White Paper – Allergy Relief

All About Allergies

An allergic reaction is caused by your immune system reacting to a foreign substance that doesn’t cause a reaction in most people.

Substances that cause allergic reactions are
called allergens. Allergy symptoms are
caused by your immune system’s response
to a particular type of allergen.

Seasonal allergies, also called hay fever or
allergic rhinitis, affect around 20% of adults,
and 40% of children.

Common symptoms include sneezing,
runny nose, itchy eyes and throat, and
congestion.

The biggest allergy trigger is pollen, tiny
grains released into the air by plants.

Cat and dog dander allergies are also
common, and can be treated just like
seasonal allergies.

A Variety of Options to
Treat Your Symptoms

  • Antihistamines are one of the most
    common and effective treatments for
    allergy symptoms. They block your
    immune system from fully reacting to
    the allergen.

    • Non-drowsy antihistamines include
      Allegra, Claritin, and Zyrtec.
    • Benadryl is a strong antihistamine
      that also causes drowsiness.
  • If you are having troubles with nasal or
    sinus congestion, there are several
    Decongestant products that are available.

    • Pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) is
      available behind the pharmacy
      counter. It shrinks blood vessels that
      are responsible for congestion.
  • Combination Products that include
    Sudafed and antihistamines are
    available behind the counter. The
    decongestant will clear up your
    sinuses, while the antihistamine
    takes care of your other symptoms.
  • Decongestant Sprays such as Afrin or
    Phenylephrine act directly on swollen
    blood vessels in the nose. However,
    these should only be used for 3-5 days,
    or a common side effect called reboundcongestion
    can occur.
  • Corticosteroids such as Nasacort and
    Flonase are now available over the
    counter. These sprays are very effective
    at preventing allergy symptoms. But
    they can take up to a week to start
    working fully.
  • Nasal wetting agents such as saline
    sprays or Neti pots can irrigate the
    nose, and help remove mucous.