Pollen allergy The hay fever season begins

The hay fever season begins: birch pollen, alder and hazel on approach

05.03.2012

Attention, now begins the pollen flight and thus the hay fever time. This was announced by the German Weather Service (DWD) in Offenbach and pointed to the first flying seeds of early flowering plants. For sufferers, it is now time to initiate first palliative measures to minimize symptoms such as constant sneezing, watery eyes and other allergic reactions. We give some important hints with this overview.

First pollen are on the way
According to a recent study of the health insurance almost every fourth German citizen suffers from a pollen allergy. Depending on the severity of the allergy, the pollen count causes more and less discomfort. Most, however, suffer from watery and itchy eyes, nasty attacks and a constantly running nose. According to a recent report by the German Weather Service of the Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development, the first early bloomers such as alder and hazel are already in the air. The pollen of the alder is rather moderate in most parts of Germany on the way, in mild climatic zones such as on the Upper Rhine and in the Mosel valley concentration is, however, already medium to strong detectable. In the case of the hazel pollen it looks similar, too, here is the pollen count currently rather weak to moderate. In warmer regions, but also here a little more pronounced.

Again this year „mast year“ the birch pollen
In the coming weeks and months, however, allergy sufferers have to adjust to a strong birch pollen flight. For reasons that are still unclear, birches send more pollen every two years than usual. The European Foundation for Allergy Research (ECARF) has announced that 2012 will once again be a year of increased pollen count. Biologists call this natural process too „mast year“. Patients who are more likely to respond to birch pollen must expect even stronger symptoms by the end of April / early May than last year.

Overreaction of the immune system
If the very fine pollen is absorbed by inhalation, it reaches the nasal mucous membranes. Against the really harmless „intruders“ The immune system amplifies antibodies and immediately releases the messenger histamine. In order to get rid of the falsely accepted pathogens, the body reacts with heavy sneezing, runny nose and itching. In the same way, pollen is also treated by the body when the eyes are touched. The eyes start to itch and tear to get rid of the dust. Many people suffer from shortness of breath, headaches, fatigue and difficulty concentrating. Severe cases are accompanied by abdominal pain, diarrhea and flatulence. Not infrequently, some people are threatened with an allergic shock that requires emergency medical treatment. Anyone who does not protect themselves sufficiently and does not take sufficient therapy can also „to develop bronchial asthma“, as the Association of Allergologists recently announced. According to some studies, around 40 percent of allergy patients develop asthma later in life. The fatal: The disease is chronic and will last a lifetime.

Small tricks against pollen with great effect
To reduce the symptoms, even smaller precautions can help. If you come home from a walk, you should change your upper clothing before entering the apartment, so that the pollen does not get into the apartment and continues to plague. Before going to bed, thoroughly rinse your hair with water and if possible shower it in the evening.

In the pollen wedding outdoor sports are not recommended. In rural areas, pollen count in the morning is most intense. In the city, the maximum concentration is usually reached only in the evening. Therefore, experts advise to ventilate the bedroom at night and close it in the early morning. During the day, the windows should remain closed.

Modern cars often have a ventilation filter installed to catch the pollen. It is also useful to clean the windows more often, hang no laundry in the wild, because there are also the flowers. Anyone who goes on vacation or flies is best geared to the officially published pollen count calendars. A trip is advisable when in the home the pollen fly against which an allergic person reacts. Good destinations are the sea and the high mountains, because there the air is mostly very clear.

Different treatment options
In the long term, allergy sufferers should also think about therapeutic measures. Non-medical practitioner Carsten Schmidt: „Conventional medicine offers benign medication and sprays, all of which can provoke side effects, hyposensitization“. This will be step by step „with ever higher doses the body's own defense system gets used to the allergenic substances“. The treatment is carried out with medication. Disadvantage: „Many patients experience the treatment as stressful, because side effects or allergic reactions can occur“. Naturopathy does not regard pollen allergy as a problem of the nose but of the whole organism. It is derived from this „various and varied treatments designed to re-direct the harmless external stimuli into a healthy immunological ability“. These include homeopathy, TCM, Bach flower therapy, hypnosis and intestinal cleansing. „Which therapy makes sense, should discuss affected persons with their doctor or alternative practitioner.“ (Sb)

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Picture: Günther Richter