Does Allergy Medicine Help Sinuses

Allergy Medicine Treating The Bodys Adverse Reaction To A Substance

A good percentage of the worlds population is affected by an allergy.

An allergy is the bodys reaction to a substance that doesnt cause much harm to other people, but it does to you. These allergens include dust, pollen, chemicals, foods, animal fur and insect stings.

Allergic reactions include:

• Skin rashes dermatitis, hives
• Excessive sweating
• Bloated stomach, intestinal disturbances, and others. In rare instances, the immune systems react so strongly to the offending substance that death occurs. The most deadly reaction occurs when the allergen gets into the bloodstream and causes an anaphylactic reaction respiratory distress, severe itching, and shock.

Allergies can be debilitating and sinusitis is often so painful it can lead to time off from work. Acute sinusitis will develop quickly and lasts up to 10 days while chronic sinusitis is a long-term inflammation of the sinuses.

In adults, chronic sinusitis can lead to nasal swelling. Allergies cause histamine to be released and this causes the inner lining of the nose to swell and prevent sinus drainage. People with asthma and immune system problems develop chronic sinusitis more often than others.

When Do You Need An Allergy Medicine How Do You Know If You Need One

Dont wait for a full-blown attack of coughing and sniffing before you take an allergy medicine. Then again, before you start taking an antihistamine, make sure you have an allergy and not something else. You want the medication to launch an immediate attack on your sniffles so that they dont develop into anything. Another important factor is consistency. If you are one who easily forgets to take meds, then maybe opting for an allergy shot is a better option for you.

Desensitization or immunotherapy using a repeated injection of an offending allergen can bring relief. You start off with visiting your doctor once or twice a week, with the dosage going up gradually until you get a maintenance dose. Then youll get a shot every 3 or 4 weeks for about 4 or 5 months. The doctor will then increase the time between shots so that youre getting them once a month for 3 5 years. During this time your allergy symptoms may disappear almost completely.

Treating Sinusitis: Dont Rush To Antibiotics

People with sinusitis due to the common cold or other causes are often prescribed antibiotics. In fact, sinusitis accounts for 15 to 21 percent of all antibiotic prescriptions written for adults in outpatient care.

But most of them probably dont need the drugs. Heres why:

Self-help measures and, if needed, over-the-counter drugs can help ease symptoms until sinusitis clears up, typically within a week or so. They include:

• Rest. Thats especially important in the first few days, when your body needs its energy to fight the virusand when youre most contagious.
• Warm fluids. Drinking them can help thin nasal secretions and loosen phlegm.
• Humidity. Warm, moist air from a bath, shower, or kettle can loosen phlegm and soothe the throat.
• Gargling. Dissolve half a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water to relieve painful swelling in your throat.
• Rinsing. Flushing your nostrils with saltwater might ease congestion. If you use a commercial nasal-rinse device, be sure to thoroughly clean it daily.
• OTC medication, but used cautiously. To reduce the risk of side effects, look for single-ingredient products that target the symptoms you want to treat.

In general, dont bother with antihistamines. Older ones such as chlorpheniramine and diphenhydramine might help a little but can cause drowsiness, dry eyes and mouth, and urinary retention, and can worsen narrow-angle glaucoma. Newer antihistamines, such as loratadine , work well for allergies but usually dont help sinus symptoms.

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How To Do A Nasal Rinse

Nasal saline rinses are a good way to treat discomfort and congestion. They can help flush out mucus, debris, and irritants, and soothe nasal passages.

A neti pot can be used to do this. You fill a pot with a saline rinse that you can buy.

• Place the spout of the pot against one nostril.
• Tilt your head to the side.
• The saline will pour out of the lower nostrilthanks to gravity.
• Repeat steps with the other nostril.

Fighting Allergic Rhinitis: Where To Start

If over-the-counter allergy treatments do the trick for you, great! If not, you should see your doctor.

You might assume that you have allergies when you really have nonallergic rhinitis, which is triggered by irritants like cigarette smoke or fumes instead of allergens. Or your symptoms could stem from colds, sinus problems, asthma, thyroid problems, medication side effects, or other issues. If allergies arenât really your problem, those allergy drugs wonât do any good.

If your doctor does say you have allergic rhinitis, it’s a good idea to find the cause of your allergies. The only way to do that is to get allergy testing.

âSome people with allergic rhinitis spend a lot of time and money focusing on the wrong thing,â says Hugh H. Windom, MD, associate clinical professor of allergy and immunology at the University of South Florida.

âThey assume that theyâre allergic to dust mites, so they spend thousands renovating their homes, pulling up carpets, and cleaning air ducts. But it turns out to be the oak tree outside the bedroom window.â

So get allergy testing before you do anything drastic. You donât want to pry a beloved kitty out of your tearful childâs arms, find it a new home, and then discover that you were never allergic to cats in the first place.

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Benefits Of Antihistamines For Allergies

Because antihistamines prevent the release of histamine, they dry up the excess fluids that lead to excessive tearing and a runny nose. Most antihistamines also include compounds that reduce the itching and irritation that can make your eyes feel as if they have sand in them. They inhibit the urge to sneeze and can also minimize irritation in the throat that leads to coughing.

Antihistamine medications should be taken once a day and will last for a full 24 hours. They have minimal side effects and can be purchased over the counter without a prescription. There are many different types of antihistamines on the market. The top four include:

• Zyrtec® – Zyrtec , comes in both pill form and liquid capsule. It’s used to treat upper respiratory allergies but is also effective for skin rashes and hives. It offers quick relief with few side effects or drug interactions.
• Claritin® – Claritin is a popular allergy medication because it can be taken safely by both adults and children. It comes in pill form and is used to treat seasonal allergies, skin rashes, and hives. It offers few side effects and can be purchased over the counter or with a prescription.
• Allegra®

Remember that generics work just as well as brand-names. It’s important that you read labels carefully so you only by the products that address your particular symptoms. If you have questions, always speak to your doctor or a specialist before you buy a particular product.

Advice from the Sinus Surgeon himself :

What Is Acute Sinusitis

Sinuses are air-filled spaces behind the bones of the upper face: between the eyes and behind the forehead, nose and cheeks. The lining of the sinuses are made up of cells with tiny hairs on their surfaces called cilia. Other cells in the lining produce mucus. The mucus traps germs and pollutants and the cilia push the mucus out through narrow sinus openings into the nose.

When the sinuses become inflamed or infected, the mucus thickens and clogs the openings to one or more sinuses. Fluid builds up inside the sinuses causing increased pressure. Also bacteria can become trapped, multiply and infect the lining. This is sinusitis.

Sinusitis is can be chronic or acute. Acute sinusitis lasts three weeks or less and the person should have no more than three episodes per year. Acute sinusitis is extremely common. It usually is caused by an upper respiratory viral infection.

The inflammation and swelling of the lining of the sinuses can be triggered by:

• Viral infections, such as a common cold
• Allergies
• Narrowed nasal passages from nasal polyps

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Causes Of Sinus Congestion

• Viral Sinus Infection. Part of the common cold. A cold infects the lining of the nose. It also involves the lining of all the sinuses.
• Bacterial Sinus Infection. A problem when the sinus becomes infected with bacteria. . It starts as a viral sinus infection. Main symptoms are increased sinus pain or return of fever. The skin around the eyelids or cheeks may become red or swollen. Thick nasal secretions that last over 14 days may point to a sinus infection. This can occur in younger children.
• Allergic Sinus Reaction. Sinus congestion often occurs with nasal allergies . Sneezing, itchy nose and clear nasal discharge point to this cause.

Trapped Bacteria In Nose Throat And Lungs

Mucus production is very much normal and plays a lot of roles, even when a person is much healthy. It normally protects the tissue that normally lines the lungs, throat, as well as the nasal and also the sinus passages, thus keeping moist and thus preventing it from drying out.

It also traps any unwanted bacteria and also the allergens , thus preventing them from spreading through the body and also making an individual sick.

• Mucus has antibodies, or even the enzymes that are designed to get rid of or even neutralize the harmful allergens.
• As is the case with the mucus, phlegm that has a color like green may signal infection.

Any time that an individual observes blood that is contained in the phlegm when they cough up, then he should seek urgent medical attention. Mucus helps to protect the lungs through capturing of the dirt and also the dust as a person inhales.

A person is able to safely swallow the mixture, but many people dont like the sensation that is accompanied with swallowing of the large amounts. The body is able to reabsorb most of the mucus that is produced itself.

Dirt, dust, and also the debris are passed out of the system, and any other bacteria are then killed by the stomach acids.

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How To Tell Them Apart

Sinusitis and allergies share certain symptoms, particularly nasal discharge and, in some cases, headaches. But there are several important differences .

Usually, symptoms and medical history are sufficient for doctors to diagnose the problem. But certain tests can sometimes help confirm whether the congestion stems from allergies or a bacterial or viral infection. For example, a nasal smear that contains many white blood cells, called neutrophils, can suggest a bacterial infection, while few or no neutrophils can indicate a viral infection instead. And a nasal smear with many eosinophils, another type of white blood cell, can suggest an allergy.

Some doctors recommend CT scans of the nasal passages when they suspect sinusitis, but the allergy, asthma, and immunology group and the American College of Radiology now recommend against that, saying that scans are necessary only if you have frequent or chronic sinusitis or are considering sinus surgery.

Types Of Allergy Medicine

There are three main types of allergy medicine:

• Antihistamines are the first line of defense for relieving a runny nose, sneezing, post-nasal drip, itchy eyes, and itchy skin.
• Nasal sprays can help reduce congestion and sneezing.
• can help relieve a stuffy nose and sinus congestion.

While these medications will not cure your allergies, they can help manage symptoms and improve your quality of life, says Atul N. Shah, MD, an allergist and founder of the Center for Asthma & Allergy.

You may even find a combination of these medications helpful, as they each treat individual aspects of your allergy symptoms and can be taken for different reasons.

However, because over the counter medications may contain multiple ingredients, you should ask your doctor or pharmacist about which are safe to combine before you do so.

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Is There A Seasonal Pattern To The Congestion

• The cold and the flu tend to hit in the fall and winter.
• Recurring nasal congestion in the spring, summer or fall, especially if it happens every year, could indicate allergies to pollen from trees, grass or weeds.
• Chronic year-round nasal congestion could be a sign of allergy to dust mites or pets.
• Chronic nasal congestion can also be seen in children with enlarged tonsils and adenoids.

Sniffle Detective: 5 Ways To Tell Colds From Allergies

Seasonal allergies and colds share some common symptoms, so it may be hard to tell the two apart.

Both conditions typically involve sneezing, a runny nose and congestion. There are some differences, though. Additionally, colds usually include coughing and a sore throat, but these symptoms can also occur in people with hay fever who have post-nasal drip. Itchy eyes are common for seasonal allergies, but rare for colds.

Colds and seasonal allergies seem very similar in many ways, said Dr. Rima Rachid, director of allergen immunotherapy at Boston Childrens Hospital. Its the duration and chronicity of symptoms that might help tell the difference, she explained.

Its not unusual for parents and even doctors to confuse cold and seasonal allergy symptoms, Rachid told Live Science.

Young children frequently get colds, and their parents may not always think of seasonal allergies as the reason for kids constantly drippy noses. Seasonal allergies may first show up in a child at around ages 4 to 6, but they can also begin at any age after that, Rachid said.

And genetics play a role: People with one parent who has any type of allergy have a 1 in 3 chance of developing an allergy, Rachid said. When both parents have allergies, their children have a 7 in 10 chance of developing allergies, too.

Here are five signs to look for to determine whether symptoms are due to seasonal allergies or a cold.

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Treatment For Allergy Headaches

If your allergy headaches persist, your allergist may recommend one or more of the following treatments to offer relief.

• Pain Relievers: Advil and Tylenol can offer short-term relief for sinus pain.
• Oral & Nasal Decongestants: Available in over the counter medications, these can treat nasal congestion and relieve pressure which causes sinus headaches.
• Antihistamines: Histamines are natural chemicals in your body responsible for your bodys response to allergens. Antihistamines help block these chemicals to reduce allergy symptoms. Both OTC and prescription antihistamines are available.
• Intranasal Corticosteroids: These medications are extremely effective at treating allergic rhinitis and help reduce sneezing, itching, nasal congestion, and runny nose.
• Immunotherapy : If you dont respond well to medications or experience side effects, allergy shots may be recommended by your allergist for a more permanent solution to an allergy problem.

If youre experiencing sinus headaches and pain due to allergies, speak with your allergist for treatment options. Contact the professionals at the Allergy & Asthma Specialists of North Florida to schedule an appointment today.

Medications For Sinus Disorders

Antibiotics

Antibiotics help fight bacterial infections. They’re useful for treating bacterial sinus infections but will not help a cold caused by a virus. Many bacteria that were once treatable by common antibiotics have become resistant, so doctors in the UPMC Sino-Nasal and Allergy Center are careful when prescribing antibiotics for sinus problems. A culture of the bacteria found in the sinuses will provide guidelines to the best sinus antibiotic to use.

While taking an antibiotic, it may help to restore the good bacteria in your system by taking probiotics or acidophilus tablets. You can also eat foods that contain large amounts of benign bacteria, such as yogurt or kefir.

Antihistamines

The body releases histamine during an allergy attack. Histamine causes sneezing, itching, and welting. Antihistamines block the histamine receptors that cause allergic reactions.

Newer antihistamines like Zyrtec , Clarinex , Allegra , and Claritin have a very low rate of causing side effects, compared to older antihistamines. They do not cause drowsiness, except for Zyrtec. Zyrtec may impair performance or cause sedation, but much less often than the older antihistamines.

Sudafed is now a behind-the-counter decongestant. Phenylephrine is less effective than pseudoephedrine. All oral decongestants can cause side effects such as urinary retention, insomnia, and jitteriness.

Leukotriene modulators

Leukotrienes are potent agents of broncho constriction.

Mucus thinners

Nasal rinses

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Advil Allergy & Congestion Relief

Advil Allergy & Congestion Relief treats your toughest allergy symptomsincluding nasal congestion. Most allergy medicines dont do that. The ibuprofen in Advil combined with an antihistamine and a decongestant helps relieve upper respiratory symptoms associated with allergies.

Advil Allergy & Congestion Relief treats your multi-symptom sinus and allergy needs with just one tablet by combining the power of Advil and a proven decongestant to reduce swelling due to sinus pressure and nasal congestion, plus an effective antihistamine to relieve sneezing, runny nose and your other allergy symptoms.

Take on all your tough allergy symptoms with Advil Allergy & Congestion Relief.

Temporarily relieves these symptoms associated with hay fever or other upper respiratory allergies and the common cold:

• runny nose
• itching of the nose or throat
• sneezing

12 years of age and older:

• 1 tablet every 4 hours while symptoms persist
• Do not use more than 6 tablets in 24 hours unless directed by a doctor

Under 12 years of age:

• Do not use

*Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug

Inactive Ingredients:

Use as directed. Read complete warnings and information.

Managing Allergy Headaches And Triggers

The key to managing your allergies and reducing headaches is limiting exposure to allergens and triggers.

• Stay indoors and keep the windows shut when pollen counts are high.
• Wear glasses or sunglasses outdoors to keep pollen from getting in your eyes.
• Use the air conditioning in your home and in your car. Make sure to change out the air filters regularly and keep AC units clean.
• Use mite-proof covers in your bedroom for pillows, comforters, and mattresses to reduce exposure to dust mites.
• Keep your homes humidity at 30-50% to reduce exposure to mold. Clean your kitchen, bathrooms, and basement regularly and use a dehumidifier in damp, humid places.
• Wash floors with a damp mop or rag to avoid dry-sweeping or dusting.
• If you are allergic to a pet, keep them outside of your home. If a pet must be kept indoors, keep it out of the bedroom so you are not exposed to allergens while you sleep.
• Replace carpeting with hardwood, tile or linoleum to reduce dander in the home.

Many sinus headache triggers are airborne and difficult to avoid. Discuss your options with your allergist to decide which treatment options are best for you.

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