in which the fine dusts can collect, before bedtime. Since sneezing attacks when driving a car can be very dangerous, allergy sufferers should pay particular attention to a clean interior. Thus, regular and thorough statements of the car is essential. Optimally, a person without pollen allergy takes over this work. In addition, the pollen filter in the vehicle should be changed at least once a year. In heavy birch pollen flight, it is advisable to keep the windows and the sunroof closed. (Ag)