As soon as the weather turns warm, and the Great Outdoors beckons, allergy season begins. For many people, this means itchy, watery eyes, sneezing, and a constantly running nose.
Springtime allergies, properly called seasonal allergic rhinitis and commonly referred to as hay fever, affect between 15 and 20 percent of Canadians. Seasonal allergic rhinitis can affect anyone from infancy to old age, and most often starts before the age of 20.
What Causes It?
Hay fever is caused by an allergy to pollen. When pollens are inhaled by people who are sensitive to them, they cause specialized cells within the body to release histamine. This substance causes the unpleasant symptoms of hay fever. (The watering eyes and runny nose are the body's way of flushing away the invading irritant.)
Pollens that are light enough to be windborne are the primary offenders for most hay fever sufferers. Heavier pollens that are carried from plant to plant by bees and other insects can also act as allergens, but they cause trouble only when the affected person comes into direct contact with the plant. Since airborne pollens can penetrate anywhere, indoors and out, hiding out in the house is not an effective way to manage hay fever.
Some allergy sufferers are allergic to one type of pollen, while others are allergic to several. Since different types of pollen are released into the air as various plants flower, hay fever can occur at any time during the spring, summer and early fall. Pollen from elm, maple, birch, poplar and other trees is often the cause of early spring hay fever, while grass pollen is released into the air in early summer. Ragweed is the cause of most late summer and early fall cases of hay fever in midwestern and eastern Canada.
Controlling Hay Fever
While avoiding the offending substance is the best way to control hay fever, this is often very difficult, if not impossible. Even a run to the car can involve inhaling the allergen/s responsible for hay fever. Fortunately, a number of measures can help reduce exposure to allergens, and a variety of treatments are available to offset the unpleasant symptoms. Here are some pointers to help you control hay fever:
- Know your triggers and avoid them whenever possible. Remember that grass pollinates in the morning between 6:00 and 8:00, weeds pollinate at sunrise and sunset and that windy days will have higher pollen and mould allergen levels.
- Keep your medication close by. Use it before you anticipate the onset of an allergic reaction.
- Change your clothes. A quick shower and a change of attire will take care of pollens that have collected on hair and fabrics while you were outside.
- Clear the air. When driving, keep windows up and set the air conditioning on recirculate. Keep home windows closed and change air conditioning filters regularly.
- Invest in a home air purification system to trap airborne allergens. (A number of excellent units are available at London Drugs.)
- Wash pets often and never allow them to sleep on the bed. Even if you are not allergic to pet dander, pet hair gathers pollen every time your special friend takes a trip outside during the warmer months.
- Wear sunglasses or glasses to reduce the likelihood of pollen entering the eyes.
- Talk to your doctor about ways to control hay fever, including desensitization injections or prescription medications.
Why "Hay Fever"?
If ever there were a prize for misnomers, the term “hay fever’ would be high in the running. The sneezing, itching and watering eyes that defines the condition is not associated with a fever and is not exclusively caused by hay. The name dates back to the early 19th century, when English doctors noted that many country dwellers developed itchy eyes and began to cough and sneeze when exposed to hay or cut grass. These symptoms caused extreme irritability and anxiety, the old English term for which was “fever.”
Fast Relief for Allergies
Warm weather allergens, including plant pollens, can be truly frustrating for the allergy sufferer. As soon as the cold, wet days of winter have past, plants resume their life-cycle in earnest - sending millions of pollen particles into the environment. The resulting symptoms - sneezing, congestion, itchiness, runny nose and watering eyes can sometimes make us wish that winter hadn’t ended.
For many allergy sufferers, simply taking precautions to avoid pollen doesn’t prevent the unpleasant, uncomfortable symptoms of an allergy - a runny nose, watery eyes and blocked sinuses. To complicate matters, blockage of the nasal passages may cause breathing difficulties at night, interfering with sleep.
When severe, allergy symptoms can be debilitating, making it difficult to carry out daily tasks. They may even cause loss of time from work or school.
Reactine* allergy medications provide gentle relief for the symptoms of hay fever and other allergies. Reactine* regular strength and extra strength tablets provide fast relief from allergy symptoms, lasting 24 hours. Reactine* Allergy + Sinus tablets provide 12-hour relief from allergy symptoms and blocked sinuses. The extended release formula is suitable for adults and children 12 years of age or older.
Your Pharmacist Says:
Please consult your doctor before taking any antihistamine or decongestant product if you have high blood pressure, heart, kidney, liver, or thyroid disease, diabetes, glaucoma, prostate enlargement, or if you are elderly, pregnant or nursing. Do not use if you are taking a prescription drug for high blood pressure or depression without consulting your doctor.
Anti-allergic eye drops should not be used if you wear contact lenses or if your eyes are infected. Always check with your doctor if you have an existing eye problem. These and all medications should be kept out of the reach of children.
Speedy Control of Symptoms
The itchy, runny nose and sneezing that accompany hay fever can be controlled with a nasal solution such as Cromolyn anti-allergic nasal mist.
This solution prevents histamines from being released within the body and will not cause drowsiness. For best results, you should start to use the nasal mist a week or so prior to exposure to the allergen.
Irritated eyes caused by allergic reactions are best treated with drops formulated to prevent itching, watering and congestion. Cromolyn ophthalmic solution may be used by adults and children over five years of age to soothe and remove redness caused by allergens.