Pollen allergy and its protection

  Nowadays, allergic diseases are on the rise year by year, and there are many kinds of substances that cause allergies, one of which is pollen. In the medical field, allergic diseases caused by plant pollen are also called hay fever. In our folklore, there is a diagnosis of “heat typhoid”, which means that in the spring and summer, when the weather is hot, the patient may suddenly develop respiratory symptoms, such as frequent sneezing, clear water-like nasal discharge, coughing and wheezing. This is an early observation and description of pollen allergy in China.  During the flowering season, for patients with very strong allergic reactions, only a small amount of pollen drifting in the air can make them allergic; while for patients with weaker allergic reactions, allergy can only occur when the pollen concentration in the air reaches a certain high concentration.  During the pollen season, the higher the temperature and the stronger the light, the more favorable the maturation and formation of plant pollen. Usually, dry, warm and sunny weather can cause high pollen concentrations. Clouds and rain will reduce pollen concentrations because on rainy days, the air is humid and tiny pollen particles tend to settle or be washed away by rain, and the amount of pollen in the air is then greatly reduced. Wind has an even greater effect on pollen concentration. Wind is conducive to the spread of pollen and dissipation, when there is a certain wind speed, pollen can be dispersed into the air with the role of wind, so that pollen concentration increases, but when the wind speed is very large, the wind on the role of pollen dissipation, when the pollen concentration will be reduced. According to sampling observations, pollen can be transported to several hundred kilometers to more than one thousand kilometers in high winds. It can be seen that hay fever is related to meteorological conditions, therefore, it is very important for hay fever patients to understand the meteorological conditions that affect the pattern of pollen dispersal in the air; at present, many provincial and municipal meteorological departments have carried out pollen monitoring and forecasting to provide information on pollen dispersal, which is of great importance to hay fever allergy patients for the prevention and treatment of pollen allergy.  For those who are allergic to pollen, do not go to parks or fields with many trees and plants during the peak pollen season; minimize going out and stay indoors; close windows and doors, especially in hot and dry or windy weather, open windows for ventilation optional in the early morning or after rain, or hang wet curtains when opening windows; strengthen personal protection and wear a mask when going out; do not dry clothes and bedding outdoors; better if you can temporarily avoid living elsewhere. Since the time of pollen dispersion is fixed every year, you can start nasal spray of budesonide or fluticasone nasal spray about 10 days in advance, or take oral antihistamines such as cetirizine and loratadine when the attack occurs.