What to do now to prevent seasonal allergies

What do seasonal allergies usually cause?

Seasonal allergies are associated with those plants that are pollinated by the wind, and not by insects. These are many trees, meadow and weeds. When the air is saturated with their pollen, sensitive people start watery eyes, liquid transparent mucus flows from the nose and lays the airways.

In central Russia seasonal allergy more often arises:

• on a birch;
• ambrosia;
• elm;
• oak;
• hazel;
• sagebrush;
• quinoa.

When do seasonal allergies occur?

Seasonal allergies usually get worse after the snow starts to melt. The exact time will depend on the timing of flowering plantsto which the person is sensitive.

In the middle lane allocate three main periods:

1. Spring (April-May, when trees such as birch and oak are pollinated).
2. Early summer (June - mid-July, when meadow grasses and cereals bloom, such as rye, fescue and hedgehog).
3. Late summer (mid-July - September, when weeds bloom, such as nettle and ragweed).

You can see the approximate flowering time of each particular plant in special

tables. Maps allow you to monitor the situation in real time "Yandex Weather». They show the situation down to the area, and in addition, they analyze the data of past years and try to predict how events will develop in the future. The disadvantage of the service is that it only tracks common allergens.

If you don’t know exactly what you are reacting to, then you can use such calendars in a different way: mark the time when you are at your worst and look for matches in plant activity. But this method is not as accurate as allergen tests.

In addition, allergies May be on mold spores that live in the ground. Then the peak will be in spring (when the snow melts) and autumn (when the leaves are collected in large piles).

How to prevent seasonal allergies

You can prepare your home, rethink your habits, and even move away during your toughest times. Or you can use the drugs prescribed by the allergist.

Start taking allergy medication early

The sensitization reaction develops like a snowball: upon contact with triggers in the nose and sinuses, it becomes more mucus, which fixes pollen on itself, and inflammatory cells, which provide such reaction. Therefore, it is very difficult to stop an allergy that has already begun. So it's better not to waste your energy on a useless struggle with symptomsand prevent them from developing. To do this, you can start taking antihistamines and corticosteroids in advance. They will, as it were, turn off the hyperreaction to pollen, and life will become easier.

You cannot prescribe such treatment on your own, so start by going to an allergist.

Undergo allergen-specific therapy

Allergen-specific immune therapy (ASIT) is the only method that acts on the cause of the allergy and allows you to forget about the symptoms for a long time. Its essence is that the body is first offered the smallest doses of an irritating substance, and then they are gradually increased in order to accustom the body to respond correctly to triggers.

With seasonal allergies, you need to start treatment in advance. Therefore, try to find an allergist in the winter in order to be fully equipped by the right time.

Think about how to avoid triggers

Avoiding pollen is easier than treating allergies, so have a plan of action in advance.

Change your habits

These tips will help correct lifestyle to avoid triggers:

• The largest amount of pollen is in the air in the morning, as well as on dry and windy days. So if you're exercising outdoors, move your workouts indoors if possible. And plan long walks after a good rain, which will beat the dust with allergens to the ground.
• Avoid gardening or gardening while the flowering season is in progress.
• Organize a place in the apartment where you can dry washed things so that pollen does not stick to them on the balcony or on the street.
• If you usually shower in the morning, try to get into the habit of showering in the evening to wash the pollen off your body and hair.
• If you're having a hard time with allergy season, schedule trip to a region with other plants or other periods of their flowering.

Monitor the air quality in your apartment

Since pollen likes to settle into soft fabric surfaces, consider rolling up and removing carpets temporarily. It will also be easier to carry out wet cleaning without them.

If the wallet allows, it is possible technologically prepare apartment to the invasion of pollen:

• Since it is better not to open the windows at home and in the car, but to use the air conditioner, think about purchasing it in advance.
• If the air conditioner is already there, but it has not been for a long time cleanedcall the master.
• Look out for air cleaners that collect dust and pollen.
• Choose a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter.