HAY FEVER
You may suffer from hay fever if you experience the following symptoms:
Symptoms of allergic rhinitis, or hay fever, frequently include
Postnasal dripping of clear mucus frequently causes a cough.
Loss of the sense of smell is common, and loss of taste sense occurs occasionally.
Nose bleeding may occur if the condition is severe.
Eye itching, redness, and excess tears in the eyes frequently accompany the nasal symptoms. The eye symptoms are referred to as "allergic conjunctivitis" (inflammation of the whites of the eyes).
These allergic symptoms often interfere with your quality of life and overall health.
Allergic rhinitis can lead to other diseases such as sinusitis and asthma. Many people with allergies have difficulty with social and physical activities. For example, concentration is often difficult while experiencing allergic rhinitis.
Why do I have hay fever?
An allergic reaction occurs when your immune system attacks a usually harmless substance called an allergen that gains access to the body.
To more simply describe this complex immune process, we will make an analogy to a war within the body.
The immune system calls upon a protective substance called immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies ("E" for "erythema" or redness) to fight these invading allergic substances or allergens. Even though everyone has some IgE, an allergic person has an unusually large army of these IgE defenders -- in fact, too many for his/her own good. This army of IgE antibodies attacks and engages the invading army of allergic substances of allergens.
As a result your immune cells release a variety of strong chemicals into the tissues and blood, one of which is known as histamine (yes, that is why we use antihistamines). These chemicals frequently cause allergic reactions. These chemicals are very irritating and cause itching, swelling, and fluid leaking from cells. Through various mechanisms, these allergic chemicals can cause muscle spasm and can lead to lung and throat tightening as is found in asthma and loss of voice.
What is hay fever?
Hay fever is a misnomer. Hay is not a usual cause of this problem, and it does not cause fever. Early descriptions of sneezing, nasal congestion, and eye irritation while harvesting field hay promoted this popular term.
Allergic rhinitis is the correct term used to describe this allergic reaction, and many different substances cause the allergic symptoms noted in hay fever. Rhinitis means "irritation of the nose" and is a derivative of rhino, meaning nose. Allergic rhinitis which occurs during a specific season is called "seasonal allergic rhinitis."
When it occurs throughout the year, it is called "perennial allergic rhinitis." Hay fever is very common. Figures are probably an underestimate because many of those affected may attribute their discomfort to a chronic cold.
Although childhood hay fever tends to be more common, this condition can occur at any age and usually occurs after years of repeated inhalation of allergic substances.
How is allergic rhinitis diagnosed, and how are allergies identified?
If you is experiencing the typical symptoms of hay fever, a consultation with an allergy specialist can help identify the offending substances. Since the ideal way to manage an allergy is to avoid the substances that cause allergic reaction, it is therefore very important to first identify these substances (allergens). Many allergens can be suspected from information obtained in a patient's particular history. For example, if symptoms usually worsen with exposure to cats, then cat protein is a probable allergen causing the symptoms. If cutting grass is associated with the onset of symptoms, then grass allergy is probable.
A patient's history of reactions is very important in determining his/her unique allergies. Because the identification of allergens is important and often difficult to pinpoint, skin testing is often needed to identify exactly the specific substance causing the allergy.
A number of blood tests are also available to aid in the diagnosis of allergy. These blood tests may be useful in people who cannot be skin tested due to skin diseases, who are taking medications that interfere with skin testing, or who are at a high risk of having an anaphylactic reaction to skin testing. These blood tests typically use various techniques to look for IgE antibodies in the blood and by inference suggest allergy in the tissues. If the allergy testing agrees with the history of symptoms upon exposure to the substance, then a diagnosis of allergic rhinitis is likely.
How are allergies treated?
Avoidance of identified allergens is helpful factor in controlling your allergy symptoms. Attempts to control the environment and avoidance measures often significantly aid in resolving symptoms. Avoiding allergens is often not easy.
Many patients respond to daily tablet. Antihistamines do not stop the formation of histamine, nor do they stop the conflict between the IgE and antigen. Therefore, antihistamines do not stop the allergic reaction but rather protect tissues from the effects of the allergic response.
Decongestants help control allergy symptoms but not their causes.Decongestants shrink the swollen membranes in the nose and make it easier to breathe. Decongestants can be taken orally or by nasal spray. Decongestant nasal sprays should not be used for more than five days. Decongestant nasal sprays often cause a so-called "rebound effect" if taken for too long. A rebound effect is the worsening of symptoms when a drug is discontinued. This is a result of a tissue dependence on the medication.
Steroid nasal sprays are very effective in reducing the inflammation which causes swelling, sneezing, and a runny nose. Steroid can also stop the allergy "war" by halting the formation of the many allergy chemicals described above. Steroids are non-specific anti-inflammatory drugs and unfortunately you have to use them on a daily basis.
Why do you benefit from having Salt Cave Climatherapy?
Having Salt Cave Climatherapy means that you stay in a controlled climatic area. During this stay you sit and relax in our salt cave room. Treatment is simple: you don't have to do anything else just breathe because the air contains the "natural medicine", the very fine, low concentration DRY SALT AEROSOL what we produce with a computer controlled technology.
During your stay (60 minutes) you breathe in the healing salt crystals more than 1000 times unlike steroid sprays what you use only few times a day.
The salt crystals which you inhale are trapped by your airways including sinuses and nasal passage exactly where the problem is.
Dry salt crystals will do the following:
Open up and dry your nose after the FIRST session! (after your free session you will have clean, open nose)
Reduce the swelling in the airways
Decrease the inflammation
Regulate the immune cells and antibody levels
Lower the IgE level It is likely that your nose will open up after the first session. The inflammation diminishes; your symptoms will decrease or disappear.
However one session is not enough. Our experience is that you will benefit from the Salt Cave Climatherapy for longer period. You will be free of hay fever for season.
We are so sure about it that we take your risk: if you are not happy with the result we give your money back without asking anything.
10 Ways to Manage Your Hay Fever Symptoms
1. Wash bed sheets weekly in hot water.
2. Always bathe and wash hair before bedtime (pollen can collect on skin and hair throughout the day).
3. Do not hang clothes outside to dry where they can trap pollens.
4. Wear a filter mask when mowing or working outdoors.
5. Avoid peak times for pollen exposure (hot, dry, windy days, usually between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.). Although pollens are usually emitted in early morning, peak times for dissemination are between around 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
6. Be aware of local pollen counts in your area (visit the National Allergy Bureau Web site).
7. Keep windows and car windows closed; use air conditioning in both if possible rather than opening windows.
8. Perform a thorough spring cleaning of your home, including replacing heating and A/C filters and cleaning ducts and vents.
9. Check bathrooms and other damp areas in your home frequently for mould and mildew, and remove visible mould with nontoxic cleaners.
10. Keep pets out of the bedroom and off of furniture, since they may carry pollen if they have been outdoors.
Symptoms of allergic rhinitis, or hay fever, frequently include
- nasal congestion
- a clear runny nose
- sneezing
- nose and eye itching
- and excess tear production in the eyes.
Postnasal dripping of clear mucus frequently causes a cough.
Loss of the sense of smell is common, and loss of taste sense occurs occasionally.
Nose bleeding may occur if the condition is severe.
Eye itching, redness, and excess tears in the eyes frequently accompany the nasal symptoms. The eye symptoms are referred to as "allergic conjunctivitis" (inflammation of the whites of the eyes).
These allergic symptoms often interfere with your quality of life and overall health.
Allergic rhinitis can lead to other diseases such as sinusitis and asthma. Many people with allergies have difficulty with social and physical activities. For example, concentration is often difficult while experiencing allergic rhinitis.
Why do I have hay fever?
An allergic reaction occurs when your immune system attacks a usually harmless substance called an allergen that gains access to the body.
To more simply describe this complex immune process, we will make an analogy to a war within the body.
The immune system calls upon a protective substance called immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies ("E" for "erythema" or redness) to fight these invading allergic substances or allergens. Even though everyone has some IgE, an allergic person has an unusually large army of these IgE defenders -- in fact, too many for his/her own good. This army of IgE antibodies attacks and engages the invading army of allergic substances of allergens.
As a result your immune cells release a variety of strong chemicals into the tissues and blood, one of which is known as histamine (yes, that is why we use antihistamines). These chemicals frequently cause allergic reactions. These chemicals are very irritating and cause itching, swelling, and fluid leaking from cells. Through various mechanisms, these allergic chemicals can cause muscle spasm and can lead to lung and throat tightening as is found in asthma and loss of voice.
What is hay fever?
Hay fever is a misnomer. Hay is not a usual cause of this problem, and it does not cause fever. Early descriptions of sneezing, nasal congestion, and eye irritation while harvesting field hay promoted this popular term.
Allergic rhinitis is the correct term used to describe this allergic reaction, and many different substances cause the allergic symptoms noted in hay fever. Rhinitis means "irritation of the nose" and is a derivative of rhino, meaning nose. Allergic rhinitis which occurs during a specific season is called "seasonal allergic rhinitis."
When it occurs throughout the year, it is called "perennial allergic rhinitis." Hay fever is very common. Figures are probably an underestimate because many of those affected may attribute their discomfort to a chronic cold.
Although childhood hay fever tends to be more common, this condition can occur at any age and usually occurs after years of repeated inhalation of allergic substances.
How is allergic rhinitis diagnosed, and how are allergies identified?
If you is experiencing the typical symptoms of hay fever, a consultation with an allergy specialist can help identify the offending substances. Since the ideal way to manage an allergy is to avoid the substances that cause allergic reaction, it is therefore very important to first identify these substances (allergens). Many allergens can be suspected from information obtained in a patient's particular history. For example, if symptoms usually worsen with exposure to cats, then cat protein is a probable allergen causing the symptoms. If cutting grass is associated with the onset of symptoms, then grass allergy is probable.
A patient's history of reactions is very important in determining his/her unique allergies. Because the identification of allergens is important and often difficult to pinpoint, skin testing is often needed to identify exactly the specific substance causing the allergy.
A number of blood tests are also available to aid in the diagnosis of allergy. These blood tests may be useful in people who cannot be skin tested due to skin diseases, who are taking medications that interfere with skin testing, or who are at a high risk of having an anaphylactic reaction to skin testing. These blood tests typically use various techniques to look for IgE antibodies in the blood and by inference suggest allergy in the tissues. If the allergy testing agrees with the history of symptoms upon exposure to the substance, then a diagnosis of allergic rhinitis is likely.
How are allergies treated?
Avoidance of identified allergens is helpful factor in controlling your allergy symptoms. Attempts to control the environment and avoidance measures often significantly aid in resolving symptoms. Avoiding allergens is often not easy.
Many patients respond to daily tablet. Antihistamines do not stop the formation of histamine, nor do they stop the conflict between the IgE and antigen. Therefore, antihistamines do not stop the allergic reaction but rather protect tissues from the effects of the allergic response.
Decongestants help control allergy symptoms but not their causes.Decongestants shrink the swollen membranes in the nose and make it easier to breathe. Decongestants can be taken orally or by nasal spray. Decongestant nasal sprays should not be used for more than five days. Decongestant nasal sprays often cause a so-called "rebound effect" if taken for too long. A rebound effect is the worsening of symptoms when a drug is discontinued. This is a result of a tissue dependence on the medication.
Steroid nasal sprays are very effective in reducing the inflammation which causes swelling, sneezing, and a runny nose. Steroid can also stop the allergy "war" by halting the formation of the many allergy chemicals described above. Steroids are non-specific anti-inflammatory drugs and unfortunately you have to use them on a daily basis.
Why do you benefit from having Salt Cave Climatherapy?
Having Salt Cave Climatherapy means that you stay in a controlled climatic area. During this stay you sit and relax in our salt cave room. Treatment is simple: you don't have to do anything else just breathe because the air contains the "natural medicine", the very fine, low concentration DRY SALT AEROSOL what we produce with a computer controlled technology.
During your stay (60 minutes) you breathe in the healing salt crystals more than 1000 times unlike steroid sprays what you use only few times a day.
The salt crystals which you inhale are trapped by your airways including sinuses and nasal passage exactly where the problem is.
Dry salt crystals will do the following:
Open up and dry your nose after the FIRST session! (after your free session you will have clean, open nose)
Reduce the swelling in the airways
Decrease the inflammation
Regulate the immune cells and antibody levels
Lower the IgE level It is likely that your nose will open up after the first session. The inflammation diminishes; your symptoms will decrease or disappear.
However one session is not enough. Our experience is that you will benefit from the Salt Cave Climatherapy for longer period. You will be free of hay fever for season.
We are so sure about it that we take your risk: if you are not happy with the result we give your money back without asking anything.
10 Ways to Manage Your Hay Fever Symptoms
1. Wash bed sheets weekly in hot water.
2. Always bathe and wash hair before bedtime (pollen can collect on skin and hair throughout the day).
3. Do not hang clothes outside to dry where they can trap pollens.
4. Wear a filter mask when mowing or working outdoors.
5. Avoid peak times for pollen exposure (hot, dry, windy days, usually between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.). Although pollens are usually emitted in early morning, peak times for dissemination are between around 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
6. Be aware of local pollen counts in your area (visit the National Allergy Bureau Web site).
7. Keep windows and car windows closed; use air conditioning in both if possible rather than opening windows.
8. Perform a thorough spring cleaning of your home, including replacing heating and A/C filters and cleaning ducts and vents.
9. Check bathrooms and other damp areas in your home frequently for mould and mildew, and remove visible mould with nontoxic cleaners.
10. Keep pets out of the bedroom and off of furniture, since they may carry pollen if they have been outdoors.