All about allergies
We often hear people say they are allergic to certain things, especially in this new generation. Which begs that question, why are allergies more prevalent now than they were in past years?
To answer all these questions, we roped in Mariska van Aswegen, spokesperson for Pharma Dynamics and Bonitas’ Dr Carla von Benecke.
What are allergies and what causes them?
The weather and atmospheric temperature make a huge difference to the levels of pollen and other irritants such as dust and diesel particulates in the air.“ The irritants stay suspended in the air for longer, entering the mouth or nose and landing on the delicate mucosal layer of the upper airways,” explains Mariska van Aswegen, spokesperson for Pharma Dynamics.“ Once these particles land on the membranes that line the airways, the allergen diffuses into it, setting off an allergic reaction. Not only could symptoms worsen, but hot and dry conditions could result in an extended pollen season.”
To make matters worse, people who live in towns and cities where there are higher levels of traffic pollution are at greater risk. Van Aswegen points out that the tiny particulates released by diesel fuel irritate the lining of the nasal passages and lungs making them more sensitive.“ When an allergen such as pollen is also present, the airways are already primed to react, which could lead to a more severe allergic response.”
“ Not only is this depressing news for the existing sufferers but the extended hot and dry conditions could also trigger nasal allergies in those who haven’ t previously suffered from hay fever.”
How common is it?
Seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, the technical term for hay fever, affects 20 % of the general population and up to 50 % of adolescents,” says Dr Carla von Benecke. The World Health Organisation( WHO) divides hay fever into intermittent( less than 4 days per week or less than 4 weeks in duration) and persistent( more than 4 days per week and over 4 weeks in duration).
Common symptoms( itchy, blocked or runny nose; sneezing; itchy, sore, watery eyes and itchy throat) occur when pollen levels exceed 30 grains per cubic metres of air. However, pollen levels may rise above 500 grains / m 3 at the peak of the grass pollen season.
The life cycle of your allergies
The hay fever season typically starts with trees pollinating from August until October. However, grass pollen then takes over with its greatest peak from November to March. Hay fever is an allergy to pollen, most commonly grass pollen. Whenever the pollen you’ re allergic to is in plentiful supply, your symptoms could emerge. Dr Carla explains,“ The trigger allergens start with a tree pollen‘ blip’( Cypress, Oak, Plane, Acacia and Olive) in early spring( August), followed by a long grass pollen‘ surge’, persisting from September through to the end of February. Weed pollens( English plantain and Cosmos) rise for a short‘ spell’ in late summer and fungal or mould spores( Alternaria, Cladosporium and Epicoccum) predominate in damp spring and autumn but tend to be less problematic than pollen grains unless spore counts exceed 3 000 per cubic metre.” Although it sounds like it’ s a never-ending challenge, Dr Carla says there are ways of reducing or treating the symptoms of allergies.
Treating hay fever and allergies
“ Most treatments for hay fever are available from your pharmacist without prescription,” she says,“ as well as from your GP.” They are all very safe and include: antihistamine tablets, eye drops and steroid or sodium cromoglycate nose sprays. The nose sprays need to be taken correctly and regularly to be effective.
Page 25 B-Living Issue 1, 2017