Many pollen in the Berlin Tiergarten

Beware of allergy: birch pollen coming

03/13/2014

Not all people are currently looking forward to the spring weather, as the mild winter has started the season for pollen allergy several weeks earlier than last year. Those who are allergic to birch pollen need to prepare themselves in the coming days.

In a few days first flight of birch pollen
For some time now, many fellow citizens have had sneezing attacks and watery eyes due to pollen allergy and hay fever. Due to the mild winter, the season for pollen allergy sufferers started several weeks earlier than last year. For example, hazelnut pollen has been flying since mid-December and alder pollen is currently being added. As Karl-Christian Bergmann, head of the foundation Polleninformationsdienst, said on Wednesday in Berlin, in the south of Germany, the first flight of birch pollen can be expected within a few days.

Twelve million Germans are allergic to pollen
For around 15 years, pollen count has started earlier, probably due to climate change. However, pollen levels varied from year to year. According to the Foundation, around 12 million people in Germany are allergic to pollen. By far the most on birch pollen. Between the ages of 30 and 39, there is the greatest sensitivity. In this age group, around one fifth (20.8 percent) suffers from rhinitis complaints, explained Bergmann. Women are three percent more affected than men.

Various factors for the increase of allergy sufferers
A total of around 15 percent of adults in Germany today have hay fever. 20 years ago it was even less with 10 to 11 percent. „The increase has to do with many factors“, so miner. This probably included increased hygiene and food habits, but also climate change. Thus, a higher carbon dioxide concentration in the air in plants lead to more impulses and thus more pollen, as the Charité pulmonologist explained. Among other things, this is to be observed with birch, hazelnut, ash and oak. On the other hand, the burden of grasses decreased. However, this could also be due to the fact that more meadows had been converted into arable land.

Pollen concentration in cities like Berlin is increasing
The researchers are finding that the pollen concentration in cities is increasing, while it remains similar in the countryside. Bergmann said that could be related to the heating of concrete in cities. Exhaust gases probably also play a role. In 2013, for example, the density of grass pollen was particularly high near the busy Berlin A 100 motorway. On the other hand, it was more than half smaller in the large Tiergarten park, which lies in the middle of the capital. „I assume that the combination of larger amounts of pollen and increased particulate matter concentration can lead to increased hay fever symptoms.“

Only a few weeks break for allergy sufferers
However, the experts do not expect a further increase in the number of allergy sufferers. As Bergmann said, that's one of the reasons genetic predisposition plays a role in the outbreak. For the experts, however, it is unusual that recently, even in old age, a pollen allergy can arise. This year, pollen flow from grasses is expected to start in mid-April, mugwort will bloom from mid-July and ambrosia will be added from the end of July and will be active until the end of September. When the next winter gets so mild again, allergy sufferers have only a few weeks pollen break. A new, free pollen app should now help to be able to assess the individual burden in the domestic region. In addition, she should help to dose medication.

Naturopathic treatments of a pollen allergy
Those with allergies, who know when the main load times are for them, but can not permanently avoid being outdoors, can resort to medication. Although such antihistamines work against all forms of allergic rhinitis, but bring no lasting improvement. In addition, they often have unwanted side effects. For many sufferers, a hyposensitization, which can be performed at an allergist, advisable. In naturopathy one understands pollen allergy as a problem of the entire human organism and not only the nose. Therefore, many naturopathic treatments are focused on the overreaction of the immune system. In naturopathic practices, various therapeutic concepts are used, such as homeopathy, autologous blood therapy, Bach flower therapy, intestinal sanitation, hypnosis, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) such as acupuncture and therapy with vital substances. (Sb)

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