Allergic Rhinitis

Allergic Rhinitis

Springtime is here and so is allergy season. For a lot of people, allergy season or "springtime" means sinus congestion and sneezing, itchy eyes and streaming noses.  For others, the symptoms can be more in the background with frequent headaches, fatigue and sore throats.   For those with allergies, there is one topic that often goes unmentioned and that is the connection between mental health and allergies.

Until recent years there has been very little attention paid to the links between mental health and allergies.  One recent review of the matter called "The Burden of Allergic Rhinitis" asserts that those who suffer from periodic or chronic bouts of allergic rhinitis incur twice as much in medication costs over a year and 1.8 times the number of visits to a health provider.   

The researchers conclude that those with allergic rhinitis may be three times more likely to develop depression, anxiety, or other mental disorders.  This is because allergies affect more than just your nose.  They affect sleep, how you interact with people, and just how you feel in general.   

This is why allergies are a "big deal" and deserve your attention.  They might just be "wrecking your life!"

The mainstay of over-the-counter allergy treatment is a medication known as Antihistamine.  This exists in the age-old medication known as Benadryl which is a short acting version of this type of medication.  Antihistamines work by preventing the body from making histamine, a chemical that causes nose and throat irritation when encountered by allergic people.  They are also not without the possible side effect of drowsiness so we often recommend they be taken at night.  If you are not taking a daily antihistamine such as Zyrtec, Allegra, Claritin, Xyzal or one of their generic equivalents; now may be the time to start that regimen.  

And, for those of you who do not find adequate symptom control on one of these medications even though many will, you should consider adding a daily over-the-counter nasal spray such as Nasacort or Flonase.  

One thing we always say about allergies is "Treat the season, not the symptom."  

We encourage people to understand their allergies and how best to manage them including what seasons require daily allergy support and to start their regimen in advance of the symptoms.  

If you are unsure about whether you may have allergies, if you have nasal congestion, itchy eyes and sneezing, or you are experiencing more frequent headaches or sore throat; you are very likely trying to cope with some degree of seasonal allergies.  You should start treating them as such.  Who knows... you may find that there is a simple over-the-counter solution to your problems.