With the arrival of spring, external agents also arrive that cause the symptoms of nasal congestion, tearing, sneezing, dry cough, red eyes, wheezing when breathing, among others.
According to data from the Spanish Society of Allergology and Clinical Immunology (SEAIC), allergic diseases due to pollens affect more than eight million people in our country, seven of whom are allergic to grasses followed in descending order by allergy to olive, arizonic, shadow plantain, salsola and parietaria. In the center of the peninsula, the most frequent pollens are grass, olive and arizonica.
Although, according to forecasts, this spring will not be particularly problematic for allergy sufferers – since the levels of grass or cypress pollen remain “surprisingly low”, the incidence of seasonal allergic rhinitis (hay fever) and the flu if it is wreaking havoc on the population.
Not all allergies require treatment. Some may disappear by avoiding contact with the allergen but, if the symptoms continue, it is also necessary to take some medication such as an antihistamine. Seeing a specialist is essential to be able to assess the severity of the symptoms and the need to prescribe treatment.
Antihistamines work by blocking a chemical that causes the symptom (histamine) and is released by the immune system during an allergic reaction. This ensures that histamine does not produce its effects on the skin (itching, hives or hives, etc.), or on the respiratory mucosa (tearing, nasal and ocular itching, sneezing, distillation, etc.). In addition, some antihistamines also have anti-inflammatory properties, inhibiting the release of histamine by mast cells and slowing, to a certain extent, the development of allergic reactions.
Within them there are two groups. The classic or first-generation drugs cause sedation and various anticholinergic effects, generally undesirable (dry mouth, blurred vision, constipation, urinary retention); They are often part of prescription and over-the-counter cold compounds, and most must be taken several times a day. The second group are the non-sedating or second-generation antihistamines, which are safer from the point of view of work and school performance and driving, have fewer interactions than classic drugs and, for the most part, are taken in a single daily dose, more comfortable and easier to comply with. The most common side effect is headache.
In which cases are antihistamines not indicated?
The problem is that most of the classic antihistamines are sold in pharmacies without a prescription and many people who have been using one type of medication for many years are reluctant to try another drug for fear that it will not work as well. However, specialists recommend avoiding this use and consulting your doctor to find out what alternatives exist.
On the other hand, the fact that they are available without a prescription may lead one to believe that anyone can take them, but this is not true. These drugs are contraindicated in people with glaucoma or respiratory problems (such as chronic bronchitis), high blood pressure, thyroid disease, or heart disease. Also, some antihistamines are incompatible with drugs that are metabolized in the liver (such as many anti-inflammatories).
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