Questions About Hay Fever? - 7 Answers That Can Help

Each year hay fever affects over 23 million people in the United States. And that number is based only on the people who check in with a health care professional. So it is pretty clear that this is a huge health issue.

Knowing the answers to these 7 frequently asked questions can help you manage allergic rhinitis more effectively.

Is there a difference between hay fever and allergic rhinitis? No, they are terms that are often used interchangeably for the same condition. Rhinitis being the more clinical name for hay fever is the swelling of the nasal tissues in some people that is caused by exposure to airborne irritants such as mold spores as well as tree, grass, and weed pollen.

What are the symptoms for hay fever and how do they differ from a cold? This is a frequently asked question and a great one because the symptoms for the two conditions are very similar.

Sneezing, coughing, congestion, post nasal drip are common to both conditions. However, it is the duration of the symptoms that gives the best indication.

Cold symptoms tend to run their course in 5 to 10 days. Allergy symptoms can last for months. And by consulting a physician about symptoms that last more than several weeks, they are often able to determine which you have by the condition of lining of the nasal cavity.

Which kind of pollen causes the most trouble, and when does that season start? Probably the most potent of all pollen is that of ragweed. This plant usually starts to pollinate in late summer and often continues until it is killed by frost in late November or early December (depending on the climate where you live).

Will a physical move to another part of the country help? The problem with moving to another part of country to escape is that the wind can take these light-weight allergens hundreds of miles from where they originate. So trying to run away from them is not likely to work.

When does pollen season end? It depends largely on where you live and the type of pollen. Tree pollen is usually the first to emerge and can do so as early as January in warmer regions.

Grass pollen follows and last from mid spring to late summer. And finally weed pollen goes airborne in late summer and can last until early December or frost, whichever comes first.

Is medication a short or long term solution? The answer to this question really depends on the type of medication. The first type is designed to control the symptoms and generally include antihistamines that are designed to dry up the additional mucous the body makes in an attempt to flush out the allergens.

The second type of medication is designed to reduce the body's initial reaction to the allergen, which if successful, reduces the need for the medicines that control symptoms.

Then there are allergy shots. This is a slow process that meets with mixed results for different people. The idea is to gradually inject increasing amounts of the allergen into the body. The hope is that the body will become desensitized and will be less likely to overreact with symptoms.

Can an air purifier really make a difference? An air purifier with HEPA or high efficiency particle arresting filtration is one of the most consistent recommendations in the allergy management plan.

Reducing exposure to the irritant is still the best way to manage allergies, and a HEPA can remove airborne particles that are as small as.3 microns in size. A cleaner with multiple sized filters, and variable filtration speeds is one of the most effective ways to stay on track despite hay fever.

Let the Hay Fever Air Purifier clear indoor air for you all year round. Equipped with HEPA filtration, it can remove seasonal pollen and other chronic indoor irritants 24 hours every day. See it now at http://purerair.com/hay_fever_air_purifier.html

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Hay Fever - The Best Treatments for an Allergy Free Life

Hay fever or seasonal allergic rhinitis afflicts sufferers with a variety of symptoms, such as:

· Itchy, runny & / or blocked nose

· Itchy, watery, red eyes

· Sneezing

· Itchy throat

· Less commonly; headache, face pain, sweats, loss of smell, asthma symptoms (breathless, wheezing)

Hay fever is caused by an allergy to pollen, the commonest coming from grasses and weeds which causes symptoms during spring & summer. Tree pollens can also affect many people, but tend to do so earlier in the year, generally from March till May. If symptoms persist in the winter months then other causes of allergy maybe to blame, such as fungal spores, house dust mites and animal & pet dander from fur.

Symptoms are caused by the body's immune system reacting to pollen, cells in the lining of the nose & on the surface of the eyes release histamine when exposed to an allergen which causes inflammation & irritation. Hay fever affects about 20% of the population and often starts in childhood and re-occurs each year for several years before improving or disappearing completely. People that suffer from hay fever are also often prone to asthma & eczema; these so called "atopic" conditions also tend to run in families.

Simple measures to reduce exposure to pollen can help ease symptoms, but avoiding pollen completely is virtually impossible. The following actions may help when the pollen count is high (50+):

· Stay indoors as much as possible with the doors & windows closed

· Keep car windows & air vents closed, consider fitting pollen filters.

· Wear wrap around sunglasses

· Avoid cutting grass & large grassy areas as much as possible

· Shower & wash your hair often to remove pollen

Treatment:

Hay fever is treated mainly with anti-histamine tablets, nasal sprays (anti-histamine or steroid) & eye drops. For optimal control, treatment should begin BEFORE the hay fever season starts and continue until the pollen season ends.

Anti-histamine tablets are classified into 1st generation (e.g. Chlorpheniramine - PIRITON?) which commonly cause drowsiness & also need to be taken several times a day.

2nd generation anti-histamines (e.g. Loratidine - CLARITYN? & Cetirizine - ZIRTEK?) generally do not cause drowsiness and are only taken once per day. Loratidine is considered the least likely to make you feel sleepy or to interact with alcohol. Both these drugs can occasionally cause dizziness and should be avoided during pregnancy & breastfeeding. These drugs can ease all symptoms of hay fever with the exception of a blocked nose, if this symptom is troublesome the use of a decongestant, such as pseudoephedrine can be tried or alternative anti-histamines prescribed; Fexofenadine or Desloratidine. Anti-histamines taken orally tend to act in about 30 minutes, but for faster relief Acrivastine - BENEDRYL? can be used which offers relief within 15 minutes, but requires frequent doses every 8 hours.

Steroid nasal sprays (Beclometasone - BECONASE? & Fluticasone - FLIXONASE?) are very effective at relieving nasal & eye symptoms. They are used once or twice daily in each nostril and can take between 5 & 20 days to provide a full effect. Anti-histamine nasal sprays (e.g. Azelastine - RHINOLAST?) offer fast relief of nasal symptoms, but do not help affected eyes and are generally less effective than steroids. Cromoglycate nasal sprays (RYNACROM?) offer another alternative, but these also need to be used regularly and can take up to 2 weeks to reach full effect. They are more often used in children. Ipratropium bromide nasal sprays (ATROVENT?) are particularly effective in stopping very watery nasal discharges, but have no effect on other nasal or eye symptoms.

Eye symptoms can be rapidly relieved by anti-histamine eye drops (e.g. Antazoline - OTRIVINE ANTISTIN?) or alternatively use drops with the anti-allergy ingredient Sodium Cromoglycate (CLARITYN? or OPTREX? allergy drops) however these need to be used regularly and can take several days to reach full effectiveness.

Successful relief of hay fever is often only achieved with the use of several products and may require treatment with anti-histamine tablets, a nasal spray & eye drops combined, starting a few weeks before the season begins.

Michael Lord BPharm(hons)

Pharmacist for 25 years & health journalist

http://www.healthandbeautyabroad.com/

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What Can We Do With Hay Fever?

When we have chronic allergies, our immune system has been shifted away from a response that deals more with bacteria and viruses towards a response that causes more allergic tendencies. This is usually due to our bodies being over-stimulated by exposure to multiple irritants and becoming hypersensitive to different agents. With a shift in the immune response, our immune system is hypersensitive to things such as dust, pollen, grasses, pet dander, or allergic foods, and allergies can often be found in a triad with asthma and eczema. The most important thing to do at this point is to try and avoid things we are sensitive to, whether they are food or environmental offenders, to try and decrease the burden to our immune system. Besides avoiding offending factors, there are many other natural treatments that can be helpful, which are described below.

Vitamin C and quercetin are both very helpful in decreasing histamine and the inflammatory response seen in allergies. Other treatments that are very helpful for decreasing hay fever include grape seed extract, Petasites hybridus, or butterbur, and Urtica dioica, or nettles. Because low stomach acid can cause problems in digestion and lead to the development of allergies, supplementing with hydrocholoric acid may be useful. Fish oil and probiotics can also help with stabilizing membranes and the healing of the gut, which will decrease allergic symptoms.

A method for directly clearing our nasal passages during bouts of hay fever is the use of a neti pot. Howto use a neti pot is described in my blog post on treatments for sinus infections. A neti pot can help to wash away any airborne allergens we may have inhaled during the day, as well as rinsing away any bacteria or other microbes that can build up and eventually cause sinus infections. The neti pot can thus directly decrease the allergic load in our nose and sinuses.

Along with using a neti pot to clear nasal passages, another way of decreasing congestion and thinning mucus secretions can be accomplished by eating spices or pungent foods. As long as the spices do not cause reflux (spicy foods are an easy trigger for people that are prone to having heartburn), the most frequently recommended spices for this purpose include cayenne pepper, hot ginger, and fenugreek, as well as the traditional onion and garlic.

One key to success with allergies is to try and start treatment before symptoms kick in - starting three weeks before allergy season begins is a great way for preventing or decreasing allergy symptoms. As always, there are many treatments that can be beneficial for allergies. It is therefore important to seek professional medical advice for moderate to severe allergies to find the underlying causes for each case and to get treatments specific to each individual.

Dr. Corrine Wang is a licensed Naturopathic doctor that graduated from Bastyr University in Seattle, Washington. As a Naturopathic doctor, she is committed to assisting others achieve balance and wellness in their lives. She believes in treating the whole person and supports each individual's healing process with the most effective, least invasive methods possible. Dr. Wang treats a variety of conditions using therapies that include clinical nutrition and dietary therapy, herbal and nutritional supplements, homeopathy, detoxification, and physical medicine including craniosacral therapy. She believes in mind-body medicine and supporting mental health along with physical health and also has experience with biofeedback, meditation, and other counseling techniques. She has a practice at Pacific Naturopathic in Mountain View. To learn more about Dr. Wang and how she can be of service, please visit her website at http://www.drcorrinewang.com/.

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Natural Treatments for Hay Fever

Allergies are caused by your immune system attacking something that isn't actually harmful to your body, but for some reason your body thinks it is. Basically, your immune system is in place to protect you from harmful things like bacteria, toxins and viral infections, but in the case of allergies your body mistakes something harmless like pollen as a threat to your body.

Allergies can be environmental allergies, where people have an immune response to particles in the air such as tree pollen, pet dander, dust, grasses, or mold. Another type of allergy can be allergies to certain foods, such as dairy, wheat, or peanuts.

Having allergies often involves a genetic component, as having a close relative with allergies makes it much more likely that you will suffer from allergies as well. There are no known causes of hay fever. However there are factors that are correlated with allergies, such as fatigue, poor digestion, insomnia, stress, and low immunity.

Allergic responses are caused by the release of histamines and symptoms are similar to having the cold or flu, involving itchy and watery eyes, runny nose, sneezing, sore throat, fatigue and cough. They can also involve the skin, causing itching and rash. These symptoms are due to the body trying to flush out the allergen which it sees as a threat.

Since allergies are caused by the release of histamines, drugs for allergies are aimed at blocking the activity of histames. Claritin, Zyrtec, Allegra and Benadryl are the most common over the counter medications for allergies, and the drugs they contain are all histamine blockers which help reduce the immune response caused by allergens. There are also prescription drugs like Flonase which contain inhaled steroids used to reduce inflammation. These drugs will give the most immediate relief from allergies, however many people want to avoid taking medication long term for reasons like side effects and cost, and there are some things you can do help get rid of your allergies in a natural way.

Natural Treatments for Allergies

By far the simplest and yet one of the most effective things you can do to reduce your allergy symptoms is to drink plenty of water. Water helps keep the lining of your respiratory system fluid and reduces your sensitivity to airborne allergens. In addition, being dehydrated causes your body to release more histamines than normal, so staying hydrated by drinking water will help prevent this.

If you suffer from allergies, you have probably noticed that when you are feeling burned out, your allergies are worse. So, getting adequate sleep can be of great benefit in reducing allergies. When your body is exhausted, there is a tendency for your immune system to get hypersensitive to your surroundings as a way to defend a body which it sees as already weak. With enough sleep, your body is healthier and more prepared to take on the stresses of the day, so your immune system relaxes as it sees less need to protect you. Also, overextending yourself and your energy due to excess stress can have the same effect, where your body becomes exhausted and your immune system goes overboard in trying to protect you.

There are herbal medicines which act in a similar way to allergy medication by stabilizing the immune cells that produce histamine. Quercitin and stinging nettle are two commonly used herbs. In addition, because fatigue and a weak immune system are correlated with allergies, a natural adaptogen or immune strengthener can help improve your allergy symptoms as well as your energy levels. Astragalus, rhodiola, and ashwaghanda are some herbal medicines that reduce stress and help strengthen the body's immune system and the organs involved in energy production.

The Mind-Body Connection in Allergies

The mind-body connection in allergies is an interesting one to consider, and one not usually discussed when dealing with allergies. If you imagine your immune system as the defense system of your body, and the immune cells as the soldiers employed to defend you, it follows that an allergic reaction is when those soldiers become overly defensive and start attacking things that don't really pose a threat to you.

If you are suffering from allergies, it is sometimes helpful to look at whether you may be feeling too protective of yourself, and hence getting overly defensive. Protecting yourself is a natural inclination, however this natural protective instinct can sometimes get out of hand and rather than provide a benefit to you, actually end up being harmful and keep you from living your life more fully. If you notice you are spending a lot of energy trying to prevent bad things from happening, getting anxious over not being able to control certain aspects of life, this may be a component that leaves you more susceptible to allergies. Dealing with these fears can help you learn to trust that you are capable of taking care of yourself when hardships or attacks do occur, leaving your defense mechanism - hence, your immune system - more stable and less hypersensitive. Try and relax - life won't deal out anything that you aren't able to handle.

Allergies, while usually not a severe health problem, can still make life much more difficult. For people who suffer from chronic allergies it may be necessary to take medication to reduce your symptoms, but in the long run working towards treating your allergies in a natural way will help reduce your need to take drugs and improve the health of your immune system and your body.

Dr. Petersen is a naturopathic doctor living in San Diego, CA.
For more articles, news, and natural health tips visit http://www.thenaturalhealthspot.com/

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