Trying to decide which is the most gentle on your nose this time of the year-Puffs® or Kleenex®?? You are not alone! Twenty to forty million Americans suffer from a condition called Allergic Rhinitis, more commonly known as "hay fever."
Symptoms of Allergic Rhinitis include nasal congestion, sneezing, itchy nose and eyes, and a runny nose. Miserable? You got it right. Quality of life issues, including fatigue, poor concentration, social embarrassment and work productivity, are all consequences of this "nose woes." In the spring of the year most problems are related to pollen in the air, but dust mites, mold and animal dander can also be the culprit.
In the Spring, pollen floats in the air and we breathe these microscopic grains into the nose and lungs-presenting symptoms of hay fever or asthma for millions of Americans. Newer treatment may make "relief just a moment away".
Avoidance is always the first recommended treatment, so keep the air conditioner going in the car and in the house and select indoor activities instead of the wonderful outside.
Newer non-sedating antihistamines such as Allegra and Clarinex as well as "low-sedating" Zyrtec provide huge benefits as compared to the older "first generation" antihistamines such as Benadryl which frequently cause drowsiness. The second generation antihistamines work for 24 hours and provide wonderful relief to many allergy sufferers.
If you could take only one medication, it should be the anti-inflammatory nasal sprays such as Nasonex, Flonase and Rhinocort, as well as Nasarel, TriNasal, Nasacort, Vancenase and Beconase. These medications attack the allergic reaction at the site of the problem, and most allergists consider them the treatment of choice.
If the above medications are not effective in relieving your symptoms, allergy immunization injections are frequently successful to put a stop to the allergy problems. Although time consuming, they are the only way to "turn off' the immune system to get rid of the allergic nose.
So who knows, maybe this year the nose "faucet" can be turned off and that "lemon for a nose" will turn into an award winning rose.

If you have a question for Dr. Bob, write "The Dr. Bob Show" at 6700 Baum Drive, Suite 1, Knoxville, TN 37919 or send your e-mail to letters@drbobshow.com.