Allergic rhinitis drugs from medical to natural ones

Allergic rhinitis occurs when you inhale allergens such as dust, pollen, air pollution, etc. Allergic rhinitis is difficult to treat, but there are a variety of medications and treatment methods you can choose to treat this condition.

Like allergy treatments in general, allergic rhinitis can be treated medically or naturally. Natural remedies may be recommended for people with mild allergies. However, if this method does not work, the doctor can suggest a medical method.

What are the natural allergic rhinitis medications and treatments?

Before starting to take medication, you can try to treat allergy symptoms in a natural way. At this stage, the doctor will likely advise the patient to make lifestyle changes to reduce exposure to allergens.

Here are some steps you can take.

1. Recognizing allergy triggers

Everything around you can trigger allergies. Certain triggers such as dust, perfume, pollen, or cold weather may be easy to spot. However, cases of allergies can vary from person to person, so there may be less common triggers.

Therefore, try to remember the last time you had a nasal allergy. Identify what suddenly makes you sneeze or is causing cold symptoms. This is what you need to avoid to prevent an allergic reaction from coming back.

2. Avoid air pollution

People who are more active outdoors are prone to nasal allergies because their respiratory tracts are constantly exposed to dust and pollution. Over time, exposure to air pollution also increases the risk of other chronic respiratory disorders.

If you are a frequent person outside the home, one of the best ways to treat allergic rhinitis is to avoid air pollution. If you do have to travel, always wear protective gear in the form of a cloth mask.

3. Routinely wash pillowcases and sheets

Many people develop nasal allergies due to dust mites. These insects live in the corner of the house, upholstered furniture, even mattresses and pillows. Therefore, you need to regularly change sheets, blankets, and pillowcases to reduce the mite population.

Wash thoroughly every two weeks with hot water to kill the mites thoroughly. After that, dry in the hot sun so that no mites stick. Try to replace pillows and bolsters every six months.

4. Avoid pet dander

Pet owners are usually more prone to developing allergic rhinitis. Allergy to cats or other animals is not actually caused by fur, but dead skin cells, saliva, and urine in the fur that provoke a response from the immune system.

The best way to treat allergic rhinitis naturally is not to let pets roam in the house. However, if you can't bear to keep your pets outside, these tips might help.

• Limit them to only playing in one room, but don't use carpets in that room.
• Don't let pets come in and sleep with you in the bedroom.
• Bathe pets at least once every two weeks outside the home.
• Clean the cage regularly and thoroughly.
• Clean any furniture that your pet touches frequently.

5. Nasal irrigation

Nasal irrigation is a method of washing the nose with a saline solution to clean the inside of the nose from irritating substances. You can make the saline yourself or buy it at a pharmacy in a packaged form.

You can clean your nose by hand, use a syringe (syringe), or use a special teapot called a neti pot. If you want to use your hands only, here are the steps you need to do:

1. Stand in front of the sink and cup your hands together in a bowl. Fill your hands with saline solution.
2. Close one nostril, then inhale the saline solution with the other nostril.
3. Usually there will be a salt solution going into the esophagus. This solution is safe to swallow, but try to get rid of it as much as possible.
4. Repeat all steps until the nose feels comfortable. You don't always have to finish the solution you use.
5. You can wash your nose at any time, the most important thing is always prepare a new and clean saline solution.

6. Use an air humidifier

If your allergies are caused by dry air from the air conditioner, it's best to use help humidifier or a humidifier. This one tool will help you avoid a dry nose that can trigger sneezing when you wake up.

A good humidity level is 50 percent. Air that is too dry can worsen allergy symptoms, while air that is too humid can actually promote the growth of mites and lichens. Both people with nasal allergies should be avoided.

7. Inhale essential oil vapors

Another natural remedy that is quite popular among sufferers of allergic rhinitis are essential oils. Steam inhalation can help clear the nose of mucus buildup and irritation, which can reduce symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose, and sore throat.

Simply pour boiling water into a large bowl, then add 3-4 drops of your favorite essential oil. Next, cover your head with a towel and slowly lower your head so that it faces the surface of the bowl.

Inhale warm water for 5-10 minutes, then snort your nose a few times until your nose feels more relieved. You can repeat this method several times until the symptoms subside. The following types of essential oils are good for treating allergic rhinitis.

• Peppermint. This oil also relieves headaches caused by nasal congestion, reduces coughs, sinusitis symptoms and throat infections.
• Eucalyptus oil. Eucalyptus oil is useful for thinning mucus and relieving respiratory problems
• Chamomile. Apart from treating allergic rhinitis, chamomile oil also relieves cold and flu symptoms.
• Lemon. This oil cleans the nasal passages allowing you to breathe better.
• Tea tree oil. Oil tea tree oil helps kill bacteria and fight infections that worsen allergy symptoms.

Allergic rhinitis medication in pharmacies and by prescription

If natural remedies don't work for allergic rhinitis, your doctor will likely recommend medication. Medicines do not cure allergies, but they can relieve common symptoms such as sneezing, congestion, and so on.

The form of treatment may vary from person to person, depending on your allergy case. For example, sufferers of allergies caused by seasonal pollen may be able to stop taking medication after the season is over.

Meanwhile, in people with nasal allergies who do not depend on the season, treatment can run throughout the year until the symptoms improve. Whatever its form, the treatment of allergic rhinitis should be carried out under the supervision of an allergist.

Also keep in mind that allergy medications can cause allergic reactions in some people. So, make sure you have consulted your doctor before taking allergy medications of any kind.

In general, the following drugs are commonly given to allergic rhinitis patients.

1. Antihistamines

Antihistamines are one of the first drugs given when someone has an allergic reaction. This drug works by blocking the action of histamine, a chemical that plays a role in causing allergic reactions.

Antihistamines are effective in dealing with nasal allergy symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose, and itching sensation in the nose and eyes. This medicine is available in the form of oral tablets, syrups, nasal sprays and eye drops that are available over-the-counter or by prescription.

2. Decongestants

Decongestants help relieve congestion and pressure caused by the swelling of the inside of the nose. However, this drug cannot treat other nasal allergy symptoms because it does not contain antihistamines or other types of drugs.

Decongestants are generally available as nasal sprays. Over-the-counter sprays usually work quickly, but you shouldn't take them for more than three days unless recommended by your doctor. The reason is, long-term use can actually aggravate allergic rhinitis.

3. Corticosteroids

Corticosteroid drugs are suitable for people with long-term allergic colds or who have nasal polyps. Corticosteroids work by reducing swelling and inflammation. The effect is slower than antihistamines, but can last longer.

Corticosteroid medicines for allergic rhinitis are available as nasal sprays, drops and inhalations. There are also tablet drugs that work faster, but their effects only last a few days and must be prescribed by a doctor.

4. Other drugs and drug combinations

Doctors sometimes need to increase the type of medication or prescribe a combination of a number of allergy medications if the previous treatment is considered less effective. The following treatment suggestions are usually given:

• Increase in the dosage of corticosteroid sprays.
• Brief use of decongestant sprays is accompanied by consumption of other drugs.
• Combination of antihistamine tablets and corticosteroid sprays, and possibly decongestants. For example the cetirizine / pseudoephedrine combination.
• Use of a nasal spray containing ipratropium. These substances can reduce mucus production so you can breathe easier.
• Take medicine leukotriene receptor antagonist to block a chemical called leukotriene. This substance is released with histamine during an allergic reaction.

Treatment of allergic rhinitis with immunotherapy

Your doctor may recommend allergy shots (immunotherapy) if you have severe allergies. Allergy shots work by reducing the immune system's response to certain allergens so that the reactions that appear are no longer as severe as before.

You can use this treatment plan along with medication to control symptoms. Discuss with your doctor to determine the type of drug you should take while undergoing immunotherapy.

Allergy shots consist of two stages. In the first stage, you will regularly see your doctor for 3-6 months to get 1-3 injections per week. This step aims to get your body accustomed to the allergens in the injection medicine.

During the second or treatment stage, you will have injections once per month for three to five years. Once you reach this point, allergy symptoms may reduce or even disappear completely.

There is also a similar method called sublingual immunotherapy. In this therapy, the doctor does not give the allergen by injection, but by dropping it on the patient's tongue. The allergen is repeated for a certain period of time until allergy symptoms reduce.

Like other types of allergies, allergic rhinitis cannot be completely cured. Even so, there are many drug and treatment options that help reduce the symptoms of allergic rhinitis so that the allergic reaction is no longer as dangerous as it was before.

It is worth remembering that medications and treatments for allergic rhinitis can have mild to severe side effects. Always consult your doctor before starting any medication so that the medication works optimally and you avoid the risk of side effects.