The allergy to pollen allergy season reaches its peak now. Coughing, sneezing, watery and itchy eyes are the most common symptoms. What is rarely mentioned in connection with pollen allergy and hay fever, but in almost every other interested parties are experiencing, depression. This was discovered by scientists at the University of Maryland and shall be presented at their annual congress of psychiatrists as new knowledge. (1)
Environmental medicine amazed this finding, however, not for them it is nothing new, for pioneers of their field of study prior to watch this six decades. Allergies to pollen, food, mold or sensitivities to chemicals can also be quite emotional reactions, including depression trigger.
Known for 6 decades – allergies can trigger depression
The first article on depression, which were caused by allergies, you could read in 1950 in one of the largest medical journals. (2) In 1951, the allergist Theron Randolph – the 7th Annual Congress of the American College of Allergists in Chicago – a case study from his colleagues, had created in which a provocation test with food in one patient an acute psychotic episode. (3) The first trade book, which reports about such relationships is clear, also of Randolph and was published in the first edition 1962nd (4)
Allergies paralyze the body and for the sentiment
When Annual Meeting 2010, the American Psychiatric Association, Dr. Partam Manalai spoke about the fact that allergies, as well as depression represent common diseases. It is not surprising that allergies for the sentiment and perception, as also limit the quality of life of those affected.
Does pollen allergy to suicide? Apparently yes.
The scientists reported a striking phenomenon to which he had encountered. In the spring, there is a rise in the suicide rate when many pollen in the air. The same, but to a lesser extent, is observed in autumn, when some plants and trees bloom again.
To go to things on the ground, examined the scientist and his team a hundred people from the same region that suffered from severe depression. About half of these people had allergies to trees and weeds. In spring and in autumn was found in them an increased IgE (the marker for classical allergies).
Peak of pollen season – high point of depression
Manalai explained to the Congress that patients who were allergic to airborne allergens during the pollen season experienced a deterioration of the mind. Patients suffering from both diseases were, during the main pollen season is more susceptible to depression. Therefore, it was his opinion very important to treat these diseases, to prevent patients from sliding into the main pollen season in a depression.
Severe allergies, a heavy burden
That depression may occur when someone is allergic, is not for the scientist from Maryland surprising. He illustrated this for the audience by calling just once think about how it is when allergies are so severe that you can breathe not, not at night, sleep right, you feel really ready and hideous, because it feels like having a hundredweight of potatoes on the chest, then it is probably quite normal that one begins to be depressed. With allergies, there is just not like a cold, two days and everything is over, said the doctor. Man’m stuck for months and those who have year-round allergies, which would stuck the whole year.
Depression in response to allergens and chemicals
Such a "year-round allergies to classical allergens and sensitivities to chemicals have recognized the first pioneers of environmental medicine already about six decades as a possible trigger for depression among their patients. (5.6) for them was already fit for their observations and diagnostics that do not cause allergies or sensitivities depression on chemicals, but vice versa, as was the trigger off, were simply no depression in these patients. Put one on the other hand the patient from the allergen provocation tests was the Depression as a way as if you folded a light switch. These pioneers were already occupied with their tests, it does not need a chronic disease or suffering for someone responds depressed, but that an allergen, a person reacts to this condition may well cause even in seconds.
Minute traces of a trigger and you have a depression because
The American allergist Theron Randolph, who is considered the founder of Environmental Medicine, described in his book of 1962, illustrating the wife of a physician who responded to cosmetics, medicines and perfumes with depression. Was she not in contact, she was well – they came into contact with, it went off. Minute traces of perfume were sufficient. Also on conventional foods had pesticide residue and food from cans coated on the inside were occurred in this patient, depression, breathing problems and severe headaches. Randolph started at that time the first clinic in the world and environmental pollution-controlled cases of this kind he was to diagnose and treat abound. The same thing happened Prof. William J. Rea and Prof. Doris Rapp, two other pioneers of Environmental Medicine, the tens of thousands of patients in their environmentally controlled hospital diagnosed and treated with great success.
How to find out whether pollen are the cause of depression?
What are simple ways you have to find out if pollen are the cause of depression or other psychological symptoms, describes Prof. Dr. Doris Rapp. The over 80-year-old American medic is an absolute pioneer in children’s environmental health. It has shows three video archives of documentation, the children with allergy testing. Videos about spontaneous depression to pollen, molds, foods and chemicals, the medical examiner show hundreds of times. Some of them have been repeatedly shown to medical conferences or in TV reports and you can also check out the web.
In one of her books (7) Prof. Dr. Rapp gives the following simple instructions that are equally applicable to adults:
1. Become an observer. Find out by carefully observing whether the depression or behavioral problems occur when there is high pollen count. Look for this in the paper (note: now you can click on the Internet or on the phone pollen warning services and determine the exact pollen count at home) and run for a while book. It quickly becomes apparent that pollen related to the depression in context.
2. Can you do to protect allergy tests, which are present if and pollen allergies. (Not enough respect for IgE (8)
3. Anyone who has an allergic reaction, while the response most often a completely different handwriting. The letter of the name makes sense. Check with your child or yourself to a pollen-free day during the pollen season and when it decays. Let paint a small picture. A stick figure is sufficient. You will be amazed what comes up when someone is allergic, you make comparisons when the person is allergy free.
Allergy to develop to specific allergens or chemical trigger depression or psychological symptoms is accordingly found out what the pioneers of environmental medicine, not inevitable candidate for antidepressants or psychotherapy.
In discussing what therapy is appropriate, it is worth it for the benefit of the patients once again look back in time History of Medicine at Randolph. The allergist Randolph realized by pure observation and documents that it often completely sufficient if the patient is kept away from the triggers, or a particular food to which he responded, not taking themselves so that the depression or other symptoms almost disappear by "magic".
Avoidance, desensitization of allergies, air filters, respirators, changes in diet and, if adjustments in the living and working environment, balance of nutrient deficiencies, etc. were from Randolph in the sixties as the cornerstone of successful therapy described. Today there are doctors who follow this integrated approach and confirmed by successful treatments with their patients in their accuracy.
