Ah-choo! 🤧 Do you find yourself sneezing a lot when spring comes around? If so, you’re not alone! Many people experience seasonal allergies, which can make enjoying the sunshine a bit tricky.
What Are Seasonal Allergies?
Seasonal allergies, also known as hay fever, happen when your body reacts to things like pollen from plants and trees. Common symptoms include itchy eyes 🙈, stuffy nose 🤧, sneezing, and a runny nose. It can feel like having a cold that just won’t go away!
Meet Pan: A Story of Overcoming Allergies
Pan knows exactly how tough allergies can be. For over 10 years, she struggled with pollen allergies. “Sometimes I even wanted to ‘dig out’ my eyeballs and wash them because they were so uncomfortable,” she said. Can you imagine feeling that itchy?
How Can We Treat Allergies?
To help her feel better, Pan visited Dr. Wang Xueyan, the director of the Allergy Center at Beijing Shijitan Hospital. Dr. Wang suggested something called desensitization treatment. This is a special method where patients are given tiny amounts of what they’re allergic to. Over time, this helps their bodies get used to it, so they don’t react as strongly. It’s like making friends with pollen little by little!
Understanding Allergies Better
There are four main types of allergies:
- Food allergies 🍎
- Drug allergies 💊
- Contact allergies 🌿
- Inhalant allergies 🌬️ (like pollen!)
Doctors use different tests to find out what someone is allergic to. Once they know, they can suggest treatments like medicines or immunotherapy.
What Can You Do?
If you have seasonal allergies, here are some tips to help you feel better:
- Avoid going outside when pollen counts are high.
- Wear sunglasses 🕶️ to keep pollen out of your eyes.
- Shower after being outside to wash away pollen.
- Talk to a doctor if your symptoms are severe.
Seeing the Invisible Enemy
Did you know that hospitals have special microscopes to look at pollen up close? It’s amazing to see the tiny particles that cause such big problems!
Remember, allergies can be managed, and you can still enjoy all the fun that spring brings. 🌷 So, don’t let sneezes and sniffles hold you back!
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
