Are your allergies worse than usual this fall? Learn about the factors contributing to severe allergy symptoms, including ragweed pollen and mold, and discover ways to find relief.

Ragweed Pollen and Mold Levels Soar in 2024

As the transition from summer to fall takes place, allergy sufferers in certain regions are faced with a troubling reality – their symptoms are significantly worse this year. The culprits behind the heightened allergic reactions are ragweed pollen and mold, both of which have spiked in 2024.

According to Dr. Thomas Huth, Vice President of Medical Affairs, the weather patterns in areas like Indiana and Ohio have played a major role in exacerbating the allergy season. “Allergies may be aggravated by the dry weather as it dries out the ragweed plants and releases the pollen in large amounts this time of year,” he explains. Additionally, the alternation between wet and dry periods has triggered the growth and subsequent release of mold spores into the air.

The fall season also brings about the natural process of leaves drying out, dying, and falling – a phenomenon that further contributes to the mold problem, as the decaying foliage serves as a breeding ground for this allergenic fungus.

What is Ragweed and How Does it Affect Allergies?

Ragweed is a daisy-like weed that is notorious for its prolific pollen production, particularly during dry weather conditions. As Dr. Huth notes, “Ragweed is common in rural areas, particularly in midwestern states, and its pollen production reaches a high point in mid-September, spreading after drier weather patterns.”

For those living in regions where ragweed thrives, the arrival of fall can signal the onset of a miserable allergy season, complete with sneezing, runny noses, and other unpleasant symptoms.

Distinguishing Allergy Symptoms from COVID-19

With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it’s important for allergy sufferers to be able to differentiate their symptoms from those of the viral infection. While there may be some overlap, such as coughing and nasal congestion, there are distinct differences that can help identify the underlying cause.

For example, COVID-19 is often accompanied by fever, muscle aches, and fatigue – symptoms that are typically absent in seasonal allergies. Conversely, the telltale signs of allergies, such as itchy eyes, nose, mouth, or ears, and frequent sneezing, are not commonly associated with COVID-19.

Finding Relief from Fall Allergies

The good news is that allergy sufferers can look forward to some relief as the weather turns colder. “Allergy sufferers should see some relief when we see our first cold spell, which is when temperatures fall below freezing for at least 24 hours,” Dr. Huth reassures.

In the meantime, those struggling with the impacts of fall allergies can seek assistance from healthcare professionals like Dr. Jason Casselman, a certified Allergist and Immunologist at Reid Allergy. By undergoing testing and receiving personalized recommendations, individuals can take proactive steps to manage their symptoms and find the much-needed relief they deserve.

Preparing for the Next Allergy Season

As the 2024 allergy season draws to a close, it’s important for individuals to reflect on the lessons learned and take steps to better prepare for the upcoming year. By understanding the underlying factors that contribute to severe allergies, such as weather patterns and the prevalence of allergens like ragweed and mold, people can take proactive measures to minimize the impact on their health and well-being.

Whether it’s seeking medical advice, exploring treatment options, or adapting their environment to reduce exposure to allergens, individuals can take control of their allergy management and look forward to a more comfortable and enjoyable fall season in the years to come.

Conclusion

The 2024 fall allergy season has been particularly challenging for many individuals, with ragweed pollen and mold levels reaching unprecedented heights. However, by understanding the root causes and taking appropriate steps to address their symptoms, allergy sufferers can find relief and better prepare for future seasons. With the guidance of healthcare professionals and a proactive approach, the impacts of seasonal allergies can be effectively managed, allowing individuals to fully embrace the beauty and transition of the autumn months.

Why are my allergies so bad this fall?

The transition from summer to fall means back-to-school time
for many people, but for allergy sufferers, the seasonal switch means an
unwelcome change in their symptoms. For those feeling the impacts of fall
pollens such as ragweed and mold, you’re not alone. According to the CDC,
symptoms from allergic rhinitis, including sneezing, runny nose, and
congestion, affect
as many as 60 million people a year in the United States.

If you’re in Indiana and Ohio, these effects can be
compounded by weather patterns that alternate between wet and dry periods, triggering
the release of allergens into the air. Dr. Thomas Huth, Vice President of Medical
Affairs, mentioned in a recent interview
with WHIO that “allergies may be aggravated by the dry weather as it dries
out the ragweed plants and releases the pollen in large amounts this time of
year.”

In addition to ragweed, mold has been high for most of
summer and into the fall. Dr. Huth explained that “at times we have had a lot
of rain and the moisture will encourage mold growth, but then when we get into
prolonged dry spells, that causes release of mold spores into the air.”

As leaves dry out, die, and fall this season, that process
also will release mold into the air, making it likely allergy season will
continue to ramp up as we near fall.

What is ragweed?

According to Dr. Huth, ragweed is a daisy-like weed that
peaks in its production of pollen in dry seasons. Ragweed is common in rural
areas, particularly in midwestern states. Its
pollen production reaches a high point in mid-September, spreading after drier weather
patterns.

How do I know I’m experiencing allergy symptoms and not
something more severe like COVID-19?

COVID-19 is a viral infection, and seasonal allergies are
your body’s immune response to allergens such as ragweed and mold. Although
some symptoms might be similar, there
are some key differences.

Good news! Relief is coming.

Although it might feel like forever, Dr. Huth reassures us
“allergy sufferers should see some relief when we see our first cold spell,
which is when temperatures fall below freezing for at least 24 hours.”

If you find you’re struggling with the impacts of fall
allergies, Reid
Allergy is available to assess, test, and provide recommendations for your
symptoms. Dr.
Jason Casselman is a certified Allergist and Immunologist who specializes
in testing for inhalant allergies. Request
an appointment and find relief from your symptoms.

Allergy Season 2021: Why Your Allergies Are Worse This Year

Each spring, trees and other plants begin releasing pollen into the air. While spring allergies are fairly common, some years are much worse than others. So far, allergy season 2021 has been one of the worst in recent memory. Here’s what you should know about why spring allergies have been so bad this year and what you can do to keep your allergies under control.

Why Has the Allergy Season of 2021 Been So Bad?

The bad allergy season so far is largely the result of the mild winter seen across most of the country. Mold that would normally die off in the winter months remained due to warmer temperatures. That, combined with unusually high levels of tree pollen, has set off severe allergies for many people. Even individuals who normally suffer from no allergies or very mild symptoms have had bad reactions this spring. So, if you’ve noticed abnormal allergic reactions in 2021, you’re far from alone.

More broadly, the unusually bad allergy season ties back to climate change. As mentioned above, warmer winters are less likely to kill off allergy-inducing molds. Because winter temperatures are growing progressively warmer across large parts of the world, we can expect to see a continuance of bad allergy conditions in the coming years.

In addition to allowing more allergens to survive until spring, a warming climate can lengthen the annual allergy season. As winter temperatures arrive later and depart earlier, both fall and spring allergy seasons are extended. This can be a real problem for severe allergy sufferers, who now find themselves living with allergies for large portions of the year.

What Can You Do to Protect Yourself From Seasonal Allergies

When it comes to preventing allergies, one of the best things you can do is to use a HEPA air purifier in your home. This type of air purifier uses filters that can easily capture the pollen that causes seasonal allergic reactions. By using a high-quality air purifier, you can keep the pollen levels in your home to a minimum. To see some of our recommended units, check out our complete selection of air purifiers for allergies and asthma.

In addition to limiting the presence of pollen in your home, you can consider changes to your routine that will limit your exposure. Try to avoid outdoor exercise when pollen is at its peak, and keep your windows closed to avoid more pollen getting inside. If you suffer from severe enough allergies, you can also consider taking over the counter antihistamine medications, though these tend to make people feel drowsy.

If you have to be outside, you might also want to consider using the face mask you would normally wear to prevent COVID-19 transmission. Surgical masks can help to block some pollen from being inhaled. Since most of us have plenty of masks available these days, it makes sense to use them to reduce pollen exposure as well. Be aware, though, that wearing a mask will only help with respiratory allergies. Pollen will still get into your eyes and cause watering or itching, even with a mask.

If you have questions about how air purifiers can help you deal with your seasonal allergies, we’re here to help! Feel free to contact us with your questions, and we’ll be happy to provide you with answers and personalized product recommendations.

Allergies seem worse this spring? It’s not your imagination

TORONTO —
Experts say that seasonal, airborne allergies may be worse in some parts of Canada this year due to an earlier start of pollen season.

Dr. Anne Ellis, an allergist and professor at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ont., told CTVNews.ca that she has heard from more patients than normal reporting worsening allergy symptoms. She says this is expected given an increase in pollen in the air.

“I actually get the pollen counts… and I can affirm absolutely the pollen counts are much higher this year than they were this time last year,” Ellis said in a telephone interview on Tuesday.

Compared to previous years, Ellis said some parts of Canada experienced an earlier start to tree pollen season beginning in April rather than May.

With tree pollen appearing earlier, Ellis said it starts to circulate as soon as warmer, spring weather moves in, making allergy season longer and insufferable.

“As much as the weather’s lovely and nice to enjoy, sunshine and nice warm breezes, unfortunately that just brings about the problem for people with allergies,” Ellis said.

Additionally, Ellis said grass pollen season has not changed and “seems to start pretty much on time every year” around May 15.

And that means people who are allergic to both are being hit hard.

“People who suffer from both tree and grass pollen are getting that double whammy,” Ellis said. “It’s a hard time.”

Canadians have more allergies to pollen than any other allergen, according to Statistics Canada. As of 2017, 27 per cent of Canadians reported that they had allergies, and of that population, 40 per cent were allergic to pollens or grasses.

Dr. Susan Waserman, an allergist, clinical immunologist and professor of medicine at McMaster University, says certain cities in Canada are worse for pollen than others.

“It depends on where you live… places like Montreal and Ottawa have had a lot more pollen and that’s due to temperature and moisture around these local conditions that determine how much pollen there is in an area,” Waserman said in a telephone interview with CTVNews.ca on Wednesday.

She added that the changes in pollen season are likely linked to climate change.

“Some studies have shown us that if temperatures warm up, plants they pollenate more and they appear in places where they would not have appeared before if the weather was not conducive, and the season of pollination may be longer on account of that,” Waserman explained.

Waserman said COVID-19 may also be making Canadians more aware of their allergies after spending months indoors.

WHAT TO DO ABOUT ALLERGY SYMPTOMS

According to Health Canada, symptoms of allergies include sneezing, coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, flushed face, peeling rash similar to eczema, and red, itchy, swollen eyes.

Allergy symptoms can be mild for some, and quite severe for others, Waserman says.

“For people who do have allergies to tree grass, ragweed, you’re talking about close to six months of your life,” Waserman said.

Unless properly treated, she said those with allergies may suffer from persistent symptoms that may lead to difficulty sleeping and concentrating. She says this may impact one’s performance at school or work.

Additionally, Waserman said persistent allergy symptoms can create complications such as worsening asthma.

While these symptoms may not be detrimental to one’s health, Ellis says the quality of life impact “can be astronomical.”

“For those people who suffer from hay fever and allergic rhinitis, they will tell you they’re just downright miserable this time of year if they don’t get some help and relief,” Ellis said.

For those with allergies, Ellis recommends taking over-the-counter, non-sedative antihistamines such as Reactin, Claritin and Allegra as soon as allergy season begins or at the first sign of symptoms.

If those don’t work, she suggests talking to one’s doctor about a prescription antihistamine or nasal corticosteroid sprays.

If over-the-counter drugs or prescription medicines still don’t provide relief, Ellis and Waserman recommend booking an appointment with an allergist.

Waserman says an allergist is able to identify exactly what a person is allergic to and provide immunotherapy treatment to help prevent the onset of symptoms.

Waserman said immunotherapy helps to change the body’s immune response so that a person no longer reacts to an allergen, and the immune system instead learns to tolerate it.

“We now have very effective tablets and injections to desensitize people so it’s not just reactive treatments,” Waserman said. “By seeing an allergist and starting some of these therapies they’re able to prevent you from having symptoms altogether.”

Why Are My Allergies so Bad This Season? – Cleveland Clinic

Q: Why are my allergies worse than usual this spring? Is there something extra in the air?

A. Actually, there is extra pollen in the air this year.

Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy

For certain parts of the Midwest, including Northeast Ohio, the allergy seasons unfold in a predictable fashion. Tree pollen season is usually at the beginning of spring in March, April, and the first half of May while the grass pollen season is typically mid-May through early-to-mid-July.

This spring, though, there was quite a bit of precipitation and unseasonably cold weather, such that there was even snow on the ground in May in some areas. So the cooler temperatures meant the trees weren’t pollinating at their usual time. Instead, that late peak got pushed back a few weeks.

Meanwhile, the usual peak of the grass pollen season is Memorial Day weekend meaning, this year, the grass and tree pollen peaks overlapped, a kind of “double hit” for those who are allergic to both.

For management of these symptoms, the best recommendation is avoidance measures combined with regular medication. It’s important for patients to be taking medication on a regular basis every day whether they think they need it or not. Usually, we recommend that people front-end the pollen season and begin taking medication early in the season or better yet before the season starts.

It’s also important that you keep the windows in your car and home closed with the air conditioning on. This can help cut down the indoor pollen counts by 90% or more. And sleeping with the windows closed is also key because a peak for pollen release is between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m. as sunlight is a stimulus for some plants to release pollen.

— Allergist David Lang, MD

It’s not a fluke: Allergy season is out of control this year

If you’ve felt like your seasonal allergies are worse this year, you’re not alone. Higher temperatures are linked with longer tree and grass pollen seasons.

According to a recent study published in the journal Scientific Reports, temperature increases in northern California are worsening pollen-related allergies, while precipitation changes are associated with more mold spores in the air.

“Climate change is really a problem for health, and we are living and breathing the effects of climate change now,” said the study’s senior author, Kari Nadeau,  professor of medicine and of pediatrics at Stanford School of Medicine.

Nadeau, according to a news release, became interested in the subject because she noticed that patients said their seasonal allergies were getting worse.

“As an allergist, it is my duty to follow the pollen counts, and I was noticing that the start date of the tree pollen season was earlier every year,” Nadeau said. “My patients were complaining, and I would say, ‘This is such a tough year,’ but then I thought, wait, I’m saying that every year.”

In the study, researchers collected data at a National Allergy Bureau–certified pollen counting station in Los Altos Hills, California. They indexed tree, grass, weed pollens and mold spores in the air weekly throughout an 18-year-period, from 2002 through 2019. In their analysis, the researchers found that the pollen season in northern California now starts earlier and ends later. Specifically, local tree pollen and mold spores grew by 0.47 and 0.51 weeks per year, each year of the study. The researchers also found links between allergen levels and environmental changes.

While the study is local to northern California, the trend tracks across the United States.

Beyond environmental changes, higher atmospheric carbon dioxide levels are believed to be connected to higher levels of pollen, too. A separate study published in 2000 found that ragweed plants , a culprit of seasonal hay fever, grew in size when they were exposed to more carbon dioxide. According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, carbon dioxide increases plant growth rate. That’s a particularly frightening prospect in the case of weeds like ragweed.

“In the fall, ragweed is a major culprit in allergies because when it’s warmer it grows longer,” Kenneth Mendez, the president and CEO of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, previously told Salon. “Frost is the first thing that kills ragweed, the first frost, so the later and later you have a longer growing season the worse the allergies will be. “

In 2018, a study published in the journal PLOS ONE by researchers at the University of Washington and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst found that ragweed will expand its reach as temperatures rise. Using machine learning, researchers calculated that in roughly 35 years its ecological range will move northward, bringing hay fever to regions it has never been before. Seasonal allergies can be a trigger for asthma.

Last year, masks coincidentally provided some relief for allergy sufferers. Pollen grains range in size from 200 microns to 10 microns, and masks were able to block some of them out when people stepped outside.

As vaccination rates rise, Americans are collectively looking forward to spending this summer outside and unmasked, in contrast to last year’s dismal pandemic summer that many spent cooped up inside. Yet for more and more allergy-sufferers, seasonal allergies are putting a damper on the joy we associate with summer weather.

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Don’t confuse symptoms from Pennsylvania’s ragweed season

This has been quite a delightful summer, at least for the average ragweed plant.

Chances are excellent that those hearty weeds are going to be celebrating the next couple of weeks with outbursts of reproductive pollen to torment millions of allergy sufferers in the Philly region and across the country.

In purely coincidental sync with the hurricane season, this is the peak period for the ragweeds. Last week’s rains likely suppressed the daily pollen output: Rainfall dampens the flight plans. But plenty more is on the runways.

Unfortunately, that benign effect — and that would be the only one related to Ida — tends to evaporate after 48 hours, said Donald Dvorin, an allergist who is the region’s certified National Allergy Bureau pollen counter.

So expect a harvest on dry days this week. “It’s coming,” Dvorin said.

The season typically noses into October. These days, however, thanks to increases in carbon dioxide and the associated rise in global and local temperatures that has nudged back those first-frost dates, it appears to be lasting a little longer, says Melanie Carver, chief mission officer with the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.

Predicting specifically just how bad the season will be remains problematical, said Dvorin, with last year being a case in point.

However, if you are allergic to ragweed, this is not necessarily the best time to be spending a lot of time outside. Among the nation’s 100 most populous regions, Philadelphia ranks in the top 30 “most challenging” places to live for the allergic, based on pollen levels and treatment options, the foundation says.

Ragweed might sound like a pejorative moniker, and in this case it is wholly merited. Pollen is part of the plant’s reproductive process; so they must see something in each other.

It is homely, hearty, and ubiquitous. The only refuge in the United States would be Alaska, according to the allergy foundation.

» READ MORE: The secret life of pollen: It makes you sneeze, itches your eyes — and can solve crimes

It comes in 50 different species, said Marc Goldstein, allergist at the Asthma Center in Philadelphia, and one plant can manufacture a billion pollen grains.

It is a trigger of the sneezing, itchy eyes, and decided dopiness that are common symptoms of “hay fever,” which has absolutely nothing do with hay.

The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology identifies the most significant tormentor as the tooth-leaved ragweed that resides low in grasses.

» READ MORE: The secret life of pollen: It makes you sneeze, itches your eyes — and can solve crimes

Some symptoms of COVID-19 and seasonal allergies can overlap, doctors advise, among them coughing, fatigue, headache, and a loss of smell.

However, allergies are not associated with fevers, chills, sore throats, muscle pain, or intestinal problems.

Here is a handy chart courtesy of the Asthma Center.

The tormented would be wise to track the daily pollen counts.

They are posted between 6 and 7 a.m. by Center City’s Asthma Center, which uses an automated system. Later in the day Dvorin, whose practice is in Mount Laurel, posts counts based on a 24-hour sample of what has been captured in his pollen traps.

While the counts aren’t predictive, they can give you some idea of what you’re in for. Actual pollen forecasting remains a work in progress.

Dvorin said a key factor in the intensity of the season would be rainfall six weeks before the season, which usually starts in mid-August. Conditions appeared ripe for a robust season last year, he said, but only on a few days did the counts reach extreme levels.

Any showers could affect pollen levels this week; however, inevitably ragweed will have its days. And those days appear to be extending their reach.

Some evidence suggests lengthening seasons, said Dvorin, although data are wanting, and for a variety of reasons fewer allergists are participating in the counting network.

» READ MORE: As pollen torments millions, it might be getting worse, and it’s poorly measured in America

That would be tied to generally warmer falls. An Inquirer study documented that in the first 18 years of the 21st century, Philadelphia’s first official freeze — defined as the first day that the temperature dropped to 32 degrees — on average was arriving on Nov. 14, six days later than it was in the period from 1874 to 2000.

In addition, the allergy foundation’s Carver said, all that carbon dioxide might be supplying vitamins to the plants to make them more productive. Just what allergy sufferers needed.

Aside from shots and medications, allergists say the best strategy for avoiding symptoms is simply avoiding pollen.

If outside, change clothes when you go back inside, and keep the windows clean if you can stand it.

» READ MORE: Masks can filter pollen, but they can be ‘double-edged swords’

Masks can help, but Goldstein advises that they are also pollen traps, so it wouldn’t hurt to wear a washable outer mask and keep the inner one in a clean plastic bag.

And the season will end, although these days it just might take a little longer.

Why is hayfever so bad this year? The 2021 pollen rise explained

Pollen season is in full force right now and many hay fever sufferers have complained of feeling like they have worse symptoms this year compared to previous years.

Hay fever occurs because of pollen being released from trees, grass and weeds, causing allergic reactions that can result in itchy and watery eyes, a runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, coughing and sneezing.

The Met Office is currently recording “very high” pollen forecasts in most of England including south west England, south east, London, East Anglia, the Midlands and Yorkshire and the Humber regions. The rest of the country, and Wales, is currently experiencing “high” levels.

According to Allergy UK, hay fever affects between 10 per cent and 30 per cent of all adults in the UK and as many as 40 per cent of children.

We take a closer look at why hay fever symptoms seem to be worse in 2021 and how you can get relief.

How long will the season last?

Hay fever season usually lasts from late March to July, but different types of pollen peak at different times. However, this May was unusually wet and cool, which means many people did not begin noticing symptoms until the temperatures started climbing rapidly in June.

Tree pollen is the first to be released, typically starting in late March and affecting around 25 per cent of people. However, most people are allergic to grass pollen, which usually starts in the first two weeks of June.

How bad your hay fever symptoms are also depends on where you live. According to the Met Office, urban areas have lower pollen counts than the countryside, and places inland have higher counts than around the coast.

Is there more pollen in the air than before?

Yes. As the earth warms as a result of climate change, pollen season is lasting longer and there is generally more of it in the air, all of which is bad news for hay fever sufferers.

Scientists warn that this season is only going to get worse if the climate crisis continues in its current trajectory. Modelling in a study spanning north west Europe suggests that climate change will increase the severity of hay fever season by up to 60 per cent.

Has lockdown affected hay fever?

Another factor that may be causing worse hay fever symptoms this year could be a weakened tolerance to allergens, such as pollens, due to the coronavirus lockdown.

Over lockdown, there was a decrease in the number of people catching viruses apart from Covid-19, such as the flu and the common cold. This was because people spent more time indoors and when they were out and about, they usually wore a face mask.

According to pharmacy industry newspaper PM Live, homes can also contain allergens for days at a time, which could lead to heightened allergy symptoms despite staying indoors more often.

Allergy UK produced an interactive “Allergy House” to help people pinpoint some of the most common allergens found in their homes.

How do I alleviate hay fever symptoms?

Hay fever sufferers should check pollen counts daily and stay inside wherever possible when the count is high. You should ideally keep your windows closed, especially in the early morning when pollen is being released into the air and in the evening when pollen begins to fall to ground level again.

According to Allergy UK, you could avoid worsening symptoms but wearing wraparound sunglasses and a hat with a peak when you do have to be outdoors, to stop allergens from getting in your eyes and onto your face.

Wearing a face mask may also help stop allergens from getting onto your face.

Medication such as antihistamines and nasal steroids can be very effective when used correctly. You can also do a nasal rinse with saline solution that will help wash away allergens from the nose and can be used as frequently as required.

The NHS says you should not cut grass or walk on grass, spend too much time outside, keep fresh flowers in the house, smoke or be around smoke, or dry clothes outdoors – as they might catch pollen.

90,000 Spring. Season of allergic reactions

Seasonal allergy is an allergic reaction that occurs at a specific time of the year. It can be expressed either in the form of seasonal rhinoconjunctivitis (just conjunctivitis) and rhinitis, or in seasonal pollen asthma. The reason for the appearance of seasonal allergies is the pollen of various plants: trees, grasses, cereals, asteraceae, spores of some fungi. People suffering from seasonal, and indeed any allergies, often wake up at night due to discomfort, suffocation, which interferes with normal sleep.Several such nights – and, behold, you already have a sleep disorder. There is nervousness, irritability, 2-3 sleepless nights can develop hysteria or hyperactivity in your beloved child.

Jokes with allergies are bad, it can have quite serious consequences, causing both mild manifestations of conjunctivitis or rhinitis, and (with the progression of the allergic process) the development of seasonal pollen bronchial asthma, which has several stages of the course – mild, moderate and severe.If the allergic process is left unchecked, left unchecked, and many patients usually do this, a more serious reaction may occur in the form of bronchospasm, otherwise – bronchial asthma.

Seasonal allergic reactions can occur in people suffering from tree pollen anywhere from mid-April to late May, early June, early summer to mid-July; further on, the asteraceae grasses take over the baton – from mid-July to almost the first snow. Such periodicals are connected with the fact that the dusting of various plants has strictly defined dates.The concentration of allergens in the air does not depend on the time of day. The flowering period itself matters, for example, the most active period of dusting of birch – the most allergenic tree – is the end of May, then the amount of pollen grains per cubic meter decreases, but pollen is still present in the air.

The concentration of pollen depends on the vegetation that prevails in a particular area. If you suffer from seasonal allergies and at the same time live near a forested area dominated by deciduous trees, especially birch trees, you will be much worse tolerated by the period of dusting than, say, in an area where conifers grow.

The first place among allergenic, “harmful” trees is occupied by birch, followed by alder, hazel, maple, and ash. The notorious poplar, which is accused of everything and everyone, as such, does not cause allergies at all, in any case, during my practical activity, I have not met patients with an allergy to poplar. In fact, during the ripening of his puffs, and this is the beginning of summer, the period of flowering of cereal grasses begins. These puffs collect the remaining pollen from trees and grass pollen, carrying out their mechanical transfer.It is pollen that is the real culprit of allergies.

The drugs used to treat seasonal allergies can be divided into several groups.
Antihistamines, antiallergic drugs , which can be used both locally (drops, sprays) and taken in tablets (systemic administration of antihistamines). Now on the pharmaceutical market there are many antiallergic drugs, so the choice of a drug requires a doctor to have a deep knowledge of their features and application possibilities.When prescribing treatment, the doctor should pay attention not only to the effectiveness of the drug, but also to the possibility of developing side effects. The second group of drugs is the so-called “cramons” , these drugs suppress allergic inflammation or the “allergic cascade”. These are usually sprays, nasal drops, or eye drops.
The third group is glucocorticosteroid preparations local and systemic exposure. Systemic drugs are hormonal drugs that must be taken in case of ineffectiveness of other therapy.Topical (topical) steroids are usually nasal sprays or eye drops, the former being used more frequently.
Sorbents, which help to remove allergens entering the body through the mucous membrane and gastrointestinal tract, have a great effect in complex therapy (Lactrofiltrum, Entoras-gel, activated carbon). Perhaps these are the most important groups of drugs that are used to treat seasonal allergies.

Specific immunotherapy is another treatment that produces protective antibodies.It is usually carried out outside the dusting season with allergens identified in Russia. One course of treatment with specific immunotherapy includes 35 to 40 injections. Such treatment is carried out, as a rule, up to 50 years, after this age barrier, the response of the immune system is considered ineffective. Specific immunotherapy can be performed annually if the desired effect has not been achieved after the first course of treatment. If there is a good effect and only minor symptoms of hay fever are noted in the next dusting season, then you can take a break for a long time, and then, when the symptoms intensify, return to this course again.

Aerosols used for seasonal allergies are different. For example, aerosols containing cramones that block the allergic cascade can be used as much as needed. In this case, there is no addiction, there is no danger of overdose, they can be used for a long time. The use of topical steroids, however, will depend on the specific situation. With seasonal allergic rhinitis, it makes sense to start using these drugs ten days before the start of the expected dusting, the entire dusting period and another ten days after the end.There are cases when such drugs are used even for more than a year, but I believe that there is no urgent need for this.

Significant influence on the state of allergy sufferers during the flowering period of plants, trees, grasses is exerted by meteorological factors. In rainy weather, pollen is nailed down and its concentration in the air is significantly reduced. Windy, dry weather contributes to the long-term maintenance of a high concentration of pollen.
Indoors, the concentration of pollen is less than outdoors, so allergy sufferers feel much better indoors.But if a person uses, say, a private car and drives with open windows or, for example, opens windows indoors, then the concentration of pollen in the street and indoors may be identical, and the person will feel bad in any case, no matter where he is in.

Recommendations for people suffering from seasonal hay fever are not limited to therapeutic measures and symptomatic therapy. The climate is important: if a person leaves for a region where dusting has already ended, he will calmly survive this period, returning back only to its end.You can try to reduce your exposure to allergens by installing air purifiers, cleaning carpets every day, maintaining a certain humidity in the apartment, but this is often ineffective or requires excessive physical and material costs. During the flowering period, you can wear a cotton-gauze bandage, especially when working in summer cottages. Keep doors and windows closed, install a special air intake on the window with an allergy filter. Get rid of carpets. Start taking preventive medications a few weeks before the main flowering of plants.
Remember that no two people are alike. Your doctor can determine what is the allergen for you and how best to treat the symptoms of your allergy. By giving your doctor detailed information about your lifestyle and habits, you can help him better identify the problem and give you advice on how to alleviate allergies.

90,000 Sugar is not an allergen. Pediatrician – about food allergies, hay fever and atopic dermatitis

Diathesis from sweets – is it really a myth? Are you allergic to the weather? And can you even outgrow this state? Daniil Munblit, a pediatrician, allergist-immunologist, professor of the Department of Pediatrics and Children’s Infectious Diseases at Sechenov University, answers these and other questions of parents.

An allergy is a non-standard reaction to something very standard and common. To put it quite exaggeratedly, an allergy is always a reaction to protein. Our body does not react to an apple as an “apple” – it reacts to a specific protein that makes up a particular product.

Everything we eat and breathe is made up of various proteins, that is, proteins. When we eat eggs, we get the proteins that make up the egg. These are conditional “bricks” from which the egg is built.The same is, for example, with pollen – an allergic reaction appears to its proteins.

We do not know why allergy sufferers develop an allergic reaction to foods that others eat without any consequences. Allergy can occur to any product and substance, which contains proteins, and during the life of any person.

1. How is allergy different from food intolerance?

It’s a matter of mechanism. The most traditional and classic variant of food intolerance is lactase deficiency, when a person is not able to break down lactose, that is, milk sugar.Lactase, in turn, is an enzyme that allows lactose to be broken down. If there is not enough lactase in the body, manifestations from the gastrointestinal tract appear.

An allergic reaction is the reaction of our immune system. A person eats, for example, an egg containing a protein, to which he has a classic immediate allergic reaction. A person’s immune system, his “Department of Defense”, sees that the enemy has come. We have antigen presenting cells – they act as butlers.The system encounters an allergen, the butler cells report: “The allergen has arrived!” And the body responds immediately, because it is interested in instantly getting rid of the allergen protein. Such a reaction of an immediate type develops within seconds and minutes, less often – a couple of hours.

Most common symptoms of an allergic reaction:

• Edema
• Urticaria
• Itching
• Bronchial obstruction (narrowing of the airways)
• Cough
• Vomiting
• Acute reactions from the gastrointestinal tract

2.Can you outgrow an allergy?

Yes, children do often “outgrow” food allergies. This primarily applies to eggs and milk. In most cases, the allergy ends already by the beginning of puberty, at most by the time of admission to the university. Unfortunately, there are also foods, allergies to which “outgrow” much less often – for example, nuts and peanuts. In 80-85% of cases, this allergy remains until the end of life.

One of the signals that a child will “outgrow” an allergy is a different reaction to thermolabile and thermostable proteins of the same food.The former are destroyed during heat treatment, while the others are preserved. If a person reacts to a heat-labile protein, then he will tolerate the product neutrally after heat treatment.

Let’s say a child tolerates baked goods, which include an egg, and if he just eats it, he gets an allergic reaction. This is a very good sign, which signals that in the future this allergic person will be able to tolerate an egg in a thermally less processed form.

3.Allergies can appear from the frequent use of the same products? For example, if you eat eggs all week?

I do not really imagine such a situation. It so happens that a person eats a certain product all his life, and then one day he discovers an allergic reaction to it. But such an allergy will not go away at once – having appeared, it will be with a person for a long time, and if we are talking about the occurrence of a food allergy in an adult, then most likely until the end of life.

In adulthood, egg or milk allergies are extremely rare. Most often, adults are allergic to seafood, shrimp, nuts, peanuts. But the situation when a person has an allergy for a week, not for a week is impossible.

4. Are there allergies to the weather?

The reaction to the weather itself cannot be allergic. But there are natural phenomena that can contribute to the development of an allergic reaction, for example, thunderstorm asthma.People with respiratory allergies may experience the consequences of a thunderstorm while walking in a park or forest after a thunderstorm.

Natural conditions favor the fact that the pollen clumps absorb moisture and shrink, or when bombarded by heavy raindrops explode and become finely dispersed. This makes it easier for them to enter the respiratory tract.

Also, after the rain, mold is actively growing, so people who are allergic to mold fungi (that is, the proteins that make up their composition) react and have to cope with the consequences of a harmless weather phenomenon for others.

5. What could be a food allergen?

Anything can be an allergen. The most common allergens for children are milk, eggs, wheat, soy, peanuts, nuts, fish, seafood and, in recent years, kiwi and seeds. The prevalence of allergies to certain foods also varies somewhat depending on sociocultural characteristics and diet in different regions.

In Asia, there is an exotic dish – bird nest soup.They take bird nests, boil them and eat them. In those Asian countries where this dish is common, there are people who are allergic to this soup.

6. What influences the development of allergies?

If the child’s parents, mom or dad, have allergic diseases, the child’s risk of developing allergic diseases increases dramatically.

There is also a so-called “hygienic” hypothesis. She says that before, people were much more likely to encounter bacteria and viruses, lived in direct contact with pets, in very different conditions with an insufficient level of hygiene.Now in developed countries, on the contrary, it is popular to fight various infections – people treat everything around with antibacterial wipes and teach children to do this. Because of this, contact with bacteria and viruses is minimized, the load on the immune system is reduced – and allergic diseases appear more often.

7. Are there sugar allergies?

There is no sugar allergy because sugar is a carbohydrate, not a protein. In addition, sugar does not in any way affect how the body reacts to proteins.

The impossibility of being allergic to sugar does not mean that sweets cannot cause allergies at all. The reaction may appear to proteins of other foods that make up the dessert.

In addition, a child may develop what in Russia is used to call a pseudo-allergic reaction to dyes and preservatives that are part of the food. It can manifest itself in the form of itching and skin rashes.

Take the gummy bears that children love – they contain many dyes that can cause a pseudo-allergic reaction.Of course, it is uncomfortable for the child, but it has nothing to do with allergies and does not lead to severe life-threatening anaphylactic reactions.

8. How to distinguish atopic dermatitis from food allergy?

The manifestations of various non-allergic reactions are often associated with allergies, but in fact, they are only sometimes concomitant with it. For example, atopic dermatitis and food allergy are often identified. But in fact, these are different diseases. I often hear from mothers the phrase: “He pours at everything.”If the child rashes on everything, most likely, these rashes are not associated with food allergies.

Exacerbations of atopic dermatitis can occur from stress, temperature changes, hard water, contact with certain types of synthetics or wool. There can be many reasons, so it is important to consult with a specialist, and not take tests yourself. Otherwise, you can simply waste money or, even worse, find those diseases that the child does not have.

Atopic dermatitis remains – you need to look at the dynamics of each individual patient.However, if atopic dermatitis worsens after eating specific foods, you should think about the likelihood of having a food allergy and see a doctor. Often a child has to be examined for food allergies when it comes to severe, intractable atopic dermatitis in young children.
Other signals of food allergy can be a lag in physical development, especially if the child has pronounced manifestations of the gastrointestinal tract on a regular basis.

9. How to deal with food allergies?

The most effective way is to eliminate the allergen from the diet. If you do not encounter the product, then there will be no reaction. You need to understand that you don’t need to exclude everything. When it comes to egg white allergy, eggs should be excluded. But there is no need for a global diet.

And, of course, there is no need to remove red or orange foods, which is very often done by parents.

It must be remembered that the reaction does not occur to the product or its color, but to a specific protein that is part of the product

Sometimes a person can independently figure out if they have an allergic reaction by discovering hives and shortness of breath after taking a certain product.But people tend to exaggerate: many find allergies in themselves that they don’t really have. A doctor should always diagnose allergic diseases.

In addition, simply removing the product from the diet will not be enough. If we are talking about an allergy to milk, a person will need to remove milk, and fermented milk products, and the milk of other animals – in 90% of cases, a person with an allergy to cow’s milk will be allergic to the milk of many other animals (for example, goat).The diet is also prescribed by an allergist. And if several foods are excluded at once, it is worth consulting with a nutritionist on how to properly build a diet, taking into account the exclusion of several foods.

10. How does allergy affect life?

In the spring, allergic rhinitis aggravates in children with allergies as a result of a reaction to flowering. They constantly squelch and sniff, sometimes being bullied because of this. This affects the overall physical and psychological well-being of the child.

Allergic rhinitis – hay fever during the period of dusting – makes it difficult for children to focus on something other than allergy symptoms, which are poorly controlled by drugs.

In the worst case, the presence of allergies can lead to the development of anaphylaxis, which can also develop in children with food allergies. It can be fatal, but fortunately this is extremely rare.

Just in the period of exacerbation of allergies, adolescents take exams to enter the university, and not only in Russia, but also, for example, in the UK. There was a study that showed that children with allergic rhinitis or children receiving first-generation antihistamines, which cause drowsiness, performed worse on exams.As a result, the proposal to allocate a separate examination window for children with this disease was seriously discussed.

11. What determines the severity of an allergic reaction?

Predicting the severity of an allergic reaction is extremely difficult. The human immune system reacts not only to a specific protein, but also to a combination of different factors when this protein is consumed.

The level of protein load, which is part of the product, depends on the amount of allergen eaten.The difference between 2 ml of milk and 200 ml is colossal – and the amount can affect the likelihood and severity of the reaction.

You also need to take into account the context of the situation. For example, an allergic person drank milk before exercising. Active physical activity can cause a strong allergic reaction, up to the development of anaphylaxis.

An example from the practice of my friend, a London professor: a teenage girl with a peanut allergy, well aware of her reaction.She did everything right – she checked the compositions, watched what she bought and used. Once in a familiar bar, where peanuts should not be, he found himself. The girl spat out a piece, but already felt the swelling develop. A syringe pen with adrenaline, which could help her in this situation, she forgot at home. She got scared and decided to run to the house to take a syringe pen. The distance was about 10 minutes walk. As a result, she fell and died before reaching several meters.

It is likely that if she had just walked calmly or remained where she was and called an ambulance, she would not have developed such an anaphylactic reaction that eventually killed her.Unfortunately, the combination of allergen use and exercise has been fatal. This happens very rarely, but it happens nonetheless.

In reality, anaphylactic reaction is rarely fatal. We cannot always say exactly why in some cases the attack ends in death, and in others it does not. And, although this is due to the mentioned factors of the course of the reaction, it is not possible to predict its course, and therefore we simply advise avoiding foods to which the patient has food allergies.

12. How to help allergy sufferers

Of course, the provision of assistance depends on the age of the child. If we are talking about a small child, then parents should first of all help him. They should also make sure to notify the risk of developing an anaphylactic reaction to both school teachers and the parents of friends in whose home the child may be spending time. To relieve symptoms from the respiratory system, bronchodilator drugs are usually used, which is quite logical: during an attack, the lumen of the bronchi decreases, the child becomes difficult to breathe.The same thing can happen with anaphylaxis.

In the West, many children suffering from allergic diseases always have a pen with adrenaline with them. The parents and the medical staff of the educational institution in which the child is studying have the same. In Russia, syringe pens, unfortunately, are not registered, so you cannot buy them at a pharmacy. But you can order it on the Internet – at the customs the parcel with injectors, most likely, will not be deployed, this is not a narcotic drug.

Unfortunately, it is impossible to find an adequate analogue of a pen-syringe.The whole point of such a device is that a person can quickly inject adrenaline into his muscle. Someone separately carries an ampoule of adrenaline and a syringe, but the fact is that the person himself cannot quickly inject this substance into himself.

A study was conducted in which nurses, intensive care nurses, doctors and patients were asked to inject themselves with a certain dose of adrenaline in normal, non-stressful conditions. The only ones who did more or less well were the nurses from the intensive care unit.And it was about normal, not stressful conditions.

When we talk about the fact that adrenaline will be administered to himself by a person without preparation and in a stressful situation, then there is always the risk of injecting the wrong dose of the drug. Especially if it’s a child. However, people sometimes carry ampoules and syringes with them – it’s better than nothing.

The first aid kit for a child with allergies should contain:

• Second-generation antihistamines (such as loratadine or cetirizine).They, unlike the first drugs, do not cause drowsiness.

• Bronchodilators (such as ventolin or salbutamol). If the child has asthma or has had cases of bronchial obstruction while consuming certain foods. Such drugs expand the lumen of the bronchi, which narrows with an allergic reaction.

• Syringe pens with adrenaline. If the child has a high risk of anaphylaxis or a case of anaphylaxis in the past, it is important to have a pen syringe not only in the home medicine cabinet, but also always with you for the child and the parent.

If we send a child with friends and relatives for a walk or on a trip, we need to take the drugs from the home medicine cabinet with us. By the way, it is more difficult with relatives here. Many moms and dads complain to me that grandmothers and grandfathers do not believe in a child’s allergy: “Oh, you made it up!”. But this goes away after they witness an acute allergic reaction.

The most interesting thing is that often other children, friends of an allergic child, take his disease more seriously than adults.

Although unfamiliar children may even offend a child because of his allergies, close friends understand what is at stake, worry, and learn to use a pen.

However, their parents may be more frivolous. Therefore, it is important, when sending a child on a trip with other adults, to explain to them the principle of action of drugs and the need for their use, to explain what to do in case of an unexpected reaction.

13. How to distinguish SARS from allergies and prescribe treatment?

Symptoms of SARS and allergies sometimes really coincide, but they can be distinguished by the presence of temperature and time of the course of the disease.If we speak very conditionally, ARVI is an acute condition, which is accompanied by a rise in temperature, but disappears after a week. Allergic diseases are troubling for a long time. But in order to know for sure that the child does not have ARVI, but an allergic reaction, you need to go to the doctor. And it is the doctor who must prompt whether it is an allergic disease and prescribe the correct treatment.

14. The child is not allowed to enter school with an inhaler. What to do?

Unfortunately, if the child is not allowed to enter school with an inhaler, it is easier to change schools.In the West, in many countries there are “nut-free” schools: nuts are not allowed to be brought, they are not used anywhere, they are not in the kitchen. There are also schools to which they are not allowed to bring latex products, for example, there are no balloons there.

We have practically no such analogues, but the situation is gradually changing. Previously, parents of allergy sufferers reacted negatively: “What kind of nonsense are you talking about? Your child is like everyone else. ” This is now a rare response to warnings of a possible allergic reaction, especially in private schools.

If we are talking about a general education school, which is not allowed with an inhaler and from which you do not want to leave, you need to get a doctor’s opinion on bronchial asthma, contact the school nurse with a request to store the inhaler. But this is generally an unlikely situation. The school, on the contrary, is interested in the child’s having an inhaler so that he can help himself.

15. What to do if the child starts to choke?

If the child begins to choke, an ambulance must be called urgently.Speaking of emergency measures, it is worth immediately applying a bronchodilator drug if we are talking about a child with bronchial asthma, or we know that he has a food allergy and he accidentally eaten an allergen.

It is difficult not to see that it becomes difficult for a person to breathe. Shortness of breath occurs, wheezing can be heard, the person often takes a forced posture. In young children, the reaction may be more noticeable. Their body turns on additional mechanisms to breathe in as much air as possible, and additional musculature is recruited.You can see the retraction of the intercostal spaces, or supraclavicular fossae. This is called “retraction of the compliant chest sites.”

16. Can a special conditioner really help people with allergies?

To a certain extent, air conditioners with HEPA filters, which have a good degree of filtration of small particles, can make the life of an allergic person easier. This is more true for children with allergies to house dust mites and pollen. In such situations, different devices with a HEPA filter – humidifiers, air conditioners – are relevant.However, they are often not enough to achieve control over the allergic disease.

17. Will the move help me to overcome allergies?

A person with allergies may be helped by traveling to another country during the flowering period. It helps people with allergic rhinitis. Moving will not help people with food allergies, as it always stays with them.

18. Can food allergies be cured? (possibly)

Today, children suffering from food allergies can try to get rid of the disease not only by excluding the product from the diet (in fact, in this case, the allergy persists, but does not manifest itself), but also with special therapy.

Oral immunotherapy (also called desensitization and allergen-specific immunotherapy) is initiated only in a clinical setting and consists in the fact that a person is given a certain dose of an allergen every day. Gradually, his immune system learns to perceive it normally. The effectiveness of this therapy in patients with food allergies is still a subject of discussion, but it is already being actively implemented in university clinics in the USA, Spain, Great Britain, Germany and other countries.Oral immunotherapy is currently unavailable in Russia.

There can be many explanations as to why this method is not so well developed in Russia. One of the possible reasons, in my opinion, may be the poor regulation of the judicial system in relation to doctors. Although Russian patients, like in the West, sign a document stating that they are aware of the potential consequences, the doctor can still face criminal prosecution if the patient is admitted to intensive care or dies.

As a result, doctors are afraid to even give a drug that is indicated to the patient, but is not prescribed in the recommendation documents, which is already talking about a treatment method that can potentially lead to anaphylaxis. Perhaps that is why new methods of treatment are introduced with great difficulty and fear.

19. The child wants to have a pet, but he has an allergy. Is there a way out?

Animal allergies are truly an allergic reaction of the immune system, which classically manifests itself in the form of swelling, hives, itching, nasal congestion or nasal discharge.The reaction occurs to proteins that are found in the wool, dandruff, urine or saliva of animals.

One of the treatment options is allergen-specific immunotherapy, for example, to a cat or dog allergen.

In world practice, such immunotherapy is done either subcutaneously or sublingually. If carried out for 3-5 years, the allergy to pet hair will be significantly reduced.

In Russia, cat or dog allergens are not registered, therefore, such treatment cannot be carried out on the territory of the country, and some parents take their children abroad to initiate it there, and then continue to take sublingual therapy upon returning to their homeland.

Another option being researched today is vaccinating cats to lower the protein levels most commonly allergic to in humans. There is work to vaccinate people. Now such a remedy for removing the manifestation of allergies to cats is being developed at the Sechenov University.

Finally, there are cat foods that reduce the production of one of the proteins that many people are allergic to. But people react to different proteins and to different levels, so to prove the efficacy of feeds, you need to collect the evidence base and do more qualitative research in order to make specific recommendations.

Photos:
Shutterstock / MiMaLeFi

Publication link:
mel.fm

Food allergy – what triggers, the main symptoms and the solution to the problem

Causes and symptoms of allergies.Diet for the treatment of food allergies in adults and children

Food allergy is a pathological condition with immunological mechanisms. A food allergy manifests itself as a rash on the skin of the face and body. Modern medicine has not yet figured out the true reasons for the development of allergies to a particular food product. After clarifying the diagnosis, a diet is prescribed to treat food allergies in adults and children – the basis for a successful solution to the problem. But first, doctors must find out which foods caused the body’s inadequate response.

What can provoke food allergies

Any food product may be unsuitable for the body. In official medicine, there is a list of foods that cause allergies:

• cereals – cane, wheat, bamboo, rye, corn, oats, millet and rice;
• buckwheat – rhubarb and buckwheat;
• proteins of animal origin – seafood, any meat and all types of fish, milk and its derivatives;
• Rosaceae – strawberry, peach, pear, almond, apple, apricot, wild strawberry;
• pumpkin seeds – watermelon, pumpkin, melon, cucumbers, zucchini;
• heather – blueberries, cranberries, coffee, lingonberries;
• nightshade – tomatoes, bell peppers (red and rarely green), eggplants, potatoes;
• cruciferous – radish, cabbage of various types, turnip, mustard and horseradish;
• Compositae – artichoke, chicory, Jerusalem artichoke, sunflower;
• liliaceae – garlic and asparagus.

In 90% of cases, children develop an allergy to animal protein, in particular to milk. Signs of an allergy to complementary foods in infants are a rash on the face and body. As a person grows up, the body begins to perceive protein of animal origin better and by the age of 15-18, food allergies disappear altogether. But even after canceling the diagnosis, a person should be careful about what is included in his daily menu.

Hypersensitivity to fish proteins is considered separately.As a rule, this type of allergy does not disappear even after many years.

Symptoms and peculiarities of allergies to different foods

A full examination can be carried out in a medical institution, and you can identify the cause of a food allergy yourself. At least in childhood, this is not difficult to do.

Allergy to dairy products first appears after complementary feeding before the age of 12 months. The first manifestations may be mild – redness of the cheeks, moods, increased gas production, constipation or diarrhea.It is necessary to solve the problem immediately, but not by excluding dairy products from the baby’s diet, but by replacing them. It is necessary: ​​

• to try to replace cow’s milk with goat’s milk, which causes allergies only in exceptional cases;
• replace butter with vegetable oil – add it to vegetable and meat purees, cereals;
• cottage cheese and cheese, as the most allergenic dairy products, should be introduced into the diet later in age – perhaps by this time the baby will “outgrow”.

Often, children are allergic to “porridge” – wheat, rye, barley and other cereals cause not only redness and rash on the skin, but also belching, vomiting, severe diathesis, weeping eczema. This is how the symptoms of gluten allergy appear, which is found in almost all cereals and baked goods. It is difficult to identify the allergen in this case, only if the baby first tasted porridge in the form of complementary foods and his health was disturbed.

The easiest way to identify an allergy to berries in children – it manifests itself “in all its glory” immediately after eating grapes, strawberries or watermelon.Moreover, the symptoms of an inadequate reaction are too pronounced to be ignored – the bright red color of the cheeks, a small rash on the abdomen and buttocks. In the same way, an allergy to fruits is manifested, especially intensely – to citrus fruits and bananas, less often – to apples.

Animal protein is also poorly absorbed in childhood. Doctors say that this particular type of food allergy is temporary and as the child grows up, any protein foods can be added to the menu. Allergies to meat, fish and poultry are usually manifested by a disorder of the digestive system – nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, intestinal colic.Rarely, rashes on the face or body may appear.

Recommendations for adapting a child to food allergens

The simplest thing is to exclude foods that cause allergies from the menu. But for the full development of the baby, food should be varied. Help with food allergies in a child of 1-2 years old will be provided by a pediatrician in tandem with a nutritionist – a diet will be drawn up, possibly specific medications will be prescribed, a schedule for introducing foods into complementary foods will be drawn up.If the inadequate reaction of the baby appeared during breastfeeding, then you need to carefully study the mother’s menu. Allergies to red foods in a child may occur due to the mother’s consumption of beets, tomatoes, watermelons and strawberries.

Adult patients with non-childhood food allergies must undergo a complete evaluation. Firstly, it is very difficult to identify the irritant on your own, and secondly, it can be the most unexpected. For example, you often have to look for the causes of a tap water allergy.

For more information on food allergies in children and adults, visit https://www.dobrobut.com/. By making an appointment with a doctor using the contacts published on the pages of the portal, it will be possible to find out about what should be the nutrition for allergies to breast milk in newborns.

Allergies during pregnancy: Allergies during pregnancy

The increase in allergy cases is influenced by the widespread use and use of cosmetics, synthetic products, disinfectants, and changed food and diet.

Allergic disease is manifested in the fact that the immune system of the human body reacts to allergens when it comes into contact with them. Allergic diseases also include acute allergies.

Among people susceptible to acute allergies, from 5 to 20% of cases are pregnant. Pregnant women are prone to this disease most often between the ages of 18 and 24 years.

Allergies in pregnancy – effects on the child

When an allergy develops in pregnant women, it does not affect the fetus.This is due to the fact that immunocomplexes that react to an allergen that irritates the body cannot get to the fetus because of the placenta. Despite this, the fetus, which is in the womb, can be negatively affected by the disease due to three main reasons:

1. In cases where the state of health of the mother is subject to changes.
2. Medicines needed to treat allergies during pregnancy can reduce uteroplacental blood flow.The process of supplying blood to the fetus is impaired.
3. Medicines, in addition to the above effects, can adversely affect the fetus as a whole.

Allergy treatment during pregnancy

Treatment should be started immediately, because only in this case the allergy will not have time to affect the fetus. Also, a very important task that must be taken into account before starting treatment is the maximum avoidance of harm that can be inflicted on an unborn child with drugs.

When prescribing a course of treatment, a doctor should take into account the fact that the number of pregnant women who have diseases of internal organs, according to statistics, reaches 45%. In addition, the number of women taking medications during pregnancy ranges from 60 to 80%. The average number of medications that a woman takes during the entire pregnancy is 4 different types. And this is if you do not take into account various vitamin complexes, dietary supplements and minerals.That is why a pregnant woman should in no case engage in self-treatment after discovering the first signs of allergy. It is necessary to immediately go to an appointment with a doctor who will provide qualified assistance and prescribe the correct course of treatment, which is as harmless to the fetus as possible.

The search for a cure for allergies in pharmacies, if necessary, after an appointment by a doctor, can be carried out on our portal. There is all the information about each of them, and it is also possible to compare their cost.

When contacting an allergist for consultation, a woman will undergo a special examination in order to correctly diagnose and identify an allergen. A similar test involves preparing a solution that is made from irritants suspected of causing the allergy. After that, a similar solution is injected into the skin of a pregnant woman in a small amount. If she is allergic to one of the irritants in the solution, the area around the injection site will become swollen.

Where to take skin tests for allergies, as well as a laboratory blood test, you can find out on our website. Here you can choose a convenient and convenient option for yourself.

Prevention of allergic disease during pregnancy

Prevention of allergies is important, as it will help to avoid an allergic disease and the consequences of the effect on the fetus of drugs for its treatment. For the purpose of prevention, it is necessary, first of all, to remove from the woman’s food products that are characterized as highly allergic.This is primarily due to the fact that irritants most often enter through the gastrointestinal tract, and then penetrate to the fetus. Until about the 22nd week of intrauterine development in the fetus, the immune system completes its formation. It is after it becomes mature that increased sensitivity begins to develop. This means that after the 22nd week of pregnancy, a pregnant woman should review her diet and exclude from it foods that may be allergens to her.

Also, for the prevention of an allergic disease, one should not have much contact with the recently appeared products from the field of cosmetics and household chemicals.

Expectant mothers who have at least once been susceptible to an allergic disease should completely exclude the possibility of contact with those allergens that have caused an allergic reaction at least once before. In addition, it is recommended not to have pets, to clean the house, preferably damp and daily, to carry out a complete cleaning of the house weekly, which should include airing the rooms, cleaning carpets with a vacuum cleaner and knocking out and drying pillows.

Enemy on the plate: new food allergens appear in Russia every year | Articles

Every second inhabitant of the Earth is prone to food allergies, and the number of people suffering from it is growing rapidly.There is no such diagnosis officially. However, already in 2019, WHO can approve it in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD). And doctors are sounding the alarm – every year new allergens appear in Russia. Even harmless green apples, sesame seeds and kiwi began to belong to them. 35–65% of allergy sufferers may develop anaphylactic shock, including fatal ones. The experts spoke at a round table in Izvestia that a headache can be a reaction to food, on which branches less dangerous fruits grow and why a cesarean section leads to the risk of developing allergies.

Illness without diagnosis

Izvestia: Is food allergy an independent diagnosis or a symptom of other diseases?

Vera Revyakina, Head of the Allergology Department of the Federal Research Center of Nutrition and Biotechnology, Chairman of the Union of Pediatric Allergists of Russia, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor: This is not a disease, but an allergic reaction to food. But food allergy is a trigger factor for many diseases: atopic dermatitis, urticaria, angioedema, bronchial asthma, allergic rhinitis and others.

Photo: Izvestia / Alexey Maishev

Vera Revyakina

Lyudmila Luss, Head of the Scientific Advisory Department of the Institute of Immunology of the FMBA of Russia, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor: There are many different opinions – is it a disease or a reaction. Food allergy is not only the most important medical and social problem, but also a global problem of biosafety of the world’s population. WHO considers nutrition as a way to preserve human health and prevent various diseases.

The Nomenclature Committee of the European Academy of Allergology and Clinical Immunology has determined that food allergy should be understood as food hypersensitivity reactions triggered by immune mechanisms.

Izvestia: Has it started to appear more often?

Lyudmila Luss: Yes. WHO annually notes an increase in diseases, the development of which is associated with food intake, including cardiovascular, oncological, neuroendocrine, diseases of the immune system, in particular food allergies.The annual reports of WHO always emphasize that today the statistics of foodborne diseases are openly underestimated.

One of the problems is the lack of a diagnosis of food allergy in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD). Therefore, we are talking about its prevalence, classification and nosological forms conditionally.

Izvestia: What is the diagnosis made by allergists?

Lyudmila Luss: Doctors expose the diagnosis according to the leading clinical manifestations . For example, “T78.0 – food-induced anaphylactic shock” or “L.27.2 – food-induced dermatitis”.

Photo: Izvestia / Alexey Maishev

Lyudmila Luss

Vera Revyakina: In 2019, WHO will adopt a new ICD of the eleventh revision. I think there will be a diagnosis of “food allergy” or “food-related allergic reactions.” Five years ago, we sent such proposals to the ICD, but it is difficult to say whether they were taken into account or not.

Lyudmila Luss: Due to the fact that there is no group of allergic diseases in the ICD, there are no uniform approaches to the treatment of typical allergic diseases. Although it is quite obvious that the joint efforts of allergists, pulmonologists, dermatologists and other specialists allow the most effective control of bronchial asthma, atopic dermatitis, and other allergic diseases.

Vera Revyakina: The outstanding scientist Andrei Dmitrievich Ado singled out allergology as a separate discipline.Allergic diseases are systemic diseases affecting many organs: skin, gastrointestinal tract, respiratory and cardiovascular systems. Even the nervous system can be affected by allergies. If an allergen is ingested with food, various manifestations of migraine occur. For example, you drink coffee, eat chocolate, and you get headaches. But usually these patients are referred to a neurologist, not an allergist.

Saving at the cost of life

Izvestia: How many people suffer from food allergies?

Alexander Pampura, chief allergist-immunologist of the Moscow Health Department, Doctor of Medical Sciences: According to expert estimates, 50% of the population has an increased risk of developing allergic diseases.That is, now half of the population in almost any developed country is ready to realize an allergic reaction. The predisposition is inherited.

Photo: Izvestia / Alexey Maishev

Alexander Pampura

Vera Revyakina: People are born with a certain set of genes that are responsible for the development of allergies, for example, for the synthesis of immunoglobulin E (the main marker of allergy). They are activated by environmental factors. As soon as genes come into contact with provoking factors, they realize a genetic predisposition into an allergic disease.Genes do not change, but environmental factors that affect their activity do. It’s bad that this is not one gene, but many. Allergy is a polygenic disease. Therefore, we cannot yet change the genetic code and influence the occurrence of an allergic disease.

Alexander Pampura: Food allergy in children is proven when we detect an immunologically mediated reaction to a particular food. Symptoms occur when the product is consumed. In the first or second year of life of such children – 10%.

Food allergies can manifest themselves in different ways. Most often – atopic dermatitis, but anaphylaxis can also develop. This is a life-threatening reaction. A special risk group is boys aged 12 to 18 months, in whom, according to international data, anaphylaxis occurs in 5% of cases. One in 20 boys from the general population has either a risk or signs of anaphylaxis.

Lyudmila Luss: We agree with the official estimate that 2% of the population in the adult population suffers from food allergies.35–65% of them may develop anaphylaxis to food, even with a fatal outcome. The Americans have published this data: they have 150 deaths annually associated with anaphylaxis. I think we have no less.

Izvestia: Does our Ministry of Health give figures?

Lyudmila Luss: He does not, because the ICD does not have this diagnosis.

Alexander Pampura: Proof is important. Of course, the death rate is higher than 150 people a year, because if a person dies on the street, it is not necessary for someone to carry out a diagnosis.But not every episode of anaphylaxis is fatal – only one in a hundred.

Izvestia: Was the prevalence of food allergies the same a hundred years ago?

Lyudmila Luss: Of course, less. People ate less.

Alexander Pampura: 20 years ago, only 30% of the population had an increased risk of food allergies.

Vera Revyakina: For the first time a reaction to cow’s milk was described by Hippocrates.

Alexander Pampura: At the beginning of the last century, research was carried out in the Swiss army.Allergic diseases accounted for 1%, of which food allergies were even less. Every twenty years in developed countries the number of patients with allergic diseases, in particular food allergies, doubles.

Izvestia: What has changed in our life in a hundred years? Have our genes been mutated?

Alexander Pampura: This cannot be explained from the point of view of genetics, because it cannot fundamentally change in five or six generations. But a huge number of additional factors are changing.For example, over 50-60 years, the duration of breastfeeding has decreased, and the diet has changed.

Vera Revyakina: In a word, allergies are a consequence of a lifestyle.

Alexander Pampura: There is a hygienic theory: we have become less sick primarily with infectious diseases and we have an increased likelihood of developing allergic diseases. But this is just a hypothesis.

Lyudmila Luss: Allergy is a protective reaction of the body aimed at quickly binding and removing a harmful substance (allergen), sometimes at the cost of life.

Favorite allergen

Izvestia: Can food allergies occur at any age?

Lyudmila Luss: Yes. The myth that allergy is a disease of young people has been completely debunked. Already proven and published data on the onset of allergies in general and food allergies in particular in the elderly.

Izvestia: Are there differences between food allergies in children and adults?

Alexander Pampura: Very large.The spectrum of allergens is completely different. In adults, anaphylactic reaction to rare foods is more common.

Izvestia: Is your body weaker?

Alexander Pampura: It is impossible to answer unequivocally.

Vera Revyakina: In adults, other types of allergies are added, for example, hay fever. Pollen can cross-react with food. Cat and pork are seemingly two different allergens, but if a patient responds to a cat, they may react to pork, or vice versa.

Izvestia: What are the most common allergens in Russia for children and adults?

Alexander Pampura: In the first two years of life, the main allergens are milk and eggs. There is the G8, to which 90% of the reactions occur. These are milk, eggs, peanuts, soybeans, fish, wheat, shellfish and crustaceans. At an older age, the spectrum of allergens greatly expands. And it changes over time. For example, we had few reactions to peanuts ten years ago, but now there are even more young children who are allergic to this product.

Vera Revyakina: The evolution of food allergy to some foods is that it loses its dominant role with age. A child is sensitive to milk up to three years old, and then tolerance is often formed. But there are foods to which an allergic reaction can last a lifetime, such as fish and seafood.

Alexander Pampura: In the United States, the scourge is peanut allergy. 5% of the population have severe allergic reactions to it. Perhaps the reason is that Americans eat a lot of roasted peanuts.In China, they also consume a large amount of peanuts, but stewed, and there is no such significant problem with allergies to it.

Vera Revyakina: In the Scandinavian countries, the reaction to seafood prevails. In Taiwan, seafood is also in the first place, and in the last place is the protein of cow’s milk, because milk is practically not consumed there. In Europe, there is a reaction to gluten (a protein of cereals).

Izvestia: So the allergy develops to the usual products?

Vera Revyakina: The more often and more atopic people, that is, predisposed to the development of allergies, consume a product, the more likely they will begin to perceive it as an allergen.For example, when they started using soy infant formula, over time, there was a surge in allergic reactions to soy.

Green and dangerous

Izvestia: Can you guess what other allergens will appear?

Alexander Pampura: In Russia, the spectrum of allergens is expanding.

Vera Revyakina: Gluten becomes an allergen.

Alexander Pampura: In our country, the number of patients with nut allergies is growing, because we are using them more and more.The reaction to sesame may increase – no one ate it 20 years ago. 30 years ago, none of us ate kiwi, there was no allergy.

Vera Revyakina: The number of reactions to the apple is increasing. Even green apples now cause allergic reactions.

Alexander Pampura: Apple is a source of allergens. Depending on the variety, the maturity of the apple, the region in which it grew, at the top or bottom of the apple tree, what it was treated with, conditions – drought or rain, the amount of certain allergens in an apple may be different.Allergens can be found in the skin or pulp of the apple. Some allergens can be destroyed by temperature. There are apple varieties with a lot of allergens. One of the most allergenic is Jonathan. Santana was developed especially for allergy sufferers.

Izvestia: Isn’t it easier to exclude apples from the diet of allergy sufferers?

Alexander Pampura: The main task of an allergist is not to limit. We should try to improve the patient’s quality of life and only exclude the product when we are confident of its clinical significance.In citrus fruits, as a rule, there are no allergens – these are pseudo-allergic reactions. They usually depend on the dose: the more you eat, the higher the likelihood of these reactions.

Inhale – and not breathe

Izvestia: Are there regions in our country where there are fewer allergy sufferers?

Lyudmila Luss: Of course, where there is a good environmental situation and a person is less stressed, allergies are less common. There is a connection between allergies and the climate. Temperature and humidity determine the spectrum of allergens and the structure of the allergy.

Izvestia: Must it be the worst in Moscow?

Alexander Pampura: Oddly enough, Moscow is the best. The pollution is much less than in a number of other regions. And the average level of medical personnel in Moscow is also better.

However, there is no exact data for the country, because epidemiological studies have not been carried out since the times of the USSR.

Lyudmila Luss: The prevalence of allergies and the spectrum of allergens are greatly influenced by the poor ecology and climatic and geographical features of the region.Where oranges grow, and not apples, sensitization will most often be to oranges. The prevalence of allergies is higher in industrial regions. However, at those enterprises where periodic medical examinations of personnel, including allergists-immunologists, are carried out, the incidence is lower, the diseases are easier, and long-term remissions are characteristic.

Vera Revyakina: At the end of the 60s, we conducted research in Bratsk and Angarsk – there were very high numbers. In Moscow, most allergy sufferers were in the area of ​​the ZIL plant.

Lyudmila Luss: In the capital, the highest incidence in children 20 years ago was observed in the Kapotnya region.

Vera Revyakina: Research is not being carried out now, it is very expensive.

Give birth to someone who is not allergic

Izvestia: If you are planning a pregnancy and you are allergic, how to prepare?

Vera Revyakina: This is a whole program. I had a patient – a severe atopic, his mother became pregnant with her second child.She followed all our recommendations, and the second child was born with minimal manifestations.

Izvestia: Doctors forbid pregnant women to eat red apples and fish. This is right?

Lyudmila Luss: The nutrition of a pregnant woman should be very varied. Only those products to which the presence of allergies is proven are completely excluded.

Alexander Pampura: Prevention programs have been around the world for 30–40 years, but more and more children develop allergic diseases.The prevention system is based on the following position: pregnancy should be as calm as possible.

Vera Revyakina: You should not take a lot of drugs, especially during pregnancy. They have been proven to be one of the high risk factors for developing food sensitization in a child.

Alexander Pampura: Eliminate common harmful factors during pregnancy as much as possible. Breastfeeding should continue for at least three to four months.At the same time, it is not at all a fact that it prevents allergic diseases.

Vera Revyakina: One of the reasons for the rapid growth of food allergies is a cesarean section. Now this fact is recognized all over the world. But over the past five years, the number of cesarean sections has increased from 12 to 28%.

Izvestia: How are caesarean section and allergies related?

Alexander Pampura: One of the explanations is this: the fetus does not pass through the birth canal of the mother, but immediately falls on the stomach.There is a different microflora on the abdomen than in the birth canal. If a cesarean section is indicated, it certainly should be done, but if there is a choice …

Lyudmila Luss: It is important that the cesarean section is performed only for medical reasons. When the fetus passes through the birth canal, the child’s body is exposed to important and necessary influences that allow it to adapt to the changed environmental conditions, the necessary flora populates the mucous membranes, and the immune system is stimulated.

Take control

Izvestia: What methods allow you to identify the allergen as accurately as possible?

Vera Revyakina: Skin tests are a reliable and effective diagnostic method.It has been used for a long time, but it has limitations and contraindications.

Alexander Pampura: Unfortunately, in Russia high-quality allergy tests in vitro are not widespread enough. Skin tests have some advantages, one of which is speed: 20 minutes and we get the result. Their sensitivity is very high, but not always skin tests can answer all questions. In addition, the allergist has an ISAC test system in his arsenal: we can simultaneously diagnose 112 allergenic molecules from 51 sources on a single chip.This is a foreign microchip, in network laboratories the analysis costs 24-26 thousand. Using only 30 µl of plasma or serum, we can identify the culprit allergens and prescribe a diet or specific immunotherapy. About five years ago, we only dreamed about it. The chip has a huge spectrum, although the sensitivity is slightly lower than in vitro testing with single allergens.

In 60–70% of cases, testing up to five food allergens is sufficient, and it is not that expensive. Ideally, when we clearly understand which specific protein is causing the reaction.

Specific immunotherapy for food allergens exists in the USA and Europe. If you react to peanuts, you are given them in gradually increasing doses. This is a search method. How to increase the dose, how long it is necessary to continue this therapy, what dose is maintenance, is still not entirely clear.

Izvestia: Can allergies be cured?

Vera Revyakina: Allergies can be controlled. If you control her, she will not bother you.

Alexander Pampura: It is possible to achieve a good quality of life for a patient with an allergic disease, when he can not notice his illness. In the event of a food allergy, it will be enough for him to avoid certain foods and take medication as appropriate.

READ ALSO

Nasal congestion in case of allergies – what to do, treatment

Co-author, editor and medical expert – Maksimov Alexander Alekseevich.

Date of last update: 28.10.2021

Number of views: 78 443.

Average reading time: 5 minutes.

Contents:

How to distinguish an allergic cause of nasal congestion
Nasal congestion in allergies: allergens present “incognito”

Allergies and nasal congestion are two inseparable concepts that characterize such a common disease as allergic rhinitis. However, sometimes a violation of nasal breathing, which has an obvious allergic origin, due to the lack of obvious contact with the allergen, can simply be ignored.In fact, not all substances that can cause an inadequate reaction of the human body are visible to the naked eye, but nevertheless they often become the most powerful allergens that cause nasal congestion and other unpleasant symptoms.

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How to distinguish an allergic cause of nasal congestion

In order to reliably determine what is the cause of nasal congestion: a cold, dysregulation of vascular tone or a foreign protein-allergen, it is necessary to observe the patient’s well-being in various environmental conditions …You need to find out how he feels at different times of the year in nature, on the street, at home. In this situation, in the absence of an allergen and / or when taking antihistamines, nasal breathing is restored, the swelling of the mucous membrane passes and relief comes. ¹

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Nasal congestion in case of allergies: allergens present “incognito”

Allergic nasal congestion is a collective term that includes hay fever (seasonal rhinitis associated with dusting of causative plants), as well as a runny nose, which can develop for no apparent reason.Following the prevailing stereotype, an ordinary man in the street, far from medicine, believes that if the nose is stuffy, an allergy or hypersensitivity of the body is present only upon contact with allergens in the inhaled air. However, allergists have made appropriate adjustments to the list of causative factors.

• If you are allergic to animal hair, some four-legged pet lovers have cats and dogs of the hairless breed. But few people know that dead particles of animal skin, daily lost in huge quantities, are identical in composition with wool, that is, they are also capable of provoking nasal congestion. ²
• If a person has occasional disturbed nasal breathing or attacks of unreasonable sneezing or lacrimation, it is necessary to find out what provokes this condition. To do this, experts recommend keeping a special diary and writing down everything that was eaten and drunk the day before, what cosmetics were used and where exactly the walk took place in the air. It is also imperative to record the date and time of each case of nasal congestion.As a rule, after a few weeks, a person will definitely discover the true culprit of his condition. It can be this or that food product, cosmetic product, home or park plant, etc.
• If a substance that was previously absolutely harmless became the cause of the development of an allergy, then, most likely, the person at one time did not take due attention to the arisen problem. As a result, the sensitization of the body has increased, and new ones have been added to the list of existing allergens. ³ To stop the development of the pathological process, it is necessary to begin immediate adequate treatment. Otherwise, the amount of allergen in the body will sooner or later reach a critical level, and then a stuffy nose will become the smallest problem among the rest.

TIZIN ^® Alerji helps to eliminate the negative symptoms of a pathological condition. This remedy, which helps to cope with nasal congestion, is recommended to be used as a symptomatic therapy drug in the complex treatment of allergies in adults and children who have reached 6 years of age.

Based on the foregoing, the conclusion suggests itself that the root cause of nasal congestion is not always obvious, and only an attentive and responsible approach to your own health and the health of your loved ones will help to establish the true culprit of the disease. At the same time, one should not forget about the importance of preventive measures, timely diagnosis and adequate treatment of nasal congestion, which can eliminate the already existing manifestations of allergies and prevent the development of complications.

Up to Table of Contents

The information in this article is for reference only and does not replace professional medical advice.Consult a qualified professional for diagnosis and treatment.

References:

1. Svistushkin V.M., Morozova S.V., Zolotova A.V. New possibilities of etiopathogenetic therapy of allergic rhinitis. First Moscow State Medical University. I.M.Sechenov. Medical Council, 2017 (8): 68-71.
2. Pampura A.N., Varlamov E.E., Kolyukova N.G. Sensitization to pet allergens. PCP “Research Clinical Institute of Pediatrics named afterAcademician Yu.E. Veltishchev “Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow, Russia. Russian Bulletin of Perinatology and Pediatrics, 2018; 63 (2): 22-26.
3. World Allergy Organization (WAO). Updated by Jay Portnoy, July 2015. Ig E in clinical allergy and allergy diagnosis. World Allergy Organization. The role of immunoglobulin E in the clinical picture and diagnosis of allergies. 2015 update.

Read also:

Allergic rhinitis

Chronic allergic rhinitis

Nasal congestion in a child

Is there an allergy to alcohol and how does it manifest

All beverages containing ethyl alcohol are considered alcohol.It happens that one person does not feel well from one glass of wine, and the other does not get worse after the bottle.

Understanding why people react differently to alcohol.

Allergy to alcohol or alcohol intolerance?

Allergy is an individual reaction of the immune system to compounds that usually do not pose a threat to humans. Immunity cells attack a potential allergen, which is manifested by unpleasant symptoms: difficulty breathing, watery eyes, runny nose, redness of the skin, itching, severe abdominal pain and others, up to anaphylactic shock – a severe, often life-threatening form of allergy.

Allergy to alcohol is extremely rare, since the human body produces a small amount of it. Allergy tests, too, usually do not show a reaction to ethyl alcohol, but they can show a reaction to its derivatives – acetaldehyde and acetic acid, which are formed when alcohol is neutralized in the body.

An allergic reaction after drinking alcohol is not caused by the presence of alcohol, but by the products of its processing.

In addition, symptoms may occur in response to other compounds found in alcoholic beverages.For example, a person with a wheat allergy may develop a reaction after drinking beer, and a person with a grape protein allergy may develop a reaction to wine.

Usually, the presence of symptoms does not depend on the amount of alcohol consumed. The more we drink alcohol at a time, the more damage is done to the body, and allergies or intolerances have nothing to do with it. In people who are allergic to alcohol, even 1 milliliter of alcohol can cause a strong reaction.

Why do we get drunk from alcohol. Video with Russian subtitles

Intolerance, in contrast to allergies, has slightly different symptoms.Usually a person’s face, neck and chest turn red in this case. Blood pressure may decrease and nausea, vomiting, diarrhea may occur, and an exacerbation of bronchial asthma may develop. Alcohol intolerance depends on genetics and allergies are much more common.

Approximate difference between allergy and intolerance symptoms.

How is genetics related to alcohol intolerance?

When ethyl alcohol enters the body, it is broken down by a special enzyme, the work of which depends on the variant of the ADh2B gene.The neutralization process produces acetaldehyde, a toxic substance that destroys cells in the liver, pancreas and brain, and also increases the risk of developing various forms of cancer.

Studies show that people with poor decomposition of acetaldehyde are more likely to develop malignant tumors associated with excessive alcohol consumption.

To reduce the effect of acetaldehyde, the liver produces another enzyme. It breaks down acetaldehyde and thus helps to remove it from the body.The work of this enzyme is also linked to genes. The ALDh3 gene variant determines how well your body breaks down acetaldehyde.

It turns out that the processing of alcohol in the human body depends on two genes ADh2B and ALDh3. If one of them has such an option, in which an insufficient amount of the required enzyme is produced, the body neutralizes alcohol worse, which causes unpleasant reactions after drinking it. As a rule, alcohol intolerance is more common among residents of Asian countries.

How do I know if I have an allergy or alcohol intolerance?

It is enough to pay attention to the symptoms that occur after drinking alcohol. If even a small amount of alcohol causes unpleasant symptoms, it is most likely that you have an allergy or intolerance. Note that a hangover and a severe condition after drinking alcohol does not belong to intolerance or allergies.

It is also possible to check for intolerance with the help of genetic research.For example, in the Atlas Genetic Test, we examine variants of the ADh2B and ALDh3 genes that are associated with alcohol neutralization. However, genetic testing will only show a predisposition.

If you suspect you are allergic to alcohol, discuss this with a specialist. The doctor will prescribe additional tests to find out the cause of the negative reaction.

The absence of symptoms and genetic predisposition does not mean that alcohol is safe for you. A large amount of alcohol is a serious burden on the body, which increases the risks of various diseases.In order not to harm the body, it is recommended not to consume more than one serving of alcohol at a time. This is approximately:

• A 330 ml beer mug with 5% alcohol
• A 150 ml glass of wine with 12% alcohol
• A 30 ml glass of spirits with 40% alcohol

Can you get rid of allergies and intolerance?

Allergy medications and those that reduce stomach acid can cope with symptoms.However, their use can worsen the situation. Since these drugs mask the symptoms and the person feels fewer unpleasant reactions, they tend to drink more alcohol than usual. In this case, the unpleasant consequences from the use of such drugs are greater than the benefits.

In order not to aggravate the manifestation of allergies and intolerances, it is recommended to avoid active and passive smoking. Cigarette smoke also contains acetaldehyde, and smoking increases the level of this toxic substance in the body, which increases the risk of malignant neoplasms and cardiovascular diseases.