As temperatures fluctuate dramatically, allergies such as rhinitis are becoming more severe. Despite being a common condition, many people fail to recognize it. If individuals with allergies continue to be exposed to the allergens, their symptoms can worsen. Therefore, these individuals must identify the substances that trigger their reactions accurately.
The season with the most allergic rhinitis patients
Due to the increased pollen in the air, allergic rhinitis patients are most prevalent when the weather gets colder. Around this time, allergy symptoms are more likely to be triggered than in spring. When pollen enters the nasal cavity, a substance called histamine, located just beneath the nasal mucosa, is secreted. This causes blood vessels to dilate and the gap between cells to widen, allowing water to escape and turn into nasal discharge.
Common causes of worsening rhinitis
Climate changes, colds, air pollution, and stress are the most common factors that worsen rhinitis. Depending on the patient, symptoms may occur only in specific seasons or persist throughout the year. Seasonal allergic rhinitis is often sensitive to plant pollen or temperature changes.
Could there be genetic causes?
Allergic rhinitis results from a complex interplay between genetic and environmental factors. It arises from the interaction of inherited allergy-prone constitution from parents and triggering factors in the surrounding environment. If one parent has an allergy, the child has a 50% chance of inheriting it, increasing to 75% if both parents have allergies. It doesn’t mean a child will inherit an allergy if their parents have it, but it’s best to eliminate potential triggers as much as possible.
Why does it get worse during season changes?
Allergies worsen during season changes or cold weather due to a significant increase in airborne pollen and dust concentration. In addition, wide temperature fluctuations and cold air can further irritate the nasal mucosa, which has already become sensitive.
What distinguishes it from asthma?
Asthma is also one type of allergic disease. The factors causing and exacerbating it are similar, but the area where the allergic reaction occurs differs. If the allergic reaction occurs in the nasal mucosa, it’s called rhinitis; if it appears in the bronchial mucosa, it’s called asthma. The nasal discharge symptoms in allergic rhinitis are clear, while the nasal discharge in a cold is often sticky, yellow, or cloudy mucus. Also, a cold usually accompanies symptoms such as fever and pain.
Be Careful with the food you eat
If you suffer from pollen allergies, you must be mindful of what you eat. This is because consuming foods that contain similar allergenic components to pollen can trigger allergic reactions. When allergenic substances come into contact with the mucous membrane in the mouth, symptoms such as itching or swelling may occur. For instance, if you’re allergic to birch pollen, you must be careful when eating apples, cherries, apricots, pears, peaches, carrots, or celery. Conversely, people with fruit allergies must also be wary of springtime pollen.
Identifying the cause is important for allergy treatment
Identifying the cause is essential in treating allergic diseases. If the cause of the allergy is correctly identified, immunotherapy becomes possible. Although the treatment period might be somewhat lengthy and burdensome, immunotherapy can eliminate allergy symptoms, significantly improving the quality of life. Tests to confirm allergies include skin reaction tests and serum antigen-specific tests.
The common cold is another factor
The common cold contributes to increased allergic rhinitis in patients in the fall. Although the common cold, caused by a respiratory virus infection, has a different cause from rhinitis, it can significantly influence the diagnosis of allergic rhinitis due to the similarities between the two conditions.
Effective treatment methods
It is essential to identify the allergens causing your symptoms through allergy testing and avoid exposure to them as much as possible in your primary living environment. Despite environmental modifications, if symptoms persist, oral medications such as antihistamines or topical nasal steroid sprays can be used to manage the symptoms.
Changes in everyday habits are also necessary
Avoiding pollen and being cautious of upper respiratory infections like the common cold are essential to prevent allergic diseases. People suffering from rhinitis are advised to wear masks as much as possible. After returning from outside, it’s recommended to shake off your clothes and hair, immediately wash your hands and shower. A good habit to develop is to rinse your nostrils with a saline solution, which will wash away pollen and other secretions. As the nose is very sensitive to humidity, it’s beneficial to keep indoor humidity between 40 to 60 percent and drink about 2 liters of water per day to keep the inside of the nose moist.
Most Commented