Hay fever

The arrival of spring brings with it the spread of allergens that can provoke the typical symptoms of allergic rhinitis.

With the arrival of the spring season for many begins a period of very annoying disorders. The nose runs and itches, sneezes often and sometimes congestion can prevent you from experiencing tastes and smells.

These are the typical signs of the arrival of an allergic rhinitis, or hay fever. Seasonal respiratory allergies are in fact among the most frequent allergic forms.

The manifestations are similar to the common cold, but the origin is not a virus. Respiratory allergies are due to an abnormal response of the immune system to allergens in the air breathed.

Symptoms

In addition to those already mentioned, other signs of hay fever are dry throat and persistent cough. Spring allergy often also affects the eyes: itching, redness and burning are the most common symptoms. In severe forms, allergy is manifested by asthma.

Allergic reactions greatly affect quality of life, as they can disrupt sleep at night and make it difficult to concentrate during the day.

Damn Spring

The onslaught of the dreaded allergens does not always happen at a precise time, although on average the critical period lasts from April to June. Pollens can in fact anticipate or prolong their stay in a territory before and after spring.

To keep the situation under control, you can consult the pollen calendar that reports the trend of pollen in the different areas of Italy, for example on the http://www.ilpolline.it website of the Italian Association of Aerobiolgia.

The main allergens that occur in the spring are the pollens of grasses, parietaria, composites (for example ragweed), birches, oleaceae and cupressaceae.

The following table shows the main blooms for the different periods of the year.

Season Blooms
Late winter Alder, hazel, ash cypress, poplar, willow
Spring Birch, hornbeams, oak, beech, ash, olive, cypress, plane tree, pine, grasses
Summer Ambrosia, artemisia, parietaria, romice, chestnut, pine
Autumn Ambrosia, parietaria

How to defend yourself?

The best precaution in the allergic season is to avoid coming into contact with the allergen as much as possible. It is good, for example, not to go to the meadows, especially if the grass has just been cut. A dry climate and wind favor the spread of pollen, while rain “washes” allergens away from the air.

It is also advisable to wear sunglasses that protect your eyes from the wind and the onslaught of the particles responsible for the discomfort. When you are in the car, it is good to keep the windows closed and install anti-pollen ventilation filters, to be cleaned frequently.

It can also help to wash your hair often as the pollen granules settle on the hair and from there, at night, “migrate” to the pillow. Pollens, together with dust, easily nest on curtains, carpets and cushions: it is therefore advisable to clean the house carefully and wash these furnishing objects often.

Help from medication

There are several drugs, with various forms of administration, for the use of which it is good to contact the doctor or ask the pharmacist for advice. Some have a symptomatic use, that is, they are used when the allergic crisis occurs, others should be taken to prevent the problem.

One of the most well-known symptomatic treatments are antihistamines, which block the action of histamine released following the allergic reaction. Against nasal congestion there are specific decongestant products.

Joycelyn Elders is the author and creator of EmpowerEssence, a health and wellness blog. Elders is a respected public health advocate and pediatrician dedicated to promoting general health and well-being.

The blog covers a wide range of topics related to health and wellness, with articles organized into several categories.

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