Questions about allergic rhinitis
Most of us have heard of allergic rhinitis at least once. According to statistics, about 15 percent of the population is affected by this problem. Typical signs of allergic rhinitis include nasal congestion, sneezing, an itchy nose, and a sore throat can significantly worsen the quality of your life. If you are experiencing similar problems, this article will help you find answers to the most frequently asked questions about allergic rhinitis.
What is allergic rhinitis?
Allergic rhinitis is a common medical problem known to most people as hay fever. The problem can show up in two different forms: seasonal and perennial. Depending on the form, the symptoms will manifest with different frequencies. For the seasonal form, episodic manifestations associated with the active effect of allergens on the body are the most common. So exacerbations will be associated with sensitivity to seasonal irritants such as pollen from different plants.
The perennial form occurs when the body is exposed to more persistent allergens such as pet hair or dander, house dust, dust mites, or mold spores. Sometimes these two forms can appear at the same time.
What are the most common signs of allergic rhinitis?
Upon contact with foreign particles, your immune system launches a chain of biological reactions causing your body to produce histamine. These reactions may result in one or more following symptoms:
- Nasal stuffiness, sneezing, and runny nose
- Itchy nose, throat, and eyes irritation
- Wheezing, coughing, and trouble breathing
- Coughing and increased mucus in the nose and throat
- Headaches, sinus pain, and dark circles under the eyes
People with allergic rhinitis may also experience increased fatigue and even malaise.
What are the risk factors for allergic rhinitis?
The appearance of allergic rhinitis is often associated with a genetic predisposition. Therefore, if one of your parents suffers from allergic reactions, you should pay special attention to your health. The risk of allergic rhinitis increases significantly in the presence of a number of household irritants. Unfortunately, a pet can cause discomfort associated with an allergic reaction.
Living in places with poor air quality can harm not only your lungs but also lead to the development of rhinitis. Children who are exposed to tobacco or any other smoke regularly are more likely to develop allergic rhinitis than their peers who don’t inhale smoke. Probably the most common cause of hay fever is the pollen of various plants. Therefore, to minimize the effect of allergens on your body, doctors recommend controlling the amount of pollen and adjusting your outdoor activities during periods when the number of irritants increases.
How can allergic rhinitis be treated?
While your symptoms are mild, you can ease your condition by controlling the main allergens that cause your allergic rhinitis. If the symptoms are more severe, you may benefit from one of the following methods. Immunotherapy will help your body learn how to tolerate allergens. The method means receiving a series of injections. Each of them contains a small amount of allergen to help your immune system develop immunity to the irritant and stop responding to it.
Antihistamine medicines will be effective for the treatment of allergy symptoms that occur not very often or don’t last for long periods. One of the ways to alleviate the condition of allergic rhinitis is by undergoing septoplasty or sinus surgery. Additionally, there are a variety of surgical options for treating allergic rhinitis, most of which target the underlying nasal obstructive component.
The bottom line
Millions of people suffer from allergies, especially allergic rhinitis. Some allergies can make daily activities difficult or reduce one’s quality of life. There are a sufficient number of effective methods to deal with this problem. The allergist-immunologist can make an individual treatment plan for your condition. As a result, you will be able to lead the most comfortable life and minimize the impact of negative factors associated with rhinitis on it.
