How to Treat Nasal Allergies

Video Transcript

"Hi, my name is Dr. Ana Lamas and I am a practicing allergist and immunologist in the Miami area. Lets talk about how to treat nasal allergies. Nasal allergies are symptoms that occur with the release of histamine into the nasal cavities and also into the sinuses. The way to treat nasal allergies depends on the type symptom. If a patient is having a runny nose much as we would call hay fever the symptom is very disturbing. It involves a lot of runniness, a lot of sniffling, often sneezing as well and that must be blocked with a histamine blocker. Histamine is the molecule responsible for these symptoms and we need to block with a medication usually over the counter. We have some great medicines now that are over the counter and some are prescription. If there is a lot of congestion involved in the symptoms of nasal allergies then we need to treat that congestion with a decongestant which helps with the swelling in the membranes. Sometimes when those medications are not enough then the patient must use some prescription medications which involve nasal sprays. Those nasal sprays are not the habit-forming ones that we know about at the drug store, but rather prescription ones that are corticosteroids for the nose. The corticosteroid nasal sprays are nasal sprays that reduce the swelling and the secretions and the overall allergy symptoms. They are usually subscribed by your primary physician or by a specialist such as a allergist or a ear, nose, and throat physician. In addition, there are medications that are actual nasal sprays that block the histamine receptor. Those nasal sprays are particularly good for the type of nasal allergy that we call post-nasal drip. Post-nasal drip involves secretions down the back of the throat and are very treatable with this medication."