Allergies Are SO Bad This Year!

This is a common complaint that I overhear at the gym, in the grocery store, and countless other social gatherings. This statement is usually followed by, "I'm taking every medicine I can find, and I've even seen my doctor . . . but I still feel congested, I itch, I sneeze, I cough, and I miss my sense of smell and taste. It's just awful!"

I really sympathize with allergy sufferers. It helps to understand that allergies are caused by airborne particles. Hiking, riding bikes, and simply moving through the air on a spring or summer day exposes us to countless allergens. During allergy season, the air is 'allergy soup' with pollen, dust and animal dander entering our bodies through our nose, mouth, and eyes. Mucus membranes become covered with tiny particles causing allergic reactions that make us miserable.

What I want to tell all the people complaining about allergy symptoms is: Before you even take medication, you need to be washing the allergens away from your eyes and nose.

Exposure to irritants causes swelling of the membranes and an increase in thick and sticky mucus production, impeding the normal flow of mucus drainage. A buffered hypertonic salt solution WILL wash particles out, shrink nasal membranes, increase the efficiency of the nose hairs, thin secretions, and allow the tiny sinus openings to drain effectively. Washing the body's filter makes as much sense as cleaning the clothes dryer filter. If the nose is kept clean, it can function.

It has been clearly demonstrated by controlled scientific studies that regular nasal washing will remove 80% of irritants and pollen, called 'inflammatory mediators'. This reduces allergy symptoms. Washing is safe, effective and economical because if done correctly will reduce both the symptoms of and the use of medications related to the allergy season. The simple technique is easy enough for those as young as 2 or seasoned folks up to 92.

Nose washing is a time tested technique for better health. The Neti pot is the original nasal wash system but many delivery systems are now available such as the syringe, squeeze bottle and my personal preference, Nasopure. The Neti offers a gravity controlled flow while Nasopure offers ideal control of pressure and flow. If the solution pressure and flow is well controlled, it sucks out the mucus from the sinus cavities, flushing them clean. The overall goal is to have a flow of warm buffered saline water inserted into one nostril and exit the opposite one. The water drains out, flushing the nasal passages and the linings thoroughly. This is simple and effective, an obvious solution to air pollution.

It is clear that antihistamines, decongestants, nasal sprays with steroids, leukotriene inhibitors and antibiotics all have a place in the treatment of nasal health. But these medications DO NOT address prevention or avoidance of the symptoms. Medications should not be taken lightly. Side effects, expense, drug-drug interactions AND most concerning, the development of bacterial resistance should be considered before popping pills. I tell my patients when discussing any recommended treatment option, "You should look at the pros and cons of each option offered to you prior to making your decision."

With as many as 40-60 million Americans fighting allergies and sinusitis and tiring of antibiotics, antihistamines and decongestants, nasal irrigation is the natural alternative. It is no surprise that with the assault of chemicals, fragrances, pollution, dust and pollen that our nostrils are under enormous stress.

The common wisdom behind treating allergies with nasal cleansing is simple: if the filter is not clean, it will not work. The nose is the body's filter, our great defender. Just as you clean the air filter in your car and the lint filter in your clothes dryer, function is improved when the filter is clean. Washing hands makes sense, brushing teeth makes sense and nasal washing makes sense too!

Be Well, Dr Hana