Allergy Relief Expert

Your sinuses are lined with a membrane that manufactures the sitcky substance known as mucus. When the membrane swells – most likely because of an infection or an allergy, mucuc production kicks into overdrive. The combination of inflamed membrane and excess mucous blocks those tiny passages between your sinuses and nose. That’s when you feel the pressure build behind your forehead and eyes.

Breathe a Sign of Relief

For most people decongestants are the treatment of choice for sinus pain. “If a blocked nose is your only symptom, an over-the-counter oral decongestant can help,” says Salah D. Salmon, MD, director of the Sinus Center at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary in Boston.  Dr. Salmon also stated “Be sure to choose a product with an antihistimine if your sinus pain is associated with allergy.”

What about localized decongestants such as sprays and drops? “They can be extremely effective, too.” Dr. Salmon says. “But you shouldn’t use them for more than threee days in a row. They can be habit forming if you use them for too long. And once their medicinal effects wear off, they can produce rebound congestion.”

But decongestants are not your only option for dealing with sinus pain. The following strategies can help ease the pressure and keep you breathing easy.

Just add water. “Dryness often sets the stage for a sinus infection,” Dr. Salmon says. You can keep your sinuses moist by drinking plently of water every day. A saltwater solution, administered as either a nasal spray or nose drops, can also help, he notes. You can make your own solution by mixing 2 tablespoons of salt into a glass filled with 8 ounces of warm water. Use this preparation three to four times a day.

Hold your head high. Elevating your head while you sleep promotes sinus drainage, experts say. Prop up your bedposts ath the head of your bed on books or bricks and see if it helps.

Clear the air. Anything that irritates the nasal passages is an ally of sinus pain. “Pay close attention to air quality,” says Dr. Guillermo Mendoza, MD, chief of allergy for Kaiser-Permanente. “Avoid smoggy environments, cigarette smoke and any other pollutants that you’re sensitive to.” You may also need to stay away from seemingly harmless items such as scented laundry detergents and scented tissues.

“C” your way clear. Dr. Mendoza recommends a daily dose of vitamin C as a preventative against sinus pain. “If you are prone to sinus infection or you have a chronic sinus problem, take 1,000 milligrams of times-release vitamin C a day,” he advises.

Don’t catch a cold. If you have a chronic sinus problem, a cold will only intensify your sinus symptoms, Dr. Mendoza says. So do what you can to steer clear of cold-causing viruses: Eat a balanced diet, get regular exercise, practice good hygiene (as in lots of hand washing), and stay away from people who have colds.

Excerpted from: Pain Remedies by Philip Goldberg.  Rodale Press

Balloon Sinuplasty Provides Quick and Easy Relief to Chronic Sinusitis Sufferers

A winter allergy is rarely seen as most allergies are seen during the spring and fall months as the seasons change and mold counts are at their highest. However, a winter can be common in the indoor environment according to certain factors which may be occurring in the home.

Indoor Air Pollutants!

Indoor air pollution which can actually become worse during the summer months can be tied to the occurrence of winter allergies. It is more prevalent in parts of the US and other parts of the world which get the full range of hot summer weather and moderate winter weather.

Air Conditioning Mold

The reason for this is that during the summer months as households use air conditioning (AC), mold can grow and colonize in the AC coil box. If the mold remains wet and doesn’t grow too large, it normally will not cause allergic reaction to household members during the summer. However, as the heat is used as the weather turns cold, this mold will tend to dry over weeks and the dead spores can actually break loose and circulate throughout the home. The human body does not know the difference between a dead or live mold spore and can have an allergic reaction to either.

Winter Allergy Strategies

Here are a few tips you can use to minimize allergy reactions during the winter months:

• Have your HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning) unit properly cleaned at the end of the cooling season to remove organic matter and mold spores from the surfaces.
• Use a HEPA (High Efficient Particle Air) vacuum cleaner and air purifier units which are 99.99% effective at removing mold spores and other dust particles from the indoor environment.
• Keep your sinuses rinsed with a sinus rinse product which will minimize sinus allergies, especially during the winter months.

About the author:
Stan K. Hall (Sick House Doctor) is a recognized specialist in Indoor Air Pollution as well as Health & Safety in the home. He has performed over 400 indoor environmental evaluations over the past 26 years and has helped hundreds of homeowners make their homes a haven. He is widely known as the originator of T.E.A.M., the scientifically proven approach to controlling and resolving indoor air pollution.

Saline Sinus Rinse/Flush

The spring and fall is a time that most people consider to be wonderful times of year. Spring brings a fresh start after the winter months. Trees regain their leaves, flowers and blooming flowers and autumn leaves change color of a sample making fun of color in preparation for winter to come. However, for ragweed allergy sufferers, it is a time of terror and fear. Spring and autumn are the two important times of year for seasonal allergies.

Seasonal allergies are classified by certain substances in the air, which only appear at particular times of year, most often during spring and autumn, although summer allergies are also common.

More commonly known as hay fever, allergies do not always coincide with the summer when hay is harvested and rarely, fever, so the term “hay fever” may be a little misleading. Ragweed is one of the most common of all hay fever causing allergens.

Hay fever usually causes itching of the roof of the mouth, nose, back of the throat or eyes. This itching can come very rapidly. Symptoms include runny nose, as well as a filler in nose and sneezing. It often causes watery eyes, sometimes very very watery and possible redness of the eyes and eyelids. The nasal lining in the nose may inflamed and swollen. It can also cause headaches, irritability and wheeze. Many who experience these types of allergies may also have asthma.

Treatment usually depends on the type of allergy and severity, but usually this kind of allergies can be controlled through the use of antihistamines in the counter decongestants section of your local drug store. Bathing the eyes with eye wash regularly can also help alleviate any irritation of the eyes.

In the spring, hay fever is known to be triggered in the southern, eastern and the midwest parts of the US.  Trees like cedar, birch, oak, alder, maple and elm can release much pollen into the air.  In summer, grasses, such as red top, timothy, bluegrass and orchardgrass, are the main culprits, and in late summer, ragweed usually becomes the worse allergy trigger of all.

In the fall, and russian thistle sagebrush are known to cause major problems for hay fever sufferers in the western part of the U.S.  Between December and March, cedar (also known as juniper) is an important pollen producer. Grass in the south-western U.S. has a long period of pollination, which makes for a longer allergy season for the southwest region.

If you think you may be suffering from any form of hay fever, you can try any of the countless over the counter (OTC) allergy drugs on the market. In most cases, these drugs will do the trick. However it is always wise to consult with an allergy doctor for diagnosis and treatment.  Allergy shot regimens can drastically improve hay fever and other allergies.

Michael Russell is an independent writer who publishes articles on allergy related subjects. http://allergies-treatment.com

Allergies – Ragweed

I thought allergies were only in the spring or fall, but I have them worse in the summer?

What medication should I take?

Best Answer:

Unfortunate for some people, allergies are not just for the spring and fall seasons.  Pollen from the spring plants and trees are still plentiful and can play havoc for some. The main thing to keep in mind is that you need to keep your summer allergy symptoms from developing into a sinus infection.

The first thing I would do is to rinse my nose two or three times a day with a sinus rinse or neti-pot product. Secondly, there are a few over-the-counter medications you can take. If you can take a Claritin and it all goes away, are most surely…allergies.  If not, then you has a cold or worse yet, a sinus infection. You can also try taking a decongestant like Sudafed to help with nasal drainage and to prevent your symptoms from progressing into something worse. If you have problems with mucus in the throat or lungs, try Mucinex to help loosen it up  so you can cough it out. Benadryl can help too. If all else fails, try a mild antihistamine since they often have a drying effect and will stop a runny nose. Of course, there are many other medications you can try as well.

Remember that none of these medications will work unless you stay well hydrated by drinking plenty of water. Limit your juices since they contain lots of sugar. Take lots of vitamin C and get at least 8 hours or more of good sleep until symptoms subside.

If this still doesn’t do it, then go to the doctor and get a stronger medication.

I hope you get better soon.

Source: Yahoo Answers

Summer Allergies Relief

How to deal with spring allergies?

Now that spring is really here, I have a lot of allergic reactions to pollen in the air. My eyes get red and itchy and my nose is stuffy and sneeze a lot. If you spend much time outside, my face and eyes get red and swollen. What can I do about it?

I already have the eye drops, but they take a long time to work, and in the evenings, my eyes still get really ITCHY. (I use contact lenses by the way.)

Best Answer:

Spring allergies are primarily caused by the pollination of trees such as oaks, elms, poplars, sycamores and maples. As the season progresses, pollinating grasses can also trigger allergy responses.

Here are a few of the best over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medication which are the most effective at reducing spring allergy symptoms:

• Antihistamines, such as Claritin, Zyrtec and Allegra work well by blocking the release of histamine, a chemical produced by your immune systems over-reaction to airborne allergens.

• Nasal steroids, like Beconase, Flonase, Nasacort, Nasonex, Rhinocort, and Veramyst will reduce inflammation and treat that runny nose brought on by seasonal or year-round allergies.

• Leukotriene modifiers, such as Singular work by blocking the effects of leukotrienes, which is another chemical produced nu the immune system in response to an allergen.

Before using any other the medications above, it is wise to talk to your doctor or better yet, consult with an allergy professional as to what allergy medications are best for your symptoms.

Source: Yahoo Answers

Early in spring, trees such as oaks, elms, poplars, sycamores, and maples are the biggest sources of pollen. As the season progresses, pollinating grasses often trigger symptoms. By late summer or early fall, weeds, especially ragweed, are producing large quantities of pollen.

Combating Spring Allergies – Alvarado Hospital

Why do I feel terrible every morning during fall and winter seasons?

Spring and summer, I feel great, but for sometime during the autumn and winter I get up almost every morning feeling like I got hit by a bus. I have extremely sore muscles, a mild headache,  sore throat and are very congested.  It almost feels like a hangover!  Could it be allergy related?

Best Answer:

There are actually a few things which can lead to autumn or winter allergies in the home.  To start with, most homes which have air conditioning will have some mold which has grown in the coil box during the summer season. This mold will dry out and can become airborne once the heating cycles start. Even though these dead mold spores may all be blown from the coil box after time, they are still present in the indoor environment causing allergy symptoms.  The only proven method to reduce mold particles from the indoor environment is to thoroughly clean all surfaces with a HEPA (High Efficient Particle Air) vacuum cleaner.

Secondly, there are many new pollens which are present in the outdoors during the autumn and winter months and unfortunately they do not loose their ability to create allergy symptoms even when freezing weather sets in. Each time we open our doors, outdoor pollen can enter the indoor environment and just like mold should be removed using a HEPA vacuum.

Thirdly, it is actually possible to become allergic to the cold weather, air conditioning or even ice cream. It is rare but it can cause the symptoms you are describing and should be diagnosed by an allergy specialist.

About the Author:

Carlton Jones, an allergy sufferer and part-time writer in New York, NY

Allergic to the Cold

Relieving Spring Allergies

After the long winter months, the spring season and the warmer weather that comes with it is always welcome; unless you have spring allergies.

As plants and trees start blooming, the pollen counts and symptoms of hay fever grow rapidly. And pollen isn’t the only thing growing as the spring showers come so does mold and the spores can create havoc for allergy sufferers.

When the pollen and mold spores are breathed in by an allergic person, the allergens are identified by the immune system as a foreign invader, triggering an immune system reaction.  Antibodies are then released by the immune system to attack the foreign invaders which release histamines.

Too many histamines released into the body at one time will cause allergy symptoms. Drugs such as antihistamines will block minimize this body chemical thus bringing temporary relief.

If you or someone you know are among the 35 million people across the globe who suffer from seasonal allergies, here are ten steps you can take to minimize spring allergies at home:

1. Consult an allergist. Consider allergy tests and allergy shots.
2. Remove shoes. Leave shoes at the door entrance as you enter the house.
3. Avoid exposure. Keep the doors and windows closed to minimize pollen from entering your home; keep car windows closed.
4. Clean yourself frequently. Wash your hair and change your clothes after coming in from the outside.
5. Use higher efficient filters. Use pleated air filters regularly in heat pumps or air conditioners.
6. Use the clothes dryer. Don’t hang your clothes outside to dry.
7. Wear a mask. When outside working, consider wearing a N95 face mask approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
8. Purify the indoor air. Use High Efficient Particle Air (HEPA) vacuum cleaners and air purifiers. They are efficient at removing 99% of airborne allergens.
9. Clean bedding and linens. Wash your bedding and pillow covers weekly.
10. Clean your carpets, rugs and furniture. Vacuum twice a week with a HEPA vacuum.

About the author:
Stan K. Hall (The Sick House Doctor) is a recognized specialist in Indoor Air Pollution as well as Health & Safety in the home. He has performed over 400 indoor environmental evaluations over the past 26 years and has helped hundreds of homeowners make their homes a haven. He is widely known as the originator of T.E.A.M., the scientifically proven approach to controlling and resolving indoor air pollution. Read more about allergies at Sick House Doctor.

Relieve Spring Allergy Symptoms