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According to the WHO, 50% of the world’s population will suffer from respiratory allergies by 2050. Why such an outburst of this pathology? How to fight against this? The answers of Dr Julien Cottet, allergist doctor, vice president of the French Society of Allergology.
This is an edifying figure: according to the World Health Organization, half the population of the planet will be allergic in 2050. Allergies to pollen will therefore explode. “There has been an increasing prevalence of respiratory allergies for 40 years“, according to Dr. Cottet, allergist and vice president of the French Society of Allergology.
What are the causes of this increase?
According to the specialist, this observation is attributable to several reasons. “Already, having an allergic parent, or both, increases the risk of being allergic per se. first explains the doctor. “And as more and more people are allergic, their number, via descent, also increases“.
Then, the second reason given by the doctor is what is called the hygienist theory. “Respiratory allergy is a pathology of our Western societies, we do not find them in Africa, for example. This is called the “farm effect” or the fact of being exposed to life in the open air, to the earth… Today, children live in a sanitized world, they are too much more protected than before. The immune system is therefore more easily disrupted in these conditions. adds the doctor.
Another cause: climate change
Another reason put forward by the doctor concerns climate change and man-made plantations. “Global warming means that winters are no longer harsh, plants do not freeze and bud faster. Results: we are very quickly exposed to their pollen, sometimes as early as January and for longer“explains Julien Cottet again. “Add to that pollution, which weakens our mucous membranes, which become inflammatory and it’s an explosive cocktail!”.
The plantations made by man also have something to do with it. “The transfer of species has allowed certain pollens to end up where they naturally do not exist. This also has an impact on the population which is not genetically ready to coexist with” says the doctor.
What are the possible solutions to limit this?
According to the doctor, many measures should be taken to limit this “catastrophe”.
Dr. Cottet recalls that in one out of two cases, allergic rhinitis will turn into asthma and that asthma claims 1,000 victims each year. It therefore recommends measures “strong and courageous that must be taken by the authorities, concerning the plantations“.
He also denounces the lack of allergists, which reduces access to care for the population. “Out of 9,000 interns trained each year, only 28 will be allergists, whereas 500 are needed. If nothing is done, we risk no longer being able to meet the needs of the population”.
If you are allergic, here are some tips to limit your exposure:
- Regularly consult the pollen vigilance map on the site pollens.fr ;
- Rinse your hair in the evening, ventilate at least 10 minutes a day before sunrise and after sunset;
- Avoid drying clothes outside;
- Keep car windows closed to prevent pollen from entering the cabin;
- Avoid outdoor sports activities that lead to overexposure to pollen;
- Also beware of air pollution, which can exacerbate pollen allergies in some large cities.