Allergies

Allergic diseases, including allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, atopic asthma, and food allergy affect approximately 20% of people and are a leading cause of chronic disease worldwide. Allergic rhinitis refers to an immune-mediated inflammatory response of the nasal passages caused by inhaled allergens. Allergies are on the rise as a result of environmental factors, pollution, and other conditions.

Allergic symptoms can cause a variety of bothersome symptoms such as sneezing, itching, nasal congestion, runny nose, postnasal drip. These symptoms can result in patient discomfort and may range from mild to severe.   The length of time that an individual may experience symptoms also varies.   The ARIA (Allergic Rhinitis and Its Impact on Asthma) report published in collaboration with the World Health Organisation defines persistent allergic rhinitis as symptoms experienced for more than four days a week and for more than four weeks a year. Intermittent allergic rhinitis is defined as symptoms experienced for less than four days a week or for less than four weeks a year. Fortunately, allergy symptoms may be relieved, and like any condition, the sooner they are treated the better. Your doctor can advise on the best treatment for your symptoms.

Treating Allergies

Allergies are often under-diagnosed, misunderstood and under-treated.

Once you develop an allergy, avoiding the cause is almost impossible. You could also develop new ones throughout your lifetime.

You can buy, or you may have bought, various items for the home, designed to prevent or reduce your  allergy symptoms. There is a variety of interventional products on the market such as allergy protective bedding to humidifiers that are designed to reduce allergy symptoms, however many allergy sufferers find that these products offer limited protection.

Medication is generally considered  to be the most effective option in alleviating symptoms and allowing the patients to live their life. Antihistamines, immunotherapy and intranasal corticosteroids are all indicated to treat many allergies, including persistent and intermittent allergic rhinitis. To combat today's allergies there are effective antihistamines available. Allergy symptoms should be examined by your doctor, who can advise on the best treatment for your symptoms.