Hay Fever Remedies - Eliminate the Sniffles
May 18, 2007
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Most of us have suffered from it at one time or another. I’m talking about hay fever. When the seasons change, the symptoms begin. If you suffer from hay fever, here are a few remedies to stop it before it stops you.
Hay fever is more commonly known as allergic rhinitis. Symptoms of hay fever include: itchy, watery eyes, stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat, and runny nose. Hay fever strikes men and women equally, mostly during the spring and fall.
Hay fever is most commonly caused by pollen. The pollen we are all familiar with is the yellow spore that is produced by flowering plants and collected by bees. Pollen spores are produced by trees, weeds, molds, and grasses also. Identifying the specific spore that causes the hay fever symptoms can be difficult.
There is no one cause of hay fever. The allergen in question is inhaled by the person and the body perceives it as a foreign body. White blood cell count increases as the body prepares to attack the invader. Antibodies are produced called immunoglobulin E. These antibodies activate histamine.
Histamine is a term we’ve all heard. The histamine reaction occurs when it is activated by antibodies in the blood. The symptoms that occur as a result of hay fever are the result of the histamine reaction. To stop the symptoms, a remedy needs to block the binding sites of the histamine.
There are several ways to control your hay fever depending on the severity. Each symptom can be treated individually. Over-the-counter medications are available for sore throat, runny nose, and sneezing. An antihistamine that also contains a decongestant should take care of the symptoms. If the sore throat is worse in the morning, try gargling with warm water and salt to soothe the pain.
If nasal congestion is the primary symptom of your hay fever, try a nasal spray. If over-the-counter varieties don’t work, visit your doctor for something stronger. Nasal sprays that contain corticosteroids to reduce inflammation are obtained by prescription only.
More severe hay fever sufferers should be checked out by a doctor. An allergist may recommend a skin test to determine the extent of the allergic reactions. This involves exposing an area of the skin, usually the back, to several different concentrated forms of common allergens. If a wheal forms in any of the areas that were tested, then the person is highly allergic to those allergens. That knowledge will help the doctor prescribe medications specific to your condition.
Most hay fever sufferers are affected seasonally. Over-the-counter remedies treat all symptoms associated with the condition. If the symptoms don’t subside in a week of two, visit a doctor for a more detailed analysis.
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Posted by admin | Filed Under Health & Wellness
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