Pollen flight at Christmas How can allergies be better protected?

Christmas is upon us and as winter has never been so mild as it is today, the first spring flowers are already on their way. So far, the consequences for allergy sufferers are still limited. Sonja Lämmel of the German Allergy and Asthma Association (DAAB) therefore advises hyposensitization, as this would be the right time.
Christmas is around the corner and as it is almost spring, the first pollen is flying. "Because of the mild weather, hazelnuts were already on the way in some regions at the beginning of December," says Sonja Lämmel of the German Allergy and Asthma Association (DAAB)..

Pollen flight to Christmas. Picture: drubig-photo - fotolia

Due to the mild weather, the first hazelnut pollen fly in parts of Germany. For example, in the Rhineland, in large parts of Baden-Wuerttemberg, the Saarland and Rhineland-Palatinate.
In addition, however, pollen also fly regionally, which are not measured or not evaluated. These are the pollen of trees - such as the purple fur - which are better adapted to climate change and therefore are often used as street trees. According to observations, they also start already in December with their pollen count. If the mild weather persists for a long time, further pollen can be expected.

"Allergy Beelzebub"
Sonja Lämmel, spokeswoman for the German Allergy and Asthma Association, reports that many people who are suffering from hay fever currently suspect a cold from complaints such as wheezing, difficulty breathing and coughing. "Therefore, some" allergic newcomers "treat his hay fever just wrong. For example, he inhales chamomile to clear his nose, takes decongestant nasal sprays or tries to consciously eat healthy foods with apples and cereals. From an allergological point of view, he drives out the devil with the Beelzebub! "

What should I do?
Quick help with hay fever bring antiallergic preparations. The causal fight against pollen allergy takes place through the allergy vaccination, also called hyposensitization. The success rate is around 80%. Here, the hay fever patients at the beginning of the pollen-free time, the pollen constituents, to which he reacts otherwise, fed in very small doses to get his body to get used to it and thus permanently insensitive to the allergens. Hyposensitization (Specific Immunotherapy), a type of allergy vaccine, can effectively alleviate hay fever and is the only therapy that addresses the cause of allergy problems. It is therefore also recommended by the World Health Organization especially for pollen allergy sufferers. Because: Every third inadequately treated hay fever becomes an allergic bronchial asthma.

In the classic allergy vaccination, the pollen components to which it otherwise reacts allergic are sprayed to the hay fever patient in very small dosages in order to alleviate his allergic complaints well and thus make him permanently resistant to pollen. This allergy vaccine is carried out regularly over three years.

Grandmother's tip
A tip from grandmother's time also helps hay fever sufferers: The nasal douche. Here, the passages of the nasal cavity are rinsed daily with water and brine such as Emser salt. As a result, pollen and dirt particles are simply transported out. The nasal mucosa is normalized in its structure and function, which also has a preventive effect. Other home remedies for hay fever from natural medicine can also provide relief. (pm, sb)