【Health Lecture】How to get through the allergy season safely

In order to ensure the scientific effect of learning health knowledge in the "2024 China Senior Health Knowledge Competition", the organizer has collected various health science articles suitable for the elderly from various hospitals, and we will share them through the "Health Lecture" column. Today, Professor Duan Su, chief physician of the Department of Rhinal Allergy of Beijing Tongren Hospital affiliated to Capital Medical University, brought us: "How to spend the allergy season safely", welcome elderly friends to learn.

How can patients with allergic rhinitis prevent it during the allergy season?

People who are allergic to pollen should take good protection when going out, such as wearing masks, glasses or goggles. Wash the nose and face immediately after returning home to reduce the time pollen stays on the face and nose. Try to open windows as little as possible when the pollen concentration is high, because opening windows for ventilation may increase the amount of pollen indoors and increase the chance of allergy. When indoors, use air purifiers and air conditioners with filtering functions. If conditions permit, go on a seaside vacation during the peak pollen season, because the sea breeze can keep the pollen inland and return after the pollen season.

Serum-specific IgE testing (allergen testing) can help patients screen the types of allergens and help them protect themselves effectively. If you are clearly allergic to pollen, the relevant website will also report the spread of pollen. Generally speaking, depending on the type of plant, spring is mainly elm, poplar, and willow. The first peak of pollen concentration in Beijing is from mid-March to mid-April, and the second peak is from mid-April to mid-to-late May. Autumn is mainly Poaceae, Artemisia, Humulus, Ambrosia and Chenopodiaceae pollen, with a peak from August to mid-September.

Are there any other good tricks besides "hiding"? For allergy treatment, there are antihistamines, anti-leukotriene drugs, nasal spray hormones, mast cell stabilizers, nasal anticholinergic drugs and decongestants, etc., but which type is suitable for the patient should be determined by the doctor based on the patient's specific symptoms. Do not buy drugs online by yourself. Special groups such as children and the elderly also need individualized treatment. It is not recommended for breastfeeding mothers to use oral medications. Nasal cleaning and nasal spraying can be used to prevent them from entering the breast milk and affecting the baby's health.

Immunotherapy is the only causal treatment for allergic rhinitis. Currently, the standardized immunotherapy includes dust mites and mugwort, dust mites sublingual drops and subcutaneous injections, and mugwort sublingual drops. The purpose is to induce immune tolerance.

Advantages of immunotherapy:

1. Target the cause of the disease, reduce or even completely eliminate allergic symptoms;

2. Reduce or eliminate the use of anti-allergic drugs to reduce dependence and side effects;

3. After the treatment is completed, it can bring long-term therapeutic effects;

4. Treat the cause, improve allergic constitution and immune function, and reduce specific sensitivity;

5. Prevent the development of more serious allergic diseases;

6. Prevent new allergic reactions;

7. Reduce the total cost of drug treatment for allergic diseases and reduce the hospitalization rate. Currently, immunotherapy for dust mites has reached standardized treatment in clinical practice, with two methods: subcutaneous injection and sublingual administration.

The nasal cavity is the first gateway to the respiratory tract. It is divided into the nasal vestibule and the nasal cavity, most of which are mucous membranes. After a day of exposure to external pollutants, a lot of pollen, dust, and germs accumulate on the mucosa. Flushing the nasal cavity is actually flushing these attachments away. At the same time, it can also increase the nasal mucosa's own clearing function and maintain the normal physiological environment in the nasal cavity.

In the evening, you should shower, wash your hair, remove pollen, and clean your nasal cavity to reduce pollen deposition on the nasal mucosa. In addition to nasal irrigation, you should shower and wash your hair at night to remove pollen and reduce persistent symptoms at night.

How can patients with allergic rhinitis improve their defenses? "Three parts rely on medicine, seven parts rely on nursing." Appropriate and regular exercise and a healthy lifestyle can enhance the body's immunity, reduce the body's sensitivity to the external environment, reduce the occurrence of allergic symptoms, and alleviate the psychological distress associated with allergies. The severity of allergic patients varies. It is recommended that under the guidance of a doctor, choose an exercise program that suits you based on your physical condition to effectively improve your physical fitness. For patients with seasonal allergies, outdoor activities should be avoided as much as possible during the pollen allergy season, and indoor exercise can be chosen.

Here are some exercises suitable for people with allergies:

1. Jogging. Jogging is an exercise that maximizes your cardiopulmonary function. However, if you experience difficulty breathing or tachycardia during jogging, you should immediately slow down and walk slowly. If the situation worsens, you need to see a doctor as soon as possible.

2. Walking. Walking is a sport suitable for people of different ages.

3. Swimming is a sport suitable for all ages, especially for relieving asthma, because water puts pressure on the chest wall of asthma patients, making it easier to exhale. However, it should be noted that you should try to swim in water that feels comfortable, because swimming in too cold water can induce asthma.

4. Tai Chi, aerobics, cold-resistance exercises, etc. Exercises should be done in a controlled manner, step by step, and within one's ability.

It is particularly important to note that enhancing immunity can play a certain regulatory role, but it cannot cure allergies, so correct and regular drug control must be adhered to at the same time.

Author: Duan Su

Image from: Qiantu.com

About the Author

Duan Su is the chief physician of the Department of Rhinal Allergy, Beijing Tongren Hospital affiliated to Capital Medical University, an associate professor, and a master's supervisor. He studied under Professor Zhang Luo, an internationally renowned rhinology expert, the president of the International Society of Rhinitis and Allergy Science, and a "Changjiang Scholar" of the Ministry of Education. He is a member of the Allergy Science Branch of the China Medical Health International Exchange Promotion Association. He is a member of the Allergy Physician Branch of the Chinese Medical Doctor Association. He is a member of the Rhinology Committee of the Chinese Human Health Science and Technology Promotion Association. He is a member of the Popular Science Group of the Allergy Medicine Committee of the Chinese Research Hospital Association. He is a member and secretary of the Allergy Branch of the Beijing Medical Association. He is a director of the Allergy Physician Branch of the Beijing Medical Doctor Association. He is a visiting scholar at the Swiss Institute of Allergy and Asthma.

He has won the first prize of Huaxia Medical Science and Technology Award. He was selected as one of the 2nd Top Ten Outstanding Young People of the Allergy Branch of the Chinese Medical Association. He has presided over and participated in many National Natural Science Foundation projects. He has published more than 20 articles in Chinese and English such as JACI and participated in the editing of 4 monographs. He has performed more than 3,000 endoscopic sinus surgeries. He is currently committed to the clinical diagnosis and treatment and scientific research of chronic inflammatory diseases of the nose, such as allergic rhinitis, chronic rhinosinusitis, and nasal polyps.