Sneezing, itchy eyes, feeling sick and limited performance: Anyone who has hay fever knows these symptoms. How do you find out if you are allergic, how can allergy sufferers help themselves and what blooms when? Experts give tips for everyday life.
Flower lovers will be happy, and allergy sufferers will have tears in their eyes more and more often. As a result of global warming and the planting of new species, the winter break has disappeared. Now something is almost always blooming. For example, purple alders have been popular in cities for a few years now. Their pollen flies at Christmas, weeks before that of the local alder trees. The number of people who are bothered by this is increasing because there are more and more people affected by hay fever. According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), allergies have become much more common over the past four decades. In more and more people, the immune system is waging a pointless battle against pollen, which is harmless in itself.
The pollen calendar: New pollen seasons due to climate change
Climate change has now abolished the break for allergy sufferers, states the
German Pollen Information Service (PID) Foundation
, which has been studying pollen concentrations in the air since 1983. The PID chairman, allergist Karl-Christian Bergmann, explains: “Climate change is changing the flight times of pollen.” The experts observe that the times in which the last pollen of the previous season disappear and the first of the new season appear now almost overlap . What's also new is that the alder tree has brought forward its main flowering period by nine days compared to the previous calendar, based on the period 2011 to 2016. You can find a daily forecast of pollen levels on the PID website (
www.pollenstiftung.de
). You can also download pollen apps here – for iPhone and Android systems.
The most annoying pollen from ragweed to plantain
The 15 most stubborn allergens in Germany are ragweed, dock, mugwort, birch, beech, oak, alder, ash, grass, hazel, poplar, rye, elm, plantain and willow. The German Allergy and Asthma Association (DAAD) writes that allergy sufferers suffer particularly in spring from the pollen of early-flowering trees. Hazel and alder are the first to bloom, followed by birch, oak, yew, ash, lilac and copper beech in April and May.
Pollen, mites, fungal spores: This is how the prick test reveals allergies
When pollen comes into contact with the mucous membranes of the nose and respiratory tract, it releases proteins. These then trigger a defense reaction in the body. “Allergy symptoms such as a runny nose or itchy eyes should not be taken lightly,” warns Munich allergy expert and dermatologist Dr. Christoph Liebich told Merkur.de/24vita.de. If you want to know for sure whether and from which allergies you suffer, you should have a skin test (prick test) done by a dermatologist and allergist. “The upper layer of skin on the forearm is lightly scratched and 15 to 20 drip solutions containing various allergy triggers such as pollen, house dust mites, fungal spores and foods are sprinkled on it,” explains Dr. Liebich from the Dermazent practice on Hackenstrasse. “If a wheal or redness occurs, this is a strong indication of an allergic reaction.”
Who is at risk?
Predisposition plays an important role in allergies, but there are many other factors. The increase in allergies is also due to modern lifestyles - excessive hygiene in infants and small children increases their tendency to allergies.
If symptoms become more severe: when should you go to the doctor about the allergy?
If the symptoms get worse, you should go to the doctor: “Depending on the severity of the symptoms, there are antihistamines as tablets, eye drops or nasal sprays to eliminate the inflammation. In stubborn cases, a prescription cortisone spray helps.”
The problem: “Anyone affected by a pollen allergy will never be able to completely get rid of it,” explains the allergy expert. Does immunotherapy – also called hyposensitization or desensitization – make sense? “Yes,” says Dr. Liebich. “If the inflammation of the nose spreads to the lungs, allergic asthma can develop.”
Prevent allergy symptoms: tips against pollen
Those affected can also do something: the symptoms, which are mostly seasonal, can often be alleviated very well and effectively, says expert Dr. Liebich. His tips: “In the city, ventilate between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m., in the country between 6 p.m. and midnight. Pollen screens on the window also help.” Pollen in bed really causes problems. That's why you should shower in the evening, wash your hair and never take off your worn clothes in the bedroom: "Of course, all of this only works if your partner joins in," says Dr. Liebich. The room air can be filtered with air purifiers. Pay attention to the certification of the products.
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.