Allergies are caused by an overreaction by the body's immune system to a foreign substance, such as pollen. Pollen-caused allergies are known as outdoor allergies, seasonal allergies, hay fever and allergic rhinitis and are are commonly caused by tree pollen, grass pollen, weed pollen and mold spores. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, allergies are the fifth leading chronic disease and result in around $700 in lost worker productivity each year.
Allergy Seasons
Specific pollens are more common during certain seasons. Trees tend to pollinate in spring and winter. Grasses pollinate in the spring and summer, while weeds pollinate in summer and fall. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of North America, ragweed causes 75 percent of all hay fever. Mold spores are released most commonly in summer.
Symptoms
Symptoms of outdoor pollen and mold allergies include sneezing, runny nose, nasal congestion, coughing, postnasal drip, itchy nose, sensitive throat, dark circles under eyes and itchy eyes, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Pollen and mold counts indicate the amount of pollen or mold spores in the air at a given time. Pollen counts help doctors and allergy sufferers know when to expect and treat symptoms. The National Allergy Forecast is available tailored to specific zip codes on pollen.com.
Treatment
Multiple treatment options exist to help allergy sufferers alleviate symptoms and continue with daily activities, but no cure exists for allergy sufferers. Current common treatment options include nasal steroid sprays, nasal antihistamine sprays, oral antihistamines and decongestants. Other treatment options available include saline irrigation and alternative therapies, according to American Family Physician.
Nasal Steroid and Antihistamine Sprays
Prescription steroid nasal sprays and prescription nasal antihistamine sprays are effective treatments. A health care provider can recommend and prescribe products specific to each patient's needs. The side effects most commonly experienced using nasal steroid sprays include headache, nose bleeds, stinging and throat irritation. The most common side effects of antihistamine sprays include bitter taste, headache, stinging, sedation and nose bleeds.
Oral Antihistamines
Oral antihistamines are also available for the treatment of allergy symptoms with many being over the counter. Newer antihistamines available with few side effects include clarinex or desloratadine, xyzal or levocetirizine, allegra or fexofenadine, zyrtec or certirizine and claritin or loratadine. Of those only claritin and zyrtec are available over the counter with the rest requiring a prescription. Zyrtec can cause sedation, according to American Family Physician.
Decongestants
Nasal congestion can be treated with many over-the-counter options including Afrin or oxymetazoline and products containing pseudoephedrine. These medications should all be used with caution because of their side effects. They should never be used for longer than three days, as they can cause congestion to become much worse if used outside that time period. Side effects for these medications include headache, high blood pressure,dizziness, nervousness and insomnia.
Other Treatments
Though multiple alternative therapies exist for the treatment of nasal allergies, none have been shown to be both effective and safe. The only alternative treatment currently recommended is saline irrigation of the nose. This can be accomplished through use of saline squeeze bottles or the neti pot system.
References
- Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America: Allergy Fast Facts and Figures
- Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America: Pollen and Mold Counts
- "American Family Physician"; Treatment of Allergic Rhinitis; Denise K. Sur, M.D. and Stephanie Scandale, M.D.; June 2010
