Useful Information - Medisana Medinose Plus Instrucciones De Manejo

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2 Useful Information

2.1
Allergies – Why
are they becoming
more frequent?
2.2
Hay fever –
A trifling
complaint?
2.3
Hay fever –
How it arises
2.4
What can help
to combat this
over-reaction?
12
Illnesses caused by allergies such as hay fever and allergic reactions to house
dust and animal hair have almost doubled in the last few years. It is not yet
medically clear why more and more people are suffering from allergic symp-
toms. Exaggerated hygiene in childhood may hamper the development of the
immune system and favour allergies. It is certain, however, that along with
heredity increased environmental pollution plays a significant role in the deve-
lopment of allergies.
Hay fever, otherwise known as allergic rhinitis, is not actually a fever and does
not necessarily have anything to do with hay. It is not caused by a virus but by
pollen. Hay fever should always be taken seriously. The allergy can spread to
the lower respiratory passages, leading to chronic disorders and finally to asth-
ma. Your doctor can provide you with a diagnosis and the correct individual
advice for you.
It is our immune system's job to fend off and render harmless any contami-
nants that invade our bodies. In the case of an allergy, the immune system
over-reacts to these contaminants. Even the tiniest amounts of allergens, such
as flower pollen for example, are enough to induce the typical hay fever symp-
toms:
- Agonising desire to sneeze combined with violent sneezing attacks,
- Swollen, itchy nasal mucosa,
- Itchy, watery, swollen eyes.
The reason for this is an over-reaction of our defence mechanism. As soon as
the flower pollen touches the mucous membranes of the nose and eyes, the
body mobilises all its defences. Too many antibodies are created. These sit on
the so-called mast cells. The mast cells in turn release Messenger substances
(primarily histamine) that lead to the typical miseries of hay fever.
Of course, the easiest way of preventing an allergy is to consistently avoid all
substances that trigger allergies. However, in practice this is hardly possible as
one can come across allergens not only outside but also at home (due to house
dust) or in foodstuffs.
In addition to drug treatment using antihistamines and cortisone, inoculations
and acupuncture, phototherapy is also used successfully. In this case red light
rays of one wavelength (approx. 660 nm) are generated by special light-
emitting diodes to reduce or to eliminate the allergic symptoms and the over-
sensitivity.