This Monday spring has begun and with it comes an explosion of colors and aromas in nature that can also be seen in the gardens of our cities. However, of course, with this flowering of plants and trees, the symptoms of the dreaded allergies begin. According to the Spanish Society of Allergology and Clinical Immunology (SACK), nearly eight million Spaniards are allergic to pollen, seven of whom are allergic to grasses, those allergic to olive, arizónica, plantain, salsola and parietaria.
Allergic rhinitis is the most frequent allergy, which causes sneezing, discharge, itching and nasal congestion. But there are also episodes of conjunctivitis associated with different types of pollen allergies, as well as cases of sore throat and dry cough, which can be associated with asthma. Today we are going to explain in this blog post why many allergic people feel that their symptoms worsen at night.
On many occasions, allergy symptoms do not appear while we are walking through the park or a boulevard in our city, but rather they become noticeable several hours later, when we are at home and, in theory, we are not so exposed to pollens from the air. abroad. It has an explanation. Allergic diseases are antibody-mediated hypersensitivity reactions. The pollen particles bind to the antibodies attached to the cells of the nasal mucosa and bronchial tubes, which in some cases are activated and release chemical agents that cause the allergy symptoms, but in others, this reaction occurs hours following contact with allergens. Hence, sometimes, we perceive allergy symptoms with more intensity a few hours following having been exposed to them.
In addition, the production of some hormones, such as cortisol, are linked to the light cycle (circadian rhythms). The circadian rhythm of cortisol has maximum secretion in the early morning hours (dawn) and minimum around 11 pm. This explains why its powerful anti-inflammatory effect does not help to mitigate the effects of allergies at night.
Tips to mitigate the effects of allergies
Dr. Carmen Mogío, head of the Allergology Service at the Ribera Povisa Hospital, assures that “immunotherapy or vaccination with allergens gives very good results in those cases of allergy to pollen in which it is indicated.” He also explains that spring allergies usually appear around 8 or 9 years of age, although it is not uncommon for them to appear between 20 and 40. In addition, he explains that it can disappear in older people, as a result of the weakening of the system immune.
In addition, he explains that the use of the mask in environments in which an allergic person knows that the presence of pollen can be particularly pronounced is highly recommended. Furthermore, he advises:
- Use of sunglasses
- Avoid going out on windy days or going out with a mask
- In the running car, roll up the windows
- At home, do not ventilate too much and avoid the first and last thing in the morning
- Wash fresh fruit and vegetables to remove pollen settled on the skin or surface
Dr. Mónica Antón, head of the Allergology Service of the Hospital Universitario del Vinalopoadds, for his part:
- Avoid going out into the countryside, mowing the grass, sweeping sidewalks or gardens, or doing so with a mask.
- Do not dry clothes in the hours of greatest pollination because the pollen is trapped in the clothes and passes to allergy sufferers
- Avoid contact with other polluting substances such as tobacco smoke.
- Be informed of pollination levels in the area where you live and also consult these levels when you travel.
How pollution and climate change affect allergy sufferers
Dr. Laura Vázquez Fuertes, head of the Allergology Service of the University Hospital of Torrejón, which is also managed by the Ribera health group, also explains that the environmental factors that most affect people with allergies are pollution (diesel particles) and climate change. “The symptoms in patients who live in populations near highways and large cities are aggravated because, despite the fact that pollen concentrations there are lower than in rural areas, these are more aggressive due to the production of stress proteins as a defense once morest polluting particles in the air.
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