Sneezing can be an allergic reaction to something you have breathed. There are approximately 35 million Americans who experience upper respiratory problems due to airborne allergens, according to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
Causes
An allergy is caused by your body's immune response to what in reality is just a harmless substance. Your body produces IgE antibodies to fight the allergen -- a substance that causes an allergic reaction -- making you sensitive to that particle. Every time you come in contact with the allergen, your immune system attacks it and produces chemicals, such as histamine. Airborne allergens include any particles, spread through the air, which you can breath in, including dust mites, pollen, pet hair and mold spores, according to the NIAID.
Allergens
Pollen is a common airborne allergen that is in the air during spring, summer and fall. A pollen allergy also is called seasonal allergic rhinitis or hay fever. Unlike other allergens, such as pet hair and dust mites, which you can remove from your surroundings, pollen sometimes is impossible to avoid. A mold allergy is caused by fungal spores you inhale from the surrounding air. Mold can exists in moist environments in your home and outside, as well as in some foods. A dust allergy is caused mainly by dust mites, tiny organisms that live in bedding, furniture and carpets. They thrive in summer but usually die during the cold winter months. The actual allergic reaction is caused by a waste product produced by the dust mites. A pet allergy is caused by animals' saliva, urine, dandruff and fur.
Symptoms
Symptoms of airborne allergies resemble those of the common cold, including clogged or runny nose, sneezing, postnasal drip, cough, watery eyes, itchy nose, throat and eyes and dark circles under your eyes. You also can develop asthma, which can be a serious condition associated with wheezing, coughing and shortness of breath due to narrowing of the airways. Asthma can be fatal, according to the NIAID.
Treatment
Symptoms of airborne allergies can be treated with medication. Antihistamines, which can be purchased over the counter or by prescription, help provide relief for allergic reactions. Their function is to coat and block histamine receptors in your body to prevent allergic reactions. Antihistamines are effective in providing relief for sneezing, itchy eyes and nose. They also reduce swelling in the nasal passages. Topical nasal steroids are anti-inflammatory medications that can reduce nasal swelling and mucus secretion, while decongestants help drain mucus and relieve symptoms. The only treatment that can help reduce allergy symptoms over several years is immunotherapy, given in a series of allergy shots. This treatment is based on directing your body's response from IgE to IgG antibodies that do not mediate allergic reactions.
Prevention
Complete avoidance of airborne allergens can be difficult. Avoiding household pets, using a high-efficiency particulate air filter, or HEPA, in your vacuum cleaner and ventilation systems, fixing water leaks and other sources of moisture and cleaning your house regularly, can help prevent pet, dust mite and mold allergy, while pollen allergens tend to find their way into your house no matter what you do. Reduce your encounter with pollen by wearing a face mask when outdoors and keeping your windows and doors closed, especially in the morning and on windy days.
