“I'm allergic to strawberries and…math!” Allergies have become such an integral part of our lives that the word has entered everyday language.
A beautiful June day in the countryside isn't a pleasant experience for everyone. Sneezing fits, runny noses, and nasal congestion are the fate of those sensitive to pollen and suffer from hay fever every year. For allergy sufferers, spending a week of vacation with relatives, complete with feather pillows and pets, can be quite challenging.
Allergies are one of the most common problems today. Is it possible to minimize the risk?
An allergy is an individual protective reaction of the body to substances that are generally harmless. Allergens can vary from person to person and change throughout life. However, certain substances—the most common allergen triggers—are the most likely to cause adverse reactions: pollen, dust, pets, spinach, and aspirin.
The same allergens can cause different reactions in different people: runny nose, asthma, hay fever, hives, rapid heartbeat, swelling of the larynx.
Once an allergy has already manifested, doctors try to alleviate the person's condition by reducing runny nose, itching, and other symptoms. But there is another treatment option: gradually increasing doses of allergens are injected subcutaneously to “teach” the body to tolerate and adapt to these foreign substances.
Everyone knows that our children's health depends on how we care for them. For some reason, it's believed that if you didn't have allergies as a child, you won't have them. This is actually a myth. You can live 20 years and then discover you're allergic to ragweed. There's nothing surprising about this. That's just how our bodies work. Therefore, dear mothers-to-be, remember that certain restrictions during pregnancy are a necessary measure to preserve your children's health. However, this won't eliminate your predisposition to this disease.
Between 15 and 30 percent of the world's population suffers from allergies. A recent study suggests that the environment is to blame.
Allergies are likely the price we pay for modern comfort. Well-heated, air-tight apartments with no airflow are the perfect breeding ground for microscopic dust mites, which feed on our skin. The waste products of these mites trigger allergic reactions. The diversity of foods also increases the number of potential allergens. A 19th-century peasant might well have been allergic to mangoes or tangerines, but he never suffered from them. After all, these exotic fruits never made it onto his plate. Therefore, it's important to carefully consider your diet, especially if you know exactly what you can and cannot eat.
Environmental pollution also triggers allergies. Indeed, car exhaust fumes have a destructive effect on the mucous membranes of the nose and bronchi, increasing their sensitivity to allergens. For example, hay fever was discovered in England in 1810, in Germany in 1830, and in France in 1860. This means that allergies follow industrial development.
There's no universal cure for it, only temporary relief. But much depends on us. If you want to be healthy, be healthy!