Today, we will talk about nasal allergies. Nasal allergies, also known as allergic rhinitis or hay fever, are very common. At least 15 to 20 percent of people have nasal allergies. Today, I will tell you what the cause is, why it happens, and how you can treat it. First, it is treated with medicines, how it is done, and then what are the home remedies that can help you get relief without having to use medicines. And if you can get relief only with home remedies, we will also discuss that. But in the end, first of all, we will discuss what nasal allergies are. When we breathe through our nose, along with the air, many other things are going inside our nose.
First of all, some pollens come out of trees and flowers, etc., and they cause allergies. Second is dust. Dust also often causes allergies. Then some animals are pets. Dogs, cats, etc., in the house have hair or dander. You can also get allergic to this, so many things can cause you to get allergic, that’s why it becomes very difficult to treat this allergy because you don’t know what you are allergic to, and people who are allergic can’t just be allergic to one thing, they can be allergic to pollen, they can be allergic to dander, they can be allergic to everything.
There are some people whose immune system becomes unnecessarily activated and due to this, inflammation occurs inside the nose, which is the layer inside the nose, it is called the nasal mucosa and inflammation occurs there, due to which mucus starts forming from there, you start sneezing, you start getting headaches, your eyes start watering, all these are symptoms of nasal allergy or allergic rhinitis.
Now, why does this happen?
See, I told you that when an allergen goes away, it means something that Because of this, your immune system will be activated unnecessarily or will be activated more than it should be. Now, this does not happen to everyone. Some people’s immune systems do this. Especially those who have a family history. There are such members in their family. If their parents or grandparents had an allergy problem, then they may have it. Similarly, men who are married have this problem more than women.
The second most interesting thing is that people who have an air of socio-economic status, meaning those who are a little rich, have more chances of it. This is because they live in a very clean environment from the beginning. And when you are a child, you will live in a clean environment where there will be no such fear, such particles. When you breathe, there will be no such things in the air. So, when your immune system later sees these things, those things will go inside your nose, it will be very activated, and many things in food can cause allergies if you consume them, and many things can reduce allergy symptoms if you consume them.
What foods cause allergies?
First, let’s talk about which foods can increase symptoms. First of all, dairy products, such as milk, yogurt, and so on, may increase your symptoms of allergic rhinitis. Similarly, eating bread, because it contains wheat protein, can increase inflammation in your body. In some people, eating too much wheat, such as bread and bread, can increase their allergy symptoms, and they do not get better.
In addition, excessive consumption of meat is also linked to allergies. If someone is allergic and consumes too much meat, then allergy symptoms may increase. So if you are allergic and you consume these things, reduce them and then note whether your allergy symptoms decrease or not. When allergens go inside your nose, such as pollen or dust, when it goes inside your nose, your immune system inside your nose is activated. And there is a chemical of immunity called IgE, immunoglobulin E. When it is high, mast cells are formed there. These are also special cells. Think of them as bombs. They contain histamine and cytokines, meaning chemicals that cause a lot of inflammation. When these mast cells reach the inner layer of the nasal mucosa where the allergen is attached, they burst and release histamine and cytokines, all those chemicals that cause inflammation, and that is why you get inflammation.
I have told you about these two things. I told you about a mast cell, which contains chemicals, histamine, cytokines, and secondly, histamine. When I tell you about the treatment of nasal allergies, I will tell you about these chemicals. We will control these chemicals. Through medication and your symptoms will start to improve,
Two types of allergies
There are two main types of nasal allergies or allergic rhinitis. One is seasonal allergies, in which there is only a specific season in which pollen grains are formed more. At this time, you get allergic. Some people get it in winter, some people get it in summer, but at that time, there is a set duration. At this time, they get allergic and then they get better. And the other is perennial allergies, which are called chronic allergic rhinitis.
They stay with you all year round, and some symptoms bother you all the time. Its diagnosis is clinical. When you go to the doctor, he will tell you, after asking all these questions, that you have an allergy problem. And then, if you want to see if you have an allergy or not, some blood tests are done for this. I told you that IgE immunoglobulin E increases in your body inside the nose, so it is tested. The levels of IgE are seen to determine how many people have it.
They are more, which means that the allergy is more severe in them. In addition, skin break tests are also done in which your skin is exposed to allergens, various chemicals, powders, dust, and everything is applied to your skin, and then it is seen what kind of reaction it causes.
Have you had an allergy or not? If you have an allergy, it means that you are allergic to this chemical, this agent, this allergen, and the cause of your allergy is the same as the cause of your rhinitis.
Treatment
Now let’s come to its treatment. In its treatment, first, I will tell you about the medicines that you can use to control your symptoms. It is very important to understand one thing, and that is that its treatment is not complete, so you will be able to eliminate it. It may come back again and again. But this does not mean at all that your symptoms cannot be eliminated, and you cannot live a good life. I have seen many people who have the problem of nasal allergies all the time, and their noses are running all the time. They are holding tissues or handkerchiefs or something like that, and their nose is stuffy all the time.
Their nose is blocked. But let me tell you people that there is a treatment for it. At least you can control its symptoms so that your inflammation reduces and you can breathe easily, and you do not have the problem of nasal blockage all the time. In the treatment, the first thing you have to do is avoid these things, these allergens. If you have allergies, then if you have more allergies during the pollen season, you should go out less during this season, and use a mask so that you do not get more allergens inside your nose.
Secondly
You can use Vaseline in the nostrils of your nose. When you apply Vaseline here, due to this, all the pollens or dusts, etc. that cause you allergies, get stuck inside this Vaseline and stop. Then there will be no allergic reaction there and your nose will not be blocked. But do not fill the Vaseline so much that your nose will be blocked by the Vaseline itself. The best way is to avoid it. If you do not get allergens, they will not get inside your nose, then you will not have symptoms. But the problem is that it is not easy, it is not possible. You have to go out. Humans are social animals. We have to go out. Now, there are medicines to treat it. Look at the medicines. I told you that Histamine is a chemical that when mast cells burst in the nose, histamine is produced there, and when histamine is produced, it also causes inflammation. It irritates one of your nerves, which is called the trigeminal nerve, and because of this, you start sneezing. So if you take antihistamines, which are called allergy pills, antihistamines will release less histamine, and when there is a shortage of histamine, your symptoms will automatically start to improve. Many people get better with antihistamines.
Many types of antihistamines
Now, there are many types of antihistamines, and they are categorized. Initially, antihistamines were chlorpheniramine, etc. They are very sedative for you, making you sleepy and drowsy during the day. So there are many chances that you might mess something up. For example, if you are driving, you may become drowsy, and major accidents may occur. Therefore, if you have to take an antihistamine, consult a pharmacist or doctor and take an antihistamine that does not sedate you or make you sleepy.
Many people do not respond to antihistamines, for them there are two options, and I will tell you one is nasal irrigation or using a line from the nose. You have to take water and add a little salt to the water, and through it you have to try to clean the nose. This is what is called saline, which means salt is added to the water. It is anti-inflammatory. It reduces inflammation. When the inflammation decreases, your symptoms will decrease. Saline drops are also available, which means they are made into a dropper and you have to use them in the nose, and your inflammation can decrease. But if someone does not get relief from this, even then, the next option is nasal steroids. Steroids, which are used inside the nose, are also liquid.
You have to put it inside the nose, and it reduces inflammation inside the nose because the function of steroids is also to reduce inflammation, and most people get relief from using steroids when they have a runny nose. If you use steroids regularly, your symptoms will go away, but some people are not relieved even by that. For them, there may be a special treatment called immunotherapy. It is done by specialists. The allergens are slowly and deliberately exposed to your body, but in small amounts. Then your body’s immune system becomes familiar with it, and it does not react in this way, and is not able to cause inflammation inside you. But the problem is that people who have nasal allergies are not allergic to just one thing, but to many things that cause allergies. That is why many people do not get relief even with immunotherapy.
Home Remedies
How can you treat it while sitting at home? See how medicines play a role. If your symptoms are not being controlled, then you should use medicines. You should consult a doctor. But there are some things. There are some foods that you can use, if you use them, your symptoms can be reduced because they reduce inflammation.
First of all, use foods that are high in flavonoids, which reduce your inflammation. Mast cells are the same cells that I told you about, and they burst inside the mucosa of the nose. They also release histamine and chemicals that cause inflammation. And this flavonoid stabilizes these mask cells and does not allow them to break. When the mast cells do not break, histamine will not be released, and there will be no inflammation.
Now, in which foods is this flavonoid present?
In apples, in grapes, in pears, in all the berries that are there, blueberries, blackberries, etc., they are present in good quantities. So, eat more vegetables and fruits. Vitamin C is the second most important vitamin. Vitamin C is something that plays a big role in immunity, and if you use vitamin C, your allergy symptoms can be reduced, and this is research-based. Some research also endorses vitamin C supplements, which, if used with vitamin C supplements, can also improve. But before using any kind of supplement, you should talk to your healthcare provider. Now, in which foods is vitamin C present? Strawberries, lemons, etc., contain a good amount of it, and if you use them more, your inflammation will be reduced, and the symptoms of allergies will be reduced. Next is ginger. Ginger contains a chemical called six gingerols, and this also plays a very important role in stabilizing mast cells and reducing inflammation. And if you use ginger, ginger, etc., or ginger. By the way, if you use it inside food, it can also reduce allergy symptoms.
Finally, there is curcumin, which is turmeric. The active ingredient in it is called curcumin. It has many benefits. I have made a detailed video on this, you can see what the benefits of using curcumin or turmeric are. But curcumin also reduces inflammation, and when the inflammation decreases, the allergy symptoms will decrease. Then, apart from that, if there is a pet in your house, a dog, a cat, or any birds, take them out and see. If your allergy symptoms get better, it means that you were having this problem due to the speck, its dander. So, these are some things that you can use to cure allergic rhinitis.
Conclusion
Allergic rhinitis is a common yet manageable condition that can significantly impact quality of life if left untreated. Understanding its causes and recognizing the symptoms early can help individuals seek timely intervention. With a range of treatment options available—from lifestyle changes and over-the-counter remedies to prescription medications and immunotherapy—managing allergic rhinitis is entirely possible. If symptoms persist or worsen, consulting a healthcare provider is crucial for personalized care and long-term relief.
FAQs
1. What triggers allergic rhinitis?
Allergic rhinitis is commonly triggered by allergens such as pollen, dust mites, pet dander, mold spores, and cigarette smoke. Seasonal allergic rhinitis is often caused by pollen, while perennial allergic rhinitis may be due to indoor allergens.
2. Can allergic rhinitis be cured permanently?
While there is no permanent cure for allergic rhinitis, symptoms can be effectively managed through medications, allergen avoidance, and immunotherapy (allergy shots). In many cases, long-term treatment can significantly reduce sensitivity to allergens.
3. What is the difference between allergic rhinitis and a common cold?
Allergic rhinitis and the common cold share similar symptoms like a runny nose, sneezing, and congestion. However, allergic rhinitis is caused by allergens and does not cause a fever, while colds are viral infections that often include fatigue, sore throat, and low-grade fever.