After a cold winter, the weather started to warm up again. With the warming of the weather, not only we humans have started to leave our homes. At the same time, nature woke up. Flowers began to bloom and trees began to turn green. The sun began to warm our body more effectively.
Although spring, the time when nature wakes up, is very beautiful, it certainly brings some problems with it. The awakening of nature means the spreading of pollen everywhere, the revival of the soil and the increase of life in every measure. Although this situation is very good for the world, it can cause some people to catch spring allergies. Today we will explain to you why we get spring allergies, what the risks are and how we should protect ourselves.
What is spring allergy that is seen every year in spring?
First of all, we have a question to answer: What is an allergy? Allergy is an overreaction of our body to normally harmless substances. Depending on the situation, this overreaction can be a single area or sometimes it can affect the whole body. Spring allergy is also a type of allergy caused by pollen circulating around as a result of life gushing in the spring period.
How do you know if you have a spring allergy?
As with many ailments, spring allergy also reveals some symptoms. Among these symptoms are the main symptoms such as nasal congestion and sneezing attacks, but when we look at the symptoms of spring allergy, we can encounter many different symptoms apart from these. Some of these symptoms are:
- Itchy nose and eyes
- Nasal congestion
- Sneezing fits
- Sleep disturbance
- Cough
- Headache
- Pressure in the sinuses
- Swelling around the eyes to a bluish color
- Watery discharge from the nose
- Decreased sense of smell and taste
- Itching in mouth areas such as palate and larynx
How can you protect yourself from spring allergies?
The best way to avoid spring allergies is to stay away from pollen as much as possible. First of all, you need to know which pollen you are allergic to. For this, you should have an allergy test. Afterwards, it will be a good alternative to not go out unless you have to, during the time between morning and afternoon when pollen is very common, as it will prevent you from being exposed to allergens. Even if you went out, immediately wash your face with plenty of water when you come home.
In this process, instead of breathing through your mouth, you should try to breathe through your nose, which filters the air in a way. If you have allergies in your eye area, you should wear sunglasses when leaving the house. In addition to washing your face when you come home from outside, it is useful to take off your clothes and wash them. If you do not have to during this period, you should not use the air conditioner. Let’s remind you that you should go to the doctor and take allergen drugs.
Why do we get spring allergies?
Although it may seem like a very simple thing, allergy is an extremely risky disease. This is why we must be careful. Our immune system normally fights against microbes such as bacteria and viruses that enter our body. This defense mechanism that protects us against harmful substances can sometimes start to behave differently. If our immune system starts to give exaggerated responses to substances that are not actually harmful, we start to have an allergic reaction. Foods such as pollen, animal hair, nuts, and substances such as mold are among the substances that most often cause allergic reactions. Our body actually fights against substances that do not harm us, and as a result, conditions such as redness, itching, spasm, tearing, sneezing begin to appear.
We said that nature wakes up in the spring period. As a result of this awakening, the surroundings begin to be filled with pollen, which is detached from the plants and flying in the air. In general, pollen emitted from trees and grass is the main cause of spring allergies. Pollens fly in the air, stick to our nose, eyes and throat, accumulate and cause an allergic reaction.
What are the treatment methods against spring allergy?
Spring allergy, also known as “Allergic rhinitis”, can be overcome with a long-term treatment under the supervision of a doctor. In the treatment, cortisone sprays and antiallergic drugs are used to protect from allergens. At this point, the patient should strengthen the immune system. Along with consuming plenty of water, foods rich in vitamins A, B, C and E should be consumed.
In this process, allergens should be avoided, alcohol and cigarettes should not be consumed. In some patients, immunotherapy, that is, vaccination, may be applied. Vaccinated patients usually consist of individuals who cannot be controlled with allergy medications. If spring allergy is not treated, it may recur and cause sinusitis, otitis and asthma.
Today we explained to you the causes of spring allergy, its symptoms and treatment methods. So, did you find this content useful? Do not forget to share your thoughts with us in the comments section.
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