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Allergy to grasses - one of the most common pollen allergies.
You have a grass allergy? Then you are one of the pollen allergy sufferers who suffer the most every year. Because grass pollen has a particularly long peak season, which in the worst case can even last the whole summer. Not all grasses trigger allergies, but the pollen from sweet grasses in particular cause the annoying hay fever symptoms.
What happens in the body during a grass allergy?
If the grass pollen from the air hits the mucous membranes on the nose and eyes, allergy sufferers experience an allergic reaction. The immune system classifies the actually quite harmless intruders as enemies and raises all the guns to fight them. Strictly speaking, it is a protein of the pollen to which the body reacts excessively. Histamine is then the weapon of choice with which the immune system seeks to protect itself. The messenger substance is increasingly released and triggers the allergy symptoms, such as
- running or stuffy nose
- frequent sneezing
- neck scratching
- throat soreness
- cough irritation
- breathlessness up to allergic asthma
- itching eyes
- reddened eyes
- watery eyes
- swelling of the eyes
- fatigue
- general malaise
- sleeping problems
- itching rash
Many suffer from grass allergy as children or teenagers. However, it can also hit adults out of the blue when the immune system is suddenly irritated by environmental influences and overreacts to harmless substances.
When do the grass pollen fly?
The first grass pollens begin to fly at the end of March to mid-April, depending on the weather, along with most other tree pollens. But while the latter are through until mid-June, the pollen count of grasses sometimes even lasts until mid-October. A true torment for all grass allergy sufferers, because they cannot enjoy the summer months by the annoying hay fever symptoms in full courses.
For allergy sufferers above all sweet grasses are dangerous. There are about 9,500 different species of these worldwide. In Europe, the main culprits for grass allergy are:
- Tanglegrass
- Ryegrass
- Ryegrass
- Ryegrass
- Ryegrass
- Ryegrass
- Cereals, especially rye
However, the pollen count also depends on the weather. If the sun shines often and the summer is dry, allergy sufferers suffer more than in a rainy summer. The peak season of grass pollen stretches from May to July and even into August. Then the concentration of pollen in the air is particularly high and there is hardly any escape from the allergens. Depending on which grass species you are allergic to, hay fever can even be acute for several months and cause severe impairment. Timely treatment of the symptoms makes the summer more bearable.
What helps against grass allergy?
For classic hay fever, there are nasal sprays and eye drops that reliably relieve symptoms within a few minutes.
For acute symptoms, the active ingredient azelastine, which is contained in Pollival® Nasal Spray and Pollival® Eye Drops, helps. It blocks the action of histamine, which is responsible for symptoms such as runny, itchy nose and burning, watery eyes. Azelastine belongs to the H1 antihistamines.
An alternative is Pollicrom® eye drops in combination with Pollicrom® nasal spray. The cromoglicic acid contained therein reduces the release of histamine and thus the occurrence of the complaints. Important when choosing the right hay fever remedy: Always choose products without preservatives. Because these can demonstrably trigger allergies - which you should urgently prevent as an allergy sufferer.
If nasal spray and eye drops alone are not enough to treat the symptoms locally, you can resort to antihistamines in the form of tablets. Ask your doctor for advice, because in particularly severe cases of grass allergy, drugs with cortisone-like active ingredients are administered for a short time. In the long term, hypo- or desensitization is an option, in which the immune system is slowly accustomed to the allergen over a period of usually three years until it no longer causes symptoms.
.What you should also do in case of grass allergy.
In any case, it is called during the peak season of grass pollen:
- Avoid the allergens as best you can. Unfortunately, this is enormously difficult with grass pollen, because grasses are everywhere. But do not lie down in the grass, avoid sports and other outdoor activities and spend the summer vacation rather at the sea.
- Also pay attention to cross-allergies: Those who are allergic to grass pollen often also show reactions to allergens that are quite similar to those of grasses. Watch out for possible symptoms when eating tomatoes, potatoes, peanuts, soy and flour.
- Wash the pollen out of your hair in the evening, which have settled during the day. Then you can sleep more refreshed at night.
- Wipe the floors regularly damp through and vacuum carpet and upholstery carefully.
- As hard as it is: Keep the windows closed as much as possible. Ventilate best only in the evening and at night extensively, as well as on rainy days.