Wednesday, September 27, 2000
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Wednesday, September 27, 2000 |
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Surviving allergy season By HOLLY VANCE, PHARM. D.
Eyes itchy? Nose stuffed up or runny? Sneezing? If you're one of the 35 million Americans who suffer from hay fever, you don't need a pollen meter or weather person to tell you that fall is another allergy season. Hay fever or allergies occur when your body detects small particles in the air, such as tree and grass pollen, pet dander (dandruff), dust mites, and mold spores. Even though they're harmless to humans, these particles can trigger your body's defense system. In people with allergies, or allergic rhinitis, the immune system rallies against them.
Trouble in the air People with seasonal allergic rhinitis react to pollen in the air. Trouble starts when flowers and trees bloom in the spring and summer and when ragweed and grass send off pollen in the fall. Those with perennial allergic rhinitis suffer year round when they breathe in pet dander, dust mites, mold spores, or other allergens. Your doctor may do skin tests to find out what allergens affect you. The best way to control allergy symptoms is to avoid the culprits that cause a reaction. Often, that's impossible. The closest thing to a cure for allergies is allergy shots. Your doctor injects extracts of the offending allergen into your skin over several weeks or months. After a while, your immune system becomes less sensitive to the allergens that provoke it. If you're not ready or able to get injections, plenty of over-the-counter, prescription, and herbal products promise to ease the sniffling, sneezing, watery eye response.
A precision attack Nonprescription allergy medications usually contain antihistamines, decongestants, or a combination of both. Pick a remedy that treats only the symptoms you get to minimize your exposure to the drugs and their side effects. Check with your doctor if you have bladder or prostate problems before using these medications, and always read the label. For sneezing, a runny nose, and watery, itchy eyes, try an antihistamine you take by mouth, such as diphenhydramine (brand name Benadryl), chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton), and clemastine (Tavist-1). These products can cause dry mouth and drowsiness, so keep away from antihistamines if you're driving or operating heavy equipment. Don't use them if you have bronchitis, glaucoma, or difficulty urinating. For a stuffy nose, try a decongestant such as pseudoephedrine (Sudafed). Check with your doctor first if you have high blood pressure or diabetes, since decongestants can temporarily worsen these conditions. For itchy, red eyes, relief can come in eye drops containing pheniramine or naphazoline (Opcon-A), which combine the benefits of an antihistamine and a decongestant. They may aggravate conditions for people with glaucoma. For sneezing or a runny or itchy nose, try nasal sprays such as cromolyn (NasalCrom). Head off symptoms before they start. For example, begin using cromolyn at least a week before you normally notice allergy symptoms in the spring or fall. It turns off the allergic process in the nose, but may take a few days to kick in. Cromolyn causes few side effects andan advantage over antihistaminesit won't make you drowsy.
Hair of the dog While some plants cause allergies, others can help relieve them. One study found that a type of nettle can reduce sneezing and itching, but it hasn't yet been tested against over-the-counter or prescription allergy remedies. Side effects are rare for people who take the recommended dose of 250 to 500 mg of leaf extract two or three times daily. Large amounts of nettle may upset your stomach or cause skin irritation. Some people take another herb, feverfew, to control symptoms of allergic rhinitis. Possible side effects of feverfew include stomach upset, nausea, and diarrhea.
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