E-News - issue 1/2009

Welcome to the premiere issue of our newsletter for patients - a quarterly publication!

Do you suffer from a running nose, frequent sneezing and itching? Then you will know how dreadful and burdening these symptoms are and will have many questions about how to be diagnosed and which therapies are helpful and effective.

Pollen season begins right now. The electronic newsletter for patients helps you to understand your suffering and provides information about seasonal allergic rhinitis in any respect.

Each newsletter centres on one special rhinitis topic. In this issue we discuss if global warming is responsible for the early appearance of alder pollen. Also, you will be provided with background information about alder pollen and ragweed history. One regularly published column is made up by your questions and answers such as "How do I have to use azelastine?" or "Why can I not get rid of house dust mites?"

The experts advice is a permanent column as well. In this issue, we talk about the prevention of allergies that are resulting from house dust mites. If you want to check how much you know about pollen, you are invited to answer the questions at the end of the newsletter. Moreover, you will find links that may help you to gather more information.

Have a good time reading the newsletter and good luck at answering the questions!

Your team from azelastinE-News

Global Warming results in allergies or a bad cold?

Itching and sneezing, a running or congested nose - spring is the most hated season of the year for allergic persons. They cannot enjoy life at all. Sometimes the nose is itching year-round. The suffering doesn't cease. Even in winter, a running nose is not always a cold. The pollen loading occurs the whole year in Europe. Allergies therefore are a common reason for running noses. Concerned people therefore pin their hopes to therapies which are easy to use, effective and give back quality of life. Topical antihistamines, such as azelastine are most recommended in these cases.

The new pollen season just began: hazelnut and alder are on their flight through Europe. Since years most of the European countries keep a calendar of pollen loading. How many of different kinds of pollen are measured at different times? Scientists are interested in these questions because they try to forecast the pollination and start therapy early.

The beginning and peak of pollen season comes earlier. Early blowers like alder, hazelnut, willow and elms in the average blossom out 20 days earlier than 30 years before. The pollination starts in the first days of February, sometimes earlier. But the season does not last longer as it is observed for some grass and some trees (birch, oak, beech, ash, plane, linden). In the Mediterranean region all patients suffering from allergic rhinitis have to calculate with a longer season.

A higher load with pollen (number of pollen per cubic metre air) is observed for plants, which blossom between June and September, such as grain, chenopod, sorrel and ribwort. Most concerned are regions like the alps, Austria, Switzerland and the east of France.

There is no evidence, but some scientists hold the global warming liable for the changing pollen seasons. Early spring is sooner every year. The temperatures are higher throughout the year. The vegetation changes worldwide. People who suffer from allergic rhinitis are left in uncertainty. They are unable to predict the pollen load at home and on a voyage.

Today, people cannot prepare themselves. Therefore, therapies with a fast onset of action just in time are needed. Azelastine, a modern H1-blocker type of topical antihistamine with a triple effect, is a first line treatment with fast relief of all symptoms. Azelastine acts anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory and mast cell stabilizing.

In contrast to cromoglicic acid and glucocorticoids azelastine needn't be administered days before and weeks after predicted allergic reaction. Azelastine does not need to be applied until symptoms occur. Due to its rapid response (10 to 12 minutes), the patient must only take the medication when the symptoms become apparent. Azelastine has a 12-hour duration of action. Therefore, the use of a puff of the nasal spray per nostril twice a day is adequate to effectively reduce the symptoms. The medication is well tolerated. Most patients confirm that azelastine definitively improves quality of life.

A cold or an allergy? That is the question!

Allergies change life completely. The first tour on a bike is spoiled. The nose itches and tickles. Sneezing and a congested nose follow. The eyes are tear-stained. It was to cold outside. But is it possible to get a cold so fast? The question is hard to answer. But what is true is that an allergic rhinitis has the same symptoms and occurs even in winter. Ask the physician if the running nose lasts longer than seven days. If it is an allergy it is not to be trifled with.

An allergic rhinitis gives an alluded person a hard time. The whole day the running nose teases its owner. Itching and frequent sneezing make the situation worse. A congested nose completes the suffering. Outside activities very often are impossible for allergic persons. No beer garden, no sports like walking, jogging and biking - with a pollen allergy you can take little pleasure in these things. Perhaps it sounds harmless. But people who have to bear this heavy burden, themselves feel restricted, inferior and cheated. An allergic rhinitis means a loss of quality of life.

But when do specialists speak of an allergic rhinitis? What is the difference between allergic rhinitis and a cold? This is often hard to differentiate. If the troubles last more than seven days, their causes are probably allergic. A physician is the only one to know.

If the complaints last the whole year or only seasonally, one should ask the physician for help. If pollens are the cause of the troubles, avoidance is the most effective way to manage the illness. That means to stay inside several weeks and close the windows. Allergic patients, who don't want to do so, should use an anti - allergic medication. Fast operating medications, such as the antihistamine azelastine, are able to relief of all symptoms in less than 15 minutes. Ask your physician or your pharmacist if you like to get more information.

Profile: Alder (Alnus)

Family: birch plants
Home: Central Europe (green, grey and black alder)

The alder is deciduous. The tree needs plenty of water but only a few nutrients. They are found close to streams and rivers. At their roots they have nodules. These nodules are important because the alder trees live in symbiosis with a fungus. That means the alder prepares the soil. But this is not the only leadership of the alder.

The alder trees are the first to send their pollen around the world. In this year, the first pollen was observed in January. The potency of alder to induce an allergic reaction is estimated to be more powerful than predicted for the hazelnut. The alder therefore is very potent and very early allergic pollen. Be careful and pay attention to pollen forecasts. Pollen of alder are able to spread widely. They don't know any borders.

From heaven to hell: Ambrosia - gods nutrition and super-allergen

Nectar and ambrosia - the Greek legends are full of stories about them because they did not only serve as a nutrient, but made gods immortal. Botanists think of the ragweed plant if they talk about ambrosia (Armbrosia artemisiifolia). This plant is not very divine. As soon as the ragweed, originating from the United States and Canada, blossoms out from July to October, many allergic persons suffer. And the risk to develop an allergy grows.

The ragweed plant is a member of the family Asteraceae. Ragweed is reproduced by seeds. The seeds are diffused by the wind and by birds. Because the growing international movement of goods and the increasing travelling abroad, ragweed feels more and more at home in Europe.

The plant prefers to grow in a lower altitude, up to 500 meters. It needs long lasting, warm summers and a lot of atmospheric moisture. The ragweed is to be found on vacant fields in developing areas, on industrial fallow, on mounds of earth, all along the road or the forest track, fields and parks.

Because the ragweed is pollinated by wind, a lot of pollen is necessary. The big amount of pollen is responsible for allergies. The allergic rhinitis, which can be mixed up with a simple cold easily, is one of the most problems ragweed pollen causes. In regions the ragweed is at home, up to 20 percent of all inhabitants suffer from allergic rhinitis. But there is a special risk with ambrosia: Allergic persons having a rhinitis caused by ragweed suffer twice as much from asthma than those having rhinitis caused by other pollen. Our advice: Avoid the contact to ragweed pollen!

Frequent requests of allergy-stressed fellows

Every year in April and in May I have a running and sometimes congested nose. My physician told me to change the medication. Instead of cromoglicinic acid, which I have to take regularly with the beginning of march, I should try another nasal spray with the agent azelastine. I can use it by demand, he told me. Can I be sure it is effective?

In contrast to cromoglicinic acid and glucocorticoids the antihistamine azelastine only has to be used when needed. Two puffs per nostril a day, in the morning and in the evening, are adequate to effectively reduce the symptoms. Azelastine has a fast onset of action: it takes up to 15 minutes to relief the patients from rhinitis symptoms. Relative to other antihistamines azelastine has an advantage: it works anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory and mast cell stabilizing. Therefore, azelastine is a modern and especially effective medication.
Get well soon! Your editorial staff

Since two years I suffer from an allergy against dust mites. I hoover my carpets and air the rooms every day. But I cannot get rid of these arachnids. Can you help me?

Dust mites are not the result of a lack of environmental health. They are an unavoidable co-inhabitant. In our houses they find optimum conditions: a room temperature of 25 up to 30 degree Celsius and a relative air humidity of 65 to 80 percent. The nutrition always is sufficient. Dust mites eat scurf and mold fungus. The everyday cleaning and airing is suitable to reduce dust mites and their allergic fece. Unfortunately you cannot avoid them. For further hints read our current experts advice.
Get well soon! Your editorial staff

Expert's advice - today:
How to combat against dust mite allergy

• Air the rooms 4-5 x a day for 5-10 minutes
• Don't overheat the rooms (bedrooms max. 20°Celsius)
• Avoid the following dust-traps
  • Open shelfs and racks
  • Carpets with hairy wool
  • Thick curtains
  • Too many pillows
  • Cuddly toys
  • Plants and dry flowers
• Remove the dust regularly and wipe plain floors every second day with water.
• Change carpets against plain floors and upholstery furniture against leather furniture.
• Choose anti-allergic material for mattresses and covers
• Clean the bed covers every week and air every day
• Buy new mattresses every eight years
• Don't use a moisturiser

Check your knowledge of allergies

1. Which kind of pollen is the first every year?

A. Alder
B. Linden

2. How fast does azelastine relief from all symptoms?

L. It takes 12 hours
Z. It takes 15 minutes

3. How long does a cold usually last?

A. It depends on the virus
E. It takes about seven days

4. Green alder, where is it at home?

L. Central Europe
S. USA and Canada

5. What is the anglo-american name of ambrosia?

A. Ragweed
I. Nectar

6. What is the special risk of ambrosia?

S. The risk of asthma
F. The risk of food allergy

7. Which part of the dust mite has allergic potency?

E. The head
T. The feces

8. How often should one change the mattresses?

O. Every second year
I. Every 8th year

9. What is the medical term for a running nose?

N. Rhinitis
M. Asteracea

10. How can you safeguard against pollen attack?

E. Stay at home, all windows closed
P. Use a nasal spray

If you have answered all questions, each letter in front of the right answer results in the following solution:

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