Può la gravidanza renderti più sensibile alla febbre da fieno?

Hay fever when pregnant

Gravidanza può essere un periodo turbolento per i futuri genitori. Sintomi come nausea mattutina, la stanchezza e i cambiamenti d'umore possono manifestarsi periodicamente rendendo estenuante la gestione. Tende ad essere una montagna russa di nove mesi. Inoltre, potresti sperimentare un aumento febbre da fieno i sintomi, a seconda di the time of year you are pregnant.

Lesley Gilchrist, ostetrica registrata e co-fondatrice di My Expert Midwife, explains how changing hormones and blood vessels becoming more dilated in and around the nasal passages during pregnancy can make some people feel as though their hay fever is worse.

Due to this, existing symptoms can be aggravated during hay fever season between March and September, when it's warm, humid and windy, and the pollen count is high. Hormonal changes can worsen nasal congestion specifically.

Sintomi della febbre da fieno

• Starnuti.

• Tosse.

• Occhi pruriginosi.

• Occhi lacrimosi.

• Loss of smell.

• Blocked or runny nose.

• Pain around the temples or forehead.

• Itchy throat.

• Stanchezza.

Can hay fever affect your baby while you are pregnant?

"La febbre da fieno non è pericolosa durante la gravidanza e non influenzerà il tuo bambino in crescita, ma potrebbe farti sentire molto more tired and lethargic se i tuoi sintomi sono peggiori del solito," dice Gilchrist.

It is, therefore, a good idea to take some advice on how to avoid or lessen your exposure to irritants that you know trigger your hay fever.

How to deal with hay fever when pregnant

While there is no cure for hay fever, thankfully, there are ways of managing it. There are various hay fever medications available to help with your symptoms in tablet and spray form. But, you should discuss this with your GP, midwife or pharmacist, as not all hay fever medicines are safe in pregnancy. Your doctor can offer advice and a prescription if required, which may not be the case if your hay fever is mild.

Gilchrist shares other self-help remedies that might ease your symptoms naturally before seeking medical advice. You should start by getting to know your allergy triggers.

"Non tutte le allergie da fieno hanno gli stessi fattori scatenanti, quindi assicurati di annotare quali sono i tuoi. Potrebbe essere l'erba o gli alberi, un tipo particolare di pianta, o il time of the year che ti colpisce di più. Evita i tuoi fattori scatenanti quando possibile e, quando sei al chiuso, tieni finestre e porte chiuse."

Further tips for easing hay fever symptoms

• Monitor the pollen count in your local area and try to plan outdoor time for days when it is lower.

• Avoid parks, grassy areas, and recently mown grass if you are allergic to grass pollen.

• Wash your hands and face regularly to remove pollen particles.

• Avoid drying your washing outside during hay fever season, as pollen can collect on your clothing, towels, and bed sheets.

• Wash and brush a pet's hair frequently as this can collect pollen when they are outside.

• Limit contact with other irritants, such as dust, smoke, and sprays.

What to take for hay fever when pregnant

Antistaminici (come Piriton) tendono ad essere il rimedio di riferimento per la febbre da fieno. Tuttavia, tali trattamenti per la febbre da fieno richiedono una prescrizione se sei incinta, a causa delle restrizioni dei produttori.

Can you take hay fever tablets when pregnant?

Your GP may be happy to prescribe antihistamine tablets for you. Loratadine and cetirizine are the tablets most commonly prescribed for those suffering from hay fever during pregnancy. These tend to be the safest option as they are less likely to make you drowsy.

Can I use a nasal spray when pregnant?

Oltre ai tablet, nasali e le gocce oculari possono anche alleviare il disagio causato dai sintomi della febbre da fieno, e non si ritiene che causino alcun danno a un bambino non ancora nato.

Be aware that medications such as Sudafed and Galpseud are not recommended during pregnancy, since they can narrow the blood vessels, reducing blood supply to the placenta and baby as a result.

Can pregnancy heighten other allergies?

"We know that the immune response changes during pregnancy and that hormonal changes in the body can also impact how our bodies deal with allergens. Therefore, it is quite likely that some people may find these changes affect any existing allergies they have," says Gilchrist.

She adds that it is also possible for these changes to result in the emergence of allergies during pregnancy that were not there previously.

In existing allergies involving sensitivity to dust or pets, for example, wheezing can occur, as well as skin rashes, which may be more pronounced than they were previously. So, minimising exposure to these triggers could be necessary.

"Fortunately for most, once their baby is born, allergy symptoms will settle down and usually disappear, although this can take a few weeks or months."