Here is a SUPER INTERESTING infographic from ALMIRALL Laboratories aboutallergies and their evolution.
"In recent years, the number of people suffering from some kind of allergy has been growing steadily. Why are we more and more allergic every day and how can we avoid it?
The most frequent allergies are respiratory allergies, especially allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, which affects an average of 21% of the Spanish population. Asthma affects 10 % of children and atopic dermatitis 4 %. Other important allergies are food and drug allergies.
Currently, 1 in 4 people have some type of allergy, and it is estimated that by 2050 this figure will increase to half of the world's population.
Allergic diseases have increased dramatically, to the point of multiplying by a factor of 5 in developed countries in the second half of the 20th century.
half of the 20th century. In the last 20 years, the growth of some allergies has stagnated in these countries, but others continue to increase. In this regard, rhinoconjunctivitis is the allergy that has increased the most in Spain, while asthma has decreased. Likewise, the number of people with food allergy has tripled and the number of cases of anaphylaxis (a life-threatening allergic reaction) has also increased, especially in children.
The number of children with allergies increases by 2% each year in Spain.
Not only has the number of allergy sufferers grown, but so has the complexity. It is becoming more and more common for a person to have more than one type of allergy or to become allergic to something he or she previously tolerated. But why? Environmental and lifestyle changes are behind the increase in allergies.
Allergic diseases have a hereditary component, but certain environmental factors must also act in order to manifest themselves.
environmental factors. In other words, allergy arises from the combination of genetic predisposition and environmental factors. Of these two elements, genetic inheritance cannot be responsible for the rapid increase in the frequency of allergies, since genes do not evolve in such a short time. Scientists therefore believe that the explanation for the increase in allergic diseases lies in the environment. Not all causes are well known, but science has several theories that are not mutually exclusive.
Hygiene hypothesis. This theory postulates that better hygiene and antibiotics, among other causes, lead to less exposure to germs and infections in childhood and a decrease in the diversity of species of microorganisms that normally live in the body. All this would affect the development of our immune system. Increased exposure to indoor allergens. Houses are better insulated and less ventilated, the indoor temperature is warmer and we spend more and more time indoors. This favors our exposure to dust mites and other indoor allergens. Pollution. Air pollution worsens rhinoconjunctivitis and asthma. The combustion of petroleum products emits volatile components (ozone) that favor the development of asthma. It also produces diesel particles, which inflame the respiratory mucosa and make it more reactive to allergens. In addition, these particles adhere to pollens, which encourages the production of new proteins - called stress proteins - that are highly allergenic.
Pollutants from diesel engines (vehicles, heaters) can multiply the allergenic capacity of pollen by 27 times. This is why allergic diseases are more frequent in cities, despite the fact that there is more pollen in rural areas.
Lifestyle changes. Certain factors resulting from new lifestyle habits may have influenced the increase in allergic diseases. In addition to improved hygienic conditions and increased exposure to indoor allergens, other causes may be sedentary lifestyles, dietary composition and the abandonment of rural life in favor of city life. In this regard, it has been shown that children raised in environments with farm animals suffer less from allergic diseases. It is possible that living with pets in childhood is also protective. Diet. It is possible that certain changes in dietary habits influence the increase in allergies: a diet poor in ω-3 fatty acids and rich in ω-6 fatty acids; lower consumption of fruits and vegetables, which are rich in antioxidants; and vitamin D deficiency, due to the fact that we spend less time in the sun.
Dual exposure hypothesis. This theory postulates that avoiding eating a particular food increases the risk of allergy if the child is exposed to that food through the skin. In other words, contact with the food without having previously eaten it increases the risk of allergy. For this reason, there is now a tendency to introduce foods early in the diet of children, at 4-6 months of age. This includes the most allergenic foods (egg, peanut), although the exact amount and timing are not clear.
Climate change. Due to the increase in the Earth's temperature due to greenhouse gases (such as CO2), plants flower earlier and the pollination period lasts longer. These gases also act as fertilizers and favor the production and allergenicity of many pollens. Meteorological phenomena such as drought and storms cause changes in the geographical distribution of plants, which become extinct in some areas and appear in others. This causes people to become allergic to them who were not allergic before.
Due to greenhouse gases, the Earth's average temperature has risen by 0.7°C in the last 100 years, and is expected to rise by a further 1.8°C in the next 100 years if no action is taken. This favors the development of allergic diseases.
There is little that can be done to avoid becoming allergic There is, at the moment, no clearly effective strategy to prevent allergy. Much research is being done on gene-environment interactions, but there is still a long way to go.
Other measures that help reduce symptoms in some types of allergies are those aimed at avoiding the particular allergen causing the symptoms, as well as treating the symptoms when they appear.
In order to find the formula that allows us to avoid becoming allergic, the best option is to take measures to prevent symptoms, take medication to reduce them when they appear and receive immunotherapy in those cases in which it is indicated.
SOURCES
Zubeldia JM, Baeza ML, Chivato T, Jáuregui I, Senent C, editors. El libro de las enfermedades alérgicas [Internet]. 2nd ed. Bilbao: BBVA Foundation; 2021 [accessed 26 Nov 2021]. Available at: https://www. fbbva.es/alergia/.
- Ojeda PM, Ibáñez MD, Olaguibel JM, Sastre J, Chivato T. Allergologica 2015: A national survey on allergic diseases in the Spanish pediatric population. J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol [Internet]. 2018;28(5):321-9. Available from: http://www.jiaci.org/ revistas/vol28issue5_4.pdf.
- Ojeda P, Sastre J, Olaguibel JM, Chivato T. Allergológica 2015: A National Survey on Allergic Diseases in the Adult Spanish Population. J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol . 2018;28(3):151-64.
- SEICAP. The number of children with allergies increases by 2% each year [Internet]. Soc. Española Inmunol. clínica, Alergol. y Asma Pediátrica. 2018 [accessed 26 Nov 2021]. Available at: https://www.seicap.es/ en/el-número-de-niños-con-allergias-aumenta-un-2- cada-año_53481.
- Platts-Mills TAE, Commins SP. Increasing prevalence of asthma and allergic rhinitis and the role of environmental factors - UpToDate [Internet]. UpToDate. 2021 [accessed 26 Nov 2021]. Available from: https://www.uptodate.com/contents/increasingprevalence- of-asthma-and-allergic-rhinitis-and-therole-of-environmental-factors.
- West CE. Introduction of Complementary Foods toInfants. Ann Nutr Metab [Internet] . 2017 [accessed30 Nov 2021];70:47-54. Available at: https://www.jstor.org/stable/48507869
I am allergic to pollen, what can I do to avoid the symptoms?
- Ventilate first thing in the morning and in the evening, when there is less pollen.
- Take off your clothes and take a shower when you get home.
- Do not hang clothes outside, to prevent pollen grains from sticking to clothes.
- In the street, wear sunglasses so that less pollen comes into contact with the eyes.
- Use anti-pollen masks. The FFP used against coronavirus are also adequate, since, in addition to filtering pollen, they fit well. Type 1 is sufficient, although type 2 and 3 are more effective. The surgical ones leave holes on the sides, allowing pollen to pass into the mouth and nose.
- Install anti-pollen filters in home and car air conditioners and change them as often as recommended.
- Do not mow the lawn or sweep the outside, so as not to remove pollen particles.
- Do not have plants at home and, if you have a garden, avoid those that pollinate through the air.
- Leave as little as possible between 12:00 and 17:00.
- Stay indoors on days with higher pollen counts, especially if it is windy.
