About 40 million Americans suffer from indoor or outdoor allergies, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Hay fever, or allergic rhinitis, is the fifth leading chronic disease among adults, resulting in nearly 4 million lost workdays each year. These allergies of the nose and sinuses include allergic rhinitis, seasonal and perennial allergies, hay fever and nasal allergies. The same things that cause inflammation in your nose can also affect your sinuses.
Causes
Allergies occur when substances like pollens and mold make contact with the mucus membrane lining in your nose or sinuses. This lining normally produces mucus as a way of flushing dirt and debris from your airway. The presence of allergens causes the lining to become inflamed and triggers an increase in mucus production, resulting in a runny nose and plugged sinuses. Over time, trapped air in your sinus cavities causes increased pressure inside your sinuses. Conversely, swollen mucus membranes prevent air from entering your sinuses, creating a vacuum, and this negative pressure results in a sinus headache.
Symptoms
A person with nose and sinus allergies suffers many uncomfortable symptoms, such as stuffy or runny nose, postnasal drip, congested head and headache. Despite its common name, hay fever does not occur from contact with hay and does not result in fever, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. Doctors prefer to use the term allergic rhinitis to describe the runny nose, sneezing, itchy nose, watery eyes and cough, while reserving the name sinusitis for a condition that causes sinus pressure and pain behind the nose and eyes.
Treatment
Nasal sprays containing corticosteroids reduce inflammation of the mucus membranes. They also relieve nasal itching and runny nose associated with allergies. Oral antihistamines ease itching, sneezing and watery eyes. Decongestants may open nasal passages and reduce sinus pressure. Nasal irrigation with salt water clears passages and is a quick, inexpensive and effective way to relieve nasal congestion due to nose and sinus allergies.
Prevention
It is important to keep your nose and sinuses as free from allergens as possible to prevent inflammation of the mucus membranes. Avoid exposure to environmental substances, like cigarette smoke and pollutants, to reduce overall irritation to your sinus cavities and mucus membranes. The most common triggers are tree, grass and weed pollens, mold spores, dust mites, cockroaches and dog, cat and rodent dander. Use of nasal spray immediately after exposure to allergens can reduce the onset of symptoms.
