What is hay rhinitis?
In fact this term is wrong, first of all hay is not allergic, therefore it does not cause allergy. Microscopic materials in the air causes allergic symptoms like nasal obstruction, clear white nasal discharge, sneezing and postnasal drip.
Summer rhinitis is also not a rhinitis caused by viruses but rather by allergic materials in the air. Hay rhinitis, summer rhinitis in medical terms called as “allergic rhinitis”.
Many people suffer from this problem, some having mild symptoms, some have severe symptoms as much as preventing their daily activities.
What causes allergy?
Foreign substances coming from plants and animals enter to human body via eye, nose, mouth and cause reactions. Normally this is an expected natural reaction. However some people give more than normal reaction. These kind of people are called “allergic people”, materials causing allergy are called “allergen”. There is a family tendency in allergy.
Immune system produces substances that fight against foreign materials. When they meet with allergic substances they secrete some materials that cause unwanted reactions in the body. “Histamin” is the most known of them and causes swelling, irritation, secretions in the mucosa of the nose.
Which allergens cause allergy in the nose?
Plant and animal protein particles light as transferred in the air and can be stocked in the tissues can cause allergy. Most common ones are flower pollens, fungal spores, animal epithels, mites. If these materials are smaller or bigger than a critical size they cannot enter to the body and cannot cause allergic reactions.
Can allergies be important?
Patients with allergy can get upper respiratory infections more than normal. Symptoms become more severe in these people.
What can you do?
Ideally if you can stay away from allergens, it is best. But however these advices are not practical and therefore following precautions are advised.
- Use mask while your home is cleaning or you are dealing with plants.
- Change the air condition filters frequently. You can use air cleaners.
- Close the doors and windows during heavy pollen season.
- Do not take care of plants and animals that you are allergic to.
- Change with synthetic materials if you use wool, bird feather materials.
- Cover your bed with synthetic materials.
- Use your prescribed drugs.
- Elevate your head while sleeping.
Take care of your general health:
- Make regular exercises.
- Quit smoking of any kind.
- Use low carbohydrate foods, regular diet.
- Eat vegetable and fruits
- See your doctor regularly
- During winter you can use nebulizer at home to prevent drying because of heaters.
What can your doctor do for you?
Your doctor will examine your ear, nose, throat properly and check your sinuses, anatomic problems.
There are different type of drugs against allergy. Your doctor will decide which one will be useful for you. Your environment should be arranged besides medicine.
There are two types of treatment for air allergies. First, stay away from them; second, vaccine therapy. Principle in allergy vaccination is to give small doses of allergic material to the patient to desensitize it in time according to that substance.
Suitable vaccination can help in a couple of weeks. But for permanent effect it should continue 3-5 years. Vaccination does not mean you will not use medicine. You and your doctor will arrange the doses and time intervals.