Allergic Rhinitis (AR) is an immunologic allergic response to outdoor/indoor allergens, pollen, dust mites, tiny flecks of skin and saliva shed by cats, dogs, and other animals with fur or feathers (pet dander), beauty products ingredients, grass, or trees. This Nasal Allergy / AR can also be triggered by food allergies or sensitivities.
What is Allergic Rhinitis?
Allergic Rhinits(AR), also known as hay fever, is an allergic reaction that is characterized by cold-like symptoms such as sneezing, nasal congestion, rhinorrhea (runny nose), and often accompanied by itching of the eyes and nose, postnasal drip, cough, fatigue, and sore throat.
Is hay fever contagious?
No, hay fever is not contagious, AR is an immunologic allergic response to outdoor/indoor allergens, pollen, dust mites, tiny flecks of skin and saliva shed by cats, dogs, and other animals with fur or feathers (pet dander), beauty products ingredients, grass, or trees. AR can also be triggered by food allergies or sensitivities. Many times Allergic Rhinitis triggers a cascade of immunologic responses that may lead to more serious complications.
Take a look at this article about Hay Fever by The Mayo Clinic
According to current statistics, hay fever or Allergic Rhinitis is very common, affecting 10 to 30 percent of children and adults in the United States. AR symptoms can make you feel terrible and can interfere with many aspects of life at work, school, and home. However, if you are an AR sufferer, you do not have to accept that you will have to deal with these symptoms for the rest of your life. Learning what triggers your hay fever symptoms when it comes to seasonal allergies can make a big difference in your health and functional medicine is a great way to tackle these symptoms.
Seasonal Allergies and gut health
The allergic response we experience is strongly related to the immune system. Did you know that 70% of the immune system is housed in the gut? It is! Improving your gut heatlh will improve your immune system. So, to dig into the root cause of your allergies you have to start by fixing your gut! Steps to get rid of your seasonal allergies.
Reversing Allergic Rhinitis and Asthma with Functional Medicine!
I have a story to tell you about my first client.
He is a male Family Nurse Practitioner, who at a young age, was diagnosed with Asthmatic Bronchitis. Back then, they believed this was a condition that a person would have for their entire life. Many years later, still managing Asthma, he bought a dog for his children, which further aggravated his condition. After several weeks, with the dog in the home, he ended up in a local emergency room and was eventually hospitalized for three days.
It used to be very typical for him to have several episodes of severe AR during the year, with some of these episodes also triggering an asthma attack. At least twice a year, without fail, he would have two or more very expensive emergency room visits. If only he had known functional medicine was the right choice to treat his asthma…
Predisone and dealing with steroids side effects
He was taking Allegra (Fexofenadine) in the morning, Singulair (Montelukast) at night, Albuterol inhaler twice a day — and if he could not control the symptoms with these medications, he had to start a course of Prednisone and then deal with the side effects of this steroid medication
Prednisone suppresses the body’s immune system, leading to other health problems and complications – often resulting in a terrible vicious cycle of side effects, including becoming more susceptible to increasingly frequent allergic rhinitis. Prednisone also increases the risk of infection, which is a particular concern for those with Diabetes. In addition, Prednisone elevates blood sugar.
Does asthma medication suppress the immune system?
Do you think these medications were enough to keep him from having asthma attacks? No, they were not!
Trying to minimize his misery, his pulmonologist added Xolair (Omalizumab) injections every two weeks. For many years, he was taking the highest dosage, which had to be divided in two injections, as the liquid amount was too large to be given subcutaneously in one site. So, instead of one shot, he had to give himself two shots every two weeks. He was told he would need to be on Xolair for the rest of his life. It definitely helped him reduce the number of Asthma episodes, but did not completely resolve the problem. On the other hand, this treatment was destroying his immune system.
Functional Medicine and Asthma: a Fresh and Accurate approach to AR
To make a long story short, in 2017, he started working with me trying to improve his overall health with functional medicine, and I started him on an elimination diet for about one month. He removed all processed foods, gluten, dairy, and grains. He noticed that his health was improving and that he was losing weight, which is a bonus aspect of this whole process. The best part of it was that he was breathing better, stopped snoring (even after discontinuing his C-Pap), had more energy, and was not getting sick as often as he used to. He was feeling so good that he decided to continue on the elimination diet for another month to see what else could be improved and to understand which foods were working against his health. He now had the knowledge of the root cause of his asthma problem (Allergic Rhinitis), and he was able to identify which foods were making him so sick all the time. He also identified other triggers in the environment that had contributed negatively to his health and he was able to mitigate these triggers.
From Conventional Medications to Functional Medicine
This client was my husband. Yes, Ed! He is the Co-founder of Essence for Wellness, and so far, by working on the root problems of his “chronic disease” he has been able to eliminate the following conventional medications: Xolair, Allegra, Albuterol, Metformin, and Lipitor. He is still taking Singulair (Montelukast), at the moment, but not for too long!
The conventional treatments did not effectively treat the chronic Allergic Rhinitis that triggered his asthma; it only put a “band-aid” on it! He now understands that the root cause of his problems were gluten, dairy products, and animal dander. By avoiding these food groups and some environment triggers his chronic AR and asthma problems have disappeared thanks to a funcional medicine approach to allergies.
The Bottom Line: Functional Medicine and Asthma
Ed had severe Allergic Rhinitis and Asthma! And nobody was able to give him a better outcome than what he has now. For many years, he was taking all those medications, without real relief. Functional Medicine helped us by starting with a simple elimination diet and learning what environmental triggers were causing his symptoms, he has completely changed his life for the best!
HFunctional Medicine Doctor in Miami
Looking for a functional medicine doctors in Miami? At Essence for Wellness we stand as a beacon of hope for those seeking effective relief from allergies like hay fever in the heart of Miami. With our dedicated focus on functional medicine, we offer a holistic approach that goes beyond just addressing symptoms. Our center’s expert team of functional medicine doctors understands the profound impact allergies can have on daily life. We bring tailored treatments that aim not only to alleviate immediate discomfort but also to address underlying causes. From personalized care plans to cutting-edge therapies, Essence for Wellness is a sanctuary where individuals can rediscover the joy of living unhindered by allergies, embracing a life of vitality and well-being.
