Hay fever season is in full swing. Why city dwellers in particular are affected and what role stressed trees play in this.
More and more people are suffering from hay fever. This is also due to stressed trees, explains Peter Schmid-Grendelmeier from the University of Zurich in an interview with the
Neue Züricher Zeitung (NZZ)
. City dwellers in particular are at risk because pollen in the city is more aggressive than in the countryside and environmental pollution such as exhaust gases also irritate the mucous membranes.
Hay fever is increasing: pollen is becoming more aggressive
In Germany, an estimated twelve million people suffer from a pollen allergy, according to the
European Foundation for Allergy Research (ECARF)
. The first symptoms usually appear before the age of 25, often in childhood between eight and 16 years. However, more and more adults are now developing hay fever, with the trigger being the pollen of wind-pollinated plants. These include, above all:
grasses
Early flowering trees such as hazel, alder, birch
Grain
Herbs such as mugwort, nettle and plantain
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According to the German Allergy and Asthma Association (DAAB),
typical signs of hay fever include
watery and itchy eyes, runny nose, inflamed nasal mucosa and, in one in three people, even asthma. The pollen concentration plays less of a role, i.e. how much pollen and pollen is in the air. But rather, how many allergy-causing proteins are in the pollen, explains expert Peter Schmid-Grendelmeier to the
NZZ.
“For example, birch trees that grow in the city have about twice as many allergens as birch trees in the countryside. Because the protein that is responsible for the allergy is a stress protein. The tree produces more of it if, for example, it has too little water, gets too many exhaust gases or has too little space,” says the expert.
Pollen allergy: City dwellers are particularly at risk
But it's not just more aggressive pollen that is responsible for an increase in pollen allergies. For city dwellers, “their mucous membranes may be more irritated - for example due to pollutants that are in the air due to traffic, especially in cities,” says Schmid-Grendelmeier.
In addition, there are more and more allergy-causing plants such as ragweed in this country. The plant from the daisy family actually comes from North America, but is increasingly spreading in Europe, as the
Bavarian State Institute for Agriculture
warns. Their flowers produce a particularly large amount of pollen, which is also particularly allergenic. They can trigger severe respiratory allergies and contact allergies can occur when they come into contact with the skin, experts warn.
This alleviates the symptoms of hay fever
Anyone affected by hay fever should use “real-time measurements of pollen counts,” recommends Schmid-Grendelmeier. A look at the pollen count calendar shows which allergy triggers are currently on the move. Those affected can then respond with appropriate measures that alleviate the symptoms. Approximately:
Brush or wash your hair in the evening to avoid carrying pollen to bed
Do not enter the bedroom in street clothes
Wear sunglasses outdoors
To be ventilated only at certain times of the day
Keep the windows closed when driving
Have allergy medication on hand
This article only contains general information on the respective health topic and is therefore not intended for self-diagnosis, treatment or medication. It in no way replaces a visit to the doctor. Our editorial team is not allowed to answer individual questions about medical conditions.