Can You Develop Seasonal Allergies Later in Life in Draper, UT? Late Onset Allergies: ENT Specialists: ENTs

If you haven’t ever experienced seasonal or food allergies, and you are past adolescence, don’t think you are out of the woods just yet. It is possible you could start to experience allergy symptoms later in life, even if you haven’t ever had to struggle with them before. ENT Specialists is here to talk about adult onset allergies and how they are something many people experience.

Causes of Adult Onset Allergies

While there are many things that experts don’t fully understand about allergies, there are a couple different theories as to why more and more adults are struggling with allergies later in life. The first theory is that the rise in airborne pollutants is much higher that is has been in the past. The poor indoor air quality that we live with coupled with the sedentary lifestyle that many people live are said to be a big cause. The other being the fact that we live in an environment that is too clean. The fact that we aren’t exposed to as much bacteria, doesn’t allow our immune systems to develop as they should. We don’t have the ability to fight off allergies like people did in the past.

Most Common Age Adults that Develop Onset Allergies

A lot of the time, those that suffer from adult onset allergies have experienced some sort of allergic episode earlier in life. However, there are some cases where there was no sign of allergic reaction in that person’s past. Usually if you are going to experience adult onset allergies it will be in your twenties, thirties or forties. Most people older than that don’t experience these problems. All types of allergies can occur later in life including dust mite allergies, pet allergies, hay fever, mold allergies, drug allergies and food allergies.

Triggers of Sudden Allergy Symptoms

Followiong are some of the triggers that could cause late allergies:
• Exposure to allergens when pregnant or during an illness when the immune system isn’t as strong as it would normally be.
• Not enough exposure to allergens as a child and then reaching that threshold later in life.
• Moving to a new location that has different plants, trees and grasses could cause allergic reactions.
• Getting a new pet.

Treatments for Severe Allergies

If you find yourself suffering from allergy symptoms out of nowhere, you could be experiencing adult onset allergies. There are many over the counter antihistamines that can be effective in dealing with them. If you all of a sudden have a food allergy, it isn’t something to take lightly. They can be life threatening at times. You should be working with the right doctors to help you navigate what foods to avoid and which ones are safe. The team of skilled physicians at ENT Specialists can help you identify your allergies and triggers. We will work with you to find the solutions you need to manage them. Call us today to schedule your appointment.

Yes, You Can Get Them for the First Time

Let’s be clear: Allergies aren’t kids’ stuff. Well, they’re not just kids’ stuff.

That scratchy throat you thought was just a cold? The runny nose you figured was the flu? That run-down feeling you just can’t shake?

Sure, you may be paying into Social Security or have a kid in college. You might even have grandkids. But even though you’re an adult, you could have allergies even if you’ve never had them before.

“The interesting thing is, the majority of people get allergies for the first time — when I say allergies, I mean like allergic rhinitis, asthma, those kinds of things — as a kid,” says Kevin McGrath, MD, an allergist in Wethersfield, CT. “But we often see the onset in a lot of adults, around the 30s and 40s, and another group in the 50s and 60s. It can go in any age group.”

So anybody can come down with an allergy? At any age? For the first time?

“I’ve seen people in their 60s and 70s that are retired, never had any allergy symptoms or asthma and suddenly develop it,” McGrath says. “It’s pretty frustrating if somebody finally gets to retire and they walk out the door to play golf, they’ve never had trouble before, and suddenly they do. ”

How Common Are They?

Nearly 18 million adults in the United States have hay fever, or allergic rhinitis. It’s caused by pollens, weeds, grasses, and molds. Many more have allergic reactions to other things in the environment, like dust mites, dogs, and cats. Some are allergic to foods, like peanuts or shellfish. Still others are allergic to medicines, like penicillin.

Doctors don’t know exactly how many adults are diagnosed with allergies for the first time. But nasal allergies affect more Americans every years, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.

“As the population is aging, we’re seeing that people can have late-onset allergies,” says Beth Corn, MD, an allergist in New York City. “Now, it could be that some people were not diagnosed; they might have really had allergies earlier on. It just might be that people are also a little bit more aware now of allergies.”

Whatever the case, allergies are all over, and they’re big business. They’re the sixth-leading cause of chronic illness in the U.S., according to the CDC. And they cost Americans more than $18 billion a year.

We know what causes allergies: Your immune system overreacts to an allergen (like your dog or a shrimp cocktail). You sneeze, sniffle, itch, or cough. But why this happens to you, when your Uncle Fred is on their third shrimp cocktail, is unclear.

Allergies that pop up for the first time in adults are even more mysterious. Why is it that when you were a kid, your best buddy was your cat Muffinmitts, but now the fur ball next door makes your eyes itch so bad you want to claw them out?

“That’s the thing about allergies,” Corn says. “You’re fine, you’re fine, you’re fine … until you’re not.”

Nobody knows why.

“Most people are exposed to most of the [allergens] over their entire life,” McGrath says. “So why does it suddenly turn on? If we understood exactly what turned it on, we could probably turn it off. That would be the holy grail of allergy. ”

For now, we’ve got to learn to manage allergy symptoms. The rules are the same for adults as they are for kids:

Both McGrath and Corn say they see plenty of adults who are shocked to learn that the cough they’ve developed isn’t due to a cold, but an allergy.

“They’re a little surprised, but I think for the most part they’re happy. Because now they have a reason for why they’re feeling the way that they feel,” Corn says. “When you’re older, you realize that in the spectrum of things that you can have … if all you’re getting is allergies, then you’re really happy with that.”

A Shot of Hope

Allergies can sneak up on you. That cough may not be just a tickle, but a nasal drip because of an allergy, Corn says. That dead-tired feeling you have might not be you getting older. It may be an allergen that’s keeping you from getting a good night’s sleep.

“The fatigue of allergies is huge. The allergic rhinitis, the inflammation, kicks [adults] out of a deep sleep. So they don’t get rest,” McGrath says. “The allergy injections are one of the few things that are really very good at reversing that fatigue. The quality-of-life improvement is huge.”

Both doctors say that if you’re an adult who suddenly has allergies, shots can help you feel better. But they also understand why you might be squeamish. Especially at first, when doctors have to apply specific allergens to your skin to see what bugs you.

“Everybody thinks it’s going to be so awful,” McGrath says. “And then they go through it and go, ‘Man, if I knew this is all it was, I would have been in here a long time ago.’”

Once you know what you’re allergic to, doctors can know how to treat you. And once you know that, dealing with allergies really does become kids’ stuff.

What triggers seasonal allergies? | NIH MedlinePlus Magazine

Ah, spring. It’s the time of year when the cold starts to wane, and trees and flowers blossom.

But if you’re one of the many people who suffer from seasonal allergies, those pretty trees and plants may make you feel worse, not better.

That’s because of pollen, a powdery substance made by trees, weeds, and grasses.

Pollen is harmless, but if you have seasonal allergies, your body mistakes the pollen for something dangerous and tries to attack it. This reaction causes symptoms like coughing, a runny or stuffy nose, and itchy, watery eyes. You might feel like you have a cold.

Diagnosing seasonal allergies

Unlike colds, seasonal allergies usually last longer than a week or two. If you have some or all of these symptoms and are looking for relief, check with your health care provider.

Often, a skin test or allergen-specific blood test can help confirm which type of pollen you’re allergic to. Providers can also diagnose seasonal allergies based on when your symptoms develop. For example:

• Tree pollen (especially from birches, oaks, elms, and maples) typically appears in spring.
• Grasses shed pollen in late spring and summer.
• Ragweed produces pollen in the fall.
• Mold spores often cause seasonal allergies during the spring, summer, and fall. They may also cause year-round allergies for people who live in buildings with too much moisture. Signs of excess moisture include high indoor humidity, water damage, or poor ventilation. 

All in the family

Seasonal allergies often run in families. If both your parents or your siblings have them, you’re more likely to suffer from them, too. 

Many people with seasonal allergies also have asthma. They may experience shortness of breath, wheezing, and coughing, in addition to other symptoms.

Easing your symptoms

Although it’s difficult to predict how bad an allergy season will be, paying attention to your local weather forecast can help. Here are some other useful tips:

• Stay indoors as much as possible on days with peak pollen counts.
• Save outdoor activities for late afternoon.
• Wear a face mask when you work outdoors.
• Close the windows and, if needed, use an air conditioner.
• Wear wraparound glasses to keep pollen out of your eyes.
• Keep the grass cut short and avoid gardening chores that may stir up allergens.
• Rinse off after being outside to remove pollen from your skin and hair.
• Brush off your pets after they’ve been outside to prevent allergens from coming inside with them.

Medication and other treatments

Your health care provider may suggest saline rinses to ease nasal congestion or antihistamines to relieve a runny nose, sneezing, and itchy eyes. Some antihistamines include decongestants, which can reduce congestion, but those medicines are not for everyone. Your provider may also suggest a nasal steroid spray.

For more serious cases, your health care provider may prescribe allergy shots. Over time, these injections can provide relief by reducing your immune system’s reaction to a specific pollen or other allergen.

Sources: MedlinePlus; National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health

Image credit: Adobe Stock

April 01, 2020

How You Can Develop Seasonal Allergies | “Healthy@UH” Health Articles| University Hospitals | Cleveland, OH

Seasonal allergies, also known as allergic rhinitis, affect millions of people each year. As the trees and grasses begin to return to life, so do the pollens that trigger the symptoms.

“Environmental allergies are broken up by seasons,” says UH family medicine specialist Lili Lustig, DO.

“In the spring, it is mainly pollen as the trees start to bloom. In the summer, grasses are a contributor. Fall triggers are largely molds building up as the leaves fall. Winter allergies come about as you button up the house and turn on the furnace, blowing around dust and putting us in closer contact with dust mites.”

Sending Out Defenders

If your body’s immune system decides these harmless substances are bad for the body, it sends out a team of chemicals – called antibodies – to remove these raw materials (allergens).

The allergen then triggers the antibodies to develop histamines. Histamines work by boosting blood flow to the problem area to rid your body of the irritant. In allergies, the antibodies go into overdrive making more histamine. This causes the visible symptoms of a localized allergic reaction, including runny nose, watery eyes and tissue swelling.

Allergies usually develop in these four steps:

• Exposure to the allergen
• Sensitization when the antibodies form
• Re-exposure
• Reaction (runny nose, etc.)

“To be an allergy, you have to have an indication that there are histamines at work,” says Dr. Lustig. “A person can be sensitive to eating a food, for instance, and have an upset stomach. Since there is no response from the immune system, they have sensitivity but do not have an allergy.”

According to Dr. Lustig, allergies are diagnosed through three steps:

1. Personal and medical history. Your doctor will ask you questions about which symptoms are bothering you. For instance, is there any time when the symptoms get worse or go away? Is there any family history of seasonal allergies?
2. Physical exam. A full physical exam may take place. Your doctor will pay close attention to your ears, eyes, nose, throat, chest and skin during the exam. This exam may include tests of your lungs to see if there are any breathing problems.
3. Tests to determine your allergens. There are many options, including a skin test, patch test or blood test.

“As you age, it’s unusual for you to develop new allergies,” Dr. Lustigsays. “However, we may become more aware of those already in place. On the other hand, it is rare that a person with seasonal allergies ‘outgrows’ them as they get older.”

Since exposure is an important part of the process, allergies can develop later in life if new allergens are introduced in your environment. For example, if you move from Arizona to northeastern Ohio, you may be fine for awhile and then develop allergies to the grasses or trees in the area.

You can do some things to help lessen your symptoms, including:

• Stay indoors on dry, windy days as these are more likely to stir up pollen
• Avoid lawn mowing, weed pulling and other outside chores that add to pollen exposure. If you can’t, wear a filter mask.
• Remove outside clothes and shower to rinse off pollen
• Keep track of pollen forecasts and current levels
• Close doors and windows when pollen counts are high.
• Use air conditioning in your house and car
• Use high-efficiency filters in your home’s air handling system

Usually Harmless

Most seasonal allergies are relatively harmless. Unless there is an underlying concern, such as asthma or lung disease, seasonal allergies are seldom life-threatening. This differs from food allergies, which can lead to anaphylaxis.

Speak to your family physician to assess your personal needs and to develop a treatment plan. Seasonal allergies can be treated with medications, such as:

• Antihistamines that block the action of histamines. They are broken further into those that make you drowsy (alimemazine, hydroxyzine and diphenhidramine among others) and non-drowsy (acrivastine, loratadine, fexofenadine and others).
• Steroid medications are often used to lessen the inflammation in the nose (mometasone furoate and fluticasone propionate).
• Allergy shots (allergy immunotherapy), which are given as regular injections of the allergen(s) in increasing doses. This helps your immune system get more resistant and often lowers the need for medications.

“For seasonal allergies, it’s best to start medication before you have symptoms,” Dr. Lustig says. “In the spring, begin treatment before the last snow fall. For summer allergies, mid-spring is a good time to start.”

Related Links

You can request an appointment with Dr. Lustig or any University Hospitals doctor online.

Can I Develop Allergies As an Adult?

After years of uninterrupted enjoyment of spring weather, or digging into that gorgeous green kiwi, you’ve noticed things aren’t quite so smooth sailing. Your eyes and throat itch, you’re coughing and sneezing, and hives are popping up all over your arms.

It can’t be allergies, you think. You’re a grown adult who’s never had problems with allergic reactions before, so you’re in the clear. Or are you? 

Can Allergies Develop in Adulthood?

While the majority of allergies present themselves in childhood, adults are not immune to the onset of allergies.

Allergies to any substance can develop, even well into adulthood. More than 18 million Americans suffer from hay fever, and an even larger number develop allergies to environmental substances such as pet dander or dust. Foods and medications also present problems even for grown adults.

Why Do Allergies Develop in Adulthood?

Doctors and scientists don’t really know what triggers allergies, no matter when in life they develop 

Allergies are caused when the body determines that a substance, whether it’s pollen or peanuts or dust mites, is harmful and attacks its presence. The allergen stimulates a response in the body that leads to the symptoms that come along with an allergic reaction, including sneezing, hives, and breathing problems.

While we don’t really know what causes allergies, scientists have seen an increase in hay fever and other environmental allergies in recent years. There are two theories as to why this is happening:

• Higher concentrations of allergens due to decreased ventilation in homes and offices and a sedentary lifestyle

• Increased cleanliness and sanitation leading to decreased exposure to potential allergens

What Should I Do if I Suspect I’ve Developed an Allergy?

If you notice an allergic reaction for the first time, especially a serious one, seek medical attention.

Your allergist may recommend just treating your allergies without further testing, such as nasal sprays and decongestants. Most seasonal allergies do not require formal testing for effective treatment.

However, if you believe you are allergic to a food or environmental substance, your allergist likely will want to figure out exactly what substances you react to. A skin test exposes you to a variety of allergens, seeing which one causes a reaction. This test helps your allergist determine what substances you need to avoid and gives a starting point for further treatment.

Once your allergens are determined, your allergist will work with you on an allergy action plan, which may include:

• Avoiding certain substances or situations

• Washing your hands and clothing after contact with an allergen

• Frequent preventative doses of antihistamine medications

• Carrying an Epi pen

• Further tolerance testing

Allergies at any age can be frustrating and cause you to rearrange your life. With proper diagnosis and treatment, however, you can continue to live your life with little interruption.

Allergy Clinic in MississippI 

If you find yourself coughing and sneezing in adulthood, the skilled doctors at Mississippi Asthma & Allergy Clinic can help. We’ve spent years on the diagnosis and treatment of all sorts of allergies, no matter the age of the sufferers. Schedule your appointment today at one of our five convenient locations!

Hay Fever

Is this your child’s symptom?

• An allergic reaction of the nose, usually from pollen
• An itchy nose, clear discharge and sneezing is common

Triggers of Nasal Allergies

• Cause. An allergic reaction of the nose and sinuses to an inhaled substance. The medical name for this is allergic rhinitis. The allergic substance is called an allergen.
• Most allergens float in the air. That’s how they get in the nose. Here are the common ones:
• Pollens. Trees, grass, weeds and molds are the most common pollens. Tree pollens come in the spring. Grass pollens come in the summer. Weed pollens come in the fall. Pollens cause seasonal allergies. You can’t avoid pollens because they are in the air. Most nasal allergies continue through the pollen season. They can last 4 to 8 weeks. Pollens cause seasonal allergic rhinitis. This is also called hay fever.
• Pets. Allergens can also be from cats, dogs, horses, rabbits and other animals. Most people don’t keep a pet that they are allergic to. They only have sporadic allergy symptoms when they are exposed to that specific animal. These symptoms will usually last a few hours. If someone with a cat visits you, they will bring cat dander with them. This will cause brief symptoms. If you own the pet, though, your child will have symptoms all the time.
• House Dust. House dust contains many allergens. It always contains dust mites. If your humidity is high, it will contain mold. House dust causes year round, daily symptoms. The medical name for this is perennial allergic rhinitis.

Symptoms of Nasal Allergies

• Clear nasal discharge with sneezing, sniffing, and itching of nose (100%)
• Eye allergies (itchy, red, watery and puffy) also can occur (70%)
• Ear and sinus congestion or fullness can occur
• Throat can also feel scratchy or have a tickly feeling at times
• Itchy ear canals, itchy skin or hoarse voice sometimes also occur
• Symptoms happen during pollen season
• Same symptoms during the same month of the last year
• Past diagnosis by a doctor is helpful
• No fever

How to Tell Seasonal Nasal Allergies from the Common Cold

• Symptoms happen during pollen season
• Had the same symptoms during the same month last year
• Hay fever symptoms last 6-8 weeks for each pollen. (Colds last 1-3 weeks).
• Allergies: itchy eyes and nose. Not seen with colds.
• Colds: fever and/or sore throat. Not seen with allergies
• Both: runny nose and watery eyes. Can also have a cough with both, but less common with allergies.

Nose and Eye Allergies: Age of Onset

• Seasonal pollen allergies usually begin at age 2 to 5 years.
• The symptoms peak in school age children, teens and young adults.
• Pollen symptoms are rare in children under age 2. They require at least 2 seasons of exposure to the pollen.
• Children under age 2 who have chronic nasal symptoms have other causes. Examples are recurrent colds, large adenoids or cow’s milk allergy.
• Food allergies can start during the first year of life, but not pollen allergies.

When to Call for Hay Fever

Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours

• You think your child needs to be seen
• Lots of coughing
• Sinus pain (not just congestion) does not go away with allergy medicines. Note: sinus pain is around the cheekbone or eyes.

Contact Doctor During Office Hours

• Hay fever symptoms make it hard to go to school or do normal activities. Note: taking allergy medicine for 2 days has not helped.
• Diagnosis of hay fever has never been made by a doctor
• Year-round symptoms of nasal allergies
• Snoring is a frequent problem
• You have other questions or concerns

Self Care at Home

• Nasal allergy symptoms or hay fever

Seattle Children’s Urgent Care Locations

If your child’s illness or injury is life-threatening, call 911.

Care Advice for Nose Allergies or Hay Fever

1. What You Should Know About Nose Allergies or Hay Fever:
   • Hay fever is very common. It happens in about 15% of children.
   • Nose and eye symptoms can be controlled by giving allergy medicines.
   • Pollens are in the air every day during pollen season. So, allergy meds must be given daily. They need to be used for 2 months or longer during pollen season.
   • Here is some care advice that should help.
2. Allergy Medicines:
   • Allergy medicines are called antihistamines. They are the drug of choice for nasal allergies.
   • They will help control the symptoms. These include a runny nose, nasal itching and sneezing.
   • You can give a short-acting allergy medicine (such as Benadryl). No prescription is needed. It needs to be given every 6 to 8 hours.
   • The bedtime dosage is especially important for healing the lining of the nose.
   • The key to control is to give allergy meds every day during pollen season.
3. Long-Acting Allergy Medicines:
   • You can also use a long-acting allergy medicine (such as Zyrtec). No prescription is needed.
   • Advantage: causes less sedation than older allergy meds such as Benadryl. It is long-acting and last up to 24 hours.
   • Dose:
   • Age 2-5 years old, give 2.5 mg (2.5 mL or ½ teaspoon) of liquid syrup. Use once daily in the morning.
   • Age 6-11 years old, give 5 mg chewable tablet once daily in morning.
   • Age 12 years and older, give 10 mg tablet once daily in morning.
   • Downside: doesn’t control hay fever symptoms as well as older allergy medicines. Also, sometimes will have breakthrough symptoms before 24 hours. If that happens, you can give a single dose of Benadryl.
   • Cost: ask the pharmacist for a store brand. Reason: costs less than the brand name products.
4. Nasal Saline to Wash Out Pollen:
   • Use saline (salt water) nose drops or spray (such as store brand). This helps to wash out pollen or to loosen up dried mucus. If you don’t have saline, you can use a few drops of water. Use bottled water, distilled water or boiled tap water. Teens can just splash a little water in the nose and then blow.
   • Step 1: put 3 drops in each nostril.
   • Step 2: blow each nostril out while closing off the other nostril. Then, do the other side.
   • Step 3: repeat nose drops and blowing until the discharge is clear.
   • How often: do nasal saline rinses when your child can’t breathe through the nose. Also, do them if the nose is very itchy.
   • Saline nose drops or spray can be bought in any drugstore. No prescription is needed.
   • Saline nose drops can also be made at home. Use ½ teaspoon (2 mL) of table salt. Stir the salt into 1 cup (8 ounces or 240 mL) of warm water. Use bottled water or boiled water to make saline nose drops.
   • Other option: use a warm shower to loosen mucus. Breathe in the moist air, then blow each nostril.
5. Eye Allergy Treatment:
   • For eye symptoms, wash off the face and eyelids. This will remove pollen or any other allergic substances.
   • Then put a cold wet washcloth on the eyes.
   • Most often, an allergy medicine given by mouth will help the eye symptoms. Sometimes, eye drops are also needed. (See below # 6 and #7)
6. Antihistamine Eye Drops – Ketotifen (1st Choice) for Eye Allergy Symptoms:
   • Ketotifen eye drops (such as Zaditor) are a safe and effective product. No prescription is needed.
   • Dose: 1 drop every 12 hours.
   • For severe allergies, use ketotifen eyedrops every day during pollen season. This will give the best control.
7. Antihistamine/Vasoconstrictive Eye Drops (2nd Choice) for Eye Allergy Symptoms:
   • Ask your pharmacist to suggest a brand (such as Visine-A). The A stands for antihistamine. No prescription is needed.
   • Dose: 1 drop every 8 hours
   • Do not use for over 5 days. Reason: will cause red eyes from rebound effect.
   • Downside: doesn’t work as well as Ketotifen eye drops.
8. Wash Pollen Off Body:
   • Remove pollen from the hair and skin with shampoo and a shower. This is especially important before bedtime.
9. What to Expect:
   • Since pollen allergies recur each year, learn to control the symptoms.
10. Pollen – How to Reduce the Pollen Your Child Breathes:
    • Pollen is carried in the air.
    • Keep windows closed in the home, at least in your child’s bedroom.
    • Keep windows closed in car. Turn the air conditioner on recirculate.
    • Avoid window fans or attic fans. They pull in pollen.
    • Try to stay indoors on windy days. Reason: the pollen count is much higher when it’s dry and windy.
    • Avoid playing with the outdoor dog. Reason: pollen collects in the fur.
    • Pollen Count: you can get your daily pollen count from Pollen.com. Just type in your zip code.
11. Call Your Doctor If:
    • Symptoms are not better in 2 days after starting allergy medicine
    • You think your child needs to be seen
    • Your child becomes worse

And remember, contact your doctor if your child develops any of the ‘Call Your Doctor’ symptoms.

Last Reviewed: 10/14/2021

Last Revised: 09/30/2021

Copyright 2000-2021. Schmitt Pediatric Guidelines LLC.

Pollen Allergies | AAFA.org

Pollen Allergy

What Is a Pollen Allergy?

Pollen is one of the most common triggers of seasonal allergies. Many people know pollen allergy as “hay fever.” Experts usually refer to pollen allergy as “seasonal allergic rhinitis.”

Each spring, summer and fall, plants release tiny pollen grains to fertilize other plants of the same species. Most of the pollens that cause allergic reactions come from trees, weeds and grasses. These plants make small, light and dry pollen grains that travel by the wind.

Grasses are the most common cause of allergy. Ragweed is a main cause of weed allergies. Other common sources of weed pollen include sagebrush, pigweed, lamb’s quarters and tumbleweed. Certain species of trees, including birch, cedar and oak, also produce highly allergenic pollen.

Plants fertilized by insects, like roses and some flowering trees, like cherry and pear trees, usually do not cause allergic rhinitis.

What Is a Pollen Count?

A pollen count is how much pollen is in the air. This is often reported during pollen season on local weather forecasts. Sometimes the main types of pollen are also reported.

What Are the Symptoms of Pollen Allergy?

People with pollen allergies only have symptoms when the pollens they are allergic to are in the air. Symptoms include:

• Runny nose and mucus production

• Sneezing

• Itchy nose, eyes, ears and mouth

• Stuffy nose (nasal congestion)

• Red and watery eyes

• Swelling around the eyes

How Do Doctors Diagnose Pollen Allergy?

Doctors use two tests to diagnose a pollen allergy.

Skin Prick Test (SPT)

In prick/scratch testing, a nurse or doctor places a small drop of the possible allergen on your skin. Then the nurse will lightly prick or scratch the spot with a needle through the drop. If you are allergic to the substance, you will develop redness, swelling and itching at the test site within 20 minutes. You may also see a wheal. A wheal is a raised, round area that looks like a hive. Usually, the larger the wheal, the more likely you are to be allergic to the allergen.

A positive SPT to a particular pollen allergen does not necessarily mean that a person has an allergy. Health care providers must compare the skin test results with the time and place of a person’s symptoms to see if they match.

Specific IgE Blood Test 

Blood tests are helpful when people have a skin condition or are taking medicines that interfere with skin testing. They may also be used in children who may not tolerate skin testing. Your doctor will take a blood sample and send it to a laboratory. The lab adds the allergen to your blood sample. Then they measure the amount of antibodies your blood produces to attack the allergens. This test is called Specific IgE (sIgE) Blood Testing. (This was previously and commonly referred to as RAST or ImmunoCAP testing.) As with skin testing, a positive blood test to an allergen does not necessarily mean that an allergen caused your symptoms.

How Can I Prevent an Allergic Reaction to Pollen?

There are actions you can take to reduce allergic reactions to pollen:

• Limit your outdoor activities when pollen counts are high. This will lessen the amount of pollen allergen you inhale and reduce your symptoms.  
• Keep windows closed during pollen season and use central air conditioning with a CERTIFIED asthma & allergy friendly® filter attachment. This applies to your home and to any vehicle (car, bus, train, etc.).
• Start taking allergy medicine before pollen season begins. Most allergy medicines work best when taken this way. This allows the medicine to prevent your body from releasing histamine and other chemicals that cause your symptoms.
• Bathe and shampoo your hair daily before going to bed. This will remove pollen from your hair and skin and keep it off your bedding.
• Wash bedding in hot, soapy water once a week.  
• Wear sunglasses and a hat. This will help keep pollen out of your eyes and off your hair.
• Limit close contact with pets that spend a lot of time outdoors.
• Change and wash clothes worn during outdoor activities.
• Dry your clothes in a clothes dryer, not on an outdoor line.

Look for this mark to find products proven more suitable for people with asthma and allergies. 

Find CERTIFIED asthma & allergy friendly® products on our Certification program website.

What Is the Treatment for Pollen Allergy?

Certain over-the-counter and prescription medicines may help reduce pollen allergy symptoms.

• Antihistamines come in pill, liquid or nasal spray form. They can relieve sneezing and itching in the nose and eyes. They also reduce a runny nose and, to a lesser extent, nasal stuffiness.
• Decongestants are available as pills, liquids, nasal sprays or drops. They help shrink the lining of the nasal passages and relieve nasal stuffiness. Use decongestant nose drops and sprays only on the short-term.
• Nasal corticosteroids are a type of nasal spray. They reduce inflammation in the nose and block allergic reactions. They are the most effective medicine type for allergic rhinitis because they can reduce all symptoms, including nasal congestion. Nasal corticosteroids have few side effects.
• Leukotriene receptor antagonists block the action of important chemical messengers (other than histamine) that are involved in allergic reactions.
• Cromolyn sodium is a nasal spray that blocks the release of chemicals that cause allergy symptoms, including histamine and leukotrienes. This medicine has few side effects, but you must take it four times a day.

Many people with pollen allergy do not get complete relief from medications. This means they may be candidates for immunotherapy. Immunotherapy is a long-term treatment that can help prevent or reduce the severity of allergic reactions. It can change the course of allergic disease by modifying the body’s immune response to allergens.

Allergy Shots – Subcutaneous Immunotherapy (SCIT) has been around for more than 100 years and can provide long-lasting symptom relief. SCIT is a series of shots that have progressively larger amounts of allergen. An injection of the allergen goes into the fat under the skin. Over time, allergic symptoms generally improve. Many patients experience complete relief within one to three years of starting SCIT. Many people experience benefits for at least several years after the shots stop.

Sublingual Immunotherapy involves placing a tablet containing the allergen under the tongue for 1 to 2 minutes and then swallowing it. In 2014, the FDA approved three types of under-the-tongue tablets to treat grass and ragweed allergies. More are in development. You take SLIT tablets daily before and during grass or ragweed season. This treatment offers people with these allergies a potential alternative to allergy shots.

Discuss your allergy symptoms and your allergy treatment plan with your health care provider.

Medical Review October 2015.

90,000 Doctors told about the rules of vaccination against coronavirus for allergy sufferers

Bloom and seasonal allergies can interfere with vaccination plans for allergy sufferers. According to doctors, it is necessary to get vaccinated against COVID-19 when allergic reactions are least pronounced – and for each person this period is determined individually. What are the features of vaccination of allergy sufferers against coronavirus and how to prepare for vaccination, says Gazeta.Ru.

The number of allergy sufferers in Russia reaches 35% of the population – this is evidenced by the data of the Institute of Immunology of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation.Such patients should be vaccinated against coronavirus at a time of the year when allergic reactions are least pronounced. This was stated by the director of the Institute of Virology. Gamalei Alexander Gunzburg.

“For example, if you are allergic to flowering, then it is better to vaccinate during the entire autumn and winter period, when it is cold. If a person is allergic to house dust, it is more difficult, here, rather, on the contrary, it is necessary to be vaccinated in the summer, when people go out of town, where the amount of dust is less, ”the scientist explained during the briefing.

Gunzburg noted that allergy sufferers should always consult with a doctor before vaccination to determine the best time for vaccination.

However, the timing to visit the vaccination center is not the only thing to think about. Infectious disease doctor Anna Balandina advised allergy sufferers to stock up on antihistamines during vaccination. “You can take a pill on the eve of vaccination and on the day of vaccination,” she told Gazeta.Ru.

Immunologist-allergist Maria Polner recalled that the beginning of the hay fever season (that is, seasonal allergies) can be different. “For example, an allergic reaction to alder and hazel pollen may show symptoms as early as March, while an allergic reaction to wormwood is characterized by symptoms in late summer and autumn. That is why the basis for successful vaccination is an individual approach to each patient, “the specialist said in an interview with Gazeta.Ru.

If allergy symptoms are already observed, then you need to contact your doctor to stop it and only then get vaccinated.“In general, routine vaccination during your usual exacerbation period is best avoided; it is more logical to vaccinate before or after the activation of a causal allergen ends,” Polner explained.

At the same time, the doctor clarified that if there is no exacerbation, allergy sufferers do not need to refuse vaccination. “A history of allergic reactions (respiratory or skin reactions, including an allergic reaction to pollen or house dust, pets, food, insects, drugs that are not part of the vaccine), even moderate and severe, are not exacerbated a contraindication for vaccination, ”said Maria Polner.

Many allergy sufferers are afraid of a reaction to the vaccine itself, but allergist Galina Evdokimova assured that they are quite rare. Basically, they appear immediately and are characterized by the same symptoms as when in contact with other allergens. “A person may develop, for example, skin abnormalities: edema, urticaria, and itching,” she said.

According to Maria Polner, it can be difficult to predict an allergic reaction to a vaccine in advance. “It is for this reason that routine screening for drug allergens is not recommended.For example, there is a possibility that according to blood tests, antibodies to the drug will be normal, but a reaction will develop when it is used. There are also difficulties with skin and provocative testing. Indeed, with the initial use of the drug, an allergic reaction does not develop, but it can happen with any subsequent use of the drug, ”the specialist explained.

To diagnose an allergy to vaccine components, first of all, it is necessary to carefully study the patient’s history, take into account the reactions to previous doses of drugs.

“As a rule, an acute allergic reaction occurs no later than 15-20 minutes after the injection, and often almost immediately. During this time, the person is under the supervision of medical personnel, ”Polner summed up.

90,000 What can be an allergy in August – allergies in adults, symptoms, treatment – August 1, 2021

Pollinosis is an allergic disease caused by plant pollen and manifests itself in the form of rhinitis, conjunctivitis, dermatitis and bronchial asthma.

It seems that the most difficult time for hay fever sufferers is in the spring and early summer, but this is not the case. From August to the end of September, a new wave of allergic reactions begins, caused by dusting of Asteraceae, haze, nettle and weeds.

Symptoms of hay fever

Symptoms of hay fever are very similar to those of acute respiratory viral infections, so it is not immediately possible to suspect an allergy. Pollinosis usually presents with severe itching in the nose and eyes, watery eyes, paroxysmal sneezing, and nasal congestion.However, in an advanced form, more severe symptoms can also appear:

• dry cough;
• pain and dryness in the throat;
• urticaria, rash;
• soft tissue edema.

To distinguish an allergy from a cold, you can drink an antihistamine, then, when you feel better, it becomes clear that it is the allergy that is troubling you.

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Flowering calendar. August

Allergies in early August are usually caused by pollen:

• wormwood; 90,042 90,041 wheatgrass;
• nettle; 90,042 90,041 sunflower;
• poppy;
• elecampane;
• ragweed;
• plantain;
• quinoa.

At the end of August, begin to bloom:

• foxglove;
• chamomile;
• thistle;
• yarrow; 90,042 90,041 thyme;
• bells;
• cyclachene.

How to treat seasonal allergies

Before starting treatment, you need to understand what exactly causes it. Therefore, the first step in solving the problem is identifying allergens.

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Skin allergy tests are a quick and reliable way to identify your personal allergen.In modern medicine, three types of skin tests are used:

• Scarification – several scratches are made on the hand, into which a certain allergen is introduced. After 15-20 minutes, a reaction develops, and the doctor evaluates the result. If the scratch begins to redden, enlarge and itch, then the allergy is confirmed.
• Prik test. On the principle – the same as the scarification one, only small punctures are made instead of scratches.
• Patch test (application).Allergens are glued with patches on the patient’s back and keep them for up to 48 hours. After that, the doctor evaluates allergic reactions to one or another component.

After the allergen is identified, it is necessary to reduce contact with it and start taking antihistamines as prescribed by a doctor.

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Seasonal Allergy Prevention

• Avoid contact with the allergen.
• Eat a hypoallergenic diet that includes cross-allergic foods.
• Do wet cleaning and ventilate more often.
• Walk after rain or in the evening when the concentration of allergens in the air is minimal.
• Don’t bring wildflowers home.
• Moisturize the nasal mucosa.

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Cough, fever, rhinitis: what is seasonal allergy and why it should not be started

Sharp warming and cold snap negatively affect the respiratory system: many have a runny nose, sneezing, throat pain and itching. The first thing people usually do in such cases is to take antiviral drugs. But similar symptoms occur with seasonal allergies. Journalist Anastasia Oprishchenko tells how ARVI differs from seasonal allergies, how pathogens affect the immune system and why it is important to treat allergies.

What is the difference between seasonal allergies and SARS?

Allergy is a hypersensitive reaction of the immune system to various substances or organisms. The triggers that cause this reaction are called allergens.These include pollen, dust mites, mold, animal dander, food, or hypersensitive materials. Common allergies can last all year round, and seasonal allergies, sometimes called “hay fever,” are accompanied by allergic reactions to grass, pollen, fungal spores and other plants only during their flowering period.

Everyone’s immune system is different, so allergens can affect the body in different ways. Most often, seasonal allergens affect the respiratory tract and eyes, which causes sneezing, coughing, and runny nose. Some of these symptoms are often confused with SARS. Although allergies and colds are indeed similar, the course of a cold is short-lived: it goes away in 10-14 days. Symptoms of a cold or flu include fever, temperature 37.5-39 ° C, headache, muscle and joint pain, chills, fatigue, cough, runny nose and nasal congestion, pain and sore throat. Allergy symptoms can last for more than 3 weeks. For an accurate diagnosis, you should always see a doctor.

What are the seasonal allergens?

In general, periods of seasonal allergy occur in the spring, summer and autumn: it is at this time that pollen is formed in trees, grasses, flowers and weeds.Depending on the region of residence, there are certain seasonal allergens that trigger a reaction in the immune system. For example, in Europe, from March to April, there are high concentrations of pollen from trees such as sycamore, birch, hazel and alder. In May and July, field grasses are being sown actively. From August to September, humidity increases, which contributes to the multiplication of spores of fungi, ferns and moss, which also provoke allergies.

• 1961. Photo: H. Armstrong Roberts / ClassicStock / Getty Images
• 1949.Photo: Debrocke / ClassicStock / Getty Images

A separate problem is ragweed – it blooms from August to September and causes severe complications, sometimes lethal. Although ragweed is native to North America, today it is common in 30 European countries and approximately 13.5 million people suffer from allergies to it.

According to the American Academy of Allergic Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI), approximately 7.8% of people 18 and older in the United States suffer from seasonal allergies.The spring allergy period begins in February and lasts until early summer. The first to bloom are alder, beech, cedar, maple and elm. After trees in the summer, grass pollination takes place. Like Europeans, Americans also suffer from ambrosia.

In Ukraine, the season of allergies begins in March, when the first trees bloom – birch, poplar. The second period falls on the moment when meadow grasses grow – usually at the end of May. The third period lasts from August to the end of September, when ragweed, wormwood, quinoa, etc. bloom.

How does the human body react?

The most common symptoms of seasonal allergies are:

• itching and redness in the eyes, tears;
• runny nose or stuffy nose; 90 042 90 041 sneezing
• itching and swelling of the throat.

Sometimes signs of allergy can be headache, increased fatigue, sweating, drowsiness, weakness.

A number of diseases result from reactions to allergens, including allergic rhinitis (or allergic rhinitis), conjunctivitis and asthma.Seasonal rhinitis is usually a runny nose, sneezing, nasal congestion, and an abundant watery discharge. Conjunctivitis affects the eyes and causes itching, stinging and tears. Pollen asthma is the most common. It makes breathing difficult, creating swelling of the nasopharynx and trachea, causing coughing and hoarseness.

According to the World Health Organization, in 2019 the number of asthma patients in the world was 262 million, and there were about 461 thousand deaths from it. Asthma has been linked to urbanization and deteriorating urban air quality.Also, the disease often develops due to heredity and in people suffering from other allergic diseases such as allergic rhinitis.

• 1949. Photo: H. Armstrong Roberts / ClassicStock / Getty Images
• 1959. Photo: H. Armstrong Roberts / ClassicStock / Getty Images

Further – worse

For many countries of the world, allergic diseases are already a large-scale problem: in Europe alone, the number of such patients is about 150 million people. And in the United States, allergic rhinitis affects 10% to 30% of the population.

For some time, these diseases were seasonal, but due to the rapid warming, which we have already written about, significant climatic changes will occur: periods of prolonged heat and rainfall will increase, and cold seasons will decrease. In winter, an increase in precipitation can lead to a long melting of snow, which will entail a late onset of flowering in northern latitudes. Fallout in the fall can increase mold, which can also cause allergies.And because of the heat, the levels of pollen and other allergens will increase, which can trigger asthma.

How do you know if you have an allergy and why is it important to treat it?

The presence of allergies can be determined by a family doctor. To do this, allergic skin tests are done – their results are obtained in 15 minutes, and special laboratory tests are also carried out. However, testing does not always show the presence of allergies: it, for example, can inform about a person’s propensity for allergic reactions in the future.

Treating allergies with a family doctor or an allergy / immunological specialist can significantly reduce the intensity of symptoms. Also, based on the available laboratory tests, you can contact specialized clinics that are engaged in reducing allergic sensitivity (immunotherapy).

Doctor-allergist, Candidate of Medical Sciences, Department of Clinical, Laboratory Immunology and Allergology, NMAPO named after V.I. P. L. Shupika Tatyana Bondarenko explains that allergies need to be treated, because the number of allergens that provoke the human immune system to a disease can increase over time.From a simple sneeze and red eyes, allergies can develop into respiratory complications. “I had allergic rhinitis – we got bronchial asthma. And this is already a narrowing of the bronchi, there is no normal breathing, there is a lack of oxygen – hypoxia … And further complications went: diseases of the cardiovascular system, other serious conditions. Therefore, at the first suspicion of an allergy, it is necessary to consult a doctor, ”says Bondarenko.

Is there allergy prevention?

It is recommended to keep windows closed, use an air conditioner if possible, do wet cleaning more often, vacuum clean, and also stay indoors when the amount of pollen, mold and weeds grows.Also, after going outside, it is recommended to wash your hands, take a shower and change clothes.

In addition, there are special resources where you can track the amount of pollen in the air in your region. For example, you can use a map of pollen content that shows the amount in Europe at different times. These maps report pollen counts measured over the past 10-15 years and are based on data from over 300 pollen monitoring stations in Europe. On the same site, you can see the risk of allergies in a specific part of Europe.The rate of pollination by several allergens, weather data, chemical pollution and air quality are taken into account. There is a similar resource for US residents.

• 1950. Photo: H. Armstrong Roberts / ClassicStock / Getty Images
• 1940. Photo: H. Armstrong Roberts / ClassicStock / Getty Images

90,000 Will eye drops or ointment help with allergies? What to do if your eyes itch?

Manifestations of allergies in the eyes, in which redness, itching in the eyes and watery eyes are caused by the same irritants that cause sneezing and runny nose in people with seasonal allergies, are far from uncommon.

In addition to symptoms of sneezing, nasal congestion and a runny nose, itchy eyes, watery eyes, redness of the eyes and swelling of the eyelids also occur in most cases.

In some cases, eye allergies can contribute to the development of conjunctivitis and other eye infections.

If you think you are allergic to your eyes, you will find helpful information below, including advice on how to treat redness, itchy eyes and watery eyes.

Read Also: Get Rid Of Bags Under The Eyes

What causes eye allergies

Redness, itching in the eyes, watery eyes are the hallmarks and symptoms of allergies.

Allergens are usually harmless substances that cause problems in people who are prone to allergic reactions. The most common airborne allergens that cause eye allergies are pollen, mold, dust, and pet dander.

Allergies to the eyes can also be caused by a reaction to certain preservative-containing cosmetics or eye drops, including tear substitutes used to treat dry eyes.

Food allergies, as well as allergic reactions to bee stings or other insects, usually cannot match the severity of allergies to airborne substances.

Treating eye allergies

Several approaches are used to relieve eye allergy symptoms, itchy eyes and watery eyes: your eyes are sensitive.

For example, on days when the concentration of pollen in the air is high, try to go outside as little as possible, and if you have an air conditioner, use it to clean the air. Use high quality filters in your heating system to catch common allergens and replace them regularly.

When going outdoors during allergy season, wear tight-fitting sunglasses to protect your eyes from pollen, ragweed, etc., and do not open the windows while driving.

Remove contact lenses

The surface of contact lenses can attract and accumulate airborne allergens, so it is recommended to wear glasses instead of contact lenses during allergy season. Alternatively, consider wearing daily contact lenses; Using them once will prevent allergens and debris from accumulating on the lenses and getting into your eyes.

In some cases, it is better to avoid contact lenses altogether, at least until all allergy symptoms have disappeared.In addition, wearing glasses with photochromic lenses can reduce the sensitivity to light caused by allergies as well as protect the eyes from airborne allergens.

Use eye drops

Because eye allergies are common, there are many brands of over-the-counter eye drops designed to relieve symptoms of itchy eyes, redness, and watery eyes caused by allergic reactions.

For relatively mild eye allergy symptoms, over-the-counter eye drops can be quite effective and are often cheaper than prescription eye drops or other medicines.Ask your optometrist to recommend eye drops for your needs.

Ask your doctor about prescription drugs

If your allergy symptoms are relatively severe or over-the-counter eye drops are ineffective, your doctor may prescribe stronger medications.

Prescription eye drops and oral medications used to relieve eye allergy symptoms include:

Antihistamines

One of the body’s natural reactions to allergies is the release of histamine, a substance that dilates blood vessels and abnormally increases permeability of blood vessel walls.

Symptoms caused by the release of histamine include runny nose, itchy eyes, and watery eyes. Antihistamines relieve allergy symptoms by blocking the attachment of histamine to cells that trigger an allergic response.

Decongestants

Decongestants reduce swelling of the nasal passages by making breathing easier. They also reduce the size of the blood vessels in the white membrane (sclera) of the eyes, making redness in the eyes less noticeable. Combinations are also available that contain both antihistamines and decongestants.

Mast Cell Stabilizers

These drugs cause changes that interfere with the release of histamine and related mediators of allergic reactions in histamine-containing cells throughout the body, including the conjunctiva of the eye and eyelids.

The full effect of mast cell stabilizers can take several weeks, so these drugs are best used before allergy season to prevent or reduce the severity of future allergic reactions (but not to treat existing acute allergic symptoms).

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may be prescribed to relieve swelling, inflammation, and other symptoms associated with seasonal allergic conjunctivitis (hay fever).

Steroids

In some cases, eye drops containing corticosteroids are prescribed to relieve symptoms of acute eye allergies. Long-term use of these drugs can cause side effects, including increased intraocular pressure, glaucoma, and cataracts, so eye drops containing corticosteroids are usually prescribed for short-term use only.

Learn About Immunotherapy

If none of the above measures have been effective, ask your doctor about immunotherapy. This is a treatment in which small amounts of allergens are injected into your bloodstream, which gradually boost your immunity to reduce allergic reactions.

Eye Allergy Self Test

Take this test to find out if you have an eye allergy. Whenever you suspect you have an eye condition that requires treatment, see an optometrist nearby.

• Does your family have any allergies?

• Do your eyes itch often, especially during the spring dusting season?

• Have you ever been diagnosed with conjunctivitis?

• Are you allergic to animals such as cats?

• Do you often use antihistamines and / or decongestants to relieve the symptoms of sneezing, coughing and nasal congestion?

• Does being in an air-conditioned room help reduce redness and itching in the eyes during the dusty season?

• Do your eyes start to water when you use certain cosmetics or lotions, or when you smell strong perfume?

If you answered yes to most of these questions, you may have eye allergies. Make an appointment with your optometrist to determine the best course of action for your case.

Eye Allergies & Contact Lenses

Contact lens discomfort is a common complaint during allergy season, leading people to wonder if they are allergic to contact lenses.

In some cases, contact lens allergy occurs when a person begins to wear silicone hydrogel contact lenses after successfully wearing standard soft (hydrogel) contact lenses.

Studies have shown that eye allergies associated with contact lens wear are caused by an allergic reaction not to the contact lens itself, but to substances that accumulate on its surface.

When switching to silicone hydrogel contact lenses instead of standard soft contact lenses, keep in mind that the surface and chemical characteristics of the silicone hydrogel lens material may contribute to a higher deposition of allergens than previously used materials, causing eye discomfort.

Many ophthalmologists agree that daily contact lenses are the best choice among soft contact lenses for people prone to eye allergies; single use of such lenses reduces the accumulation of allergens and other contaminants on their surface.

Silicone hydrogel is often the preferred material for this lens type because it allows significantly more oxygen to pass through the lens than conventional soft contact lens materials.

Page published in November 2020

Page updated June 2021

90,000 Pollen allergy: how to avoid seasonal flare-ups

With the onset of warmth, the time of flowering comes, which means that allergy sufferers are sounding the alarm again: runny nose, itchy skin and dermatitis become their constant companions at this time of year. How to avoid exacerbation of seasonal allergies and get rid of unpleasant symptoms? Ekaterina Baranova, Candidate of Biological Sciences, answered these questions on the air of the Russia 1 channel.

First of all, it is necessary to understand that proteins are hidden in the pollen that provokes seasonal attacks of allergies. It is to them that the human immune system reacts, throwing out histamine. Taking antihistamines can alleviate the condition, however, a more serious approach is needed to eliminate the cause. And it is very important not to confuse seasonal allergies with an infectious disease, for the treatment of which the doctor may prescribe an antibiotic that can only intensify the manifestation of the reaction.

The specialist recommends first of all to find out what exactly the allergy has arisen.This can be done using a skin test or special analysis. Having determined the cause, at the time of an exacerbation, it is necessary to remove from the diet products containing a protein similar in composition to a particular pollen – a list of them can be easily found on the Internet. For example, in case of allergy to birch pollen, doctors do not recommend eating apples. Many people flee from allergies by fleeing to the sea, where there is no contact with flowering plants, and salt and clean air help solve the problem.

Timothy, bluegrass and fescue are among the strongest plant allergens common in central Russia.To avoid seasonal bouts of pollen allergy at the time of their flowering, the specialist recommends:

• Do not use antibiotics whenever possible;
• Find out the nature of the allergy and the specific antigen;
• Take an antihistamine in case of an attack;
• Do not eat foods associated with plant protein.

Earlier hosts of the program “On the Most Important” Alexander Myasnikov and Sergei Agapkin also answered some of the most pressing questions about allergies.

Even more interesting news – in our Telegram channel @smotrim_ru

90,000 how to save yourself from seasonal allergies / Ministry of Nature Management and Ecology of the Republic of Bashkortostan

The season of allergies caused by flowering plants has begun in Central Russia. It is expected to be stormy this year, as forecasters predict rapid warming.

Pollinosis is the official name for pollen allergy.This story usually lasts from spring to early fall. Allergy manifests itself in the form of itching in the nose, redness of the eyes, tearing and coughing. It often happens that doctors confuse the “debut” of allergies with ARVI in children.

“If we are talking about a child, then first of all it is worth paying attention to the symptoms of rhinitis, conjunctivitis, cough. They appear without symptoms of intoxication and without a rise in temperature. Therefore, standard methods of treatment are not very effective. This is the first thing you should pay attention to and think that this is not an infection.It is worth contacting a specialist. Or ask your pediatrician if this could be the “debut” of an allergic disease. Moreover, if there is a history of allergic burden on the part of the parents, ”said Anna Maksimova, an allergist-immunologist.

Today there are two gold standards for allergy diagnostics. The first is prick testing. That is, with the help of special lancets, punctures are made on the skin, where small doses of various allergens are injected. Test results can be obtained within 10-15 minutes.But this test has some drawbacks. For example, you should stop taking antihistamines three days before your procedure. Also, it is not recommended to do it during the season of active flowering of plants, because an acute allergic reaction can be provoked. In this case, doctors resort to the second method of testing – they take a blood test for the presence of immunoglobulin E.

It is impossible to say which of the tests is more accurate – you can do both. This is especially true for children, since their immunoglobulins E are unevenly distributed between blood and tissues.The results must be compared with the history. If they diverge, then you need to resort to an additional allergy examination.

“If you have a predisposition to allergies, then you can protect yourself. Allergies are mainly associated with mucous membranes, so special sprays should be used that create a protective film on it and prevent the ingress of allergens or viruses. Try to lead a healthy lifestyle, eat a variety of foods. Allergy is not about immunodeficiency.On the contrary, it is a heightened reaction of the immune system. Allergy sufferers with immunity are fine. They have a problem at the border of mucous membranes – internal and external. An allergen damages it, so allergy sufferers are more susceptible to various colds. Especially if the allergy is not seasonal, but to house dust or to the epidermal allergen of animals, ”added Anna Maksimova.

The doctor also said that hypoallergenic products are just a marketing ploy. And hypoallergenic animals are a myth.Most often, people are allergic not to the animals themselves, but to the epidermal allergen, that is, to the product of the sebaceous and sweat glands. Therefore, the “shaggy” animal, the more allergens around.

As for the treatment of allergies, scientists have found a way to get rid of it. It’s not about getting rid of symptoms, but about influencing the causes of the body’s reaction. In medical practice, there is allergen-specific immunotherapy. Its essence is that the patient receives the allergen in certain doses for 3-5 years.During this time, the immune system manages to develop blocking antibodies to this allergen, which will not allow allergies to develop in the future. The effectiveness of therapy is not lifelong, but for 10-15 years you can live in peace.

online publication “Ecology of Russia” – national project ecology of the Russian Federation “

Spring allergy

Spring allergy

Buds bloom on trees, young greenery wakes up before our eyes, birds hum their merry songs, and very soon the season of amazing flowering will begin, which for some people on earth is the most painful and unpleasant.It is in the spring that allergy sufferers most often show signs of allergy. As you know, spring allergy is closely related to the flowering of plants, the wind-pollinated pollen of which is a powerful allergen. Diseases caused by pollen are called pollinosis.

According to statistics, 20-40% of the population all over the world are susceptible to allergic reactions. And what is even more disappointing – every year the number of allergy sufferers is increasing.

Allergy is a reaction of the immune system to an unfavorable irritant that can enter the body from the outside or develop in the body itself.The predisposition to allergic reactions is hereditary, according to statistics, if parents are allergic, then in 50% of cases their children will also be predisposed to allergic reactions.

In a modern person, seasonal allergies can occur for the first time at any age. If you have never had an allergy, but once you woke up in the spring or summer with itchy eyes and a stuffy nose, you have a direct road to an allergist. So everyone can get into the risk group of “victims of allergies”.

In addition, seasonal allergies peak between April and mid-July. For some people, allergies persist throughout the year, except for the months when it snows. It all depends on the level of sensitivity, and for each person it is purely individual. This variation is due to the fact that different plants bloom and disperse pollen at different times.

Such common trees as aspen, ash, alder, beech, poplar, elm, maple, oak, willow are most often the cause of allergies.There are even more shrubs, flowers and grasses, and on warm and dry windy days, pollen, actively spreading through the air for many kilometers, makes the life of allergy sufferers simply unbearable.

It is still possible to live on rainy days, since most of the pollen is washed off and the air is cleared, but good weather often becomes a real torture. These same allergens can cause bronchial asthma, a condition characterized by narrowing of the airways, difficulty breathing, wheezing and coughing; hives, exacerbation of allergic dermatitis or Quincke’s edema.

The special insidiousness of spring allergy is in its similarity to the symptoms of the common cold, and it often happens that people are treated with antibiotics and only eventually realize that this treatment is ineffective.

Spring allergy manifests itself in different ways: conjunctivitis, inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eyes (swelling, redness, dryness, itching, and sometimes pain in the eyes), runny nose or nasal congestion, sore throat, which is not accompanied by pain, dry cough, itchy ears and nose.

Skin manifestations are rare, but it is worth mentioning them: urticaria, itching, dryness, peeling of the skin.

Symptoms can occur singly or in any combination and of varying intensity. They are usually worse in dry, hot weather, in the morning and outdoors. But indoors, during the rain and in the evenings, they significantly weaken. But even with weak, rare manifestations of the disease, it is worth thinking seriously about how to cure hay fever, because it is fraught not only with unpleasant sensations, but also with various complications.

Of course, it would be an ideal solution to change your place of residence during the seasonal dusting of plants, but in most cases this is impossible, so you have to deal with allergies.

Treatment of each allergy sufferer is individual. In addition to medication, several measures can help alleviate allergy symptoms:

• Try not to go out on picnics and out-of-town trips during the flowering period.
• Stop drinking alcohol. Since alcohol is incompatible with taking antihistamines. Cosmetics, which may contain plant extracts, should be removed further during an exacerbation.
• It is recommended to wear sunglasses outdoors, and to walk in the evenings, after rain, when most of the pollen is nailed to the ground.
• When working in the yard during dangerous hours, use a gauze bandage, which will create a reliable barrier for the penetration of pollen to the mucous membranes.
• Regular wet cleaning, nets on the windows (vents), humidification of the air in the apartment will reduce the risk of an allergen entering the living space.
• By showering and changing clothes, you can easily get rid of pollen. It is also necessary to bathe more often pets that live near you and are on the street.
• And one more recommendation – do not dry your clothes outdoors during the flowering period.

Do not start or not treat allergies. If from year to year, during the spring flowering period, you are worried about a runny nose, cough or symptoms of conjunctivitis, be sure to consult an allergist, not only your health depends on this, but also the health of your children and grandchildren.

Unfortunately, science has not yet known a remedy that would be one hundred percent able to get rid of allergies.Therefore, the fight against allergies is mainly aimed at suppressing histamines and preventing contact with allergens. But if you do it professionally, you can minimize the manifestation of the body’s allergic reaction.

.