What to do if hay fever makes you cry

What is hay fever

Pollinosis is an individual reaction of the immune system to pollen (in fact, the name itself comes from the British pollen - "pollen").

Sometimes hay fever is referred to as hay fever, since it has long been thought that the body suffers from contact with hay. However, in 1873, British physician David Blackley convincingly proved that the cause of hay fever is the pollen of a wide variety of plants: both grasses and trees. So the concept of hay fever entered into medical use.

Pollinosis is a cunning violation, which is often not as easy to identify as we would like.

The exact causes of this allergic ailment are still not clear. Scientists find it difficult to answer why the immunity of some people does not react to pollen in any way, while in others it reacts too violently.

At the same time, according to statistics from Pollen Overload: Seasonal Allergies in a Changing Climate, from 10 to 30% of the world's population are victims of plant pollen allergy.

What are the symptoms of hay fever

Pollinosis is very similar to many other types of allergies. Which, however, is not surprising if you remember that hay fever is the same allergic reaction.

The pollen gets on the mucous membranes of the eyes, mouth and nose, reaches the bronchi, and settles on the skin. If the body perceives it as an enemy (allergen), this meeting can have a bunch of unpleasant consequences:

Rhinitis … Symptoms in this case are similar to colds: a watery runny nose, coupled with nasal congestion, impaired smell, frequent sneezing, swelling (redness) of the mucous membranes of the nose and eyes, lacrimation.
Asthmatic bronchitis … Those who have had bronchitis remember this suffocating sensation: each breath causes a coughing fit, which makes it difficult for air to enter the lungs. Without treatment, bronchitis can develop into bronchial asthma.
Dermatitis … On the chest, back, buttocks, thighs, a small itchy, bright pink rash appears - urticaria.

Depending on the individual reactions of the body, hay fever can manifest itself in different ways: someone sneezes endlessly, but does not suffer from bronchitis and urticaria, and someone gets the full range of "pleasures".

How to understand that you have hay fever

As it was said above, there are no unequivocal symptoms that would make it possible to diagnose hay fever at home. It can only be judged by indirect signs.

1. Seasonality

If the symptoms appear only when the plants are blooming, then most likely we can talk about hay fever. But there is no question of a 100% guarantee. Indeed, in the spring, other types of allergies can also worsen. In the first warm days, when the walls of houses are already warming up well, but the humidity is still high, the active development of all kinds of mold begins. So the problem may be a fungal allergy, not a pollen allergy.

2. Obvious reaction to any particular vegetation

If you feel okay overall, but sneeze, itch, and gasp as you walk past the flowering acacias, you might assume that your allergen is acacia pollen. There is no guarantee though.

There are over 100 types of allergenic pollen. It is possible to find out exactly which one is yours only with medical help.

What to do?

The only sure way to know if you have an allergy is to see a therapist. He will rule out infections and other illnesses and, if necessary, send you to an allergist.

And already an allergist will help you understand what exactly you are allergic to. There are two ways to find out.

1. Allergy test

This is the fastest option, which allows you to detect an allergen right on the day you go to the laboratory. A small scratch is made on the forearm and an extract of the suspected allergen is applied to it. If he is your enemy, the body will react with redness and slight swelling in the scratched place. This will take no more than 20-30 minutes.

Sometimes an alternative to a scratch is injections or applications with an allergen extract solution. The principle of their operation is the same.

However, allergy skin testing has a number of limitations. Firstly, it cannot be carried out during an exacerbation of allergies or all kinds of chronic diseases, as well as during pregnancy. Secondly, in order for the examination to be effective, it is necessary to stop taking any antiallergenic drugs in a few days.

2. Blood test

The path is longer, but there are no such strict contraindications to it (although in any case, to increase its effectiveness, it is better to carry out it during the period of remission - when the allergy recedes). Your blood will be taken from a vein. Then it will be divided into several portions, one or another allergen will be injected into each and it will be checked to which one the blood reacts. This will identify your personal allergen.

How to treat hay fever

Based on the test results, your doctor will prescribe antihistamines to help reduce your symptoms.

Remember: self-medication is dangerous!

You may also be advised on specific immunotherapy. This is an effective method of prevention: the doctor injects small doses of the allergen so that the body gradually gets used to them and stops reacting so violently. Also, sublingual immunotherapy is becoming more and more popular - tablets that must be sucked daily under the tongue.

But you need to start immunotherapy not earlier than autumn, when the flowering season is over. And to achieve a sustainable effect, you will have to continue immunotherapy for at least three years.

How to relieve hay fever

If a doctor has confirmed hay fever, but you don't have the results of an allergen test yet, or you just want to do without medication, here are some tips to relieve your symptoms.

1. Pay attention to the time of day and weather

This is one of the most effective methods of dealing with allergies. The prevalence and concentration of pollen in the air obey certain daily rhythms. So, in the morning and in the evening, the number of allergens is usually lower than at other times of the day. This means that if you are allergic and you cannot avoid going outside, plan it for the morning or evening hours.

Also consider the weather conditions. On a hot, windy day, the concentration of pollen is higher than on a cool and windless day. During such periods, try not to go outside the house and not to open windows and doors once again.

2. When going outside, wear a gauze mask and sunglasses

The mask will stop allergens at the approaches to the mucous membranes of the mouth and nose, and the glasses will cover the eyes. For extra protection, choose the model with the largest lenses and wider frames possible.

It is better to choose tinted lenses: in this case, they will be able to hide your tear-stained eyes if the pollen does break through.

If possible, take a vacation. Go to the coasts of the seas, oceans, lakes: the amount of pollen there is usually lower.

3. Carry and use saline spray

Rinsing will help relieve nasal congestion and wash away significant amounts of allergens. You can buy a saline nasal spray at any pharmacy or prepare it yourself: add ¹⁄₄ teaspoon of salt and soda to a glass of warm water, mix thoroughly.

4. Shower often

First thing, as soon as you get home! Moreover, be sure to rinse your hair to wash off the pollen not only from the body, but also from the hair.

5. Be considerate of pets

They can carry pollen to the coat. Therefore, during your personal allergenic season, try to have less contact with pets and limit their walking outdoors among the vegetation. If this seems inhuman to you, get in the habit of giving your dog or cat an express shower when you get home. Yes, and do not let the four-legged in the bedroom! You should have a chance to sleep without obsessive "Ah-a-apchhi!"

6. Buy a household air purifier

And if you have an air conditioner, use high efficiency HEPA filters for better pollen control. Change filters at least once a year.

7. Review your diet

This must be done in two ways at once. The first is to add foods that can make you feel better. True, some of them cause cross-allergies (when exposure to pollen is enhanced by the presence of foods with similar allergens on the menu). Therefore, before you pounce on food, check the second list.

So, it is considered 12 Effective, Natural Remedies for Seasonal Allergies, which help with hay fever:

Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids … Salmon, salmon, sardine, mackerel, herring, eel, caviar, cod liver, cold-pressed linseed and rapeseed oil.
Magnesium-rich foods … Oatmeal, almonds, walnuts and pine nuts, chickpeas, cocoa, dill, flax seeds, sesame seeds, white beans.
Vitamin C rich foods … Rosehip, parsley, cilantro, black currant, red bell pepper, lemon peel, cabbage, strawberry, kiwi, tomato juice.
Quercetin-rich foods … Capers, onions, broccoli, red grapes, cherries, citrus fruits, tea, red wine, lingonberries, raspberries, cranberries.
Vitamin E-rich foods … Vegetable oils (sunflower, olive, corn, linseed, coconut), buckwheat, oatmeal, beans, peas.
Selenium-rich foods … Liver, chicken eggs, rice, barley, corn, cabbage, octopus, beans, peas, lentils.
Foods rich in probiotics (lacto- and bifidobacteria) … Kefir, cottage cheese, yogurt, sour cream, cheese, sauerkraut and homemade pickles (cucumbers, tomatoes, pickled apples), onions and leeks, artichokes, bananas.

The second way is to remove foods that can trigger food allergies resulting from immunological cross-reactivity with inhalant allergens cross-allergy. But here you need to know what kind of pollen you are allergic to.

Pollen	Cross-allergic foods
Ambrosia	Bananas, melons, zucchini, cucumbers, chamomile
Birch	Apples, pears, peaches, apricots, cherries, plums, nectarines, kiwi, carrots, celery, potatoes, peppers, dill, parsley, coriander, parsnips, hazelnuts, almonds, walnuts
Cereals	Food grains (oats, wheat, barley), sorrel
Grass	Peaches, celery, melons, tomatoes, oranges
Sagebrush	Celery, apples, kiwi, peanuts, fennel, carrots, parsley, coriander, sunflower, pepper
Alder	Celery, pears, apples, almonds, cherries, hazelnuts, peaches, parsley

8. Engage in self-hypnosis

Remember the phrase "I am the most charming and attractive"? Do about the same, only in the context of allergies: “I have created a completely safe world around me, into which not a single allergen will penetrate! I am healthy and happy! " Looks funny? Take your time to shrug your shoulders sarcastically.

Self-hypnosis may help hay fever sufferers have been confirmed by Swiss scientists back in 2005. Allergy patients who thought they were in a place free of allergens, such as a pristine beach or snowy mountain, suffered less. Allergic manifestations decreased by about a third. And this is very important.