Achoo... - Allergy Season Is Here!

You don’t have to look further than the pollen on your car to know allergy season is here in full force. For many, that brings on a runny nose, but beware not every runny nose is an allergy. Nor is it necessarily the common cold, or even COVID-19. It may be non-allergic rhinitis causing your chronic sneezing, congestion or runny nose. Understanding the difference is important for treatment. You have questions and UnitedHealthcare has some answers, tips and best practices!

Non-allergic rhinitis, sometimes called vasomotor rhinitis, doesn’t involve our immune system reacting to an allergen. Rather, non-allergic rhinitis is thought to result from environmental irritants—such as, smoke or smog in the air—or even just overusing nasal allergy medicine. In fact, in a lot of cases, the true cause can’t even be pinpointed with certainty.

Because non-allergic rhinitis can cause symptoms like those of hay fever (otherwise known as allergic rhinitis), and other conditions, including the common cold, and COVID-19, it can be difficult to determine what condition you are dealing with – and the appropriate treatment you should seek.

While there is no cure for seasonal allergies nor nonallergic rhinitis, many people find relief by avoiding triggers, using a saline rinse solution or by taking over the counter or prescription medications. And because the symptoms are so similar between non-allergic rhinitis and allergic
rhinitis, a best course of action is to get allergy tested to rule out the latter.

As with all health concerns, seeking an accurate diagnosis is important to manage your condition
appropriately. Talk to your doctor about your symptoms, and they will help you find the right course of treatment—whether that is prescribed medication, recommending an over-the-counter nasal spray, or just plenty of rest.

For more information on allergies, check with your doctor or allergy specialist and visit. https://www.uhc.com/health-and...