Allergic Rhinitis Treatment

Allergic rhinitis is the swelling inside the nose caused due to a reaction of allergens. Allergic Rhinitis or hay fever has no cure but the aim of the treatment is to bring the symptoms under control. The medication can help to lessen the effects and, in a few cases, it can also reduce the sensitivity of allergens.

The causes of allergic rhinitis are allergens such as pollen, dust, mites, mould, pet dander, chemical fumes, etc. These allergens lead to a reaction which causes allergic rhinitis symptoms that include coughing, sneezing, headache, runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, throat, nose and eyes.

How to Manage Allergic Rhinitis?

• Do not smoke and avoid being a passive smoker. In case you need help to quit smoking, consult your doctor for a management plan.
• Rinse your sinuses and nose with a salt water nasal spray or with a salt water solution. This will help to thin the thick mucus and get rid of the dirt or allergens after a rinse. It will also contribute to reduce the inflammation in your nose and improve your breathing.
• Most importantly, you can prevent the worsening of symptoms by avoiding the allergens that trigger them.

How To Avoid Allergens?

To avoid exposure to outdoor allergens, you can, take the following precautions:

• During the pollen season, stay indoors during mid-mornings and early evenings or when it is windy outside, as pollen counts in the air are usually higher during these times.
• Wear a mask while gardening or visiting a dusty place.
• Try not to hang clothes and towels to dry outside, as pollen and dust tends to stick to them.
• When you are outside, always wear glasses/sunglasses to protect your eyes and prevent rubbing of eyes; doing so will irritate them and could make your symptoms worse.

To avoid exposure to indoor allergens, you can for instance, take the following precautions:

• Try and keep the windows closed.
• Clean floors with a damp rag or mop, rather than dry-dusting or sweeping.
• Clean the walls regularly to get rid of patches of moulds (fungus), if any.
• Wash your blankets, pillow covers and bedsheets in hot water, frequently.
• Get the carpet and curtains cleaned from time to time.
• Use mite-proof covers for all your bedding – pillows, mattress, comforters etc. to reduce your exposure to dust mites.
• Keep the humidity levels in your house as low as possible (you can use a de-humidifier), so that moulds cannot thrive.
• Clean places such as the bathrooms, kitchens, attics and basements regularly.
• Make sure your air conditioning unit in your car and home is clean.

If you are allergic to pets, remember to –

• Wash your hands immediately after touching any pet animal.
• Wash your clothes thoroughly after visiting a house with pets.
• Keep your pet outdoors.

It is important that you treat your allergic rhinitis because if it is not treated on time, it can lead to complications such as ear infections, sinusitis and nasal polyps. Various medications are available for the treatment of allergic rhinitis. The allergic rhinitis medicine and treatment will depend on the severity and type of symptoms that a person is experiencing.

Here are the different allergic rhinitis medications and treatments that your doctor might recommend:

1. Antihistamines -
   

   Antihistamines help to block the action of the chemical called histamine. This chemical is released after an allergic reaction that provokes uncomfortable symptoms. Antihistamine can limit the release of histamines or help to lessen its effects once the body has released it. This allergic rhinitis medicine is available in various forms such as liquid, tablet, nasal spray, creams, and injections (in extreme cases). It may usually take around 30 minutes for an antihistamine medicine to start working. There are antihistamines that cause sedation and antihistamines that do not cause sedation.

2. Nasal Sprays -
   

   Nasal Sprays are one of the most effective ways for the treatment of allergic rhinitis. Nasal sprays will help to deliver the medicine directly to the nose. The dose of medicine is less and nasal sprays have minimum side effects. There are corticosteroid nasal sprays available which help with immune response and inflammation in the nose. They are a long-term and useful way to manage the symptoms of allergic rhinitis. The doctor may recommend you to start using this spray before the seasonal symptoms start showing up. The daily use of nasal corticosteroids will help to reduce symptoms like coughing, wheezing, nasal congestion, etc.

3. Eye Drops -
   

   Eyes drops can help to reduce the itchiness in your yes and relieve you from watery eyes. It can also help to reduce other symptoms related to allergies for a short-term. However, overusing certain nose and eye drops may cause side effects, thus consult your doctor and make sure to get the best medicines for allergic rhinitis. The doctor will determine which medication is for long-term management and which one is for short-term use.

4. Decongestants -
   

   Decongestants come in the form of nasal sprays, nose drops and even oral pills. These are best used for a short period of time. It helps to relieve symptoms of allergic rhinitis such as stuffy nose and sinus pressure. It also helps to shrink the blood vessels in the nose and reduce inflammation. After using it many times, the dose has to be higher for effective results. However, after the medication has worn off, it causes rebound congestion. Which means, once you have stopped taking medicines the symptoms will get worse. Nasal sprays or drops must not be used for more than 3 days as you can become dependent on them.

5. Immunotherapy -
   

   Immunotherapy or allergy shots can be recommended by the doctor in severe cases when nasal corticosteroids and antihistamines are not effective in controlling the symptoms of allergic rhinitis. This is a long-term treatment that will help to alter the body’s immune system in response to certain allergens or causes of allergic rhinitis. This medication requires a long-term commitment plan. These allergy shots include a small amount of allergens that you are allergic too, and taking these gradually will help your body get used to these allergens.

   A course of allergy shots begins with a buildup stage wherein you visit the doctor one to three times a week for the shots. After 3- 6 months, you can get the allergy shots for three to five days in a week, and this is called the maintenance stage. At this stage, your allergy symptoms will fade away. Immunotherapy must be carried out only under the close supervision of a specially trained doctor.

6. Nasal Saline Washout -
   

   Allergens can stay in the nose and it is important to wash them out. You can rinse your nose with a mixture of salt and water to reduce the effects of the symptoms. This is known as nasal sinus washout and though you may find a kit with premixed ingredients it can also be made at home. You will need one teaspoon of salt that contains no iodine, anti-caking preservatives, one teaspoon baking soda and two and a half cup of boiled water. This solution must be taken in through the nostril while breathing in but do not let it reach the throat. This can also be done using a soft, rubber ear bulb syringe.

7. Mast Cell Stabilizers -
   

   Mast cells stabilizers are medicines which will help to block a type of white blood cell called the mast cell from releasing histamine. For allergic rhinitis treatment, these stabilizers are available in the form of nasal sprays and eye drops that work effectively to lessen the symptoms.

8. Leukotriene receptor antagonists (LTRAs) -
   

   Leukotriene is another chemical that our body releases when it comes in contact with allergens. Leukotriene inhibitors are prescribed by the doctor because it helps to block the release of these chemicals in the body and thus lessen the risk of allergic rhinitis symptoms.