Behavior tips for allergy sufferers
Home
Most people prefer to shower in the morning – but those with allergies do better in the evening. And: let the others vacuum.
Tip: When you shower in the evening, the pollen is washed off your skin and hair, which otherwise ends up on your pillow and is inhaled. That’s why you shouldn’t take off your clothes in the bedroom or let your laundry dry outside. In the pollen season, it is best to air when it rains or in the early hours of the morning. Fans whirl up pollen lying on the ground again and again. Pollen filters in cars and pollen screens on windows can provide relief. Vacuum cleaning and lawn mowing should be left to others.
But be careful: while rain removes pollen from the air, heavy rain has the opposite effect. The pollen grains suffer a so-called osmotic shock. They absorb too much liquid, fall to the ground with the rain and then burst open. This releases the allergens. In heavy rain, you should also avoid airing.
During sports
Windy, sunny days are a torment for hay fever sufferers. However, you don’t have to give up exercise outside.
Tip: After a rain shower, the air is clean; on windless days less pollen fly. Sunglasses with side protection keep pollen away from your eyes and protect the already irritated mucous membrane. Be careful with outdoor sports activities: under great stress, the body reacts more severely than usual. People who are taking medication can also do sports outside. But be careful: Take your medication at least one hour before exercising. When jogging and cycling you are exposed to the greatest pollen load.
During the meal
If a hay fever patient eats an apple in December and then feels itchy lips, throat or palate, birch pollen can be to blame.
Tip: Up to two-thirds of all hay fever patients tend to have so-called cross-allergies, i.e. they also react sensitively to certain foods whose proteins have similar structures. A doctor can clarify whether a cross allergy exists. The following combinations are particularly common: birch pollen with hazelnut, walnut, almond, apple, cherry, peach, kiwi, carrot or celery; Grass pollen with melon, peanut or tomato. Honey can also cause problems because it contains pollen. Many foods only cause symptoms when raw, but not when cooked or heated. An allergic reaction when eating fruit can often be prevented by peeling or grating it beforehand.
medication
Antihistamines block the binding sites in the body for the inflammatory substance histamine, which is released in allergy sufferers and causes the symptoms.
Tip: Many patients only take the medication when they have symptoms. But the effect is better if you take the tablets preventively. It is best to start taking it just before the pollen season. The usual preparations are available in small packs (sufficient for 10 to 14 days) without a prescription, in larger quantities only with a prescription. Then the costs are covered by the health insurance company. If the medication is not sufficient, a medical examination for possible desensitization (see main text) is indicated. In milder cases, general over-the-counter antiallergic preparations such as nasal sprays and eye drops are sufficient. Rinsing your nose with a sea salt solution can also help.
On holiday
So that the holidays are really relaxing, allergy sufferers should choose the time of their holidays and find out about the pollen load at the travel destination.
Tip: Then travel when the most allergy-causing pollen is flying at home. And to places where this is less the case: on islands, by the sea or in the mountains. As a rule of thumb, above 2000 meters the air is almost pollen-free. However, topography and vegetation also play an important role. Studies have shown that the pollen load on Alp Grüm (on the Bernina Pass, at 2100 meters) is significantly higher than in Davos, which is 500 meters lower. The reason: Davos has little wind and relatively sparse flora. Hay fever patients should find out beforehand about the pollen levels in holiday destinations.
Home
Most people prefer to shower in the morning – but those with allergies do better in the evening. And: let the others vacuum.
Tip: When you shower in the evening, the pollen is washed off your skin and hair, which otherwise ends up on your pillow and is inhaled. That’s why you shouldn’t take off your clothes in the bedroom or let your laundry dry outside. In the pollen season, it is best to air when it rains or in the early hours of the morning. Fans whirl up pollen lying on the ground again and again. Pollen filters in cars and pollen screens on windows can provide relief. Vacuum cleaning and lawn mowing should be left to others.
But be careful: while rain removes pollen from the air, heavy rain has the opposite effect. The pollen grains suffer a so-called osmotic shock. They absorb too much liquid, fall to the ground with the rain and then burst open. This releases the allergens. In heavy rain, you should also avoid airing.
During sports
Windy, sunny days are a torment for hay fever sufferers. However, you don’t have to give up exercise outside.
Tip: After a rain shower, the air is clean; on windless days less pollen fly. Sunglasses with side protection keep pollen away from your eyes and protect the already irritated mucous membrane. Be careful with outdoor sports activities: under great stress, the body reacts more severely than usual. People who are taking medication can also do sports outside. But be careful: Take your medication at least one hour before exercising. When jogging and cycling you are exposed to the greatest pollen load.
During the meal
If a hay fever patient eats an apple in December and then feels itchy lips, throat or palate, birch pollen can be to blame.
Tip: Up to two-thirds of all hay fever patients tend to have so-called cross-allergies, i.e. they also react sensitively to certain foods whose proteins have similar structures. A doctor can clarify whether a cross allergy exists. The following combinations are particularly common: birch pollen with hazelnut, walnut, almond, apple, cherry, peach, kiwi, carrot or celery; Grass pollen with melon, peanut or tomato. Honey can also cause problems because it contains pollen. Many foods only cause symptoms when raw, but not when cooked or heated. An allergic reaction when eating fruit can often be prevented by peeling or grating it beforehand.
medication
Antihistamines block the binding sites in the body for the inflammatory substance histamine, which is released in allergy sufferers and causes the symptoms.
Tip: Many patients only take the medication when they have symptoms. But the effect is better if you take the tablets preventively. It is best to start taking it just before the pollen season. The usual preparations are available in small packs (sufficient for 10 to 14 days) without a prescription, in larger quantities only with a prescription. Then the costs are covered by the health insurance company. If the medication is not sufficient, a medical examination for possible desensitization (see main text) is indicated. In milder cases, general over-the-counter antiallergic preparations such as nasal sprays and eye drops are sufficient. Rinsing your nose with a sea salt solution can also help.
On holiday
So that the holidays are really relaxing, allergy sufferers should choose the time of their holidays and find out about the pollen load at the travel destination.
Tip: Then travel when the most allergy-causing pollen is flying at home. And to places where this is less the case: on islands, by the sea or in the mountains. As a rule of thumb, above 2000 meters the air is almost pollen-free. However, topography and vegetation also play an important role. Studies have shown that the pollen load on Alp Grüm (on the Bernina Pass, at 2100 meters) is significantly higher than in Davos, which is 500 meters lower. The reason: Davos has little wind and relatively sparse flora. Hay fever patients should find out beforehand about the pollen levels in holiday destinations.