City dwellers in particular are at risk because pollen in the city is more aggressive than in the countryside. Environmental pollution such as exhaust gases also irritates the mucous membranes.
In Germany, an estimated twelve million people suffer from a pollen allergy. The first symptoms usually appear before the age of 25, often in childhood between eight and 16 years. Because the protein that is responsible for the allergy is in the pollen, the concentration plays less of a role, i.e. how much pollen and pollen are in the air. In one in three people, even asthma can be caused by hay fever. The trigger is the pollen of wind-pollinated plants. These include, above all, grasses and flowering trees such as hazel, alder, birch, grain, and mugwort, nettle, and plantain. For confidential support, call the Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90 90 or visit a local Samaritans branch, see www.samaritans.org for details. In the U.S., call the National Suicide Prevention Line on 1-800-273-8255.