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Nasal allergies are sensitivities to harmless substances that your body decides to be sinister. Because the body considers common allergens such as dust, dust mites, animal dander and pollens unsuitable for its system, it tries to eliminate these and in the process, produces nasty symptoms that range from uncomfortable to life-inhibiting. What Happens In the Body during an Episode of Nasal Allergies? It is a common misconception that allergens produce symptoms such as nasal stuffiness, watery eyes, redness of the eyes, and nasal itchiness. Remember, these alone are not harmful. There has to be something that isn’t quite right with the body for harmless substances like these to trigger abnormal reactions that develop into symptoms. The symptoms of nasal allergies are practically the collateral damage of the body's effort to fight off intruders it considers threatening. As an allergen enters the nasal passages and sticks to the linings of the inside of the nose, the immune system triggers the release of histamine, a substance that latches on histamine receptors of different cells in the body. The result is swelling and inflammation ending up with familiar symptoms of allergy. Why You Get Nasal Allergies In the First Place Blame it on your genes. It was found out that people whose parents are allergic are more likely to become allergic than those whose parents' health are perfectly normal. Apparently, allergies, including nasal allergy, are diseases that can be passed down from parent to offspring. And yes, allergy symptoms like sneezing, headache, fatigue and susceptibility to develop complications such as sinus infection or sinusitis do run in the family. What You Can Do About Nasal Allergies The cornerstone of treating nasal allergies is prevention. But where common preventive measures are not practicable, pre-treatment may work as well. Prevention means that you will control your environment in a way that will limit your exposure to allergens. Preventive measures include avoidance of the allergens, control of what goes in and out of your immediate environment during seasons when you are most susceptible to irritants, and use of treatments prescribed by your allergist. Antihistamine is the most popular treatment option there is. This works to block the release of histamine in the body, preventing the swelling that leads to many other allergy symptoms. Use of decongestants is also a very popular choice of treatment as it relieves patients from ongoing symptoms such as nasal stuffiness. Other common treatment options include steroid nasal sprays, anticholinergics, mast cell stabilizers, expectorants, allergy eye drops, and allergy shots or immunotherapy. While in general, these work well to prevent the onset of mild symptoms and exacerbation of already existing symptoms, there are occasions when you have no power over what happens in your immediate environment. In this case, doctors and specialists recommend pretreatment. Pre-treatment involves reversing the process of taking medications for nasal allergies. It is a newcomer in the allergic world which encourages patients like you to take medications before the symptoms arise. It usually involves taking medicines a week or two before the allergy symptoms kick in. This new treatment is considered more effective than conventional therapies as it arms the immune system with necessary protection before you get exposed to irritants. It readies the histamine receptors in the body early. Even though the linings of your nasal passages are filled with allergens, your body would no longer struggle to fight these off. The result is fewer symptoms, if not total lack of symptoms. For more information, visit http://sinusinfectionproblems.com/
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