Hay fever answers to the most important questions

Hay fever: answers to the most important questions

In Germany, around 13 million people are struggling with pollen allergy and hay fever. The main pollen season has started with spring. Sufferers suffer from itchy eyes, sneezing and coughing. An expert answers the most important questions on the topic.

Hay fever has high season in spring
Now in spring, the pollen and thus the hay fever high season. Many sufferers then have symptoms such as watery and itchy eyes, sneezing and a stuffy or flowing nose. As reported by the news agency "spot on news" suffer according to graduate oecotrophologist Sonja Lämmel from the German Allergy and Asthma Association (DAAB) in Germany, about 16 percent of the population - about 13 million people - in a pollen allergy, and the trend is rising. The expert answers the most important questions about diagnosis, symptoms and therapy in an interview with the agency.

Pollen causes allergic reactions
First, Ms Lämmel explained which pollen actually causes hay fever: "Most pollen allergies are mainly caused by early bloomers like hazel, alder or birch and grasses like rye and mugwort," said the expert. But in the meantime, the advent of ragweed is a possible cause of allergies. When pollen from trees, shrubs, grasses, grains and herbs touch the mucous membranes of those affected, allergic reactions are triggered. These include, for example, watery and itchy eyes, sneezing, a runny or stuffy nose, shortness of breath or bronchial asthma. In addition, the skin may react and headaches and sleep disturbances may occur. The stronger the pollen concentration in the environment of the allergy sufferers, the stronger the complaints. According to Lämmel, the state of health as well as the mental state of the patient also play a role.

Diagnosis through skin tests and blood test
Skin tests are carried out to find out which pollen causes exactly the allergic reactions, said the Oecotrophologin. This pollen extracts are applied to the skin or injected under the skin. In addition, there is a blood test in which antibodies can be detected against the respective pollen in the so-called RAST test. In addition, a so-called provocation test can serve for a reliable diagnosis. In this case, the suspicious pollen will be applied to the nasal mucosa, for example, to provoke the symptoms.

Long-gone complaints can reappear in old age
An allergy can be developed even in advanced age. It is also possible that allergic symptoms that had disappeared for a long time become worse again in old age. As the expert said, researchers dream of finally clarifying comprehensively the "how", "when" and "why" in the decoding of allergies. If the connections of allergy development were clarified, precautionary measures might be developed so that allergies do not even arise.

Why there are more and more allergic diseases
According to Lämmel, there are numerous explanatory models for the rise of allergic diseases. However, the increase certainly could not account for just one point of increase. Rather, different aspects come together. The expert explained that natural immunity decreases more and more in infancy. But adults are also increasingly sick of allergies. External influences, for example environmental factors, can be responsible for this. But a western lifestyle also plays a role in the development of allergies and other diseases, as an international research team recently reported. In addition, the allergen load also increases and the allergens - in this case the pollen - become more aggressive.

Reduce discomfort through hyposensitization
According to Lämmel, hyposensitization is the only causative therapy. In this case, the affected person is supplied with the corresponding allergen in order to achieve a habituation effect and thus a decrease in the number of complaints or even freedom. Not only are the symptoms to be alleviated, but also the risk for the development of bronchial asthma and the emergence of Neensensibilisierungen should be reduced. However, as this treatment method can also cause side effects, some people with allergies prefer to rely on natural remedies such as self-blood therapy, acupuncture, Bach flower therapy or homeopathy. In addition, various home remedies for hay fever available, which can relieve the symptoms.

Keep symptoms as low as possible
In order to keep the symptoms as low as possible, according to Lämmel, pollen-flight forecasts should be observed, but also critically questioned. Because there are no comprehensive forecasts, the DAAB has started the project "Pollen Trend". As the expert explained, so allergic complaints can be reported to major pollen nationwide, which provides additional guidance. She also advises that you should wash your hair before you go to bed, do not take your clothes off in the bedroom, and not dry outside during the pollen run. In addition, pollen screens can be placed on the windows and a regular nasal douche can help flush the pollen out of the nose. (Ad)

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Picture: M. Grossmann