"Health pulse"

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 9, Issue 414, 26 November 1991, Page 12

"Health pulse"

BY

DENIS

DWYER.

MWAHB Spring is traditionally considered the worst season of the year for people who suffer from hayfever, say the health promotion staff of the Manawatu-Wanganui Area Health Board, because it's the time when many plants release pollen into the air in large quantities. These substances include pollens, house dust mites, animal hair, foods such as shellfish, eggs, nuts or wheatbased products. The health promoters say the allergic reaction happens when the irritants enter the body and the body is alerted to produce antibodies. The antibodies and irritants (or allergens) then react together, and a chemical called histamine is released. Histamine causes symptoms such as sneezing and runny nose; irritation, redness and itching of the eyes; hives or itching on the skin; chest tightness, coughing and wheezing in the lungs. Food allergies can affect the intestine and produce pain and diarrhoea. The health promoters say the best thing people can do who have an allergy and know the cause of it, is to avoid that cause if at all possi-

ble. The cause may be, for example, a particular food, cigarette smoke or animal hair. You should talk with your doctor or pharmacist regarding treatment of allergy symptoms.