Nasal Allergy (Allergic Rhinitis)

Our bodies have an in-built and complex system to defend against microbes such as viruses and bacteria etc but when our immune system kicks up an overly heightened response on getting exposed to certain foreign substances, it is called allergy.

Allergic rhinitis is a diagnosis associated with a group of symptoms affecting the nose. These symptoms occur when you breathe in something you are allergic to, such as dust, animal dander, or pollen. Symptoms can also occur when you eat a food that you are allergic to.

When your body comes into contact with an allergen, it releases histamine, which is a natural chemical that defends your body from the allergen. This chemical causes allergic rhinitis and its symptoms, including a runny nose, sneezing, and itchy eyes.

In addition to pollen, other common causes include:

• Grass
• Dust
• Animal dander, which is old skin
• Cat saliva
• Mold

• Wash your hands thoroughly.
• Use a nasal decongestant or blow your nose gently to clear your nasal passages.
• Shake the steroidal spray container a few times.
• Close one nostril using index finger.
• Put the nozzle into the open nostril away from the nose’s midline (nasal septum) and spray straight back. Never spray up towards the tip of the nose. This becomes easy if you spray into the right nostril using the left hand and into the left nostril using the right hand.
• Sniff in gently and deeply to activate the spray and exhale through the mouth.
• Now repeat these steps for the other nostril.
• Caution:  Spray only one nostril at one time. Spray into alternate nostrils each time. Never give two sprays in one nostril. One spray per nostril is sufficient.