Sneezing Constantly? Stuffy Nose? It Could Be Allergy!
What is Allergic Rhinitis ?What are the causes?
Called by many people as simply “allergies”, allergic rhinitis is a condition that causes nose and eye symptoms because of an allergic reaction to something that one breathes in through their nose . Allergic rhinitis can start at any age and often runs in families. There are many types of allergens that can trigger an allergic response, including plant pollen from grasses and trees, and also pet dander, mold, and dust.
Basically, there is an inflammation of the nasal passages caused by allergens. This inflammation can cause a variety of annoying symptoms, including sneezing, itching, nasal congestion, runny nose, and the sensation that mucus is draining from the sinuses down the back of the throat.
Brief episodes of rhinitis are usually caused by respiratory tract infections with viruses (eg, the common cold). Chronic rhinitis is usually caused by allergies, but it can also occur from overuse of certain drugs, some medical conditions, and other unidentifiable factors.
For many people, rhinitis is a lifelong condition that waxes and wanes over time. Fortunately, the symptoms of rhinitis can usually be controlled with a combination of environmental measures, medications, and immunotherapy.
WHO GETS ALLERGIC RHINITIS?
Allergic rhinitis affects approximately 20 percent of people of all ages. The risk of developing allergic rhinitis is much higher in people with asthma or eczema and in people who have a family history of asthma or rhinitis.
Allergic rhinitis can begin at any age, although most people first develop symptoms in childhood or young adulthood. The symptoms are often at their worst in children and in people in their 30s and 40s. However, the severity of symptoms tends to vary throughout life. Patients may experience periods when they have no symptoms at all.
CAUSES
Allergic rhinitis is caused by a nasal reaction to small airborne particles called allergens (substances that provoke an allergic reaction). In some people, these particles also cause reactions in the lungs (asthma) and eyes (allergic conjunctivitis).
Seasonal versus perennial allergic rhinitis — Allergic rhinitis can be seasonal (occurring during specific seasons) or perennial (occurring year round). The allergens that most commonly cause seasonal allergic rhinitis include pollens from trees, grasses, and weeds, as well as spores from fungi and molds.
The allergens that most commonly cause perennial allergic rhinitis are dust mites, cockroaches, animal dander, and fungi or molds. Perennial allergic rhinitis tends to be more difficult to treat.
SYMPTOMS
The symptoms of allergic rhinitis vary from person to person. Although the term "rhinitis" refers only to the nasal symptoms, many people also experience problems with their eyes, throat, and ears. In addition, sleep may be disrupted. Symptoms may include the following:
· Nose – Watery nasal discharge, blocked nasal passages, sneezing, nasal itching, the sensation that mucus is draining from the sinuses down the back of the throat, loss of taste, facial pressure or pain
· Eyes – Itchy, red eyes, feeling of grittiness in the eyes, swelling and blueness of the skin below the eyes.
· Throat and ears – Sore throat, hoarse voice, congestion or popping of the ears, itching of the throat or ears
· Sleep – Mouth breathing, frequent awakening, daytime fatigue, difficulty performing work
Consequences of allergic rhinitis:
· Irritability
· Fatigue
· Missed days of work or school
· Sleep disorders
· Decreased decision-making capacity
· Impaired hand-eye coordination
· Decreased concentration and focus
DIAGNOSIS
The diagnosis of allergic rhinitis is based upon physical examination and the symptoms described above. Medical tests can confirm the diagnosis and identify the offending allergens.
Identify allergens and other triggers — It is often possible to identify the allergens and other triggers that provoke allergic rhinitis by:
●Recalling the factors that precede symptoms
●Noting the time at which symptoms begin
●Identifying potential allergens in the home, work, and school environments
Allergy Skin prick tests may be useful for people whose symptoms are not well-controlled with medications or in whom the offending allergen is not obvious.
TREATMENT
The treatment of allergic rhinitis includes reducing exposure to allergens and other triggers in combination with medication therapy. In most people, these measures effectively control the symptoms.
Reduce exposure to triggers — There are some simple measures that can reduce exposure to allergens and triggers that provoke allergic rhinitis.
Nasal irrigation and saline sprays — Rinsing the nose with a salt water (saline) solution is called "nasal irrigation" or "nasal lavage."
Nasal irrigation is particularly useful for treating drainage down the back of the throat, sneezing, nasal dryness, and congestion. The treatment helps by rinsing out allergens and irritants from the nose. Saline rinses also clean the nasal lining. Patients can use it before applying sprays containing medications to get a better effect from the medication.
Nasal sprays are the first-line treatment for the symptoms of allergic rhinitis. These drugs have few side effects and dramatically relieve symptoms in most people. Studies have shown that nasal sprays are more effective than oral antihistamines for symptom relief.
Patients may notice symptom relief on the first day of treatment with nasal sprays although their maximal effectiveness may not be noticeable for days to weeks. For this reason, nasal sprays are most effective when used regularly.
Antihistamines — Antihistamines relieve the itching, sneezing, and runny nose of allergic rhinitis, but they do not relieve nasal congestion. Combined treatment with allergy nasal sprays or decongestant sprays may provide greater symptom relief than use of either alone.
What about the over-the-counter medications or herbal remedies?
One should only take the medications prescribed or approved by their doctor. Many over-the-counter allergy medications or herbal remedies can cause unwanted side effects. For example, some
nonprescription antihistamines cause significant drowsiness which can impair your ability to drive, operate machinery or perform at school or work.
Also DO NOT use over-the-counter decongestant nasal sprays for more than 5 days in a row unless specifically advised to do so by their physician. These sprays can cause undesirable side effects and actually cause more nasal congestion after a period of time.
This condition can be difficult to treat. It’s a very common thing that we see in practice because the people just go to the pharmacies and purchase it and use it without prescription.
Allergen immunotherapy
The process of immunotherapy changes the patient's immune response to the allergens over time. As a result, being exposed to the allergen causes fewer symptoms and may even eliminate symptoms altogether.
Immunotherapy can help many people with allergic rhinitis. In children as well as adults, immunotherapy can help prevent the development of allergic asthma later in life. However, immunotherapy is very useful if patients want to minimize the number of medications they need long term. People initially stay on medications when they start immunotherapy and then gradually reduce the medications as their symptoms improve.
So once you find out what you are allergic to by doing an allergy skin prick testing, you can discuss with your allergist about the customized treatment plans for you.
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