Saturated Nurse
Updated Wednesday, February 7, 2024-01:13
Office All about contact lenses that promise to solve myopia while you sleep
Doubts Viruses and colds, some remedies for that annoying sore throat
Differences Neither Covid, nor flu... The other respiratory infections of this winter
Surveillance Antigen tests that detect all winter viruses
That at the end of January the mercury reaches twenty degrees Celsius in a good part of Spain is something worrying, although there are still those who deny climate change, but regardless of whether we consider it worrying or an opportunity to enjoy the terraces, what It is clear that he has confused the plant kingdom. There are many regions where we can see almond trees in bloom in the middle of winter and this
also alters pollination cycles
.
Suffering
allergic symptoms in the first week of February
is today a reality as a result of unusual heat and drought at this time.
High pollen levels in winter?
That's right and we can verify it thanks to the measurements carried out by the
Aerobiology committee of the Spanish Society of Allergology
, using a network of 23 stations spread throughout Spain.
A winter with mild, dry temperatures and advanced heat have ended up altering the pollination cycles of trees and shrubs.
To know more
Consulting room.
This is how tests work to check what we are allergic to
Editorial: SATURATED NURSE
This is how tests work to check what we are allergic to
Tips.
The dangers of holding in a sneeze: from eardrum damage to hemorrhages
Editorial: SATURATED NURSE
Editorial: ILLUSTRATION: LUIS PAREJO
The dangers of holding in a sneeze: from eardrum damage to hemorrhages
What type of pollen is there?
At high or very high levels, basically what we find are
Cupressaceae pollens
. These are trees and shrubs that we can find very frequently in parks, gardens and urbanizations; And talking about cupressaceae is talking about
cypress, arizonica, juniper, thuja or cedar
.
At medium levels we find mainly urticaceae pollens, that is, nettle and parietaria, which are the most relevant in Spain from the point of view of allergies.
In which provinces do we find the highest levels?
Especially
in the center of the peninsula
, but we also see points with high concentration in the north and south: Madrid, Salamanca, Ávila, Segovia, Toledo, Córdoba, Granada, Bilbao, Navarra... The number of affected provinces increases almost daily. in day.
But is it really worrying for allergy sufferers?
It is true that Cupressaceae
pollen
is the most frequent in the winter, but this year
its presence has been brought forward approximately one month
. The usual practice until now was for it to reach maximum levels of pollen grains per cubic meter during the month of March, beginning to subside at the beginning of April.
This year, in the first week of February, concentrations of up to 782 grains per cubic meter are being recorded when a figure of 135 would already be considered a high alert level.
Are there many people allergic to Cupressaceae in Spain?
Yes, the incidence has increased a lot in recent years. Currently, allergies to
this type of pollen affect between 20 and 40%
of the Spanish population depending on the region, a figure that is undoubtedly very high.
What symptoms does it cause?
Cupressaceae pollen acts on allergic people like any other pollen, producing allergic symptoms
at the ocular, nasal and respiratory levels
.
If you have
watery eyes, constant sneezing, and a runny nose
these days , it may not be a cold and it may be an allergy.
How do I know if it's a cold or allergy?
Because of the symptoms. If you have
general malaise
, thick mucus, a scratchy throat, and a cough, it is most likely
a cold
.
However, if the symptoms have started suddenly, your
eyes itch and water
, you sneeze frequently and the mucus is watery, it is most likely an
allergic condition
.
What can I do about this spike in allergies?
If you are allergic to pollen, there are measures that can help you without resorting to medications.
Using a mask
in spaces where there is a high concentration can help, but also avoiding hanging clothes in the open air, washing your hair before going to sleep to avoid depositing pollen on the pillow, or ventilating the home for the minimum amount of time necessary.
Air purifiers
that
became popular during the coronavirus pandemic as another household appliance can also be useful. And if we already have symptoms, we will resort to the
usual medication
that the allergist has indicated.