Hay Fever Tips for allergy sufferers

Pollen count starts earlier than usual this year

03/13/2014

The main season of the pollen year 2014 is just around the corner and for allergy sufferers the time of itchy noses and watery eyes again. More and more people are affected by this, meanwhile fight according to data of the Robert Koch Institute 16.5% of the women and 13% of the men in Germany against the pollen of blooms, grasses, trees or herbs. As a result of the mild winter, experts are forecasting particularly high levels of stress this year, with the result that pollen count will start much earlier this year, according to forecasts. But this does not automatically mean more discomfort - instead, with the help of some tips, those affected can do something themselves to make the pollen time more bearable.

A quarter of the population between the ages of 30 and 39 suffers from hay fever
As informed by the Foundation German Pollen Information Service, Germany is currently flying
the pollen of the alder, from mid-March comes then the birch, first in the south and about a week later then in the north of the country. In addition, pollen from grasses will be added from mid-April, from mid-July it will be from mugwort and at the end of July it will be ambrosia - also usually in the southern federal states a little earlier than in the northern one. Every year, more people suffer from pollen pollution, and more than a quarter of the population between the ages of 30 and 39 is currently struggling with hay fever, according to a recent study by the Robert Koch Institute. This can be in very different forms, some it remains with a slight itching of the nose and red eyes, in many cases, it also comes to severe itching, severe, flowing colds (allergic rhinitis), a permanently clogged nose and frequent sneezing.

Fast action in pollen allergy important
Unfortunately, while those affected can not stop the pollen count, the severity of the symptoms can be influenced to some extent. Above all, rapid action is important in this form of allergy, since anti-allergic drugs should be taken at the very first sign, as the president of the German Professional Association of ENT Doctors, Dirk Heinrich, told the news agency „dpa“ advises. It could also continue to use remedies from the past year - but of course only if the expiration date on the package has been carefully examined.

When symptoms of hay fever appear for the first time, consult the ENT specialist directly
People who experience classic symptoms for the first time this year, such as watery eyes or a constantly itchy nose, should, according to the experts, in the best case, consult an ear, nose and throat specialist or allergist directly to determine the cause of the condition. Here, the nasal mucous membranes are examined to find out whether it is actually a hay fever, also is usually the so-called „prick test“ used to find out whether or which allergies exist and how strong they are.

Hyposensitization to hay fever can lead to a lack of symptoms after three to four years
Also the so-called „Hyposensibilisierung“ According to Dirk Heinrich, this year could still be worthwhile for some people affected. Classically, an allergen extract is injected monthly into the upper arm over a period of about three years, which is gradually increased in the initial dose so that the immune system gradually becomes accustomed and the allergic reactions gradually subside. Especially those who are allergic to mid- and late bloomers such as grasses, mugwort or ambrosia, could therefore now even begin with the specific immunotherapy and thereby defeated in about three to four years, the allergy or have achieved a significant relief of the symptoms. In addition, in many cases, even in the first year, a reduction in symptoms by 30 to 40 percent occur, the physician continues to dpa.

Wash your hair during the pollen season in the evening
In addition, hay fever patients can also do themselves a lot to free themselves from the pollen: This includes on the one hand the daily evening hair washing during the season, so that the pollen does not settle in the bedding and get out of there in the eyes and airways can. In order to keep the bedroom as free of pollen as possible, the clothes should not be removed in the evening in this room.

Natural help with pollen allergy through self-blood therapy
Another way of treating hay fever naturally is the so-called „Autohemotherapy“. This is a classic alternative-medical stimulus therapy, through which the immune system so to speak „reprogrammed“ the body is made to respond to certain stimuli supplied and thereby activate its self-healing powers. In the case of self-blood therapy, this stimulus consists of a small amount of own blood, which is first removed from the affected person and subsequently injected again. The goal is that the organism's own blood as „strange“ recognizes this, then breaks down and thereby the immune system is activated. (No)

Image: Christine Brown