May 2008
SOS for allergies
Relief is out there, but you have to choose the right products
Your eyes are red and itchy, your nose is stuffed and drippy, and then there's the constant sneezing. You don't need to hear
the pollen count on the news to know what's going on-your entire head is screaming, "It's allergy season!" And here's the
worst part: Hundreds of products out there claim they can relieve your misery. How do you separate the help from the hype?
Even health professionals don't always get it right. One recent study found that allergy sufferers were not nearly as satisfied with their treatments as their health-care providers thought they were. Plus, one of the most effective medications, nasal steroid spray, remains underprescribed. And doctors often prescribe costly antihistamines when a cheaper, over-the-counter product would work just as well.
But allergies are definitely worth treating. "I see many patients who've become so used to the day-to-day misery that they just don't realize how much it affects their productivity, or affects them in general," says Alexander Greiner, M.D., assistant clinical professor at the University of California, San Diego, and a member of the Allergy & Asthma Medical Group and Research Center. Indeed, allergic rhinitis causes an estimated 3.5 million lost workdays a year, and research shows that it can affect your quality of life as much as asthma. Still not convinced? Allergens in your nasal passages may leave your entire airway more sensitive to allergic reactions and infections.
And the immune system's overreaction to allergens can inflame the lungs and sinuses, which can worsen sinus infections and trigger asthma attacks. "Allergic rhinitis is not an isolated disease," Greiner says. "Think of your nose as just a part of your lungs you can stick your finger in." Yuck, as if a runny nose isn't bad enough!
So read on to find a remedy that's right for you. And before you buy, ask your pharmacist whether some of these products are available as lower-cost generics.
This article first appeared in the May 2008 issue of ShopSmart.
Even health professionals don't always get it right. One recent study found that allergy sufferers were not nearly as satisfied with their treatments as their health-care providers thought they were. Plus, one of the most effective medications, nasal steroid spray, remains underprescribed. And doctors often prescribe costly antihistamines when a cheaper, over-the-counter product would work just as well.
But allergies are definitely worth treating. "I see many patients who've become so used to the day-to-day misery that they just don't realize how much it affects their productivity, or affects them in general," says Alexander Greiner, M.D., assistant clinical professor at the University of California, San Diego, and a member of the Allergy & Asthma Medical Group and Research Center. Indeed, allergic rhinitis causes an estimated 3.5 million lost workdays a year, and research shows that it can affect your quality of life as much as asthma. Still not convinced? Allergens in your nasal passages may leave your entire airway more sensitive to allergic reactions and infections.
And the immune system's overreaction to allergens can inflame the lungs and sinuses, which can worsen sinus infections and trigger asthma attacks. "Allergic rhinitis is not an isolated disease," Greiner says. "Think of your nose as just a part of your lungs you can stick your finger in." Yuck, as if a runny nose isn't bad enough!
So read on to find a remedy that's right for you. And before you buy, ask your pharmacist whether some of these products are available as lower-cost generics.
This article first appeared in the May 2008 issue of ShopSmart.
