HAY FEVER CAUSED BY HEART DISEASE

Just about everyone knows what hay fever is - the seasonal itching, sneezing, and runny nose caused by the type of pollen that happens to be in the air at the time. But what most people don’t know is that hay fever is just one manifestation of a more basic condition called allergic rhinitis. Whenever a stuffy nose, dark circles under the eyes, or post-nasal drip persists as a chronic condition, allergic rhinitis could be the cause. In fact, this condition affects approximately 10% of the U.S. population (roughly 30 million people) and is the most common allergic disorder in the country. No one knows why some people suffer from allergies and others do not. Some evidence suggests that allergies could be a hereditary trait. Other evidence links allergic rhinitis to asthma and eczema. People who suffer from these diseases are more likely to develop allergic rhinitis, too. Allergic rhinitis is an allergic reaction of the upper respiratory system to a substance called an allergen, which is anything that causes an allergy. These reactions will occur either seasonally or perennially.

Trees tend to be the cause of symptoms in the spring. Grasses tend to be the culprits in the summer, and ragweed and other weeds tend to be the problem in the fall. Fungi are suspect over a much longer period because they release their spores from late March until November. Weather influences the severity of allergy symptoms because it affects the daily pollen count. Pollen counts tend to be at their highest on warm, dry, and breezy mornings and at their lowest on rainy, cool days. Generally, the severity of your allergic reaction will correspond to the rise and fall of the pollen count. As the name suggests, perennial rhinitis occurs all year round. Its cause is allergens whose production is not tied to any seasonal cycle. Common examples are dust mites, animal dander, and molds. These allergens can aggregate in pillows, down-filled clothing and bedding, draperies, upholstery, thick carpeting, and shower curtains. Symptoms will be steady if you come into contact with the allergen daily, but they can come and go if your contact with it is only intermittent. It also is possible for a sustained reaction to a perennial allergen to mask a seasonal allergy.

The symptoms of allergic rhinitis are the result of your immune system protecting itself from what it perceives as an invading substance. Most evidence suggests that genetics determine whether your body will mount this kind of defense. This allergic response begins with the production of allergic (IgE) antibodies. The job of these antibodies is to find molecules of the offending substance in the bloodstream and tissues and to escort them to the body’s mast cells for destruction. As the mast cells destroy the allergens, a chemical called histamine is released into the bloodstream and certain mucous membranes (specifically, the lining of the nose or eyes). Histamine inflames the sinuses and eyelids, making them red and swollen. It also triggers the sneezing reflex. The swelling is designed to block more of the allergens from entering the body, and sneezing is a method of expelling them. Histamine also causes itching and permits fluids to enter the nasal tissue, resulting in congestion and a runny nose.

Effective drug therapies include antihistamines, topical nasal steroids, and certain decongestants, many of which are available over the counter. Antihistamines are effective at treating allergic rhinitis because they block the actions of the histamine produced by the allergic reaction. Most of the older generation that are available over the counter, however, can cause drowsiness. For this reason, do not take them when you plan on driving a car, operating heavy equipment, drinking alcohol, or taking other drugs that also cause drowsiness. The newer antihistamines do not cause drowsiness in most cases. Loratidine (Claritin) is one antihistamine that is available over-the-counter. Others, such as fexofenadine (Allegra) and cetirizine (Zyrtec) are available. The other major effective drug therapy for allergic rhinitis is nasal steroids. These medications relieve symptoms because they counteract the inflammation caused by the allergic reaction. Prescription nasal steroids include such drugs as fluticasone (Flovent), mometasone (Nasonex), budesonide (Rhinocort), and beclomethasone (Vanceril).

Allergen immunotherapy, commonly known as allergy shots, is a technique designed to increase your tolerance to the substances that cause allergy symptoms. It desensitizes you to your allergens, allowing you to tolerate the offending agents. Physicians usually recommend it for people who either do not get good results with medications or do not tolerate them. During the treatments, an allergen is injected periodically into your body in increasingly larger amounts until an effective dose, called the maintenance dose, is reached. The maintenance dose is given at intervals over three to five years to induce a tolerance to the allergen. In most cases, immunotherapy is very effective at reducing or preventing the development of allergy symptoms whenever you come into contact with the allergen. It usually reduces and often eliminates the need for medications. The effects are long-term for most people who complete an adequate course of allergen immunotherapy.