Things to know if you suffer from respiratory allergies

A growing phenomenon, it affects 25% of Italians. Some tips to live well and not give up the activities you prefer.

The most common disease of the immune system, which affects, only in Italy, a quarter of the population between 18 and 44 years. Let’s talk about respiratory allergies, with which it is however possible to live without anxiety, putting into practice some simple tips.

What are they?

Allergies represent a “wrong” response of our immune system, which identifies as harmful a substance that is not. These molecules are called allergens: there are hundreds of them, but some are more common than others.

The main respiratory allergens are represented by:

  • pollen, hay or other plant fragments
  • dust mites
  • animals (especially their fur)
  • spores and mold.

Pollen allergies, which are among the most common, are characterized by a certain seasonality and recurrence during the year, determined by the cycle of plants that produce and release the different types of pollen into the environment.

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

What do they cause?

When our body comes into contact with an allergen considered harmful, it activates a whole series of reactions in order to expel it as quickly as possible. In particular, it produces antibodies, IgE, which are specific to each individual allergen. Antibodies, in turn, trigger an inflammatory response, called an allergic attack.

Symptoms of this phenomenon may include:

However, more intense symptoms may also occur, such as severe breathing difficulties typical of an asthmatic attack, during which:

  • airway muscles contract, narrowing passage and reducing airflow to the lungs
  • the surrounding tissues become inflamed, swelling, and making it increasingly difficult for air to pass
  • Sometimes, mucus production can occur, which further obstructs the bronchi and trachea.

How to prevent crises?

In camera da letto:

  • utilizzate fodere e lenzuola antiallergici
  • wash laundry at least once a week in hot water (above 60°C) to remove dust mites
  • Activate dehumidifiers to reduce mold formation
  • remove carpets or stuffed animals, or wash them often in hot water (above 60 ° C).

Also, do not allow your animal friends to climb on beds or sofas, to prevent hair from settling on them.

If you are allergic to pollen:

  • Try to prefer indoor sports activities, at least in the months when the plants release the pollen that causes you suffering
  • Prefer to go out in the early morning or late evening, avoiding the hours of greater pollen concentration
  • Avoid trips to the countryside, especially in windy weather
  • Do not walk in the meadows where the grass has recently been cut
  • If you are travelling by car or train, keep the windows closed and activate an air conditioning system, possibly equipped with a pollen filter.

What to do during a crisis?

If the best thing to do to prevent an allergic attack is, in fact, to avoid contact with the offending allergen, it is essential to know how to behave in case of a crisis.

Symptoms can be contained by taking over-the-counter medications, such as:

In the case of more serious allergies, whose symptoms last for longer periods of time and with greater effects, a solution is to undergo immunotherapy: these are injections of allergen diluted at gradually increasing concentrations. The aim is to re-educate our immune system, so that the body gets used to the presence of the antigen and reduces the response that triggers the allergy.

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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