E-News - issue 2/2009

Dear Reader,

Now, after a long and harsh winter plants burgeon and make up for lost time - it's high time for the next newsletter edition dealing with rhinitis!

In this issue you can read all about the approaching summer season: your well-earned holidays and the sunny weather which is a challenge for allergy patients. So, where can allergic persons travel without being troubled by pollen too much? If you are allergic, what do you have to keep in mind whilst travelling?
The weather has a great influence on allergy patients' lives. What is the best time to air the rooms? How can allergic persons get through dry and warm weather?

In addition, you can gather information about grasses, a plant family spread by human beings themselves.

Hay fever - a runny nose which is actually not triggered by hay and does not induce fever - is another topic of this issue. Once again, there are two questions and answers which may be very interesting for you. Moreover there is an Expert's advice on how you can outsmart grass pollen.

Have fun reading!

Your Azelastine-News team

With pollen allergies on tour

"If somebody travels around, he can tell stories"- there is a good deal of truth in this quotation of the famous German poet Matthias Claudius written down in his "Urians travels around the world" in the 18th century. But travelling is exciting and diverse only for some people. For allergy sufferers, travelling sometimes means a challenge and a burden. Destination, way and time of travelling, even lodging - everything has to be planned very carefully. Not to be forgotten: a sufficient amount of medication!!

At home, most allergy patients arranged their life pretty well. Their homes and surrounding is as pollen free as possible. As soon as the air is full of pollen, allergy sufferers stay at home - a helpful medication always on their side. But when allergic people travel, many problems arise. Densely wooden areas as well as low mountain range very often are a taboo. "Whereto?" is a very important question.

People suffering from pollen and dust mites should consider high alp regions, for example. Above 1.500 metres the loading of the air with pollen and mites is very low. The grasses only bloom for two weeks. With the beginning of July there is no pollen anymore. In addition, small islands which are not to near to the coast are very well tolerated by allergy sufferers. There is not much pollen originating from the island plants. Mostly the wind is blowing, and the pollen is carried over the sea. The Seashore is very often very well suitable for allergy sufferers. If the wind is blowing from the sea, the air is nearly pollen free.

The best time to travel depends on the destination. In the south of Europe plants bloom very much earlier as in Northern Europe. Travels towards the southern hemisphere break the laws. In these countries the pollen load is highest from September until March.

Whether you travel by car, by train, by bus or by aeroplane - allergy sufferers have to inform themselves about their means of transportation. If you take the car, you should air it before travelling. Keep windows closed during the trip. When you buy a new car, look for special pollen filters in the air condition and ventilation system. Start your journey in the evening, because the pollen loading is fewer at that time. The same is true for trips by bus and by train. But you are very often unable to influence the travel group decisions. On board of an aeroplane you should always use nasal sprays to keep the mucosa moist. Dry mucous membranes worsen allergic symptoms.

Many tourist regions around the world offer accommodations suitable for allergic persons. Usually dry and sunny rooms are more suitable than humid and shadowy rooms nearby the pool.

Patients suffering from allergies of the respiratory tract, such as rhinitis, or conjunctivitis always have to take their medication on tour. Nasal sprays (such as antihistamines) and asthma sprays are always useful when getting into contact with allergens. Patients should prefer sprays with a fast onset of action, for example sprays containing the substance Azelastine. This modern antihistamine can be used on demand - just when needed. It can reduce your allergic symptoms within 15 minutes. The duration of action is about twelve hours. Even the best schedule can be troubled by allergens. Don't push your luck!

How the weather influences allergies

The sun is shining, the air is warm and dry and a slight breeze is cooling down the air from time to time. This is like most people enjoy summer days. Only for allergy patients this weather situation means nothing good: in dry air combined with a fresh breeze, pollen distribution is especially wide spread. But with the right medication allergy patients don't necessarily have to avoid outdoor activities.

For allergy sufferers the weather forecast is the most important news of each day from December to October. The influence of the weather on pollen loading is enormous. Wind force, wind directions, air humidity and atmospheric precipitations navigate the tiny flower components. A heavy breeze allows the pollen to fly over a distance of more than 1.000 kilometres. If it starts to rain, the pollen count is very high at first. But then the rain washes away the pollen and the air nearly is pollen free. In contrast, dry air is loaded with these small plant particles.

If the weather is dry, allergy patients are recommended to use saline water nasal sprays in order to keep the mucosa moist. In the countryside the pollen mostly fly in the morning. In urban regions the pollen loading is highest in the evening. The mucous membranes profit from humid climate. Therefore drinking a lot is a good advice.

If you suffer from allergies - don't let your good mood being spoiled by some tiny plant particles! Although nature makes you suffer, you can still enjoy it! - Assumed that you always have the right medication at hand. Drugs which can be applied locally, such as nasal sprays and eye drops, might be helpful. Some of them contain the substance Azelastine, for example. Azelastine is a modern antihistamine that provides for a relief of symptoms within 15 minutes and only need to be used on demand. As soon as itching, sneezing, a runny nose or red eyes occur. The effect lasts for up to twelve hours. Azelastine is tolerated very well and it can clearly improve the quality of life of many allergy patients.

Profile: Grasses (Gramineae / Poaceae)

Family: Gramineae, Pocaceae
Home:global

Grasses are cosmopolites. Both families, Graminaceae and Pocaceae, include about 8,000 species. Many cereal plants and food crops belong to the family "grasses". The most important family is the Gramineae, also called sweet grasses. The plants are medium-high or high. The pollen of the Gramineae is spread very easily over long distances and it is very often responsible for allergies. In Central Europe grass pollen allergy is the most common.

All grasses of the Gramineae family have a similar construction: They have nodes and internodes which are deeply set organs of renewal. They allow the plant to survive in cold, humid climate as well as in warm and dry climate. The leafs possess so called basal meristems for regeneration after browsing or mowing. All grasses have especially exposed flowers: While the stem of the plant is high, the flower is reduced to simplify the delivery of the pollen.

The Gramineae are cultivated since thousands of years. They were found nearby settlements in the earliest known settled population. Humans cared about grasses and selected species very early. In Asia Minor wheat was cultivated, in Central America it was Corn and in Asia it was rice. These three Gramineae are the basis of many new variations which have been adapted to different needs. The World's nutrition is dependent on these grasses.

Hay fever - a runny nose even without hay

If the nose starts itching in spring, sneezing never ends and the nose is running non-stop, you probably think of one thing: Hay fever. But hay fever is a very misleading term. Not hay itself is responsible for the discomfort but pollen of different plants including grasses. A genetic disposition also is necessary. You need some good advice?

Hay fever patients suffer from an itchy nose and frequent sneezing. The nose is running over and over or so swollen, that it is constantly congested. Hay fever, in medical terms called seasonal allergic rhinitis, is a plague and very painful.

The discomfort is triggered by very small components of the blossom, the pollen. They fly up to 1,500 metres altitude over a distance of 300 kilometres and more. During pollen season the average nose is confronted with up to 8.000 pollen per day. Allergy suffers only need 50 pollens to show immune response.

The immune system of affected persons falsely observes pollens as an enemy. It starts to defend pollens. A very important messenger of the immune reaction is histamine. The compound is released into the blood when an allergic reaction takes place, blood perfusion is augmented, more and more secretion follows and the mucous membranes swell and redden. These reactions lead to itching and pain.

One for all - All for the one

Hay fever cannot be cured. But there are different ways and methods to relieve the discomfort. Decongestant nasal sprays are helpful. But they can only be used two or three weeks. If you take them over a longer period you risk a damage of the nasal mucosa. Corticoids (nasal sprays) suppress the inflammation in the nose. They are used if the symptoms are very severe. Mast cell stabilisers are drugs which inhibit the release of mast cell messengers. They have to be taken two or three weeks before the first symptoms arise and have to be administered about four times a day.

Antihistamines, such as the modern first-line H1-blocker Azelastine, are an excellent alternative. Azelastine provides for a fast relief of all symptoms within about 15 minutes. It has to be administered just when needed. The effects of Azelastine have a long duration of about twelve hours. One or two puffs per nostril twice a day is adequate to effectively reduce symptoms. Azelastine inhibits the release of histamine, but it also stabilises the mast cells. Azelastine is well tolerated and can improve the quality of life.

Frequent requests of allergy-stressed fellows

As soon as I leave the house, my eyes start itching and get all watery. The conjunctiva is reddend. The physician told me that I suffer from an allergy grass pollen. He advised me to buy Azelastine containing eye drops at the pharmacy. What do you think about it?

That is a helpful advice. Eye drops with the agent Azelastine contain a modern H1-blocker, which provides for a fast relief of all symptoms (within 10 minutes), such as itching, watery eyes and pink-eye (conjunctivitis). The drops are easy to use, just when needed. There is no need to take the drops in advance in order to prevent the allergic reaction. It is sufficient to use the drops twice a day, because the effect lasts about twelve hours. The eye drops are very well tolerated. You don't get tired from this modern antihistamine. Azelastine is a non-steroid, therefore it has fewer side-effects. These properties are helpful when you are travelling. Pollen loading differs in vacation countries often very much from home. Allergy sufferers should have a good medication at hand - at every time.
Get well soon!
Your editorial staff

I try to fight my pollen allergy by undergoing a specific immunotherapy. Therefore grass pollen was injected under my skin. The effect is acceptable. But sometimes a runny and from time to time congested nose still bothers me. What can I do?

The specific Immunotherapy (SIT) is a useful method for a long-term treatment of allergies. For some patients this treatment is very helpful to avoid worsening and progressing of the disease, which might in some times may develop to asthma. After a SIT, asthma occurs more seldom and allergy symptoms are reduced These symptoms are very easily treated by nasal sprays and eye drops, which act directly on the place of action. Very suitable are remedies containing Azelastine, for example. This antihistamine has to be used just when symptoms occur. The relief of symptoms is very fast. It takes within fifteen minutes to feel better. Azelastine has anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory effects and stabilises mast cells. One or two puffs per nostril twice a day is sufficient to stop the secretion and to unblock the nose. Azelastine, therefore is a very good supplement to your specific Immunotherapy.
Get well soon!
Your editorial staff

Expert's advice - today:
How to outsmart grass pollen

• Avoid flowering meadows.
• Stay at home when it is warm and dry or very breezy outside.
• Close the windows and doors.
• Never leave your worn clothes in the bedroom.
• Wash your hair every evening.
• Regularly clean your entire glasses with warm water.
• Buy a car with specific pollen filters or refit it, if possible.
• Avoid a walk in the nature when the air is full of pollen (April until October) - especially in the night and in the early morning, when the air contains the highest loads.
• Spend your holidays at the seaside, in the high mountains or in the desert. At these places pollen loading is the lowest.
• Try to find out onto which specific pollens you react in particular.
• Before starting any outdoor activities, pay attention to the national pollen forecasts.
• Have your medication ready to use.