How To Cure Chronic Allergies

Complications Of Chronic Rhinitis

While congestion and a runny nose may not seem terrible, chronic rhinitis symptoms can seriously affect your quality of life. Constant sneezing and congestion can affect a patients sense of taste and smell.

It can also make it harder to breathe ease and to sleep well, which can impact overall health, mood, blood pressure, energy levels, productivity, memory, cognitive function and even safety. Chronic fatigue caused by poor breathing and poor sleep can be dangerous if youre so tired you are not functioning.

Its hard to overstate the dangers of poor sleep caused by rhinitis. If you are not sleeping enough or if your sleep is often interrupted, you could be at risk of a car accident, heart disease and other serious complications.

Ongoing sneezing, congestion and sinus pressure can be embarrassing, distracting and uncomfortable. Some patients also find they spend considerable time and money on temporary solutions such as over-the-counter medications and nasal strips, which dont address the root of the issue. Some patients find they dread pollen season or specific triggers because their symptoms are so unpleasant.

Chronic rhinitis can also lead to complications like headaches, worsening asthma symptoms and frequent sinus or ear infections. If youre breathing through your mouth because youre congested, you can also experience dry mouth, dental problems, snoring, sleep disruptions and other complications.

Top 9 Natural Allergy Relief Home Remedies

By Dr. Josh Axe, DC, DNM, CN

• Risks and Side Effects

According to the Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America, one in five people, or an estimated 50 million Americans, suffer from some type of allergies. The chances are high that you or someone you know deals with ongoing allergies, whether seasonal allergies, food allergies or another type, and could use allergy relief at least from time to time.

Most people who struggle to find allergy relief go to the doctor to be treated and/or are routinely given pharmaceuticals ranging from acetaminophens to antihistamines, both of which may actually further aggravate the symptoms they were given for. If you prefer not to take prescriptions to keep your symptoms under a control, what can help allergies at home?

Home remedies for allergies including symptoms like congested sinuses, headaches, and watery or itchy eyes include using frankincense essential oil, eucalyptus oil and quercetin. Below youll learn about nine amazing, all-natural home remedies for allergies that can help provide fast allergy relief.

Chronic Rhinitis Vs Allergic Rhinitis

Many people who deal with rhinitis dont know a lot about the condition. They only know that theyre experiencing unpleasant symptoms. One of the first things you should know about rhinitis is that there are two types chronic nonallergic rhinitis and allergic rhinitis.

Allergic rhinitis, also known as hay fever, is caused by allergies, which are an overreaction of your immune system to specific allergens. If you come into contact with an allergen you are sensitive to, such as mold, dander or pollen, you experience symptoms because your body releases chemicals known as histamines to protect you. These histamines cause inflammation in the nasal and eye area by increasing blood flow in these regions.

Nonallergic rhinitis causes the same symptoms as allergic rhinitis, but it occurs in people with no allergies. This type of rhinitis is not triggered by the immune system. Instead, its caused by inflammation in the nasal passages. While researchers are not quite sure what can cause chronic rhinitis and this inflammation, one theory is that it occurs when the body sends the wrong signals to the nasal passage.

One way to tell which type of rhinitis you have is to get allergy tests. If the tests come back negative, you have nonallergic rhinitis.

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Allergies Affect People Day And Night

Chances are high that individuals with allergies know they have them. Theyll spend their days sneezing, coughing, and feeling congested. Typically, people realize how allergies affect themselves during the day. Not all sufferers recognize that allergies can worsen the quality of their sleep. The immune system targets allergens, and this frequent immune response disrupts the body in various ways.

Cleaning Your Nasal Passages

Regularly cleaning your nasal passages with a salt water solution, known as nasal douching or irrigation, can also help by keeping your nose free of irritants.

You can do this by using a solution made with sachets bought from a pharmacy.

Small syringes or pots that often look like small horns or teapots are also available to help flush the solution around the inside of your nose.

To rinse your nose:

• stand over a sink, cup the palm of 1 hand and pour a small amount of the solution into it
• sniff the water into 1 nostril at a time
• repeat this until your nose feels comfortable

While you do this, some solution may pass into your throat through the back of your nose.

The solution is harmless if swallowed, but try to spit out as much of it as possible.

Nasal irrigation can be carried out as often as necessary, but a fresh solution should be made each time.

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How Does Stress Affect Allergies

We all have our stress triggers. Those segments of our lives that are most affected by negative emotions.

These tend to build up and become a chronic issue. But when we let our negativity fester, its impossible for our immune system to function optimally when flooded with cortisol.

Cortisol is a hormone that gets released into our body under stress.

A recent study by Dartmouth University shows just how damaging cortisol and stress can be to our immune system.

A compromised immune system wreaks havoc on our already aggravated allergies.

Arm yourself with patience, because this will not show results immediately. But it will make a huge difference in the long-run.

Meditation has shown great results. Regular physical activity, ditching those vices such as smoking and alcohol, can also improve your life and stress tolerance.

What about getting a furry companion?

Cuddling with a cat or dog balances your hormones but only if youre not allergic to pet dander. In that case, you might want to stick to yoga and spending time in nature that also has a profound impact on your well-being.

One of the best ways of managing stress that requires little time and no purchasing of anything is adopting a regular breathing practice.

Personally what I do is the same kind of breathing typically done in most yoga classes. Want to learn all the Benefits of Yogic Breathing? Just click to link to read my article!

Can Apple Cider Vinegar Cure Allergies

Many people swear by apple cider vinegar for all kinds of ailments.

To be effective look for Braggs Organic Raw & Unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar . You can take a swig every morning, gargle with it or just use as a salad dressing for a more palatable use.

ACV is also great as a base for what is called Master Tonic. Master Tonic is essentially a fermented tonic elixir often brewed in conjunction with fresh ginger, turmeric, and other healthful vegetables and herbs.

My personal favorite is True Tonic by D Chi Kitchens. Theyre local to me in the Austin, TX area but you can order online as well.

As they say on their website:

For centuries, and in some cases millennia, healers have used natural foods to promote health, well-being, and balance in our daily lives. D Chi Kitchens has recreated an all-natural tonic based on the healthy properties found in these well- known ingredients. We use only the highest-quality ingredients to ensure a pure and effective tonic that can be used daily or as a booster when your body is under stress from colds, allergies, or simply the stresses of daily life

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What Is Chronic Sinusitis Chronic Sinusitis Causes

The means for how to treat chronic sinusitis often depends on whats causing the infection. The following are common chronic sinusitis causes.

• Allergies: sinusitis can be caused by allergens, air pollutants, and other irritants.
• Viral infections: a viral sinus infection is the most common type of sinus infection.
• Bacterial or fungal infections: while less common than a viral sinus infection, bacterial infections and fungal infections do occur.
• Other causes: other causes of sinusitis include other medical conditions, such as asthma and cystic fibrosis, nasal polyps, and deviated septum.

Alternative And Complementary Medicine

Due to concerns over possible side effects, more people with allergies are looking at ways to address hay fever symptoms naturally. However, it is important to remember that any medication can have side effects, even if its considered natural. Aside from home remedies, options can also include alternative and complimentary medicine. The downside to these treatments can be that theres little supporting evidence to prove that theyre safe or effective. The correct dosing may also be difficult to determine or achieve.

According to the

• honey
• probiotics

Although these alternative treatments are derived from plants and other natural substances, they can possibly interact with medications, as well as cause reactions. Try these with caution, and ask your doctor before use.

Unfortunately, allergic rhinitis itself cant be prevented. Treatment and management are keys to achieving a good quality of life with allergies. Some complications that can arise from hay fever include:

• inability to sleep from symptoms keeping you up at night
• development or worsening of asthma symptoms
• frequent ear infections
• absences from school or work because of reduced productivity
• frequent headaches

Complications can also arise from antihistamine side effects. Most commonly, drowsiness can occur. Other side effects include headache, anxiety, and insomnia. In rare cases, antihistamines can cause gastrointestinal, urinary, and circulatory effects.

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Causes Of Allergic Rhinitis

In allergic rhinitis, allergens present in the air bind with a substance called immunoglobulin E in the nose. Your body releases a chemical called histamine to help defend against the allergen. This histamine release results in allergic rhinitis symptoms.

Common allergens that can lead to chronic rhinitis include:

• ragweed
• pet dander
• cockroach residue

Pollen can be especially challenging at certain times of the year. Tree and flower pollens are more common in the spring. Grasses and weeds are usually produced in the summer and fall.

Know When To Take Your Allergy Medications

Did you know you can start taking your allergy medication before symptoms even arrive?

While allergy seasons seem to be starting earlier and lasting longer these days, pollen seasons are somewhat predictable. So, start taking allergy medications about two weeks before the allergy season and your symptoms begin. Then, continue taking them regularly throughout the rest of the season. Once inflammation starts, it may take longer to get relief.

Oral antihistamines take about a half hour to get into your system. Bedtime is a good time to take allergy medications. Many last 24 hours, which means theyll be working through the next day.

Also Check: Robitussin Asthma

Symptoms Of Allergic Rhinitis

Your symptoms can vary, depending on the severity of your allergies. Symptoms can include:

• Sneezing.
• Itching .
• Runny nose.
• Pressure in the nose and cheeks.
• Ear fullness and popping.
• Watery, red, or swollen eyes.
• Dark circles under your eyes.
• Trouble smelling.
• Hives.

Allergic rhinitis can last several weeks, longer than a cold or the flu. It does not cause fever. The nasal discharge from hay fever is thin, watery, and clear. Nasal discharge from a cold or the flu tends to be thicker. Itching is common with hay fever but not with a cold or the flu. Sneezing occurs more with hay fever. You may even have severe sneeze attacks.

When Allergies Become Chronic

With repeated exposure the inflammatory response becomes chronic. A 2008 journal article on the development of allergic inflammation explains this systemic allergic response as:

Persistent inflammation induced by prolonged or repetitive exposure to specific allergens, typically characterized not only by the presence of large numbers of innate and adaptive immune cells at the affected site but also by substantial changes in the extracellular matrix and alterations in the number, phenotype and function of structural cells in the affected tissues.

In other words, the misery allergy sufferers feel is very real and more than a case of the sniffles!

Allergy testing may be helpful to determine triggers but typical treatment usually involves routinely taking an antihistimine or corticosteriod which can have undesirable side effects. There are two main ways to help stop allergies naturally:

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How To Treat Chronic Allergies

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When You Have Flare

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The Best Natural Remedy For Allergies

The best natural remedy for allergies is, when possible, avoidance. Both doctors and natural healers will suggest that you limit or avoid allergens, which are what causes your allergic reaction.

You should avoid exposure to your allergens. For example, if youve had an allergic reaction to a sulfa drug, let your doctor know about your allergy. Theyll most likely prescribe an alternate antibiotic if youll ever need one.

That being said, some allergens are hard to avoid. In that case, after discussing your symptoms with your doctor, you might consider a home remedy for allergies to deal with the results of exposure to an allergen.

How To Treat Chronic Allergic Rhinitis In Ayurveda

The word chronic means that the nasal inflammation is a long term, lasting for more than four consecutive weeks. Rhinitis is a medical term for the inflammation of inner lining of the nose. Chronic allergic rhinitis is different from acute rhinitis, which only lasts for a few days or up to four weeks only.

Chronic allergic rhinitis is most commonly caused due to allergies, also known as hay fever but there are several other causes of chronic allergic rhinitis such as irritants in the air, smoking, intake of certain medications, pregnancy, other medical conditions such as asthma, chronic sinusitis etc.

Chronic allergic rhinitis isnt as common as allergic rhinitis. Chronic allergic rhinitis represents about 1/4th of all rhinitis cases.

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How To Treat Chronic Rhinitis

For allergic rhinitis, patients sometimes try over-the-counter solutions such as eye drops and antihistamine medications to relieve symptoms. A longer-term solution is immunotherapy. In immunotherapy, patients get regular allergy shots or allergy drops from a doctor. These treatments contain very small amounts of the allergen so the patients body can get used to it and produce less of an allergic response.

Some patients also try to reduce exposure to allergens. They may avoid cats, for example, if they are allergic, or they may use a HEPA air filter to reduce airborne allergens in the home.

For nonallergic chronic rhinitis, some patients also use over-the-counter medication as a temporary solution. Another option is working with a doctor to determine whether a certain medicine or food is a trigger. Avoiding some triggers can reduce the frequency of symptoms.

Nonallergic chronic rhinitis also has an effective, safe long-term treatment called RhinAer® which uses radiofrequency technology. This noninvasive, clinically proven treatment gently changes the posterior nasal nerve, which has mucus-producing glands. By changing the function of this nerve, an ENT can reduce or even eliminate your symptoms long-term.

There are several benefits to RhinAer®:

How Can I Allergy Proof My Bedroom

The rule of thumb is that we need to wash our sheets every week.

But if your immune system is extra sensitive, and your home has been exposed to higher amounts of allergy triggers, then dont wait those seven days sooner is better.

Consider using dust-mite resistant pillowcases and mattress covers, to reduce your exposure as much as possible. Just click either link to see the best options available on Amazon Prime.

Also, to further allergy-proof your bedroom, avoid using heavy rugs and curtains in its décor.

These items tend to attract dust and get very dirty very quickly. As for your mattress, make sure its cleaned regularly.

Also, do your best to expose your room, the clothes you sleep in and your bedding to direct sunlight as much as possible.

Regular vacuuming, dusting and fresh air will also help you sleep better and reduce those pesky symptoms.

Recover from Your Day, Every Night

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