Treatment Options for Hay Fever

Hay Fever is a common name for allergic Rhinitis. Allergic rhinitis is the inflammation of the upper respiratory system consisting of the nose, throat, and sinuses. Hay fever is generally brought on by exposure to inhaled allergens. Things like smoke, smog, fumes, pollen from tree and grasses, flowers and weeds, dust, animal dander, some foods and some medications can all be causes of hay fever. The symptoms of hay fever are generally a runny nose, sneezing, coughing, red irritated teary eyes, headaches pressure in sinuses, in addition post nasal drip running down the throat into the stomach can cause sore throat and nausea.

Avoidance

The first line of defense with hay fever is avoidance. Whenever and wherever possible do what it takes to not have exposure to the allergens. There are numerous ways to do this. Some work better than others. Since dust mites can be a major allergen, getting rid of the places they live is a good idea. Put covers on mattresses and pillows, wash bed linens in hot water, replace carpeting with hardwood floors. If the problem is pollens keep windows closed, use air filters in the house and car, avoid going outside in early a.m. when most plants release their pollen. Shower and wash your hair before going to bed that way you dont get dust and pollen on your pillows. Keep the pets out of the house, if you cant do that keep them out of the bedroom and off the furniture.

Treatment

Medical treatment for hay fever can vary depending on the severity and causes. Frequently the only thing people do is treat the symptoms by using decongestants, cough drops and tissues for your nose. Decongestants can cause side effects and dry out the mucous membranes of the nose, mouth and sinuses making them more susceptible to infections. There are over the counter antihistamines both slow acting and fast acting which stop the body from releasing histamines in response to allergens. These suppress the immune system but do not cure the problem and they can cause additional problems such as chronic sinusitis.

Also available for treating allergies is immunotherapy. There are several different forms of immunotherapy. One variety is to take tiny amounts of an allergen and inject this in the allergy sufferer, building up a tolerance to the allergen and lowering the reaction in the sufferer. You can get injections of corticosteroids that are used to suppress the bodys allergic response. This treatment also has side effects in certain susceptible individuals, people with diabetes should avoid steroids as it can negatively affect blood sugar levels.

There are also alternative and holistic treatments available for hay fever. Vitamin C is considered a good treatment, nettles tea seems to help some people by cutting down on reactivity. Acupuncture and chiropractic treatment can help some allergy suffers by helping the body rid itself of toxins. Some sufferers swear by eliminating certain foods from their diets. The worst offenders appear to be wheat, wheat gluten, sugar, corn and corn sweeteners, milk and dairy products. Even if you arent obviously allergic to these items eliminating them from the diet seems to help the body deal better with other allergens.

Nikola Babic works at http://www.beyondallergy.com, online magazine and resource for allergy sufferers offering latest news and information on different types of allergies and treatments.

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