Odor allergy

Allergy to odors can be provoked by pollutants, chemicals, pollen of flowering plants. The reasons influencing the possible occurrence of allergies are: structural changes of the infectious disease itself, worsening environmental conditions, hereditary factors.

What is odor allergy?

Among patients, the most common complaints are: allergy to the smell of paint, allergy to strong odors, and even allergy to the smell of fish. According to medical experts, it is necessary to understand the term "hypersensitivity", which can be:

• allergic nature - based on immunological mechanisms;
• non-allergic nature – without immunological mechanisms.

It is also necessary to distinguish between the concepts of hypersensitivity and hyperreactivity, which is a violent response to any irritant. Allergy is a hypersensitive reaction that develops under the influence of immunological mechanisms. Both options - hypersensitivity and hyperreactivity - can occur with food and drug intolerance. Intolerance to a particular smell excludes immunological hypersensitivity, therefore, an allergy to smells is not an applicable concept.

It has been proven that the body's immune system detects substances whose molecular weight is not less than five thousand daltons. The molecular weight of volatile substances with a smell ranges from 17 to 300 daltons, so the olfactory tract simply does not detect them.

Air particles entering the human respiratory system have different masses and cause olfactory intolerance or allergies. After all, house dust allergens and plant pollen have their own specific smell. An allergy to odors is a reaction to a certain type of allergen, which occurs when a person senses a certain smell. Very often, a person blames the aroma, without thinking about the true causes of the allergy.

The concept of "allergy to odors" leads to obvious conclusions:

• intolerance to odors has nothing to do with the immune system and it is not entirely correct to call it an allergy;
• immunological mechanisms are not activated when you sense odors, so life-threatening conditions such as Quincke's edema and anaphylaxis cannot occur;
• In the case of allergic reactions with patient complaints of odor intolerance, it is necessary to undergo specific immunotherapy and consult a psychotherapist or aromapsychologist.

Symptoms of odor allergies

An allergy to odors has a number of symptoms – skin rashes, itching, nasal congestion, and sometimes suffocation.

Allergies are caused by perfume aromas, flowering plants - rose, bird cherry, lilac, jasmine. Allergies to the smell of paint, varnish, freshly applied building mixtures are common. If you go outside, the symptoms stop bothering you. Residents of large cities are the most vulnerable. It is believed that the polluted air of megalopolises increases the possibility of damage to the mucous membrane of the bronchi.

Factors predisposing to allergies include: functional disorders of the nervous and endocrine systems, injuries to parts of the brain, excessive negative reactions to the external environment (psychological factor). The growth of human society leads to the emergence of new allergens, so it is necessary to develop the body's resistance to aggressive environmental factors.

Allergy to strong odors

Allergy to strong smells. What is it really? There are people whose body reacts violently to a strong smell. Tearing, nasal discharge, and breathing deteriorate.

Otolaryngologists claim that such symptoms are characteristic of vasomotor rhinitis, not allergic rhinitis. Signs of nasal congestion, rhinorrhea are provoked by strong odors, not chemical compounds. This process occurs in the cholinergic link of the autonomic nervous system. It is not recommended to use vasoconstrictor drops in this case, as they can cause chronic nasal congestion. To relieve unpleasant symptoms, it is better to use sprays - "atrovent", "cromoghexal", "cromoglin".

Allergy to strong smells is most often vasomotor rhinitis, which is treated with a course of intranasal blockades using "dicynone" and laser therapy. Hydrocortisone ointment is used in phonophoresis procedures.

Allergy to the smell of onions and allergy to the smell of fish are more likely to be individual intolerance to the product. It is very important to correctly identify the symptoms and remember that if you are intolerant to any product, the immune system mechanisms are not activated and this is not an allergy.

Fish itself is an allergen, so it is not surprising that even its smell can provoke allergy symptoms. Fish smell can be dangerous for people with allergies to it.

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Treatment of allergies to odors

Allergy to odors should be treated with complex methods. At the first stage, the cause of the allergy is eliminated. Then you should direct your efforts to strengthening the immune system, cleansing the body of toxins. It is important to follow a hypoallergenic diet.

The choice of a medicine is made by trial and error or by consulting an allergist. Among homeopathic remedies, "allergosan" stands out. The course of taking the medicine begins well in advance of the flowering period in the amount of 3-5 capsules twice a day. Then take a break of 1-2 days after a week of taking it. In case of acute exacerbation due to an external irritant (smell, dust), take 3-4 times from 1 to 3 balls.

Treatment for odor allergies is prescribed:

• in case of reactions to perfumes, you need to protect the skin from the source of irritation, take suprastin, erius, etc.;
• If you are prone to allergic reactions, you should always have the medication prescribed for you by a specialist with you;
• if you are allergic to cosmetics, stop using them immediately;
• After consulting an allergist, you can use folk remedies.

Treatment of allergies to odors with folk recipes

• infusion of crushed marsh wild rosemary herb - 1 teaspoon of the product is poured with 400 ml of boiling water. The solution is kept for an hour and taken three times a day, 70 ml each time;
• It is recommended to chew honeycombs twice a day for 10 minutes. You can chew honeycombs up to 5 times a day in case of severe allergic reactions. Throw away the used gum;
• A solution of a tablespoon of honeycomb diluted in 200 ml of water has proven itself well. Drink at night;
• To prevent the development of exacerbations, it is necessary to consume apple cider vinegar for two weeks, 2 teaspoons of which are dissolved in 100 ml of water. Take in the morning and at night;
• prepare an infusion of 20 g of dry celandine, pour 200 ml of cool water over it, bring to a boil, leave for an hour and take 3 times a tablespoon;
• An infusion of crushed hemp seeds also helps, the method of preparation corresponds to the previous point.

An allergy to odors is a rare phenomenon in itself, which is confused with intolerance to one or another product. It should be remembered that a real allergy triggers immunological processes in the body. An allergy to odors can be purely psychological in nature. It is necessary to distinguish between a true allergy to substances contained in the air other than odors, and an allergy to odors. If they were the same, doctors would be able to easily determine the "smelly" allergen by affecting the olfactory receptors.

Some people subconsciously develop a syndrome of fear of allergy to odors, which leads to the emergence of a connection at the reflex level: a more intense odor is a greater threat to me. Aromas can excite, relax, sharpen some sense, etc. If there is a relaxing odor in the room, and the situation requires a reverse reaction, then the so-called allergy to odors can manifest itself. Therefore, you should take seriously the selection of aromatic products that correspond to the psycho-emotional state at a given moment in time.