The Typical Costs of Treatment

Depending on the severity of your condition, Hay Fever may end up being a relatively expensive disease with its chronic nature and pharmaceutical symptom management.

Let’s say you take a daily Claritin, Loratadine, 10mg 24 hr antihistamine is taken daily. For a box of 30 tablets, the regular price ranges about $19.89 at Target (and most drug stores). We can round this to about $20 a month for just a daily Claritin tablet and $240 a year.

Now let’s say you have multiple members of the family also taking this medication for their symptoms as well, this price will only go up and possibly double. But of course no medication is perfect and works for anyone. If you have congestion and decide that regular Claritin is sufficient and you need a decongestant, Claritin-D may be a more suitable choice, but with an added price. At Walgreens you can buy Claritin-D (120mg pseudoephedrine with 5mg loratadine antihistamine) 12-hour decongestant with 30 tablets for $29.89. The rounded cost for a day’s use of this drug will then be about $2. This would be $60 a month, and $720 a year if used two times a day, every day of the year.  Claritin-D, and other decongestants, such as Sudafed and Allegra-D are pose additional obstacles because you have to buy it over the counter which is an inconvenience.

Like I said before, Claritin or Claritin-D may not be the drug of choice for a particular user, others may prefer Allegra, Allegra-D, Zyrtec, and generic brands. However these are usually range around the same prices give or take a couple dollars.

Not only can these medications be expensive, but the other interventions taken by many allergy sufferers add up as well. These include things such as immunotherapy and lifestyle changes.

Immunotherapy prices tend to range on a variety of factors. These include length of therapy, type, and whether or not insurance will cover it. In the US, the average cost for immunotherapy ranged from $1,480-$2,500 for six years of therapy. This averaged to about $800 for the first, and most expensive year of therapy, and then dropped down to about $200-$300 dollars a year after that. This is an interesting consideration considering the outcomes of therapy hopefully mean eliminating drug usage for several years and when comparing this to some of the prices above this may be the more fiscally favorable choice.

Lastly, lifestyle changes do have a great financial impact on the hay fever sufferer as well. In previous entries. This includes using the air conditioning instead of opening windows, use of more cleaning products, and a higher quality of filtration system which may all increase electricity and gas bills. A common recommendation to those with hay fever is the use of a HEPA filter. The Envion Therapure Air Purifier for a Medium Room (26x8”) at target is sold online for $139.99. This only works for a room that is about 100-300sq ft. room, which means that multiple may need to be purchased to fulfill the needs of an individual with multiple rooms.

In conclusion, Hay Fever can add up to be a pretty expensive condition to have and something to keep in mind when choosing treatments.  However a combination of one or many may be necessary in order to ensure an improved quality of life which is priceless.

The Hay Fever Diet

For everyone, especially those will an illness or aliment, it seems as if the doctor will often state the importance of an appropriate diet and frequent exercise. For some things, this can be a very specific diet, such as the DASH diet for those needing to lower blood pressure and the BRAT diet for many pediatric patients. But is there a diet, or any dietary recommendations to help alleviate the symptoms of hay fever.

The Hay Fever diet-

Also derived as the Mediterranean diet because, as will be stated, the diet consists of many fresh fruits and vegetables, fish, nuts and other high antioxidant loaded foods.

Dig In

 Because hay fever is results in inflammation, it is advised to eat foods that have anti –inflammatory properties.

            Nuts- With a high amount of magnesium and vitamin E, nuts can help improve lung function, which is especially beneficial to asthmatics as well. Also because Vitamin E boosts the immune system, it can help the body fight against URIs (upper respiratory infections), and from damaging free radicals, which also cause inflammation.

             Apples, Oranges, Tomatoes, and other Vitamin C fruits- Because Vitamin C is an antioxidant, has many of the properties like Vitamin E such as protecting the body from free radicals thus reducing potential oxidizing tissue inflammation and damage.

Grapes (Red with skins)- Grapes are also filled with antioxidants, but also have resveratrol, which is the same chemical in red wine that gives it some healthy heart benefits when taken in moderation.  Resveratrol works not only for Hay Fever by reducing inflammation, but can also lower LDLs, the “bad cholesterol”.

            

            Fish- Cold-water fish, algae, and supplements, have high amounts of the omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA, which are believed to reduce inflammation in the body. Some of the popular fish diet options include salmon, mackerel, trout, herring, sardines, and albacore tuna. Fish oil or omega-3 supplementations are also believed to be as beneficial.

            

           Tea- Especially a hot tea with lemon or honey is usually recommended for those with hay fever first thing in the morning. Some anti-inflammatory compounds in teas, flavonoids, work along with boosting immunity as well. Tea also works by “waking up” the cilia, the tiny hairs in the nasal passageway, to sweep out the pollen and dust. This will also allow mucus to flow more naturally therefore decreasing stuffiness or the morning sneeze attacks. 

Proceed with Caution

Spicy foods work well by be easing congestion and thinning mucus, but can be harmful by irritating the throat which may cause even more excessive mucus and cough. These include; Cajun spices, Garlic, and Horseradish

Steer Clear

Margarine is made of artificial unhealthy fats, which boost inflammation. A diet high, or even containing margarine, is stated to increase the risk of having allergies and respiratory wheezing.

Using a Neti Pot for Hay Fever

Neti Pots

What are they?

Neti pots, or nasal saline irrigation is a system of cleansing out the sinus and nasal cavities. in order to help a range of nasal symptoms from colds, allergies, sinusitis or just for hygiene.  Although the idea of the Neti pot has been around for centuries but has recently been increasing in popularity.  This is especially true for those with hay fever because of it acts as effective maintenance of clearing out the allergens with minimal side effects. This especially applies for those year round hay fever sufferers.

How do they even work?

To understand how the Neti pot works, the anatomy and physiology of the sinuses needs to be stated.  Sinuses are air cavities in the cranial bones which help reducing weight of the skull, create resonance in the voice, and most relatable for this, for humidifying the air in the nasal passageway. The paranasal sinuses include the maxillary, frontal, sphenoid, and ethmoid. The body is constantly producing mucus in these cavities which normal works as a protective and lubricating barrier and should just go down the throat as a post nasal drip and be swallowed.  However if  infectious agents, allergens, dirt, dust or other particles are present this mucus can thicken up and have a harder time being removed. This build up causes pressure in the sinuses, worsening symptoms of nasal congestion and rhinitis, and even can lead to cough, sore throat, and hoarseness. With the Neti pot, the solution is designed to thin out the mucus and irrigate it through the sinuses and out the nostrils. Attached is a youtube video of a more in depth explanation.

So do they work?

Studies show that they do help in relieving symptoms. Ear nose and throat  [ENT] surgeons often recommend them to their patients after having nasal surgery because how effective their irrigation works. Research has backed up the claims of both companies and users of the Neti pot. However this may vary from person to person. Don’t start a new regime without constulting your primary care physician. 

My Personal Results

As a fellow hay allergy sufferer I decided to give this device a whirl. I bought the  Neil Med Nasal Flow one at Target for 17.99. When I first started it made my head feel full and I had to make sure my head was tilted just right over the sink otherwise I would taste the salty solution in the back of my throat. However, it didn’t take long and was painless- the best news is I saw results almost instantly. I physically saw mucus in the sink (gross I know, but better out of my sinuses than in!), also I felt better. I was able to breathe better almost instantly. There was the occasional trickle of solution for then next fifteen minutes but nothing bad. I did however feel a little lightheaded for about an hour. I have now tried this regime three nights in a row- deciding I would slow down as soon as I had a successful (little or no mucus left) go around. I have noticed have had little or no congestion in the morning and throughout the day and barely even sneezed. Personally I am loving the Netipot.

Attached are some links you may be interested in about the products.

Check out http://www.amazon.com/Himalayan-Institute-Ceramic-Neti-Pot/dp/B000WJIC3G

http://www.sinucleanse.com/netipotlanding.htm

http://www.neilmed.com/usa/adword_np.php

Allergy Skin Tests

Allergy Skin Tests

With hay fever, the most common thing you are told is to avoid your triggers. But what if you don’t know what the triggers, how are you supposed to avoid them? How do you find out what they are?

Allergy skin tests are designed to help expose whether or not a suspected allergen is actually what is causing the allergic reaction. To gather information on what could be a possible suspected allergen is through the medical history.  During the medical history some questions that may be asked include: How long have you had the allergy? Where do you live? How long do the symptoms last for? Where do you work or what are some environmental exposures?

After gathering the information, the suspected allergen will then be introduced in one of three ways- a skin prick test, skin injection test, and patch test.

            Skin Prick Test- is done with a lancet injected different allergens. The results usually come in about 15 minutes. It can be done with as many as 40 different substances to see if the allergies are from pollen, mold, pet dander, dust and even food allergies. If a skin prick test is positive, there will be a skin response This could be a raised, red itchy lump- somewhat like a mosquito bite.

            Skin Injection Test- a test that, like the skin prick, injects a small amount of allergen extract into your skin. The difference is that instead of a lancet, it is used with a needle to be a little deeper as an intradermal test. In about 15 minutes, there will be signs of an allergic reaction- this test isn’t very common for hay fever like the skin prick test, but more for allergies to venoms or specific medications.

            Patch Test- tests to see if there is an allergic reaction by not injecting an allergen, but instead applying it to a patch, which will be placed on the skin. Like the injection test, this isn’t very common for hay fever, but more for contact dermatitis, such as latex or preservative allergies. The patch will be worn for 2 and irritation will indicated a positive test.  

All of these tests are used in order to pinpoint what your allergies are in order to avoid them. This means may not be necessary for everyone, but more for those who really need to know, are more susceptible, and have very severe allergies. Talk to your doctor about if this interests you to see when/how you can receive this testing. 

Alternative Therapies- Butterbur, Honey, and Acupuncture

Alternate Therapies-

Complementary alternative medicine (CAM) is any healing practice that isn’t part of the practices of conventional medicine. It can range from receiving acupuncture to taking herbal supplements. Because it is alternate however, there is not sufficient evidence to back these treatments as certified but many people vouch for effective results none the less.

Like most conditions, there are “alternate therapies” for Hay Fever. Some of the most common ones include rinsing sinuses (nasal irrigation), which will be discussed in a later blog. Also, common herbal therapies include butterbur, Tinospora cordifolia, cat’s claw, choline, goldenseal, belladonna, bromelian, and honey. Alternate therapies also include hypnosis, acupuncture, and probiotics.

This blog entry will be discussing butterbur, honey, and accupuncture

For information on the other alternative therapies check out http://nccam.nih.gov/ and http://www.rateadrug.com/ for more information and to evaluate your own experiences with these treatments.

Butterbur- (Petasites hybridus) Extracts taken from this shrub-like plant have been used as medicine for for migraines, stomach cramps, coughs, allergies and asthma.

Although how it works is unknown, butterbur is believed to block the action of histamine and leukotrienes resulting in a decrease in inflammatory reactions. There have been studies involving participants with hay fever taking doses of butterbur which had a greater relief in symptoms than those with the placebo. However no studies have been conclusive to classify this as an effective treatment. Side effects include indigestion, headache, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, diarrha, and constipation and is not intended for those who are pregnant, children, and with renal or liver conditions.

Butterbur - Petasites hybridus

Honey- Honey has been studied as a potential therapy for those with pollen senstitive patients. The idea behind it is that the traces of pollen inside the honey desensitizes the body to honey, therefore reducing the hay fever symptoms. This idea is a much like that of immunotherapy.

Honey

Acupuncture- a Chinese healing process which has been practiced for thousands of years, has been studied for the benefit of many diseases. As for hay fever, research suggests that those who receieved accupuncuture with Chinese herbal tea noticed a lessening of hay fever symptoms. But like the other alternate treatments, the study isn’t conclusive.

Acupuncture

Keep in mind with all of these that it is CRUCIAL that you discuss this with your doctor before starting treatment. Herbs and alternative therapies may be harmful to other predisposing medical conditions, need to be taken cautiously, and need to be monitored. Make sure you tell your doctor if you are taking any because although they are not classified as a convention treatment there is still a physiologic impact on the body. Also make sure to by your herbal remedies from safe sources. Herbals are not FDA approved therefore not regulated so doses may be misleading.