Each year hay fever affects over 23 million people in the United States. And that number is based only on the people who check in with a health care professional. So it is pretty clear that this is a huge health issue.
Knowing the answers to these 7 frequently asked questions can help you manage allergic rhinitis more effectively.
Is there a difference between hay fever and allergic rhinitis? No, they are terms that are often used interchangeably for the same condition. Rhinitis being the more clinical name for hay fever is the swelling of the nasal tissues in some people that is caused by exposure to airborne irritants such as mold spores as well as tree, grass, and weed pollen.
What are the symptoms for hay fever and how do they differ from a cold? This is a frequently asked question and a great one because the symptoms for the two conditions are very similar.
Sneezing, coughing, congestion, post nasal drip are common to both conditions. However, it is the duration of the symptoms that gives the best indication.
Cold symptoms tend to run their course in 5 to 10 days. Allergy symptoms can last for months. And by consulting a physician about symptoms that last more than several weeks, they are often able to determine which you have by the condition of lining of the nasal cavity.
Which kind of pollen causes the most trouble, and when does that season start? Probably the most potent of all pollen is that of ragweed. This plant usually starts to pollinate in late summer and often continues until it is killed by frost in late November or early December (depending on the climate where you live).
Will a physical move to another part of the country help? The problem with moving to another part of country to escape is that the wind can take these light-weight allergens hundreds of miles from where they originate. So trying to run away from them is not likely to work.
When does pollen season end? It depends largely on where you live and the type of pollen. Tree pollen is usually the first to emerge and can do so as early as January in warmer regions.
Grass pollen follows and last from mid spring to late summer. And finally weed pollen goes airborne in late summer and can last until early December or frost, whichever comes first.
Is medication a short or long term solution? The answer to this question really depends on the type of medication. The first type is designed to control the symptoms and generally include antihistamines that are designed to dry up the additional mucous the body makes in an attempt to flush out the allergens.
The second type of medication is designed to reduce the body's initial reaction to the allergen, which if successful, reduces the need for the medicines that control symptoms.
Then there are allergy shots. This is a slow process that meets with mixed results for different people. The idea is to gradually inject increasing amounts of the allergen into the body. The hope is that the body will become desensitized and will be less likely to overreact with symptoms.
Can an air purifier really make a difference? An air purifier with HEPA or high efficiency particle arresting filtration is one of the most consistent recommendations in the allergy management plan.
Reducing exposure to the irritant is still the best way to manage allergies, and a HEPA can remove airborne particles that are as small as.3 microns in size. A cleaner with multiple sized filters, and variable filtration speeds is one of the most effective ways to stay on track despite hay fever.
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