Wednesday, 9. August 2023
At the start of spring the weather picks up and the sun warms and tickles our skin. But for some people, it is not just their skin that is tickled, but their noses too, as they face an onslaught of pollen: the allergy season is in full swing. For anyone with a pollen allergy or allergic asthma, this is not such a fun time.
For people with allergies, a high pollen count means a blocked nose and streaming eyes. Their airways are often irritated and so it is helpful to expel any pollen from the airways, to release the mucus and to sooth irritated mucous membranes. As well as drug treatments there are also natural, supportive treatment options.
Allergic rhinitis is an overreaction of the immune system where immune cells identify what are actually harmless foreign substances, such as pollen, as pathogens and launch an immune response. Sufferers tend to get an unpleasant tickly feeling and severe itching in their nose and throat along with an urge to sneeze. Often breathing difficulties go hand-in-hand with allergic rhinitis. The sense of smell is also restricted. The very runny nose is often accompanied by violent fits of sneezing.
The symptoms of a pollen allergy are varied and often affect the upper airways: Blocked, dry or irritated nose? A nasal douche can bring relief. Natural, gentle and effective, it flushes dirt, pathogens and also pollen out of the nose. The PARI Montesol nasal douche and nasal rinse calms the nose with added dexpanthenol – especially soothing if the nose is already excessively irritated and stressed by the allergy.
If an acute allergic rhinitis is bothering you, a decongestant nasal spray can help ease the symptoms. When using decongestant nasal sprays for a blocked nose, you should be aware of the following: Ideally, buy a product that is not habit-forming. This is because many decongestant nasal sprays can become habit-forming if used for longer periods of time.
Whenever possible, breathe through your nose instead of your mouth. This is because your nose has a built-in immunological filter function to protect your lungs. Large particles such as dust, dirt or insects never make it past the nasal hairs in the nostrils. Many of the smaller particles like bacteria, viruses, mould spores or flower pollen get trapped in the moist mucous membranes inside the nose.
» more reasons why it is generally better to breathe through your nose
An allergy always starts in the upper airways. The nasal membranes filter out larger particles to prevent them reaching the lungs. If the upper airways do not manage the allergy sufficiently, the symptoms may progress to the lower airways. This is then referred to as allergic asthma.
A tried-and-tested method to protect the lower airways from allergens and to expel them is to inhale with saline solution. Depending on the salt content, the saline solution moistens the mucosal membranes and gently loosens the mucus.
Note: The information in this blog post is not a treatment recommendation. The needs of patients vary greatly from person to person. The treatment approaches presented should be viewed only as examples. PARI recommends that patients always consult with their physician or physiotherapist first.
An article written by the PARI BLOG editorial team.
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