Posts Tagged ‘Watery Eyes’

Hay Fever Medication

Comments: 0October 9th, 2011 by admin



Hay fever or allergic rhinitis is usually caused by a reaction to pollen, Trees, grass and weeds are the most common sources of pollen grains that are dispersed in the air. The illness’ symptoms include headache, itching nose, mouth, eyes, throat and skin, runny nose, watery eyes and wheezing. You can be tested for hay fever through blood test or skin prick test. Since it is possible you are not only allergic to a single kind of pollen, you should expect to be tested for different pollen sources.

There are many available medication used today to treat hay fever symptoms. You should remember that the objective of these medications is to treat the symptoms. The best way still is to avoid the possible cause of your allergy. Medications for hay fever include:

- Antihistamines- there are three kinds of antihistamines: fast-acting, short-acting and long-acting. Fast-acting antihistamines are usually given to treat the symptoms after the hay fever episode. Example of this type of anti-histamine is chlorphenamine. Short-acting antihistamines, like loratadine and azelastine, treat mild and moderate symptoms. They are usually bought over the counter without a prescription. You should be careful in taking this antihistamine since it can cause drowsiness. On the other hand, long-acting antihistamine does not result to drowsiness. They could also be as effective as the other antihistamines. Examples include cetirizine and fexofenadine.

- Leukotriene receptor antagonists: this particular type of medication is very effective, without causing drowsiness in the person. Since they are long-acting, doctors instruct patients to take it only once a day. Montelukast and zafirlukast are examples of this medication.

- Corticosteroid nasal sprays: considered to be safer than oral medication, nasal sprays are as effective in relieving symptoms of hay fever. Some examples of this medication are fluticasone, budesonide, mometasone, triaamcinolone and beclomethasone.

- Topical decongestant: as the name implies, this medication relieves nasal decongestion which is the most common symptom of hay fever. Doctors do not advice using this medication for long periods since it can result to drug-induced nasal congestion.

- Cromolyn sodium: this medication acts to prevent your mast cells from releasing the histamine which causes the symptoms. The medication is available as nasal spray or eye drop. It relieves nasal congestion and conjunctivitis. Examples of this drug are Nasalcrom and Crolom.

- Allergy shots: this treatment is recommended for people regularly exposed to the specific allergen and whose symptoms are getting more difficult to manage. This involves regular allergen injection at increasing dosages, forcing the body to adapt to the presence of the allergen. This therapy is the most expensive and is usually performed as a last resort. The risk of causing a secondary allergy like asthma is also high.

- Herbal remedies: herbs such as eyebright, nettle and bayberry are known to relieve nasal congestion. Turmeric and feverfew, on the other hand, have shown to be effective in treating hay fever by reducing inflammation of the mucosa.

These hay fever medications or treatments should be performed under close supervision of your doctor to safeguard you from adverse drug reactions.

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Posted in Allergy And Sinus

How to Halt Hay Fever

Comments: 0September 16th, 2011 by admin



Up to one in ten children suffers from hay fever. Here is some advice on how to tackle the symptons of hay fever. Hay fever is a seasonal allergy to pollen that causes a runny nose, itchy or watery eyes, sneezing and sometimes coughing. It can also lead to problems with concentration and sleep.

Spring pollens from trees, summer pollens from grass and plants, and spores from fungi or mould in autumn can trigger hay fever. Identify what time of year your child is worse and prepare.

Listen to the pollen count. Levels are often higher in early evening, so keep windows and doors closed and keep your child indoors at peak times.

Don’t cut the grass too often or have fresh flowers in the house. If your child’s symptoms are bad, avoid letting them play or lie on grass. When they come indoors, change their clothes or shower them to remove any pollen.

Vacuum regularly. Get a vacuum with a HEPA filter as these remove pollen. Dust with a damp cloth to avoid dust getting into the air.

Smoking around children can make hay fever worse. Hay fever is more common in children who suffer from asthma and can worsen the condition.

Eyedrops and nasal sprays can help, however consult your pharmacist as ones which contain steroids can only be used in older children.

Antihistamine syrups help ease symptoms. Look for non-drowsy for daytime use and Piriton can help your child sleep at night.

Use pollen filters in car air vents. Avoid drying clothes outside or shake them well before bringing in.

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Posted in Allergy And Sinus

Hay Fever and Grass Pollen – 7 Answers to Questions About Pollen and Hay Fever

Comments: 0April 9th, 2010 by admin



Hay fever affects millions of people around the world every year. And one of the most common and prolific triggers is grass pollen. Because climate is regional, so is pollen’s arrival. But whenever grass pollen shows up in your town, knowing the answers to the following frequently asked questions will help you cope.

What is Hay Fever? It is a pollen allergy that is triggered by tree, grass or weed pollen. Once inhaled, the body reacts with a runny nose, sneezing, congestion, watery eyes and other symptoms which can make the allergy sufferer so miserable. Reacting with these symptoms is commonly referred to as allergic rhinitis.

How can you tell whether you’re allergic to grass pollen or to something else? The best way to determine what triggers your allergies is to see an allergist. You will be given a skin test for a variety of allergens and they will be able to tell you whether your allergies result from a one particular allergen, or a combination of allergens which is more often the case.

Can Hay Fever be the result of an allergic reaction to something other than grass pollen? Yes, it can not only be an allergic reaction to pollen from not only grass, but trees, and weeds or a combination.

When is Hay Fever Season? Depending on what you are allergic to, the season starts in early spring will tree pollen, continues in spring and summer with grass pollen, and on through summer and late fall with weed pollen.

Are there any medications that can provide relief? Yes, there are several approaches that medicines take. One type minimizes the symptoms once they are occurring (antihistamines, corticosteroids, and decongestants), and the other type minimizes your body’s sensitivity to the triggers (leukotriene modifiers and Cromolyn sodium) therefore reducing the reaction and the symptoms which would normally follow. The best plan is to see an allergist who will create a plan that best suits your overall health and the severity of your condition.

Are there any newer treatments on the horizon? Grazax, a once a day tablet that was developed in England several years ago, is being used for children age 5-17 in England and Canada who suffer with severe hay fever. Its 2 prong approach works to not only control symptoms, but sensitivity to the allergen. There have been studies done here in the States, but the drug, as of this date, does not have FDA approval.

Can a HEPA air purifier really be effective in removing pollen? High efficiency particle arresting (or HEPA) air purifiers are extremely efficient in eliminating pollen because by definition they are designed to remove airborne particulates down to .3 microns. Tree, grass and weed pollens range from 2 to 100 microns in size, so they are easily trapped by a filter whose openings are only .3 microns. In addition, these cleaners can also trap other household pollutants that often combine to exacerbate hay fever such as household dust, mold and mildew spores, and pet dander.

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How Air Purifiers Can Save You From Asthma and Hay Fever This Year!

Comments: 0November 16th, 2009 by admin

Protecting yourself and your loved ones from hay fever and asthma this season should not be a problem if you select the right air purifier to rid the air in your home from irritants and pollen grains. Hay fever is an allergic disease which is stimulated in individuals by pollen grained from trees, grass and weed.

It is an allergic reaction that occurs only in certain seasons as pollen grains increase in number only in particular seasons.

It is characterized by symptoms such as a runny nose, sneezing, congestion, watery eyes and other problems.

A person suffering from hay fever will attest any day to the discomforts one feels while suffering from these unpleasant allergies.

Hay Fever Relief

Fortunately there are ways to protect yourself and your family from hay fever this season, primarily the use of a good quality air purifier.

To protect yourself from hayfever and asthma this season, a high efficiency particle arresting air purifier is ideal as its size and make up is perfect for catching minute particles that trigger the allergic reaction in most people.

The pollen grains that cause hayfever come from tree, grass and weeds and their size is about two to one hundred microns in size.

Irritants that aggravate asthma and can cause asthma attacks are somewhere in the same size range.

The filter pores of a high efficiency particle arresting air purifier are only three microns in size which means that these filters can easily capture these with great efficiency.

Another thing about hay fever and asthma this season is that its intensity is not static from the time it is developed in an individual. If there are other substances around you that can aggravate it, they will.

This means that the symptoms will be further pronounced causing many difficulties and much discomfort.

To avoid this problem, air cleaners can be used to remove substances that cause aggravation of hay fever and asthma such as household dust, mold and mildew spores, pet dander and so forth.

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All About Hay Fever

Comments: 0May 2nd, 2009 by admin



The medical term for hay fever is allergic rhinitis. It is very similar to asthma except for one important difference. If you have asthma, airborne particles cause an allergic reaction in your chest and lungs. If you have hay fever you experience this reaction in your eyes, nose, and throat.

The airborne irritant is called an allergen. When you are exposed to the allergen your body releases a chemical called histamine. This results in an inflammation in your sinuses, the fragile lining of your nasal passages, your eyelids and the surface layer of your eyes.

Common allergens that trigger hay fever are dust mites, pollen, animal skin and hair, and feathers.

There are two types of hay fever, seasonal and perennial. If pollen is the only allergen that triggers your hay fever, you have seasonal allergic rhinitis, as pollen is not present in the air all year long. Your symptoms will only appear when you are in an area where plants produce pollen at the time of year when this happens. However if your hay fever is triggered by dust mites, animal hair or feathers, it would be perennial as these airborne particles are present year round. It is also possible to have both perennial and seasonal allergic rhinitis if more than one allergen triggers your symptoms. People with allergic rhinitis will start to sneeze, develop a runny nose and red watery eyes whenever they are exposed to the allergen that triggers their attacks. The eyes also itch and rubbing them makes it worse. Sometimes the skin itches and the throat becomes dry. Wheezing also occurs. An allergy attack will be most severe for fifteen to thirty minutes. Most people are aware when they are allergic to pollen. However, they may not know what other allergens they react to. If this is a problem, physicians can perform skin tests to identify the allergens that trigger the attacks.

Once you know the substances you are allergic to, try to minimize your exposure to these irritants or avoid them altogether. There are many over the counter preparations designed to help hay fever sufferers. The most common are antihistamines. These can both prevent and stop an attack however they may need to be used for several days. Antihistamines have certain side effects such as dryness in the nose and throat and drowsiness. A person taking antihistamines should exercise caution about driving or operating machinery until they know how the medicine affects them. If over the counter medications are not effective, there are prescription medications available from a physician. Antihistamines only relieve the symptoms of hay fever. They do not cure it. However, if you have had a skin test and your doctor has identified the substance that triggers your attacks, it is possible to cure the underlying cause. The doctor can administer a series of desensitizing injections. These actually contain the allergen and are given in increasingly stronger doses to stop reactions. While they have been successful with some patients, they do not work for everyone.

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Why Am I Congested? Do I Suffer From Hay Fever?

Comments: 0February 20th, 2009 by admin



Hay Fever: What is it?

Hay fever is a condition that is seasonal that is the direct result of an allergic reaction to pollen. There are tests available that can determine if you have a pollen allergy as well as which type of pollen you are more sensitive to.

What Are The Symptoms of Hay Fever?

Sneezing Runny Nose Watery Eyes Congestion Itchy Nose Fatigue

There will be days when your symptoms might seem better than others and this can be due to the weather. Climate has an impact on how high the pollen count will be. When there is rain this tends to lower the pollen count as it cleans the air. However windy days will kick up the pollen and make symptoms worsen.

How Can I Control My Pollen Allergy?

There are several things that you can do to help control your allergy to pollen. Some of the easy ways to help control your allergy are:

Take a shower after you have been outside as pollen can cling to skin Change clothes after being outside as pollen also can cling to your clothes Try to stay indoors during high allergy alerts Talk to your doctor about possible over the counter or prescription medication options to help you get relief

If you suffer from hay fever or think that you might it is a good idea to get tested for pollen allergies. There are some people who actually move to get away from the plants and climate that worsen their condition.

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