Coping with seasonal allergies

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Spring comes, and with it comes allergies. This means that swelling, nasal congestion, skin redness, tears and other unpleasant symptoms appear. Today we will talk about the causes of seasonal allergies, how to prepare for it and what to do if preventive measures have not helped.

According to the definition in medical dictionaries, allergy is an increased acute reaction of the body's immune system to certain substances (allergens), which develops through direct contact with them. And there really is a reaction. But behind dry terms there is an indescribable range of sensations: watery eyes, itching in the nose, the skin itches and becomes covered with spots, it's hard to breathe … In short, nothing pleasant.

And now spring has come, the season when many types of allergies are activated: to pollen, grass, city dust. But the torment can be avoided, the main thing is to start preparing in advance. And we will share useful recommendations with you. But first, let's talk about why an allergic reaction occurs.

Allergy Causes

If you notice a deterioration in the condition from early spring to mid-autumn, most likely you are faced with hay fever, an allergic reaction to plant pollen.

The pollen of trees, shrubs and grasses enters the nose, and our immune system perceives it as a foreign substance. And, accordingly, it begins to produce antibodies - just like against viruses and bacteria. Because of this, histamine is formed in the blood - a biologically active substance to which we owe all the unpleasant manifestations of allergies: coughing, sneezing, runny nose, watery eyes, and so on.

In fact, allergy is not a disease, it is a special condition of the body, which reacts non-standard to conventional substances.

Is it possible to completely save a person from such an individual reaction of the body? No, medicine is not omnipotent, but you can achieve lasting long-term improvement and save a person from all unpleasant allergic manifestations.

One more important conclusion can be drawn from this. A person who is not prone to allergies will not have a reaction even when in contact with the strongest allergen. Conversely, in a person predisposed to allergies, the reaction will manifest itself, and even substances that are not allergens can provoke it.

Also, allergies can be provoked by:

• polluted environment;
• stress;
• weakened immunity;
• smoking;
• antibiotics;
• improper nutrition.

By the time of year when you start to feel unwell, you can understand exactly what your body is reacting to. In spring, allergies are most often caused by tree pollen, in summer - by grasses, autumn allergies are associated with pollination of weeds.

There are more than 100 types of allergenic pollen, so it is imperative that you see your doctor so that he can prescribe the appropriate treatment. Sometimes the allergen is obvious, but in most cases a diagnosis is necessary. When to contact a specialist and how to prepare for an appointment, we will tell you a little later. And now we will discuss several methods of prevention.

How to prepare for spring allergy season

1. Undergo specific immunotherapy

This is the most effective prevention method. You are diagnosed with an allergen (for example, you cannot tolerate alder pollen), and before flowering, doctors inject drugs based on small doses of the allergen. So the body gradually gets used to it, so during the flowering season you will not have a reaction to a substance that provokes allergies. If you cannot get rid of the allergy completely, then at least the allergic reaction will manifest itself in a milder form.

But there are two important points to note. Firstly, specific immunotherapy should be carried out in the fall, when the flowering period has already passed. And secondly, in order for the procedure to be as effective as possible, it should be carried out regularly. Usually, the predisposition to allergies disappears completely after 3-4 years.

2. Follow a hypoallergenic diet

A hypoallergenic diet is the exclusion from the diet of those foods that can provoke or aggravate allergies. Take care of your diet and thereby strengthen the immune system, preferably in advance, even before the onset of the flowering period. The diet should be dominated by light food, mainly vegetables and fruits.

Before the onset of allergies, it is necessary to normalize the acid-base balance and metabolism.

In addition, immediately during the period of allergy, it is worth refusing to use some foods. Avoid strawberries and raspberries in the spring, and watermelons, melons, grapes, and eggplants in the fall. During the entire flowering period, nuts, coffee, chocolate, cocoa, honey, eggs are not recommended.

3. Try vitamin therapy

Vitamins B and C effectively help to cope with pollen allergies and also strengthen the immune system. Therefore, we recommend taking vitamins both before the onset of allergy season and during.

How to deal with allergies

What if you did not have time to undergo specific immunotherapy, other methods of prevention personally do not help you very much, and the allergy season is coming very soon? There are several methods to help relieve allergies.

Method # 1. Radical

The most common treatment for most allergies is to avoid contact with the allergen. But if you don't have pets or don't eat nuts - it's easy, then in the case of hay fever, when allergens are literally in the air, this can become a problem. Alternatively, you can take a vacation and go to a place in the country or planet where allergies will not bother you. Radical, but effective. However, it is clear that this option is not suitable for everyone, so let's move on.

Method number 2. Pharmacological

Also a common method of struggle. The main thing is not to self-medicate and buy drugs only after consulting your doctor.

Another common mistake is to take pills when the allergic reaction is already taking hold. Taking antihistamines after contact with an allergen is mostly useless - the body has already reacted. In fact, antihistamines must be stored in the body. Only then will they help to cope with the allergic reaction. Ideally, it is advisable to start a course of medication 2-3 weeks before the flowering season.

In addition, over time, the body gets used to the drug, so the drug needs to be changed. In any case, be sure to contact a specialist and together with him determine how the treatment will proceed.

Method number 3. Homemade

To make it easier to tolerate allergies, you need to prepare your home for the flowering season. Keep doors and windows as closed as possible. You can ventilate the room after rain. If there is no fresh air, tighten the windows with gauze and moisten it often with water. Curtains and curtains are also worth moisturizing. Place several containers of water in your home or purchase a humidifier. So the allergy will be easier to tolerate, and it will be easier to breathe in the room and the skin will not dry out.

Method number 4. Hygienic

Every time you return home, take off your clothes and send them to the wash. Then go to the shower and wash your hair thoroughly - a lot of pollen can remain on it and it will be difficult to fall asleep. If you walk pets, you will have to wash them too. During allergy periods, do not dry your clothes on the open balcony.

Method number 5. Folk

Traditional medicine can also offer several remedies to help you tolerate allergies. So, they often recommend a decoction from a series: brew a series of hot water, let it brew for 20 minutes - and you can drink. Please note that the drink should be golden in color and not cloudy in any way. You can find more recommendations in our article "How to overcome allergies without medication".

You can rinse your nose with warm water, preferably with salt. This will help reduce swelling and remove pollen from your nose.

When to see a specialist

If you are still suffering from symptoms, it is worth visiting an otolaryngologist and allergist. A doctor may write a prescription for new medications and recommend immunotherapy. Many over-the-counter medications are effective in managing the course of allergies. It can be decongestants, eye drops, sprays. In some cases, a doctor may prescribe allergic injections that will relieve symptoms for several years. But such drugs are not suitable for everyone and only a specialist can select them.

As we have already said, the best time for a specialist examination is late autumn. It is necessary to stop taking antihistamines two weeks before the diagnosis. The most popular and cheapest method for detecting and determining the type of allergy is skin testing.

Allergies are not a time to ignore symptoms or self-medicate. There is always, however small, the likelihood of anaphylactic shock. Therefore, be sure to contact an allergist and do not neglect your health.