Allergies – Prevention & Treatment

For Your Health…

Tips for the prevention and treatment of allergies

ALLERGIC RHINITIS

Symptoms Include: Eye; swelling, itching and tearing. Nasal; itching, sneezing, congestion, stuffiness, runniness, post nasal drip.

May Lead To: mouth breathing, snoring, sniffing, nose blowing, throat clearing, a permanent “cold”.

Which May Cause: sleep disturbances, irritability, lethargy, embarrassment, inattentiveness, and poor school and on-the-job performance.

CONTEMPORARY MANAGEMENT

1. Establish correct diagnosis – Must differentiate from nonallergic rhinitis. Examples include:
   Bacterial ( nasal discharge green yellow or cloudy, fever, lack of itching, antihistamines do not work)
   Sinusitis ( headache, facial pain, bad taste, reduced sense of smell,  facial swelling, sore throat, cough)
   Vasomotor ( no itch, hyperresponsiveness to smells, chemicals, tobacco smoke, cold air and humidity)
   Medicamentosa (rebound congestion from topical decongestants)
   Hormonal (usually associated with pregnancy)
   Gustatory ( from hot/spicy foods).

2. Environmental control measures

• Reduce exposure to offenders- pollen, dust mites, dander, mold, trees, grasses, weeds, and fungi.
• Keep windows shut and air condition filters clean
• Clean house (regular dusting and vacuuming)
• Wash bedding frequently
• Purchase non-permiable pillow and mattress covers to prevent offenders from camping out
• Remove wall-to-wall carpeting
• Clean area rugs regularly, also kill offenders by putting rug in sun, freezing temperature or in clothes dryer for 20 minutes
• Keep home cool (less than 70 degrees) and dry (under 55% relative humidity)- purchase “high efficiency particulate air” (HEAP) cleaning machines

3. Prescription and Non-prescription Medication

Antihistamines and Cromolyn – inhibit the release of chemical mediators in the body that play a role in producing signs and symptoms of allergy

Decongestants – help to reduce nasal obstruction and stuffiness

Anti inflammatants – prevent inflammation of mucous membranes

Saline nose sprays – flush mucous membranes of offenders

Expectorants – loosen congested mucous membranes

Corticosteriods – inhibit the inflammatory process at several points: vasodilatation, edema (swelling)  formation, mucous gland activity,  and infiltration of inflammatory cells

Anticholinergics – reduce glandular secretions

If a higher level of wellness is a personal goal of yours, but you are in need of some external guidance and motivation, contact your neighborhood Pharmacist / Nutritionist / Fitness Professionals at Carnegie-Sargent’s Pharmacy and Health Center.   (312) 280-1220.  Remember health promotion begins with you!