Multi-seasonal allergies
Pollen allergy has changed from being seasonal to multi-seasonal. In addition to being very present in spring, it appears during winter and summer, and what used to be a one-month episode has become a problem that goes from January to July.
The factors that have contributed to this multi-seasonality are the increase of ornamental trees (such as banana trees, cypresses…) and dieselization (the increasingly common use of diesel vehicles). These changes, so present in large cities, are the key to the increase in allergies in Spain in recent years. When diesel fumes come into contact with pollen proteins, they make them even more virulent. Pollen affects people’s airways, sensitizing them and making them more prone to allergies. For this reason in large cities, being more polluted, there is a prevalence of sensitization to different types of pollen, in highly polluted areas pollen allergy is three times higher than in rural areas where there are fewer pollens due to pollution.
Allergies varying according to geographical area
The type of pollen allergy varies according to the geographical area of Spain where we are. While in the north, the most important allergies are allergies to grasses during the months of March, June and July, in the central areas of Spain, allergies to cypress and banana trees predominate. On the other hand, in the south, olive trees are the most affected.
For this reason and in order to avoid risks, it is very important for people allergic to pollen to have prior knowledge of the area when traveling. At www.polenes.com, the website of the Spanish Allergy Society, you can find the type of pollen that affects each area.
Predisposition to allergies
A genetic predisposition is necessary for one to be allergic, which is greater if both members of the family (father and mother) are allergic. If they are also allergic to some type of pollen, the probability increases. Another of the factors that most influences the predisposition to suffer allergies is smoking during pregnancy.
Pollution from oil combustion also has a negative effect on the quality of life. There was a change in the type of pollution, which increased four times more the sensitization of citizens to pollen allergies. This occurred when there was a switch from coal as a source (producing chronic bronchitis) to oil, which led to this notable increase in allergy cases.
Allergic rhinitis, one of the most violent manifestations of allergic rhinitis
Allergic rhinitis is one of the most aggressive manifestations of pollen allergy. The symptoms are like those of a severe flu (nasal congestion, catarrh, etc.) and last up to four months. The alteration it can cause is considered worse than a myocardial infarction in terms of quality of life.
Recommendations and treatments to prevent and alleviate allergies
To prevent allergic rhinitis, among others, there are three types of treatments:
1. Avoidance: As far as possible, the patient should move to the coast or to pollution-free areas so as not to breathe such polluted air.
Symptomatic Treatments: Consists of the administration of corticosteroids or similar to improve and calm the symptoms of the allergic patient.
Curative Treatments: This type of treatment is known as “allergy vaccines”. These permanently modify the patient’s immune system, and the degree of allergy can be reduced by 20% to 80%.
In addition to the existing treatments for allergies, there is practical advice to prevent the risks among allergic people:
– Close windows, avoid the countryside, go near the sea,… Whenever necessary, pollen avoidance measures should be applied.
– Know when to start and end symptomatic treatment.
– Go to the specialist because he/she will know exactly what pollens are present in the atmosphere during the period in which the patient presents symptoms. This fact is of crucial importance, since the effectiveness of the vaccination will depend to a great extent on it. Only with a vaccine containing the pollen(s) that are truly relevant to the patient’s disease will the results be satisfactory.
– Plan the trips to be made, consulting the type of pollen in the place of destination. For example, a person from Madrid with a moderate seasonal bronchial asthma due to allergy to olive tree pollen could visit Jaén without any problem during the Easter vacations, but on the contrary, it would be dangerous to do so in May or June.