Spring allergies are no longer spring allergies. The first allergy symptoms appear with winter and persist practically until summer, “what used to be a one-month episode has become a problem that goes from January to July”, says Dr. Javier Subiza, Medical Director of Allergology at Top Doctors. As Dr. Subiza explains, the increase of ornamental trees in cities and the pollution produced by diesel vehicles have made pollen more aggressive. These changes in large cities are the key to the increase in allergies in Spain in recent years. “In highly polluted areas, pollen allergy is three times higher than in rural areas, where there are fewer pollens due to pollution,” the doctor explains.
In addition, there are issues that predispose a person to suffer from allergies and that can be maintained throughout the year. As Dr. Subiza explains, “for one to be allergic, a genetic predisposition is necessary, 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.
Allergy remedies
Allergic rhinitis is one of the most aggressive manifestations of pollen allergy, its symptoms are similar to those of a severe flu. To prevent and alleviate them, Dr. Subiza recommends to patients simple actions such as closing the windows, avoiding going to the countryside and going to the specialist to get vaccinated. “This is of crucial importance, as the effectiveness of the vaccination will depend to a large extent on it. Only with a vaccine containing the pollen or pollens that are truly relevant to the patient’s disease in question, will satisfactory results be obtained,” the doctor explains.