Pollution a Cause of Allergy triggers 24/7

Every year millions of people suffer from allergies. There are all kinds of allergens around us, but did you know that the air we breathe can also trigger allergies? Although not more common than mold, dust and pollen but pollution can be a reason to trigger allergies. Diseases caused by pollution are severe and WHO states that 9 out of 10 people in the world breathe in polluted air. Moreover, out of top 10 polluted cities in the world, 9 are in India. So, allergies caused by pollution is a reality we live in. Pollution doesn't restrict itself to outdoors but in fact in some cases, can be found indoors as well. Tobacco smoke is the main trigger for indoor pollution. It opens the door to allergic sensitization alongside asthma and other respiratory illnesses. If you're a chain smoker or are exposed to smoke regularly, your body's ability to produce IgE increases. IgE is nothing but a key trigger of allergic reactions. Higher the IgE count, higher the chances of getting an allergic reaction. Children can also be affected by indoor pollution as a result of parental smoking. It can often lead to respiratory illnesses such as bronchitis, chronic cough, and even asthma. The most common air pollutants include ozone, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide. Also, the particles released from the automobiles trigger respiratory allergies. Diesel exhaust is known to enhance the production of IgE. Pollution is harmful, it can trigger allergies and other respiratory illnesses in children as well as adults. But to determine the cause and trigger of an allergy is also important. So, how can you be sure it's an allergic reaction and not something else? We've put together a few signs and symptoms that are most common in individuals suffering from pollution allergy.

Common pollution allergy symptoms include:

• Itchiness • Itchy throat • Runny nose • Sneezing • Watery eyes

The most prominent triggers include, cigarette smoke, aerosol sprays, automobile particles, insecticides/industrial pollutants. If you suspect any symptoms mentioned above, consult a doctor as soon as possible.

Pollution allergy prevention & managementAllergy solutions are many but the key to keep pollution allergy at bay is to ensure the air quality is high. Most of the times diseases caused by pollution are because of the bad air quality. Although you cannot change the overall environment of your city, you can certainly take care of the air quality inside your humble abode. Pollutants that can trigger indoor pollution include, tobacco smoke, fireplaces, wood stoves, paints, varnishes, carbon monoxide emitted by some appliances and vehicles.

To reduce or eliminate major sources of pollutants you can undertake the following steps, such as:

• Refrain from smoking indoors • Wear a mask when you step out especially if you live in cities with high pollution count• Avoid the use of appliances that operate on fuel such as gasoline, propane, etc.

Fresh air is the key to increase the air quality. But if you do live in cities with high pollution count, you can install HEPA air filters or air-conditioners with HEPA filters. This can increase the indoor air quality considerably.

Outdoor allergies caused by pollution cannot be controlled instantly but with certain measures the risk can be reduced. If you feel like you're showing some signs of pollution allergy, it's best to contact a doctor for an ideal allergy diagnosis.

Hello I am Madhavi Tuyyar. I like to read and write blogs on health topics such as diabetes, diarrhoea, allergy, fever etc. Keep yourself fit.