Spring is upon us and with it also the spring allergies, a problem that afflicts many people more every year. It's not just a common ailment that can be annoying, but for some it's a real one sometimes even serious problem.
Extremely allergic people are faced with serious respiratory problems to be resolved with the intervention of inhalers and drugs. Although allergies are a disease that has afflicted people for some time, it still seems difficult to be able to find a definitive cure and this leads people to have to resist every year and request the help of drugs that can simply ease the symptoms.
But research is not stopping and for this reason we have some interesting news today on spring allergies and how to fight them.
What are spring allergies
A respiratory, food, or contact allergy may develop over the course of a lifetime. Among these, however, the Spring allergies are among the most common and for this reason they are also those subjected to the most research and study.
All those that show up this season and are therefore identified as spring allergies closely related to flowering and pollen. In fact, hay, pollen, grass and flower allergies fall into the category.
It is mainly a abnormal reaction of the immune system to the pollen particles that are released into the air during this period, and leads to symptoms such as:
- Sneezing, runny nose and nasal congestion.
- Itchy nose, eyes and throat.
- Watery eyes.
- Dry cough.
- Feeling of pressure or pain in the ears.
- Fatigue
- Headache
In severe cases it can eventually lead to asthma attacks, breathing difficulties e anaphylactic shock.
The cause, as we have said, is linked to an abnormal response of the immune system, which sees a danger in these particles, as if they were a virus or a bacterium, and for this it triggers a whole series of symptoms.
Traditional methods to reduce symptoms
Traditional methods are usually related to symptom reduction or theirs prevention. You can make use of both natural methods, "grandmother's" methods, and specific drugs.
Among the latter we mainly have the antihistaminesdrugs that inhibit the action ofhistamine, a substance released by the immune system during an allergic reaction and which is the main cause of many of the symptoms, such as rhinitis.
Another drug widely used during the most severe allergic reactions is thebronchodilator inhaler, useful in clearing the airways, dilating the bronchial tubes and helping the flow of air into the lungs.
For some types of allergies it is possible to follow a immunotherapy (commonly called a vaccine, although it is not really a vaccine in the true sense) which provides a gradual desensitization of the immune system by ingesting a small amount of the allergen for a period of time.
The amount of allergen is such that it does not trigger symptoms, but obliges the coexistence between allergens and the immune system: in this way, after a while, the latter stops recognizing them as a threat.
Finally, some people find relief with some too natural methods For example:
- Blackcurrant.
- Ginger, basil and some types of spices.
- Apples and apple cider vinegar.
- Green tea
- Foods that contain vitamin C.
- Carrots.
- Grape.
- Foods rich in omega 3.
- Gluten-free cereals.
- Honey and bee nectar.
The latest research on treatments
Research is being carried out in the study of allergies and how to fight them and today it seems that the attention is directed to three specific methods, still under development and study.
Monoclonal antibodies
Monoclonal antibodies are protein produced in a laboratory that appear to be able to block the action of histamine, a chemical substance that causes many of the allergy symptoms.
Compared to common antihistamines, these proteins could be used formore targeted action and therefore be more effective.
Modified allergens
Modified allergens are allergenic proteins which have been precisely modified in the laboratory in order to reduce their ability to cause symptoms and adverse reactions, but maintaining their ability to stimulate the immune system.
Exposure to these allergens would the same effect as current vaccines, or the ability to desensitize the body to the allergen, but also in this case it would be a method considered more effective and with fewer adverse reactions.
Stem cell treatment
Le stamina cells they are still "neutral" cells, which have no specialization and can mutate into any other type of cell in the body.
Scholars are thinking of using them for repair the tissues of the respiratory tract, damaged by spring allergic reactions: in this way they would reduce inflammation and help the tissue to restore its function.
Conclusions
Spring allergies are a disorder that is affecting more and more people and therefore many suffer from it. There are several traditional methods, which mainly aim at reducing symptoms, by taking antihistamines or by natural methods.
However, research is going on and currently there are mainly three fields being studied for the treatment of these disorders: the use of stem cells, monoclonal antibodies and modified allergens.
