In daily life, there are often many people who wake up in the morning with paroxysmal nasal itching, sneezing, runny nose, nasal congestion and other symptoms, mistaking it for a cold and taking some medicines to treat the cold. In fact, this is not a cold, but allergic rhinitis.
What is allergic rhinitis?
Allergic rhinitis, also known as allergic rhinitis, is a type I hypersensitivity reaction that occurs when the body becomes more sensitive to certain substances, mainly in the mucous membrane of the nasal cavity. There are two clinical types of allergic rhinitis: perennial and seasonal. In Chinese medicine, the disease is called congested nose.
What are the symptoms of allergic rhinitis?
The onset and disappearance of allergic rhinitis is rapid and often recurrent, with paroxysmal nasal itching, sneezing, simultaneous outflow of a large amount of clear water-like nasal discharge, nasal congestion, and temporary loss or disappearance of the sense of smell. The attacks are frequent in the morning and at night, and seasonal when the flowers are in bloom or when the seasons change. The examination shows that the nasal mucosa is pale and edematous, especially in the inferior turbinate, and the nasal mucosa is light red or dark red. If the disease is longer, there may be polyp-like changes or polyp formation. Smear examination of nasal secretions shows an increase in eosinophils.
How to distinguish allergic rhinitis from cold?
The typical symptoms of allergic rhinitis are paroxysmal nasal itching, sneezing, clear watery nasal discharge, nasal congestion and loss of smell.
Cold is often a stuffy and runny nose, occasional sneezing, accompanied by sore throat, cough, etc., can appear in varying degrees of fever, headache, generalized aches and pains and other symptoms, often gradually onset, disappears slowly, cold mostly has a history of infection but no allergy history.
The principles of treatment for allergic rhinitis and cold are also different. Allergic rhinitis requires avoidance of allergens and anti-allergy treatment, while cold requires adequate rest, drinking more water and anti-viral treatment.
What is the pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis?
The primary factor in the development of allergic rhinitis is allergic constitution. In addition to allergic rhinitis, these patients also suffer from allergic asthma, rubella and other allergic diseases, and some surveys show that genetic factors have a close relationship with the occurrence of allergic rhinitis. Another factor in the development of allergic rhinitis is contact with allergens, such as dust, mites, animal fur, feathers, smoke, pollen, paint, cosmetics, etc. Many physical and chemical factors such as sudden changes in temperature, humidity and strong odors directly stimulate the nasal mucosa, which can also cause allergic rhinitis.
What other diseases can allergic rhinitis cause?
Allergic rhinitis can be complicated by related allergic diseases, such as allergic sinusitis, nasal polyps, allergic pharyngitis, allergic asthma, and secretory otitis media. A domestic survey shows that 66% of asthma is triggered by rhinitis, and many asthma patients have symptoms of allergic rhinitis before the attack, and some patients with allergic rhinitis gradually develop into asthma due to untimely treatment. The same disease”.
What are the characteristics of TCM treatment for allergic rhinitis?
The treatment of allergic rhinitis in TCM is based on the overall dialectic and the regulation of the functions of the internal organs to achieve the purpose of curing the root cause. In addition to the dialectical internal treatment of Chinese medicine and anti-allergic drugs, it can also be combined with ultrasonic nebulization local treatment, which can relieve the symptoms more quickly. The treatment of allergic rhinitis can gradually improve the allergic constitution, effectively reduce the number of episodes of rhinitis, alleviate the symptoms of nasal congestion, runny nose and sneezing, and significantly improve the patient’s resistance to disease.
Prevention of common nasal diseases
Therefore, the latest medical research results are based on the principle of regulating the state of the body, gradually improving the body’s allergic constitution, enhancing the body’s immunity and resistance, so as to prevent the occurrence and recurrence of various nasal diseases.
1, usually pay attention to exercise, strengthen the body, prevent cold to reduce recurrence. Allergic rhinitis patients should avoid contact with allergens that may cause attacks, such as dogs, cats and other pets, as well as flowers and plants, etc. The newly renovated house should be fully ventilated before living. Avoid going in and out of hot and cold environments within a relatively short period of time. Avoid eating cold, greasy, fish and shrimp and other fishy things.
2, insist on washing your face with cold water every morning to enhance the cold resistance of the nose and pay attention to the back to keep warm. Hot water for feet every night in winter, because the foot has a “second heart”, foot bath can reduce and eliminate local capillary pathological abnormalities, improve tissue circulation, eliminate inflammation of the respiratory tract, swelling, allergies, so that the respiratory tract is smooth, so as to prevent colds, various types of rhinitis.
3, usually also available raw astragalus a little tea drink to enhance the immunity and resistance of the body. Eat raw garlic, garlic in the allicin can reduce the content of certain immunoglobulins in the body, thus reducing the immune response and play a role in preventing allergic rhinitis. Eating carrots can prevent allergic rhinitis, the mechanism is that carotene can reduce the body’s immune response. You can often press the Yingxiang point to improve local blood circulation in the nasal cavity, to achieve the effect of nasal orifice. Regularly rinse the nasal cavity with light salt water, which is conducive to the timely discharge of allergic substances out of the body, reducing nasal mucosa congestion, edema and other allergic reactions.