THE FLORIST WHO IS ALLERGIC TO POLLEN
Every time she comes to the pharmacy, she says jokingly that her allergy to pollen did not stop her from becoming the florist she always dreamt to become.
As she likes to tell over and over again, she was almost born among the baskets and the buckets full of flowers, and also the stories of how she was happy going to the markets, hand in hand with her mother.
Much to her sorrow, after a few years, when she started primary school, they swapped the agitation of the markets by a market stall.
No need to say that there are no sequence of sneezes (because there aren’t two without a third one), running nose, itchy palate, and throat irritations that would ever separate her from her flowers.
“Because you know, doctor, when I’m in a bad mood, they listen to me.” – She says holding between her fingers the small Santa Theresa medal hanging from her chest on a gold chain. – “You know that flowers give color to black and white days!”
When pollen enters the respiratory tract of someone who is allergic, the immunity system answers by producing a molecule named histamine, that can trigger the appearance of signs and symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as cough, wheezing, sneezes, watering eyes, running and blocked nose, itchy eyes and nose, irritated throat, redness and itchy skin.
In the impossibility of totally avoiding pollen exposure, Mrs. Isaura takes an oral antihistamine, to relieve the symptoms (there are many, check with your doctor which is the best for your case!). In more severe situations, after washing nasal cavities with a saline solution, apply an antiallergenic nose spray to diminish nasal blockage, running nose and sneezes.
It is advisable a daily eye wash with a saline solution at least twice a day, as well as washing your teeth, as this minimizes allergenic manifestations. .
Some prevention advice was given to Mrs. Isaura:
- Change clothes when getting home
- Shower and wash the hair before going to bed to avoid pollen settling on the bed and pillow
- Keep windows and doors closed
- Wear dark glasses
Dry and windy days have a higher quantity of pollen during the day, so it’s important to be informed about the type and amount of pollen in the air each day and each region of the country.
In case symptoms get worse, you must see your doctor or allergist.
