Drinking little increases the production of histamine, thus promoting allergic reactions. Dr. Alessandro Zanasi of the Sanpellegrino Observatory explains the reason for this "hidden link"
Spring, with its continuous temperature changes and the transition from cold winter to warm summer, brings with it allergic phenomena that affect everyone, indiscriminately, from children to adults. Meadows in bloom and walks in the open air are in fact particularly insidious for those who are subject to the annoying allergic symptoms.
According to Istat's annual report, people affected by chronic allergic diseases in Italy in 2016 were about 6 million, 10,7% of the national population. A slight growth trend (in 2012 was 10,3%), with asthma cases significantly increasing compared to the past. A fact that underlines the importance of finding some tricks to face at best the phenomena that make seasonality their main prerogative, but that can also occur at other times of the year and that put a strain on the children especially.
If we often try to hypothesize extremely complex methods to contain and deal with allergic phenomena, in reality a valid ally that can help to fight them is represented by an element that is part of our daily life: water.
The respiratory health, especially that of children, is also influenced by the amount of water that is drunk daily.
A relationship, that between dehydration and the respiratory tract is still little known and underestimated which has a great impact especially on allergies. In fact, when the body is dehydrated, the production of histamine increases, a substance that favors the onset of allergic / asthmatic reactions because it induces bronchoconstriction, interferes with the immune system, and also intervenes in the regulation of water in our body. This is why respiratory problems such as asthma, allergies, tracheo-bronchial inflammation and cough can be induced, facilitated and aggravated by dehydration2. Proper hydration therefore has a positive effect on children suffering from asthma, allowing them to have fewer acute episodes (7% well-hydrated children VS 26% dehydrated).
"The relationship between hydration and respiratory health is often underestimated, if not completely unknown, but it is actually very important: hope - explains Dr. Alessandro Zanasi, expert of the Sanpellegrino Observatory - is that more and more awareness increases on the part of people on the importance of proper hydration to guarantee ourselves, and above all children, a good state of health also to help us fight the allergic phenomena. Precisely in pediatric and adolescent age, dehydration can promote the onset and persistence of respiratory problems such as allergic, asthmatic and inflammatory episodes in the airways. In children, the incidence of these diseases is extremely high and is one of the main causes that leads to consulting their own pediatrics, as well as heavily impacting health care costs ".
Water is therefore one of the most important nutritional principles of our organism: however children drink little, both because they are not very sensitive to the stimulus of thirst and because they have not been educated to do so. In most cases, it is the parents themselves who are not aware of the importance of good hydration for their children. It is good to remember that dehydration is a pathological state that occurs when the water balance, or the difference between water taken and water lost, is negative. In the child, dehydration also determines in the first instance a reduction in psycho-physical performance, up to short-term attention and memory deficits, which can negatively influence school performance.
Drink, so much and well, so it helps to maintain a healthy lifestyle, a good state of health and to face that annoying enemy, the allergy, which puts a strain on the arrival of summer.
DEEPENING
San Pellegrino is the leading company in the beverage sector in Italy, with mineral waters, non-alcoholic aperitifs, cold drinks and teas. Its products, a synthesis of well-being, health and balance, are present in 150 Countries through branches and distributors spread across the five continents.
Sanpellegrino, as the main producer of mineral water, has always been committed to the enhancement of this primary asset for the planet and works with responsibility and passion to guarantee this resource a quality future. A commitment that also passes through the promotion of the importance of proper hydration: Sanpellegrino in fact supports and spreads the principles of psycho-physical well-being linked to the correct consumption of water, becoming the spokesman of "education to hydration" through a program that promotes the daily consumption of the correct amount of water, according to different needs and lifestyles.