How Hay Fever Affects The Body
Allergic rhinitis, often called hay fever, occurs when your immune system overreacts to particles in the air that you breathe — you are allergic to them. Your immune system attacks the particles in your body, causing symptoms such as sneezing and a runny nose. The particles are called allergens, which simply means they can cause an allergic reaction. An allergic reaction occurs only in people who have a condition called atopy. It means that allergens are likely to cause an allergic reaction. An atopic person often develops more than one allergy. Experts don't know why people become atopic and have allergic reactions. Most people who have allergies have family members who also have some kind of allergy.
The first time you are exposed to an allergen in the air, your body's immune system may recognize the allergen as a foreign substance. Your body reacts by making antibodies against the allergen. The next time you are exposed to the allergen, the antibodies attack it, releasing histamine and other chemicals that cause the symptoms of your allergy. This is called sensitization. If sensitization occurs, it tends to be after age 3. Children who develop allergic rhinitis after age 3 generally become allergic to many allergens, including dust mites, dander on pets, and pollens. If you have a pollen allergy, your symptoms may vary according to the climate and the types of plants that grow in your area. If you have symptoms in: * Winter and spring, you are probably allergic to tree pollens; * Summer, you are probably allergic to grass and weed pollens; * Late summer and fall, you probably are allergic to ragweed or other weed pollens, such as tumbleweed or sage.
Hay fever can affect your health if you do not treat it, particularly women in their
menopause years. If it lasts a long time, you may have complications such as sinusitis, plugged ears and ear infections. Many people with asthma also have hay fever, and researchers are looking at whether allergic rhinitis may lead to asthma. Hay fever can also affect your quality of life. You may avoid seeing people, have problems sleeping, and feel tired or irritable. You may have trouble with school or work.
Best Tips For Managing Hay Fever Symptoms
"Hay fever" or seasonal allergic rhinitis affects over 20 percent of the people living in the US. Most common in early spring, the symptoms of hay fever develop as a reaction to allergens (allergy-causing substances) in the air, most notably to pollens in the early spring. Other examples of airborne allergens include mold spores, dust, and animal dander. Pollen consists of the minuscule, male cells of flowering plants. Pollen from garden flowers usually doesn't cause allergies, since this type of pollen is large and waxy and most often carried by insects. Small, light, dry pollens produced by trees, grasses, and weeds can disseminate with the wind and lead to allergic symptoms.
Your physician can help you determine whether treatments are necessary, such as prescription or nonprescription antihistamines to control the symptoms of hay fever. Whether or not you take medication for hay fever or seasonal allergic rhinitis, you can still take steps to reduce the severity of your symptoms and get rid of allergy-related
insomnia . The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (AAAAI) has some useful tips for those who suffer from seasonal allergies:
1. Wash bed sheets weekly in hot water.
2. Always bathe and wash hair before bedtime (pollen can collect on skin and hair throughout the day).
3. Do not hang clothes outside to dry where they can trap pollens.
4. Wear a filter mask when mowing or working outdoors.
5. Avoid peak times for pollen exposure (hot, dry, windy days, usually between 10 am and 4 pm). Although pollens are usually emitted in early morning, peak times for dissemination are between around 10 am and 4 pm.
6. Be aware of local pollen counts in your area (visit the National Allergy Bureau Web site).
7. Keep windows and car windows closed; use air conditioning in both if possible rather than opening windows.
8. Perform a thorough spring cleaning of your home, including replacing heating and A/C filters and cleaning ducts and vents.
9. Check bathrooms and other damp areas in your home frequently for mold and mildew, and remove visible mold with nontoxic cleaners.
10. Keep pets out of the bedroom and off of furniture, since they may carry pollen if they have been outdoors.
Got Hay Fever? Get To Work With Hay Fever Relief!
Hay fever slams people every spring: can't breath; can't think; can't even hear very well. Do you call in sick or drag your fuzzy-brained self to the office? Or do you simply pop an allergy pill and get on with your day? Either way, American workers have long waged a battle with hay fever. Hay fever is the fifth most common chronic disease - topped by orthopaedic problems, sinusitis, high blood pressure, arthritis and
constipation, according to the National Academy on an Aging Society. Ten years ago, nearly seven million workdays were lost because of hay fever allergies, either through absenteeism or "presenteeism" - when workers show up but are less productive. The total cost to employers was more than $600 million in lost productivity because of allergies and taking sedating allergy medications at work. At that time, the nonsedating antihistamines were prescription drugs, and oftentimes expensive, especially for people without drug coverage. That has changed, however, over the last few years, now that there are new medications that promise to alleviate hay fever among children, teenagers and adults and are less expensive. For people with hay fever who get the right medicine and the right dosage, the amount of lost productivity has dropped to almost zero. But if you are not taking medication or taking the wrong medication there will be lost productivity. For employers, the message is clear: they need to educate workers on allergy cures. Also employers should make sure health plans cover prescription medications if people do not benefit from the over the counter allergy drugs. After all, for hay fever sufferers, the symptoms are no small matter. If you do not have allergies, you do not realize it but hay fever is more than just a stuffy nose because there are whole-body effects that make it hard to function.
The Symptoms, Causes And Hay Fever Diagnosis That You Must Take Note Of
Allergic rhinitis or hay fever happens when your immune system overreacts to particles in the air that you breathe - in short, you are allergic to them. Your immune system attacks the particles in your body, causing symptoms such as sneezing and a runny nose. The particles are called allergen. This allergens can cause an allergic reaction. People with allergies, for example in
anti aging skin care products, usually have symptoms for many years. You may have symptoms often during the year, or just at certain times. You also may get other problems such as sinusitis and ear infections as a result of your allergies. Over time, allergens may begin to affect you less, and your symptoms may not be as severe as they had been. In most cases, when you have allergic rhinitis: You sneeze again and again, especially after you wake up in the morning; You have a runny nose and postnasal drip. The drainage from a runny nose caused by allergies is usually clear and thin. But it may become thicker and cloudy or yellowish if you get a nasal or sinus infection; Your eyes are watery and itchy; Your ears, nose, and throat are itchy. You probably know that pollens from tress, grasses, and weeds cause allergic rhinitis. Many people have allergies to dust mites, animal dander, cockroaches, and mold as well. Things in the workplace, such as cereal grain, wood dust, chemicals, or lab animals, can also cause hay fever. If you are allergic to pollens, you may have symptoms only at certain times of the year. If you are allergic to dust mites and indoor allergens, you may have symptoms all the time. To find out if you have allergies, your physician will ask about symptoms and examine you. Knowing what symptoms you have, when you get them, and what makes them worse or better can help your doctor know whether you have allergies or another problem. If you have severe symptoms, you may need to have allergy tests to find out what you are allergic to.
* Your physician may do a skin test. In this test your doctor puts a small amount of an allergen into your skin to see if it causes an allergic reaction.
* Your doctor may order lab tests. These tests can find substances in your blood or other fluids that may mean you have hay fever.
There is no cure for hay fever. One of the best things you can do is to avoid the things that cause your allergies. You may need to clean your house often to get rid of dust, animal dander, or molds. Of you may need to stay indoors when pollen counts are high. Unless you have another health problem, such as asthma, you may take over the counter medicines to cure your symptoms at home. If you do have another problem, talk to your physician first. Others also should talk to their doctor before starting self-treatment include older adults, children, and women who are pregnant or breast-feeding. If your allergies bother you a lot and you can't avoid the things you are allergic to, you and your physician can decide if you should get allergy shots (immunotherapy) to help control your systems. For allergy shots to work, you need to know what you are allergic to. Finding the
ed treatment that works best for you may take a little time.
Treatments And Drugs For Hay Fever
There are a number of over-the-counter and prescription medications available that help relieve hay fever symptoms. They include pills, liquids, nasal sprays and eyedrops. Many people get the best
gift ideas and relief from a combination of allergy medications. You may need to try several medications to identify what works best for you. Over-the-counter medications may be enough to relieve your hay fever symptoms; or, you may need a prescription from your doctor.
If your child has hay fever, talk with your doctor about the best treatment. Some medications are approved for use in children, while others are only approved for adults. If you want to try an over-the-counter medication for your kid, be sure to read the labels carefully.
Medications for hay fever include:
* Nasal Corticosteroids. These nasal sprays help prevent and treat the inflammation caused by hay fever. For many people they are the most effective hay fever medications, and they are often the first medication prescribed. Although hay fever medications can start to work after a few days of treatment, you may not notice any improvement until after you have used them for a week or so. Nasal corticosteroids are a safe long-term treatment for most people. Side effects can include an unpleasant smell or taste and nose irritation.
* Oral Corticosteroids. Corticosteroid medications in pill form are sometimes used to relieve severe allergy symptoms. Because the long-term use of oral corticosteroids can cause serious side effects such as cataracts, osteoporosis and muscle weakness, they are usually prescribed only for short periods of time.
* Antihistamines. These oral medications and nasal sprays can help with itching, sneezing and runny nose, but have less effect on congestion. They work by blocking histamine, an inflammatory chemical released by your immune system during an allergic reaction. Older over-the-counter antihistamines such as diphenhydramine work as well as newer ones, but can make you drowsy. Newer oral antihistamines are less likely to make you drowsy, but are more costly than the older antihistamines.
* Decongestants. These medications are available in over-the-counter and prescription liquids, tablets and nasal sprays. Because oral decongestants can raise blood pressure, avoid them if you have high blood pressure. Oral decongestants can also worsen the symptoms of prostate enlargement, making urination more difficult. Do not use a decongestant nasal spray for more than two or three days at a time because it can cause rebound congestion when used longer.
* Cromolyn Sodium. This medication is available as an over-the-counter nasal spray that must be used several times a day. It helps relieve hay fever symptoms by preventing the release of histamine. Cromolyn sodium does not have serious side effects, and it is most effective when started before signs and symptoms develop.
* Leukotriene Modifiers. Montelukast (Singulair) is a prescription tablet taken to block the action of leukotrienes — immune system chemicals that cause allergy symptoms such as excess mucus production. It has proved effective in treating allergic asthma, and it is also effective in treating hay fever. Possible side effects include headache. Less common side effects include abdominal pain, cough, dental pain and dizziness. Like antihistamines, this medication is not as effective as inhaled corticosteroids. It is often used when nasal sprays cannot be tolerated, or when mild asthma is present.
* Nasal Atropine. Available in a prescription nasal spray, ipratropium bromide (Atrovent) helps relieve a severe runny nose by preventing the glands in your nose from producing excess fluid. It is not effective for treating congestion, sneezing or postnasal drip. Mild side effects include nasal dryness, nosebleeds and sore throat. Rarely, it can cause more-severe side effects such as blurred vision, dizziness and difficult urination. The drug is not recommended for people with glaucoma or men with an enlarged prostate.
Other treatments for hay fever include:
* Immunotherapy. If medications do not relieve your hay fever symptoms, your healthcare provider or doctor may recommend allergy shots (immunotherapy or desensitization therapy). Over a period of 3 to 5 years, you receive regular injections containing purified allergen extracts. The goal is to desensitize you to specific allergens, reduce your signs and symptoms, and decrease your need for medications. Immunotherapy may be especially effective if you are allergic to cat dander, dust mites, or pollen produced by trees, grass and weeds. In children, immunotherapy may help prevent the development of asthma.
* Nasal Lavage. To help with irritating nasal symptoms, your doctor may recommend that you rinse your nose with salt water. Use an over-the-counter nasal saline spray or prepare your own saltwater solution using 1/4 teaspoon of salt mixed with two cups of warm water. Both can be extremely effective at relieving congestion.
Ways To Prevent Hay Fever
There is no proven way to avoid getting hay fever, but you can prevent allergy symptoms by avoiding the things that trigger your reactions. While the evidence is not clear yet, doctors think reducing a child's exposure to allergy-causing substances such as dust mites may help delay or prevent hay fever. This may be especially true in children with a family history of allergies.
It is not possible to completely avoid allergens, but you can reduce your signs and symptoms by taking some steps with
website design Lexington to limit your exposure to them. It helps to know exactly what you are allergic to so that you can take steps to avoid your specific triggers.
1. Pollen Or Molds:
* Close doors and windows during pollen season.
* Do not hang laundry outside — pollen can stick to sheets and towels.
* Use air conditioning in your house and car.
* Use an allergy-grade filter in the ventilation system.
* Avoid outdoor activity in the early morning when pollen counts are highest.
* Stay indoors on dry, windy days.
* Use a dehumidifier to reduce indoor humidity.
* Use a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter in your bedroom.
* Avoid mowing the lawn or raking leaves, which stirs up pollen and molds.
* Wear a dust mask when doing outdoor activities such as gardening.
2. Dust Mites:
* Use allergy-proof covers on mattresses, box springs and pillows.
* Wash sheets and blankets in water heated to at least 130 F (54 degree Celsius).
* Use a dehumidifier or air conditioner to reduce indoor humidity.
* Vacuum carpets weekly with a vacuum cleaner equipped with a small-particle or HEPA filter.
* Consider removing carpeting, especially where you sleep, if you are highly sensitive to dust mites.
3. Cockroaches
* Block cracks and crevices where roaches can enter.
* Fix leaky faucets and pipes.
* Wash dishes and empty garbage daily.
* Sweep food crumbs from counters and floors.
* Store food, including pet food, in sealed containers.
* Consider professional pest extermination.
3. Pet dander
* Remove pets from the house, if possible.
* Bathe pets weekly. Using wipes designed to reduce dander also may help.
* Keep your pet out of the bedroom.
Hay Fever: Are You Sure It Is Not Your Problem?
Hay fever (allergic rhinitis) is an allergic response to pollen that affects the mucous membranes of the nose, eyes, and air passages. Symptoms include itchy eyes, watery discharge from the nose and eyes, sneezing, and nervous irritability. Many of the symptoms of hay fever are similar to those of the common cold. However, allergies cause a distinctive clear, thin nasal discharge, whereas secretions caused by colds usually become thick and yellow-green as the illness progresses. Also, colds are often associated with mild fever and are usually gone within a week, while allergy sufferers often have a feeling of being "wiped out" for weeks on end. At least 22 million Americans suffer from the seasonal sneezes, runny nose, and itchy eyes that come with hay fever. There are actually three hay fever seasons, distinguished by the different types of pollen present at different times. Tree pollens appear first, usually between February and May, depending on the local climate. The biggest problems come later in spring and in summer, when both tree and grass pollens - and people - are out at the same time. The fall is ragweed pollen season. Depending on which pollen or pollens an individual is allergic to, hay fever may be present at any or all of these times. People who suffer from hay fever often also suffer from other so-called atopic disorders, such as asthma and dermatitis. Those who suffer from hay fever symptoms and work on
SEO campaign throughout the year are said to have perennial rhinitis. The symptoms may be triggered by animal hair, dust, feathers, fungus spores, or some other environmental agent. People prone to allergies are most often aware of the time of year and conditions under which they are most sensitive. For a definitive diagnosis, the radioallergosorbent (RAST) test is easily done and gives reliable results.
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