Hay fever and bronchial asthma

During pregnancy the concentration of the so-called estrogen is increased. This hormone causes, among other things, the mucous membranes of the nose to swell and the nose to become congested. If an existing hay fever is now added, the symptoms become even worse.

Every 4-5th woman suffers from hay fever during pregnancy. At first, you should try to avoid the allergens if possible. Before going to bed, the hair should be washed to remove the pollen.

Since stress often increases the allergy symptoms, it should be reduced if possible. If the symptoms of the allergy are very pronounced and no household remedy can provide relief, certain anti-allergic medications may also be taken. However, this should be considered as a last measure. A detailed consultation with your gynecologist is advisable. The extent to which an anti-allergenic diet for pregnant women can prevent allergies in the unborn child is still being researched and is the subject of controversial discussion.

Causes

Hay fever is caused by pollen from plants that are not pollinated by insects but by wind – the latter is called “anemophilic” in botanical terminology. In spring, the pollen of alder, hazel and birch are the main causes; in summer, the pollen of grasses and rye are the main causes. With corresponding genetic disposition (medical: disposition) the mucous membranes are so sensitive (medical: “sensitized”) that only few, in extreme cases 5-50 individual pollen can cause the complaints typical for hay fever (see below).

It should be noted that a multiple of this amount is inhaled daily (more than 5,000 pollen), which makes the only form of treatment (medically: “causal therapy”), i.e. the avoidance of the triggering allergen difficult or impossible – a single ear of rye already contains more than 4 million pollen! Hay fever can also occur in autumn: Here, the pollen that causes it is herbs such as mugwort and plantain. Plantain is also known in medicine for another effect on the human organism: The leaves of this annual or perennial herb, which is native to Europe and elsewhere, have a haemostatic effect and promote wound healing. Some of them are even used as food in the form of salads or salad dressings.