More and more people seem to dread the arrival of spring and summer each year, fearing that the appearance of flowers and blossoms will herald a running nose and itchy eyes.
For some newcomers in Germany, learning the word 'Heuschnupfen' comes with experiencing it at a whole new level, or even for the first time.
For those who suffer through the spring season, here's a look at what accounts for the rise in cases seen in recent years, as well as some of the best things you can do to reduce your suffering.
Why are allergy cases on the rise?
According to a press release from European Centre for Allergy Research Foundation, the pollen season really does last longer each year: “Climate change means that pollen from grasses and herbaceous plants is flying around longer into the autumn, while trees are starting to bloom earlier in the year."
Certain plants and trees, such as ragweed and birch (which bear an outsized responsibility for producing large quantities of allergenic pollen), are growing faster than ever before and producing even greater quantities of pollen as a result of global warming.
Lifestyle changes in Germany are also a factor
In common with much of the developed world, population density continues to increase in major cities in Germany – and numerous studies have shown that a higher proportion of people in cities suffer from seasonal allergies, compared with people who live in the countryside.
Cities tend to be a few degrees warmer than the surrounding rural areas, which encourages plants to produce even more pollen. Common urban pollutants such as exhaust fumes can also make pollen grains more allergenic, according to a study in The Scientific World Journal.
In addition, many cities in Germany have followed a policy of planting male-only trees, in order to protect streets (and the paintwork of cars) from the seeds, fruits or pods produced by female trees. However, the relatively high number of male, pollen producing trees, and the relative absence of female, pollen receiving trees, amounts to vast quantities of surplus pollen filling the air in our cities, and therefore also our eyes, noses and lungs.
Other changes in the way we live may also have an impact on our susceptibility to allergies. The move towards smaller family sizes and improved sanitation means that infants are typically exposed to fewer infectious diseases.
Some studies suggest that these infections – previously acquired from older siblings in larger families – play a part in conferring protection against allergies.
Before German reunification, for example, allergy rates were significantly lower in the GDR (where larger households were more common) than they were in West Germany. Within a decade of reunification, as lifestyles began to align across the former border, so did the rates of hay fever. Â
How to avoid giving in to seasonal allergies
1. Don’t suffer unnecessarily. Find the antihistamine which works for you and keep it close. The go-to, over the counter antihistamine in Germany is Cetirizine (around €8 for 100 pills), but bear in mind that it makes some people sleepy. You may want to take your daily dose before going to bed.
A piece of advice: finding the right hay fever medication for you can be a hit and miss process. Some medications won't start working until a few days after you start taking them and others won't work at all.
Visit your nearest chemist and ask for Heuschnupfentabletten. They will be able to advise you on alternatives including Loratadin and Levocetirizine, or on nasal sprays which can provide more immediate relief.
READ ALSO: German word of the day: Heuschnupfen
2. Try and get into the habit of washing your hands and face when you come home to remove pollen. If you have time, take a shower and wash your hair. Turn your pillow over at night for the same reason, and try to change your bedding more frequently.
To reduce the number of allergens in your environment, vacuum your floors and regularly wipe down surfaces with a damp cloth.
When the time comes to replace your pillows, blankets and mattresses, go hypoallergenic.
3. Ask your doctor to refer you for an allergy test. If you can find out exactly what’s causing the allergic reaction, you have a much better chance of avoiding it.
You can also play detective on your own, by using this pollen risk index tool from the German weather service to find out what types of pollen are in the air while you’re having a reaction.Â
4. Avoid filling your home, garden or balcony with plants which make your symptoms worse.
Sunflowers, daisies and chrysanthemums are all related to ragweed – an invasive species in Germany and one of the primary causes of hay fever in the country.
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