Hay fever, also known as allergic rhinitis, is a type of allergy caused by substances found outdoors or indoors, such as dust, mold, animal hair, and pollen. These allergens cause cold-like symptoms such as runny nose, itchy eyes, sneezing, sinus pressure and congestion. It is not a viral infection and is not contagious. While there is no cure, there are still some steps you can take to get your hay fever under control and get better.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Recognizing and Avoiding Triggers
Step 1. Monitor the amount of pollen
Since this is one of the main causes of this allergic reaction, you have to keep the count under control every day, especially in the season of maximum diffusion. You should try to stay indoors when they are at maximum concentration. If you want to know the pollen count, you can do some research online and / or look at the ARPA website in your region. These web pages update the situation daily.
- Most weather forecasts broadcast on local TV often feature a pollen bulletin; generally, the public is informed if the counts are low, moderate, medium or high. Avoid going outdoors when you know the allergen concentration is high.
- If you are extremely sensitive and have a severe pollen allergy, you need to stay indoors even when the concentration is moderate.
- See your doctor about this pollen sensitivity problem of yours.
Step 2. Put on a face mask
If you plan to do some garden work, you must use one of these pollen masks, such as the NIOSH-N95. These models are particularly suitable for activities that include mowing the grass, raking leaves or doing garden work. You can buy them online or at the pharmacy.
- If you can't get the N95 mask, use a standard surgical mask or handkerchief. These protectors do not filter the air as much as the N95, but they prevent you from inhaling some of the pollen that would end up in the nose.
- If you have a really strong allergy, you should hire other people to do garden work.
- You should also wear eyeglasses or sunglasses to prevent allergens from getting into your eyes. These types of glasses may be enough, but you can eventually decide to buy safety ones in hardware stores or even online.
- When you come home after being outdoors, take a shower and wash the clothes you wore. If you can't do it right away, at least wash your face and possibly change your clothes.
Step 3. Rinse your sinuses
An inexpensive method of relieving the symptoms of allergic rhinitis is to rinse the nasal passages using a neti pot or ready-made flushing kit. The latter is easier to use, because you just have to spray the liquid into each nostril. For the neti pot it is instead necessary to prepare the saline solution at home.
- If you choose this second method, prepare the solution by mixing 3 teaspoons of iodine-free salt with a teaspoon of baking soda. Then add one teaspoon of this mixture to 250ml of distilled or bottled lukewarm water. Do not use that from the tap, unless it has been previously boiled.
- After each treatment, be sure to rinse the device with distilled or bottled water and let it air dry. This precaution prevents bacteria from developing.
Step 4. Limit allergens in your home
If you want to prevent external allergens from entering, you must close the windows and turn on the air conditioner in your home or car, especially when pollen is present in high concentrations. Check that the air conditioning systems have been thoroughly cleaned before starting them and purchase the specific HEPA filters for the system in your possession.
- Refer to the manufacturer's instructions or go to the store where you bought the air conditioner to find the right filter type.
- If possible, use a vacuum cleaner that also has a HEPA filter. This type of filter traps the surrounding allergens and dust particles when the appliance takes in air. Follow the instructions in the user manual to know when to replace the filter, although it usually needs to be changed after a couple of uses.
Step 5. Keep the humidity in the house between 30 and 50%
This is an adequate level to limit exposure to mold. You can get a hygrometer to properly measure the humidity in the rooms. Just hold the meter in an environment and read the humidity level, just like you would a thermometer to know the temperature.
You can buy it online, in hardware stores or in DIY stores. Read the manufacturer's instructions to know how to use it correctly before operating it
Step 6. Purchase mite covers
You can reduce allergens on fabrics and furniture by getting special covers for pillows, mattresses, quilts and duvets made specifically for this purpose. In this way, you partially prevent mites and other allergens from ending up on the fabrics, thus managing to keep hay fever under control.
- Wash your bedding and blankets often on a high-temperature wash cycle.
- Try to reduce the amount of pillows, blankets, or stuffed animals in your or your child's room.
Step 7. Do not use certain window curtains or accessories
Some of these tend to attract pollen and mold into the home, as well as accumulate dust. Heavy curtains and fabrics that can only be dry cleaned tend to attract more dust and allergens than those that you can machine wash or vacuum clean. You can choose to use synthetic fabric curtains, as they are easier to clean and dust.
Do not hang clothes outside to dry, as allergens could adhere to the fibers
Step 8. Clean the bathroom and kitchen often
Mold is another major trigger of hay fever. If you want to get rid of mold build-up in your home, you need to clean these rooms often so that the spores can't grow. You can use bleach-based cleaning products, as this substance can kill mold and other allergens.
If you wish, you can make a cleaning solution yourself by mixing 120ml of bleach with 3.5 liters of water
Step 9. Use damp cloths to clean
When doing housework, use damp tools to capture as much allergen and dust particles as possible. You should moisten the dusting rag, mop, and broom every time you clean the house.
This is a much more effective method of avoiding spreading dust than using dry cloths for sweeping or dusting
Step 10. Don't keep plants and flowers
Since pollen is an allergic reaction factor, you should avoid keeping real plants indoors. However, you can buy artificial flowers or green plants if you want to liven up the spaces in which you live. These give a livelier touch to the house, without contaminating it with pollen.
Although some artificial plants have a clearly faux appearance, others are very realistic. Choose the ones that look as natural as possible, so they don't call too much attention to their true nature
Step 11. Watch out for allergens associated with animals
There are some techniques to avoid them. If you know you are allergic to a particular animal, don't choose it as a playmate. If you are allergic to all animal fur, leave yours outside and do not let them into the house. If this is not possible for you, at least make sure they stay outside your bedroom, so as not to inhale the dandruff during the night. You can also buy an air purifier equipped with HEPA filters and place it in places where the animal spends most of its time.
- Wash your hands immediately after touching him to remove any traces of hair.
- If you can, remove the carpet as it will retain animal hair. However, there are many models of vacuum cleaners with accessories and special filters capable of reducing the hair and fur of animals from this kind of floors.
- You should brush and bathe your four-legged friend at least once a week so that he doesn't shed too much hair. The best thing is to assign another person, to avoid coming into contact with the fur.
- Certain breeds of dogs or cats are known to be "hypoallergenic," meaning they are less likely to cause allergies. They can be good alternatives if you really want to keep a pet.
Method 2 of 3: Contact an Allergist to Determine the Triggers
Step 1. Get an allergy test
If you have tried to eliminate all the elements that could induce an allergic reaction, such as pollen, mold and dust, from your life, but the problem has not gone away, you need to see a specialist. The allergist can test you to determine the origin of your rhinitis. The best known and most widespread is the cutaneous one, called prick test. It lasts from 10 to 20 minutes and is performed by applying minimal amounts of possible allergens to the skin after it has been stung or scratched. The nurse or doctor will then watch for any reactions in these areas.
- Some reactions are immediate and the skin begins to swell as if it had been bitten by a mosquito right in the area where the allergen was injected.
- Medical staff will then note the types of reactions and assess their severity; at that point, the doctor will analyze the results.
Step 2. Perform an intradermal test
This is another test to evaluate the allergies you suffer from. Instead of inserting the allergen through a puncture or skin scratch, in this case it is injected with a fine needle under the skin. The exam generally allows for more accurate results than the prick test.
The whole procedure takes about 20 minutes
Step 3. Take a blood test
To further confirm the skin results, allergies can also be analyzed through a blood test, called a radioallergoabsorption test (RAST). This test measures the blood concentration of the antibodies that cause the allergic reaction, known as immunoglobulin E (IgE). Thanks to the breakdown of antibodies in the blood, the test is able to make the doctor understand which allergens the body is reacting to.
Usually, it is necessary to wait a few days before obtaining the results of the RAST, because the blood sample must be sent to a laboratory for analysis
Method 3 of 3: Take Hay Fever Drugs
Step 1. Take nasal corticosteroids
If the triggers cannot be avoided, the next step in fighting allergic rhinitis is to relieve the symptoms. For this purpose, corticosteroids are a possible solution, as they prevent and soothe nasal inflammation, itching and rhinorrhea due to the allergic reaction. It is a generally safe remedy even in the long run and for most people. Side effects may include an unpleasant taste or taste and nasal irritation, but they are quite rare.
- These medications require a prescription and are most effective when taken every day, at least during the seasons or times when you are most likely to experience allergic symptoms. Ask your doctor when it is convenient for you to take them and follow their directions.
- Among the best known brands are Nasonex, Flixonase, Rhinocort and others.
Step 2. Take antihistamines
This is another class of drugs that are effective in relieving symptoms. They are available in tablet, oral, liquid, chewable, soluble, nasal spray and eye drops form. They are useful against itching, sneezing and rhinorrhea; They work by blocking histamines, which are the chemicals that are released by the immune system and that cause the signs and symptoms of hay fever. The tablets and nasal spray relieve discomfort in the nose, while the eye drops provide relief from eye itching and irritation caused by allergic rhinitis.
- The best known oral antihistamines include: Clarityn, Allegra, Zirtec, Benadryl and others. Your doctor may also prescribe some antihistamines in the form of a nasal spray, such as Astelin or Astepro.
- Do not take alcohol and tranquilizers when taking these medications.
- Do not take or combine more than one antihistamine unless your doctor or allergist prescribes different dosages.
- Do not operate heavy machinery and drive very carefully when taking this class of drugs. Don't take sedating antihistamines if you have to drive. However, most people can drive safely when taking those that do not cause drowsiness (second generation).
Step 3. Consider taking decongestants
Some are available without a prescription, such as Actifed or Actigrip. Optionally, you can also have others prescribed in liquid form, tablets or nasal sprays. There are many prescription decongestants, but you need to be careful, as they can raise blood pressure, cause insomnia, irritability, and headaches.
- These drugs are only taken for a short time and not every day.
- Decongestant nasal sprays include Rinazine and Rinofluimucil. Be careful not to use them for more than two or three consecutive days, as they could aggravate the situation.
Step 4. Ask your allergist about antileukotrienes
A common brand is Singulair, these are leukotriene receptor antagonist drugs: they must be taken before symptoms occur and help reduce asthma symptoms. Headache is a common side effect, although psychological reactions such as agitation, aggression, hallucinations, depression and suicidal thoughts have also been noted on rare occasions.
- These drugs are available in tablets.
- It is important to consult your doctor immediately if you experience any unusual psychological reactions during drug treatment.
Step 5. Try the Atrovent
The active ingredient is ipratropium and is a prescription nasal spray drug that can relieve severe symptoms of rhinorrhea. Some side effects are dry nose, nosebleeds and sore throats. However, rare adverse reactions sometimes occur, such as blurred vision, dizziness, and difficulty urinating.
People with glaucoma or prostatic hypertrophy should not take this drug
Step 6. Take oral corticosteroids
They are often based on prednisone, which helps relieve severe allergy symptoms. However, you need to be very cautious when taking this cure, because prolonged use of the drug can cause serious side effects, such as cataracts, osteoporosis, and muscle weakness.
This medicine should only be prescribed for short periods and it may be necessary to reduce the doses gradually after the end of therapy
Step 7. Get the allergy vaccine
If you are not getting positive results from other medications and you cannot avoid exposing yourself to allergens, your doctor may recommend that you get the vaccine, thereby giving you what is called immunotherapy (or biotherapy). Instead of fighting allergic reactions, the vaccine alters the immune system by stopping the abnormal reactions. A diluted extract of the allergenic substance is injected, which must be administered frequently in increasing doses until the right amount is found to help keep allergies under control. The doses are injected in a very long time. The whole process can take three to five years.
- The goal of this therapy is to allow the body to get used to the allergens, so that it no longer reacts in the future.
- The injections are safe and cause minimal adverse effects. The most common is redness or swelling at the sting site, which can occur soon after or over a few hours. however, it is a symptom that disappears within 24 hours. You may also experience mild allergic reactions similar to those you usually experience with hay fever.
- In rare cases, you may have a severe allergic reaction to the first and subsequent injections. However, be aware that patients are always monitored during treatment. Symptoms of a serious reaction, known as anaphylaxis, are wheezing or difficulty breathing, hives, swelling of the face or body, irregular or rapid heartbeat, tightness in the throat or chest, dizziness, loss of consciousness, and in cases really extreme, even death.
- If you experience any of these severe reactions, call 911 immediately for medical attention.
Advice
- Keep these medications out of the reach of children.
- Before taking any medicine, consult your doctor if you are pregnant or wish to have a baby, if you are breastfeeding, have glaucoma or an enlarged prostate, if you are ill or suffer from other medical conditions, drug allergies or are taking other medicines.
- Never take other people's medications.
- If your eyes are swollen or itchy, place a cold, damp cloth or towel over each one. this remedy helps relieve itching.
- Even if you itch a lot, you should never rub and scratch your eyes, it will only aggravate the itchiness and it will be more difficult to find relief.
- Avoid smoking and don't expose yourself to secondhand smoke if you have allergies.
