Nasal Allergy Attack: Causes, Triggers, Treatments

That sniffling, that sinus pressure, and all that sneezing must be caused by something. The big question is: what?

Nasal congestion from allergies is a common problem. Unfortunately for allergy sufferers, there can be many causes. These are known as "allergens," and they can cause your body's immune system to over-react. Allergens include

• ragweed,
• grass,
• pet dander,
• dust mites, and
• mold.

Although these things are usually harmless, people who have developed allergies to them will find they cause a lot of misery and sometimes lead to serious health risks. In America, more than 50 million people suffer from them each year. That adds up to an annual cost of more than $18 billion.

In the following slides, learn more about nasal allergies, like who's at risk, why allergic reactions occur, how they affect your health, and how they can be treated.

Your immune system targets and protects you against health threats like viruses and harmful bacteria. In this photo you can see some bacteria (pink).

Anaphylaxis

While some allergic reactions are mild and may be restricted to certain parts of the body, anaphylaxis is severe and affects the health of the whole body. Anaphylaxis comes on quickly, and it can be deadly. It causes tissues to release histamine, along with other substances that cause breathing problems and other symptoms like

• abdominal pain,
• dizziness,
• difficulty swallowing,
• facial swelling, and
• unconsciousness.

Asthma

Like anaphylaxis, asthma can be life-threatening in severe cases. Asthma often causes your breathing passages to become inflamed and tight, causing symptoms such as wheezing, cough, and shortness of breath.

The relationship between asthma and allergies is complicated. The two conditions seem to be related, as many people with asthma are also prone to symptoms of nasal allergy.

It's easy to come in contact with allergens because they're potentially everywhere, immersed in the air we breathe both indoors and outdoors. Chasing after dust bunnies, playing with your pet, or just walking out the door during certain seasons of the year can set off your symptoms. An allergic reaction is set in motion by either

• touching,
• swallowing, or
• inhaling

an allergen. Below we discuss two of the most common triggers.

Dust Mites

Dust mites are among the most common allergy triggers. These microscopic creatures live on dead human skin flakes found in household dust. They love warm, humid places, and even immaculate homes have them in the carpet, curtains, upholstered furniture, and stuffed animals.

Pollen

Pollen is the reason for seasonal allergies. It is carried in the air and helps grasses, weeds, and trees fertilize and spread. Pollen prevalence can be predicted by the season, but pollen counts vary from year to year, and from region to region. By checking local weather forecasts, you can easily discover the current pollen count.

Exposure to triggers may cause postnasal drip, allergies, and symptoms involving the lungs, ears, sinuses, stomach lining, or skin.

Once an allergen enters your body, your immune system reacts and starts making antibodies. Antibodies can be so specific that they only target certain types of pollen, for example. When the immune system detects an allergen, more of the proper antibodies are produced.

The antibodies set to work searching for the offending allergen and eventually get rid of them.

When antibodies find an allergen, they begin to alert mast cells. Mast cells are blood cells that release more chemicals, including histamine. Histamine causes inflammation, meaning small blood vessels become leaky. This causes fluid to escape, which leads to

• runny noses,
• nasal swelling, and
• congestion.

Like many other issues related to your health, whether or not you become allergic tends to be determined by your parents. When one parent is prone to allergic reactions, a child's chances of getting them stands at about 50%, and when both parents are affected, the child's risk goes up to 80%.

With that said, anyone can experience allergic reactions, regardless of race, age, gender, or any other status. Children tend to be affected more than adults, however.

Whether someone develops an allergic reaction can depend on how much they've been exposed to a particular trigger. Some allergies can take years to develop.

Because there's no way to completely cure allergies, the best way to find relief and restore your health is to find ways to prevent allergic reactions. Here are some tips:

• Avoid allergy triggers when you can.
• Check pollen or mold reports before going outside.
• If levels are high, think about wearing a face mask.
• During allergy season, shower before going to bed so you don't go to sleep with pollen in your hair.
• Keep windows closed and run the air conditioner.
• Vacuum twice a week to cut down on allergens.

Over-the-counter (OTC) medicine can help control symptoms of allergic reactions. Such medicines include antihistamines and decongestants. These medications may be administered in different forms, such as pills or capsules, liquids, eye drops, or nasal sprays.

OTC allergy nasal spray may be enough to alleviate your symptoms. If not, prescription nasal sprays for allergies are available.

Talk with your pharmacist or doctor about what is the best nasal spray for allergies for you.

Allergies can be notoriously difficult to identify. If you can't say for sure what's causing them, or if they're severe, an allergist can help. Allergists and immunologists are medically trained to identify and treat your symptoms.

The doctor will take your medical history and may perform tests. These tests expose you to possible allergens in a systematic way to see which allergens may cause a reaction. Depending on your allergic symptoms, your doctor may suggest prescription medications or allergy shots.

Your best resource for information about allergy nasal sprays, the best allergy medicine for postnasal drip, over the counter nasal sprays for allergies, and other kinds of allergy treatments is your allergist.