What About Herbal Remedies
If your tight chest and wheezing are being caused by seasonal allergies, then you may find a remedy for seasonal allergies to be effective in easing these symptoms, as well as other seasonal allergies symptoms you are experiencing.
For example, Pollinosan Allergy Relief Tablets combines several different herbs which work together to relieve seasonal allergies symptoms. They can be found in the original formula devised by Alfred Vogel.
However, you may also find that easing congestion will ease your feeling of tightness in the chest, and thus a decongestant may be beneficial to you. Sinna Nasal Spray can be used alongside Polinosan seasonal allergies Tablets, and will clear and soothe nasal passages.
How To Protect Your Lungs
Check the air quality and pollen forecasts before you venture outside
Do any yard work early in the morning when pollen counts are at their lowest
Keep your home clean to avoid indoor allergens
Know your triggers, and avoid them. If you arent sure what your triggers are an appointment with an allergist can help you pinpoint them.
If you struggle with severe allergies, consult with Pulmonary Associates of Richmond. Our team of pulmonary specialists can diagnose seasonal allergies, prescribe medications, and recommend tests to evaluate the health of your lungs, and explain the ways that your allergies impact lungs and overall health. Contact us to schedule your pulmonary appointment today, and let us help you breathe better.
What To Do When Seasonal Allergies Affect You All Year
Seasonal allergy symptoms often start in late March and start to wane by the end of November. Given the long time span, it can feel like seasonal allergies are an all-year ordeal of sniffling and sneezing.
Heres everything you need to know to tame your seasonal allergies and find relief from your symptoms.
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Are There Home Remedies To Help
Finding a way to loosen the mucus in your airways allowing them to expand can help ease the feeling of tightness in the chest. Inhaling steam can be an effective means to do this, as the warm moist air can help loosen mucus. Adding salt to the water can also be beneficial.
Ginger has been found to be effective in reducing airway inflammation. It also acts as a muscle relaxant, helping to open your airways thus reducing chest tightness. Ginger can be consumed with your meal, in the form of tea, or eaten raw or crystallised.
As the tightness in your chest is likely to be the result of feeling congested, then reducing congestion is likely to bring effective relief. Breathing in peppermint or eucalyptus essence, or eating spicy foods, garlic and onions, may be effective in helping to ease congestion.
Causes Of Pollen Allergies
For all allergies, the immune system reacts to specific allergy trigger molecules . Your immune system produces antibodies that detect the allergen and cause inflammatory reactions and the release of a chemical called histamine. Histamine causes hay fever symptoms, such as itchy and watery nose and eyes, and sneezing.
In Victoria, inland areas tend to have higher pollen counts and northerly winds can bring pollens from inland regions to the coastal areas, including Melbourne. In contrast, the east coast of Australia often has less pollen, because winds tend to blow in from the sea and the Great Dividing Range protects the coast from inland winds. In South Australia and Western Australia, levels of pollen in the air vary, depending on wind direction.
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Other Potential Remedies Include
- Consuming a cold glass of milk with a tablespoon of raw honey mixed in. These substances can work together to soothe the lining of the digestive tract.
- Consuming carom seeds can help to alleviate the symptom if it is caused by excess gas or bloating.
- Eating yogurt as a regular part of your diet.
- Avoiding taking medications on an empty stomach, unless specifically prescribed that way.
- Practicing some simple yoga postures designed to promote good digestion.
Chest pain after eating is an unfortunate medical condition that is highly common. The pain will usually alleviate itself within a short period of time after eating. If it persists or is experienced on a regular basis, consult your doctor, as there may be an underlying medical condition at play.
Some of the most common causes of chest pain after eating are related to diet or acid reflux. With small dietary adjustments, this type of symptom can be alleviated quite simply. If the pain is chronic, it may be indicative of a larger medical issue, ranging from hiatal hernia to esophageal ulcers. Keep an eye on your symptoms and their potential causes and keep in mind the natural remedies that can reduce pain in the chest after eating.
Whats A Seasonal Allergy
Seasonal allergies are similar to other allergies and develop when the bodys immune system overreacts to something in the environment. While most seasonal allergies start in the spring and last through late fall, the weather where you live can affect the length of time that you experience symptoms. Some studies suggest that rising temperatures and higher carbon dioxide levels contribute to longer growth time of allergen-producing plants.
Grasses and trees are common spring allergy triggers, and about 75 percent of people allergic to spring triggers also have reactions to ragweed in the fall. Mold is another common trigger, and it thrives in warm, moist environments. The most common trigger in the fall is ragweed, which grows all over the United States. Ragweed blooms and releases pollen from August to November, but levels often are highest in early to mid-September.
Other seasonal triggers include:
- Smoke from a fire pit or fireplace
- Real Christmas trees, wreaths, and swags
- Dusty holiday decorations coming out of the attic, garage, or basement
To prevent a seasonal allergy attack,take steps to minimize your exposure:
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An Introduction To Tight Chests And Seasonal Allergies
People afflicted by asthma may also be prone to seasonal allergies. In fact asthma and seasonal allergies are often grouped together and termed atopy by doctors. This is because the individual has an increased tendency to develop allergies and typical symptoms of chest tightness and wheezing often occur in both conditions. Atopic individuals can also be prone to skin allergies or eczema.
How Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis Affects Your Body
When you inhale the dust that you are allergic to, you wont notice any problems the first time. Some people develop symptoms after inhaling a lot the dust all at once or after inhaling small amounts over and over again. Tiny air sacs in the lungs can become irritated and may fill with fluid. If you stop inhaling the allergen, the irritation can get better in a few days. If you keep inhaling those allergens, the lung irritation continues. Parts of your lung can develop scar tissue. When your lungs have scar tissue, it may be hard to breathe normally.
Its important to catch this disease early so that you dont have permanent lung damage:
- Hypersensitivity pneumonitis can be a serious problem for people whose lungs become scarred.
- Scarred lungs can occur if the disease continues, and it is permanent.
- Unfortunately, there is no cure or treatment for long-term hypersensitivity pneumonitis.
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Why Do Allergies Cause Shortness Of Breath
Shortness of breath isnt one of the most common allergy symptoms , according to Dr. Elliott. Allergies impact the upper respiratory tract,2 meaning your nose and throat. Generally, people who have allergies experience symptoms affecting the upper respiratory tract, which makes sense because you breathe allergens in through your nose, she says. This explains why your eyes feel itchy and your nose runs after breathing in an allergen such as pollen. But if you have allergic asthma, allergens inflame the lower respiratory tract too, causing the muscles around the airway to narrow, leading to asthma symptoms: shortness of breath, wheezing, and coughing, according to the NLM.
Allergies are really common in people with asthma. About 60% of asthma cases in the U.S. are classified as allergic asthma, according to the Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America. If your shortness of breath is accompanied by telltale allergy symptoms, then you may want to schedule a doctors appointment to talk about getting an allergic asthma diagnosis.
What Are Seasonal Allergies
Seasonal allergies are a condition that impacts the nose, sinuses, neck, and eyes. In particular, pollen is what causes many individuals to have chronic respiratory problems. When people refer to allergies, they often think of hay fever or other environmental variables, but there is more than meets the eye!
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Can Seasonal Allergies Cause Body Aches Back Aches And Joint Pain
If youre wondering whether seasonal allergies can cause back aches and joint pain, youre not alone. There are plenty of ways seasonal allergies are related to back pain and joint pain as well.
For starters, it is possible to experience joint pain with a cold. Because both allergies and a cold cause similar symptoms, such as a runny nose and sneezing, itchy eyes and throat, and stuffy nose, some people confuse a cold with allergies.
Colds are typically accompanied by a sore throat and coughing, and maybe even a fever and body aches in your neck. However, some people who suffer from inflammation because of their allergies experience joint pain as the body attempts to flush out the allergen.
Managing Your Seasonal Allergies
One of the most important things someone suffering from allergies can do is to identify the triggers. While some people seem to blame one trigger, it is possible that there are actually multiple triggers. It is not uncommon for those who suffer from spring allergies to show symptoms throughout the year. Some ways to avoid triggers include:
- Shower after being outdoors.
- Monitor pollen and mold counts, which are available on TV or in the news.
- Stay inside during peak pollen counts, which is the middle of the day of the afternoon.
- Wear a filter mask when working outdoors.
- Take preventive medication.
You can take other precautions as well, such as bathing and shampooing your hair each day to completely remove the pollen from your hair and skin. You should also wash your bedding in hot soapy water at least once a week.
You may need to wear sunglasses outdoors to protect your eyes from pollen. Those with severe allergies might find that a facemask is helpful during times when daily pollen counts are very high. It is also important to avoid line drying your bedding or clothes outdoors if the local pollen counts are high, as pollen can settle on these items.
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What Does It Mean If My Chest Feels Heavy
Feeling heaviness in the chest can result from various mental and physical health conditions. People often associate a heavy feeling in the chest with heart problems, but this discomfort can be a sign of anxiety or depression. A feeling of heaviness is one way that a person may describe chest pain or discomfort.
Allergic Asthma: Symptoms And Treatment
Ashley A. Sullivan, MSN FNPStudent, Samuel Merritt University, Oakland, CaRN, California Pacific Medical Center
Natalya M. Kushnir, MDDirector, Allergy and immunology Clinic of East BayBerkeley, CA
H. Henry Li, MD, PhDFAAAAI, FACAAIInstitute for Asthma and AllergyWheaton and Chevy Chase Maryland
Michael A. Kaliner, MD FAAAAIMedical Director, Institute for Asthma and AllergyChevy Chase and Wheaton, MarylandProfessor of Medicine, George Washington University School of MedicineWashington DC
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How Can You Treat Back Pain
If youre suffering from back pain, there are several potential treatments to consider.
Medications, like topical analgesic creams and ointments, may offer pain relief. Analgesic medications are over-the-counter medications, such as aspirin or acetaminophen. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications can reduce pain and swelling. These drugs often referred to as NSAIDs, include common over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen and naproxen sodium. It is possible to get a stronger NSAID from a doctor.
If you have chronic back pain, additional medications may include muscle relaxants and even antidepressants. However, these options may not work for everyone.
Medications are just one treatment option. You may prefer to use hot or cold packs, or both, to ease a sore and stiff back. These packs offer a number of benefits. Heat helps reduce pain and muscle spasms, while cold reduces swelling and numbs more intense pain.
Exercise is another treatment option, especially if the cause of the problem is weight-related. However, it is important to note that while exercise can ease chronic pain, it is not ideal for acute back pain. Individuals suffering from either types of pain should seek advice and clarification from a doctor or physical therapist.
Seasonal Allergies And Joint Inflammation
If joint pain occurs during allergy season, you can experiment with a variety of treatment options to find what works best for your joint pain. Over-the-counter medications such as Tylenol and Advil can work for mild pain. For acute pain, hot or cold packs might provide relief. Your doctor might recommend steroid shots, where medication directly into the joint to help reduce pain and inflammation.
Some individuals also find that physical therapy can help to strengthen muscles around the joint, which in turn strengthens the joint and improves the range of motion.
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Are There Conventional Medicines To Help Me
Conventional medicines can be used to treat seasonal allergies symptoms.
In general, doctors are likely to advise anti-histamines to combat the excess release of histamine in the body. Anti-histamines can be bought over-the-counter, and can be taken as required to tackle symptoms or as a preventative measure. Some anti-histamines cause drowsiness and so you may need to be careful when driving or using machinery.
In extreme cases and for quick but short-term relief, your doctor may suggest a course of steroids. It is inadvisable to use steroid treatment for more than ten days, as unpleasant side-effects may be seen with long-term usage.
Other forms of treatment that may be recommended include cromoglycate tablets or sprays. They work by reducing the tendency of your immune system to react to pollen.
Can Seasonal Allergies Cause Back Pain
Your body is an intricate network of organ systems thataffect one another in a myriad of ways. When one of these systems is damaged or impeded from performingoptimally, it may influence other, seemingly unrelated systems in unexpectedways. That is why many people who experience seasonal allergies maysimultaneously experience seasonal back pain.
In the most general terms, your seasonal back pain may becaused by an overload on your overall physiology, but there are many specificways that allergic reactions may worsen back pain symptoms. If you are likemany back pain sufferers, there are multiple causes of your back pain, frompinched nerves to prolonged muscle contraction.
Seasonal Allergies
Most commonly affecting people in the spring and earlysummer when plant pollination occurs, seasonal allergies are a physiological responseto airborne allergens. The most commonsymptoms associated with seasonal allergies include
- Red or watery eyes
Almost eight percent of Americans will suffer from seasonal allergies, but doctors arent exactly sure why some people react this way while others dont. It is believed that seasonal allergies are an overreaction by the immune system to environmental factors that are harmless but misidentified as dangerous. In many cases, there appears to be a strong hereditary component.
Seasonal Back Pain
Back Pain and Allergies
There are many reasons why spring allergies may induce orworsen back pain, but here are some of the more supportable theories.
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Which Parts Of The Body Are Most Affected By Allergies
Seasonal allergies most often affect your respiratory systemnose, sinuses, throat, and lungs. However, pain from allergies can also affect other parts of your body.
Repeatedly coughing and sneezing can strain the muscles between your ribs or the cartilage that attaches your ribs to your breastbone , causing a lot of pain. Pain can also come from your diaphragm, or breathing muscle, which can transfer pain to your shoulder or neck.
This pain is usually sharp and intense and worsens when you breathe, sneeze, laugh, or cough.
How To Treat Allergies During A Pandemic
In the midst of a virus outbreak, it can be hard to get to a clinic for allergy treatment. The first thing to do is to stay away from whatever makes your symptoms flare up.
You can also try over-the-counter allergy medicines. Check with your supermarket or drugstore to see if they deliver and have these medications in stock. Or order them online.
If you have trouble finding them, or if you need something stronger like corticosteroids, call your doctor. They may be able to prescribe something over the phone or have a telehealth visit with you. Some pharmacies deliver medications.
When social distancing or stay-at-home rules are in effect, always follow the COVID-19 safety steps recommended by public health officials:
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Inflammation Of The Airways
When the body detects an allergen, it tries to reject it by producing antibodies and chemicals, such as histamine. Histamine causes the airways to become inflamed and constricted, and it also causes the body to produce mucus to help expel the allergen.
As a result, the airways become narrower. When a person breathes through narrowed airways, the air is forced through a smaller-than-usual space, and a whistling sound can result. This sound is wheezing.
Some causes of wheezing result in short-lived symptoms. Others can cause symptoms that are more serious or longer lasting.
