Spring allergy: how to live with it, what are the symptoms and complications

Photo: © Global Look Press/Bernd Friedel/imago stock&people

Woman sneezes with hay fever

Photo: © Global Look Press/Bernd Friedel/imago stock&people

Pollinosis is an allergic reaction of the body to plant pollen. Scientists know more than 250 thousand pollen-producing plants, but only 150 pollen allergens of trees, cereals and weeds reliably cause hay fever.

Most often, spring allergies are accompanied by sneezing, nasal discharge and watery eyes. But sometimes other complications can arise. About the main allergens and measures for the prevention of hay fever REN TV said the allergist-immunologist Vladimir Bolibok.

How many Russians suffer from allergies

According to a study by Sber Eapteki and INVITRO, 76% of Russians suffer from allergies. At the same time, the reaction to pollen is manifested in every second inhabitant of the Russian Federation (54%) and is most common in Moscow (57%).

“Most Russians suffer from allergies to food (70%). In second place was a reaction to pollen (54%) – every second respondent encountered it. Dust and mold close the top three allergens – 50% of respondents experience discomfort from them”says the study, with the results of which got acquainted “News”.

According to Ekaterina Terentyeva, physician-therapist, head of the medical examination department of the INVITRO group of companies, flowering allergy is indeed most common in the spring and summer seasons.

Photo: © Global Look Press/Jeremy Maude/moodboard

“At the same time, hay fever – the body’s reaction to plant pollen – is seasonal and manifests itself from April to September, when the concentration of plant pollen in the air increases due to the flowering of trees, cereals (meadow) and weeds”said the doctor.

Among the most common allergy symptoms are skin redness and itching (74%), runny nose (59%), watery eyes (51%), shortness of breath and dry cough (22%).

Main allergens

Tree pollen is the most important allergen in Central Russia, says allergist-immunologist Vladimir Bolibok. It appears about a week after the onset of climatic spring.

“The very first allergen is alder pollen, then hazel (hazel) pollen joins, and about two weeks later birch begins to bloom. Birch emits a lot of pollen and is the most common and strongest allergen to which patients react”said in an interview with REN TV Bolibok.

In addition, the cause of hay fever can be a reaction to the pollen of willow, poplar, oak, chestnut, maple, beech, elm and ash.

“In late spring and early summer, cereals are already becoming the main allergens: timothy, fescue, wheat, rye, couch grass and foxtail”– said Tatyana Borisova, an allergist-immunologist of the Federal Scientific and Practical Center of the Federal Medical and Biological Agency of Russia, whose words are quoted by Lenta.ru.

Symptoms of hay fever

Even in the presence of several allergens at once, pollinosis in one person always manifests itself in the same way, Vladimir Bolibok drew attention.

Symptoms of hay fever include:

  • nasal congestion, runny nose without fever;
  • discharge from the nose of a clear liquid;
  • sneezing and itchy nose;
  • conjunctivitis.

“The most important symptom of allergy sufferers is frequent sneezing. Pollen in the nose causes allergic inflammation and is usually accompanied by sneezing. There may be nasal congestion, runny nose, snot. Some allergy sufferers have inflammation of the eyes – conjunctivitis. Eyes watery and itchy”– explained the allergist.

Photo: © Global Look Press/Ute Grabowsky/photothek.net via

The most severe variant of pollen allergy is asthma attacks, the doctor emphasized.

Complications with hay fever

Pollinosis itself is already a complication, since it is a violation of the immune system, the doctor says. At the same time, the specialist noted, the severity of allergies is determined by the body’s immune response.

“Some patients have such a severe reaction to the allergen that they may experience bronchial spasms – this is when the bronchi are spasmodic and do not open, or there is complete swelling of the bronchi, and there is nothing to breathe. This serious condition requires hospitalization”– Bolibok explained.

In addition, according to the allergist, a fairly common complication of hay fever is inflammation of the paranasal sinuses – sinusitis or sinusitis.

“There is pansinusitis, when all the paranasal sinuses become inflamed. Then another symptom joins – a person has a headache, he does not breathe through his nose, his head does not understand, weakness. At the same time, a temperature can also join, because there is always an infection in the paranasal sinuses”– the interlocutor of the TV channel shared the details.

Photo: © Global Look Press/Cold River Productions/moodboard

Another unpleasant complication may be the occurrence of cross-allergy, the doctor warned. Since the pollen is of plant origin, an allergy to plant foods can occur, Bolibok explained.

“The most common cross-allergies are: birch pollen gives a cross to apples and other stone fruits – peaches, apricots; an allergy to wormwood can give a cross to sunflower oil and some seasonings. Rarely – an allergy to dandelion gives a cross to chicory”– said the allergist.

Prevention: how to protect yourself from allergies

The main measure for the prevention of hay fever is protection from pollen. However, it is still impossible to completely eliminate contact with pollen during the flowering period. To protect yourself from allergens, the following recommendations will help:

  • use special nasal filters, masks and sunglasses;
  • tightly close windows and doors, use an air filtration system;
  • change and wash clothes after each walk;
  • try to walk in rainy weather or in the evening;
  • limit trips to nature;
  • eliminate all cross-allergens from the diet;
  • do not use medicinal plants for treatment and prevention (even safe species can carry allergenic pollen from other plants on the surface).

Photo: © Izvestia / Pavel Bednyakov

“Medical masks are good for pollen allergies. Therefore, when leaving the house, wear either a fabric or disposable medical mask. The pollen itself is a fairly large formation and it does not penetrate the mask. If your eyes become inflamed, then you need to wear safety glasses because the wind blows pollen into the eyes”– Vladimir Bolibok advised.

According to the immunologist, women are more likely to suffer from hay fever than men, for two reasons: they have a more excited immune system and long hair, which is stuffed with pollen. Therefore, the specialist warned, wearing a headdress during the flowering period is essential.

Temporary moving to another place will also help to avoid the appearance of hay fever.

“A well-known way is to simply go to another area where there is no pollen. We breathe air, we cannot hold our breath. If there is an opportunity to go to a place where there is no pollen from this plant, then it is better to use it. I have such patients who regularly travel south or, conversely, north”– the specialist shared the details.

And allergen-specific immunotherapy allows to cure allergies, the immunologist said.

“We call it allergy vaccination, although it’s not exactly vaccination. This therapy allows you to create a normal immunity to allergens, and the person recovers”the doctor explained.

Source: Ren

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