Giovedì 24 Settembre 2009
SPA TREATMENTS AGAINST ALLERGIES
All forms of allergy pathologies are increasing significantly. This is mainly attributed, above all for forms affecting the respiratory system and the skin, to environmental pollution, or at least to the great number of new chemical substances with which it is now possible to come into contact, but in part the increase is also due to the greater attention now dedicated to these pathologies. At the root of all forms is the sensitivity of the organism to a substance, and the reaction of the immune system that recognizes this substance as extraneous (thus being an antigen), and therefore correctly attempts to neutralize this substance by producing antibodies. The compound however formed by the combination of antigen and antibody has pathological effects. It must be noted that the capacity of the antibody to recognize a particular antigen is extremely high, to the extent that it can be affirmed that the reaction is triggered solely against that specific substance and against no others, even if they have an extremely similar chemical composition.
The allergy pathologies that can benefit from spa treatments are above all those that affect the respiratory system and the skin. Respiratory system allergies are perhaps more widespread, ranging from ailments of the upper respiratory tract, such as colds caused by pollen allergies (accompanied therefore by prolific sneezing, photophobia and lacrimation, a “cold” with abundant serous rhinorrhea, as liquid and transparent as water), through to bronchial asthma, with breathing difficulties that may even be serious or hazardous. Given the mechanisms that causes these illnesses, spa treatments in reality are unable to prevent the antigen/antibody reaction and its consequences, but they are able however to reduce the effect of the allergy at the level of tissues, and therefore in the case of pollen the same symptoms will still be present, but to a far lesser degree. Nevertheless, the various forms of allergy are only rarely present in their pure form, without complications from inflammation that can affect the overall clinical condition even significantly, and spa treatments are extremely effective and represent a valid remedy for these complications.
In the case of skin complaints, these are forms of dermatitis or eczema typically caused by contact, affecting almost precisely the skin area that comes into contact with the allergenic substance, most frequently the hands. Here again, the main action and efficacy of spa treatments is against forms that after moving beyond the initial acute phase have become chronic, often with complications like inflammation or infections.
Dr Attilio Menconi Orsini
Specialist in Medical Hydrology and Cardiology
Medical and Scientific Consultant for the COTER Emilia Romagna Spa Centres Consortium
