The weather has turned cooler in late autumn, and the number of particles in the air has increased. It is understood that with the passage of the season many people have sneezing, runny nose, nasal congestion and other symptoms, once these symptoms, people think they have a cold will go to the pharmacy to buy cold medicine, but after using the medicine found that the effect is not good. These situations may be caused by allergic rhinitis.
Autumn is the high season of allergic rhinitis
Allergic rhinitis is generally divided into two types, one is seasonal and the other is perennial. Seasonal allergic rhinitis is usually more frequent in spring and autumn, and more frequent in autumn. This is due to the dry air and lower air temperature in autumn, when the metabolism of many plants also changes accordingly, thus producing some very small particles such as pollen, plus the sudden increase of some polluted particles in the air in autumn, including some dust and dust mites and other factors. People who are exposed to these allergens are prone to itchy nose, sneezing, runny nose and other symptoms.
Allergic rhinitis patients should take cold medicine carefully
Some symptoms of allergic rhinitis are similar to those of a cold, such as nasal congestion, sneezing or runny nose, etc. Many patients who find themselves with these symptoms think they have a cold and buy cold medicine on their own. Although allergic rhinitis and colds have common symptoms, they are two completely different conditions.
Allergic rhinitis is usually characterized by localized symptoms in the nose, while cold symptoms are usually fever, fatigue, muscle aches, joint pains, sore throat and some other systemic symptoms. In addition, allergic rhinitis is chronic and recurrent, although it can heal itself in a few days, it will come back once it is exposed to allergens, while colds usually have a rapid onset and the course of the disease usually lasts 1-2 weeks.
For allergic rhinitis patients taking cold medicine, some patients will feel relief from the symptoms after taking cold medicine because many cold medicines on the market are compounded, and some of the ingredients are effective for allergic rhinitis.
Certain compound preparations of pseudoephedrine can relieve nasal congestion symptoms, and drugs containing paracetamol have anti-itch, anti-allergic effect, so that patients feel the smooth nose, and naturally feel relief from the symptoms. However, it is worth mentioning that some cold medicines have antipyretic and analgesic ingredients, and some patients often take them by mistake for convenience to relieve symptoms during an allergic rhinitis attack, although taking cold medicines can have a little effect on allergic rhinitis symptoms. However, while taking cold medicines, their adverse reactions should not be ignored. Patients who experience nasal congestion, sneezing and other symptoms during the high season of allergic rhinitis should understand the cause of the disease before using the medicine, and should not use the medicine indiscriminately for a moment of convenience.
Antihistamines and glucocorticoids can effectively relieve symptoms
At present, the general medication for allergic rhinitis is mainly the application of antihistamines and topical glucocorticoids.
For antihistamines, oral or nasal second-generation or newer H1-receptor antihistamines are generally recommended for mild persistent or non-persistent allergic rhinitis. As for glucocorticoids, nasal glucocorticoids are generally recommended, and topical glucocorticoids are generally sprays, which can effectively relieve nasal congestion, runny nose and other symptoms. Oral glucocorticosteroids (short-term treatment) can be used in severe cases where other medications are not effective or where nasal medications are ineffective.
Long-term use of an anti-allergic drug may also be resistant to it
It is known that some patients who use anti-allergy drugs have rebounded or become resistant to certain drugs after stopping them. Do not take the same anti-allergy drug for a long time.
Before taking an anti-allergy drug, you should understand the various precautions of the drug, and always pay attention to whether your symptoms have changed after taking the drug. Once you find that the drug is not effective, it means that the patient has developed “resistance” to the drug. In addition, it is important to prohibit the use of drugs to which resistance has been developed, and not to use the same anti-allergy drug for a long time.
Pregnant women with allergic rhinitis should be careful with their medication
Pregnant women, as a special group, must be cautious in the use of medication. Most of the relevant drugs have not yet been tested to confirm their safety for the human fetus. Therefore, it is not recommended for pregnant women to use medication when their symptoms are not severe, and they should not use medication casually during the first trimester of pregnancy.
Pregnant women should avoid contact with allergens and drink more water during the dry season to rehydrate their bodies. If symptoms of allergic rhinitis occur, pregnant women can use nasal rinses to reduce the concentration of allergens in the nasal cavity to alleviate symptoms.
Use sodium cromoglycate spray in advance for preventive purposes
People who are prone to allergic rhinitis should take better care of their nose. Sodium cromoglycate spray can inhibit the release of allergens from mast cells. Appropriate use of sodium cromoglycate spray before the onset of symptoms can effectively prevent the symptoms of allergic rhinitis.
The use of sodium cromoglycate spray two to three weeks in advance of the season of frequent attacks can achieve preventive effect. In addition, people with a history of allergic rhinitis may use sodium cromoglycate spray to prevent symptoms when they go out during the high season. However, the use of sodium cromoglycate spray after the onset of symptoms will not be effective.
The key to preventing allergic rhinitis is to reduce exposure to allergens. You should always open windows indoors to let in air and dry your blankets to reduce the concentration of allergens; use air conditioning scientifically and wear a mask in time to avoid allergens in places with poor air quality.