Allergy | Causes, diagnosis, treatment

Is Nasal Allergy Bothering You?

How many times did you feel like your nose is going like crazy, getting all itchy and sensitive, and running like a broken tap? It is very possible that you didn’t catch a cold, but you are sensitive to certain substances in the air, with we call allergens, and which could trigger an allergic reaction from your body. This reaction can manifest in the nasal area, giving you all these unpleasant and irritating symptoms. The triggers can be many things, like pollen or dust, but also mold spores, or animal dander. They are airborne, an as we breathe them, they are penetrating the nasal mucosa and get in contact with our blood. If the blood thinks they are harmful substances, the alarm mechanism is triggered and it will alert the blood cells like lymphocytes and mast cells, and it will start the secretion of histamine, thus sensitizing the nasal mucosa membrane making it more and more sensitive with each incident of this type.

But the process goes on. Our immune system has an elaborated defense scheme, and it will throw into the battle the macrophages, who are in fact our scavengers, eating the foreign cells and preventing us getting invaded by them. IgE antibodies also play a role in this process, because they bind to the basophil and mastocite cells. In this way, histamine is released into the body, but the process isn’t harmless for the human body, as it causes swelling, redness, itching sensations and other symptoms which are typical for allergic reactions.

How to avoid nasal allergy?

The best way is to discover which are the allergens that cause you the reaction, then to avoid exposure to them. If you are allergic to pollen, don’t go out of the house in the days with high pollen activity levels – you’ll know then from the weather reports in your area. If you have an allergy to dust mites, don’t do your household cleaning by yourself. either get somebody else do the dusting for you, or, if this is not possible, wear gloves and a dust-proof mask and wash yourself thoroughly with plenty of water after you finish.

HEPA filters are very efficient in filtrating pollens, so you may consider buying one, and using it during the pollen season, which is late spring, and early fall in some regions, but can be even longer in other countries.

Air cleaners and humidifiers also can play a positive role in keeping an allergic symptoms-free.

Always consult with your doctor before attempting anything to release your allergy symptoms. The physician knows better your history and your medical needs, and he can indicate you the best ways of keeping yourself healthy and in a good state of being. Do not follow advice from neighbors and friends, because each patient is unique, and what may work well for them can be harmful for you. Nasal allergy needs to be treated with all your consideration.

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