Page 32 - FCC-N06-eng

Now that spring is with us after a rainy win-ter, it seems that all plants are just waiting to blossom and start to disseminate pollen with all their strength.

To fght allergy, the frst thing to consider is that it is much better to prevent it and to prepare ourselves before we reach the uncomfortable sneezing phase, experience diffculty in breathing, etc. rather than just taking antihistamines.

Allergy to pollen usually starts in infancy or in adolescence, and some of the symptoms could disappear (statistically) although this is not always the case. The tiny grains of pollen usually start to affect us in the early hours of the day when pollen is released from the plants, and in late afternoon, when the temperatures drop and pollen falls from the higher levels of the atmosphere to the

ground. Climate also plays a role. Pollen is at its lowest levels on rainy days due to the atmospheric clearing up, and at the highest levels on warm and windy days after it has rained.

Treatment

Treatment consists of preventing and avoi-ding contact with people allergic to pollen. Another method of prevention is to prepare our bodies by having injections so that we can get used to the allergens, even though

only 10% of people affected with allergies have vaccinations.

Once we reach the allergy phase and start to feel the symptoms, we should take an-tihistamines to reduce the symptoms, as well as following some practical advice that help us prevent congestion and aller-gic reactions to pollen.

Prevent and prepare ourselves before we reach the unconformable phase.

Dr. Joaquín Garde Fernández, head of FCC’s Medical Service.