Allergy pollen already fly more

03/26/2015

Spring is finally here again - but hay fever sufferers have noticed for some time that the pollen season has already begun. Now in March fly more willow, hazel, alder and poplar through the air and provide affected people for itchy eyes and sneezing attacks. The pharmacy chamber Bremen advises to equip themselves early with appropriate funds.

Anyone who is treated with antiallergic drugs as a hay fever patient in time for the start of the pollen season is well advised. Because compared to recent years, the flight behavior has changed a lot today. Grasses and pollen are due to the mild temperatures and other environmental influences already very early on the road and provide allergic people in the worst case for almost the entire year itchy noses and watery eyes. „Birch pollen causes the most problems, as it most often causes allergies“, explains Dr. Richard Klämbt, President of the Apothekerkammer Bremen. It is all the more important to deal with the pollen calendar of the region, with the family doctor or allergist to filter out appropriate funds and seek advice in the pharmacy.

Fast action desired
The reason why nose and eyes are particularly affected by hay fever can be explained by the high number of mast cells in the nasal mucus and conjunctiva. Mast cells release histamine on contact with allergens, resulting in swelling of the nasal mucosa and increased secretion. Sneezing attacks and itching are also triggered by the messenger substance. So that the hay fever does not spread into the lower respiratory tract, it is important to act as quickly and consistently. The so-called „floor change“ occurs in 30 to 49 percent of all those affected: The allergic symptoms worse, go on the bronchi, and it comes to allergic bronchial asthma. „Those affected want a quick relief from their symptoms, but they should also think about long-term treatment“, so Klämbt.

For allergic complaints loratadine and cetirizine are the first choice. They are effective, well tolerated and hardly make you tired - however, with cetirizine a sedative effect can not be completely ruled out, so caution when driving a car is required. Antihistamines in the form of ready-to-use preparations promise good and fast help: nasal spray and eye drops. Within fifteen minutes, the effect starts with an H1 antihistamine. Drugs such as azelastine and levocabastine are used locally as eye drops or nasal spray and also last up to twelve hours. Newer antihistamines include rupatadine, levocetirizine and desloratadine. They are generally considered to have very few side effects and are associated with decongestant and anti-inflammatory effects. If no improvement occurs, the use of glucocorticoid is advisable - but in consultation with the family doctor. „Glucocorticoids prevent or alleviate all inflammation associated with allergic reactions“, explains the President of the Chamber. It acts both on the mucous membranes of the nose and eyes as well as decongestant and anti-inflammatory in the bronchial system.

If you want to prevent it at an early stage, you are well advised to use the active ingredients cromoglycic acid and nedocromil. They act as mast cell stabilizers and cause the body to release less histamine. The hay fever symptomatology is thus weakened. The remedies usually do not work immediately, but only after about two to three weeks. The application must be made regularly several times a day.

Other options for therapy
You can also do something right at home: for example, there are special vacuum cleaner filters and nets for windows that trap pollen. In addition, proper airing in the pollen phase is important. In the city should be best aired early in the morning, in the countryside in the late evening. By the way, after a rain shower, the air is especially clean, as wet pollen fly worse.

A permanent solution may also be hyposensitization. This is a specific immunotherapy or allergy vaccine. The allergic person is injected at certain intervals by syringe repeatedly the substance to which he responds. However, a quick cure should not be expected - the treatment is only completed after three to five years, because the corresponding allergen is only given once a week in increments in the first few weeks. When the maximum dose is reached, the patient only receives an injection every four to eight weeks. If there is no improvement after two years, the therapy will be stopped. In addition to this possibility of fighting hay fever, there are also short-term immunotherapy and rush immunotherapy. „The affected person should first talk in detail with his family doctor, which option is suitable for him - or if it promises any success“, so Klämbt. „Pregnant women or people with severe asthma, cardiovascular or tumor diseases, kidney problems or a weakened immune system, for example, can not take this type of therapy.“ (Pm)

Picture: Günther Richter