IT'S SOMETHING IN THE AIR
It's spring time in Japan. Pink and white cherry blossoms bloom and dazzle. Animals come out from hibernation and people start spending more time outdoors as the temperature warms up. However, thousands of Japanese start bringing out their masks as well. Is there something in the air?
It's hay fever season in Japan. When flowers bloom, pollen is released. Pollen helps plants reproduce. But they also cause hay fever in people who are allergic to pollen.
When exposed to pollen, hay fever sufferers sneeze, get runny nose, cough, and suffer itchy eyes and headache. In more severe cases, they can even have asthma and bronchitis.
To reduce their exposure to pollen, hay fever sufferers use masks, goggles, nasal creams and air purifiers. There is also a special medical treatment called immunotherapy that helps hayfever sufferers become less sensitive to pollen over time.
Featured image: AFP TV
