Allergy Resources

Learn more about your allergy symptoms and what triggers them!

According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI), as many as 50 million people in the United States—about one in five—have allergies. This includes millions of children.

An allergy is a chronic condition involving an abnormal reaction to an ordinarily harmless substance called an allergen.  Typical allergens include pet dander, mold, ragweed, pollen, and dust mites.

("Allergy Resources", Allergist; Sponsored by the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, Sept. 2, 2011), ("Conditions Dictionary - Allergy", American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology, Sept. 2, 2011)

Causes & Symptoms of Allergies

Allergy symptoms occur when your immune system overreacts to an allergen—something that usually is harmless, such as plant pollen, dust mites, molds or animal dander. If you have an allergy, your immune system acts as if the allergen was dangerous, releasing a chemical called histamine that causes allergy symptoms.  If the allergen is something you breathe in from the air, your reaction will most likely affect your nose, eyes or lungs. Allergy symptoms will vary depending on the type of allergen.

Seasonal allergic rhinitis or ‘hay fever’ literally means inflammation of the nose, and is most often caused by pollen carried in the air during different times of the year. Hay fever symptoms tend to peak in the spring and fall. Ragweed, tree, grass and weed pollen are all common sources of seasonal hay fever.  Allergic rhinitis can also be triggered by common indoor allergens such as the dried skin flakes or saliva found on pet dander, droppings from dust mites and mold spores. This is called perennial rhinitis because symptoms typically occur year-round.  In addition to allergen triggers, symptoms may also occur from irritants such as smoke and strong odors, or to changes in the temperature and humidity of the air. This happens because allergic rhinitis causes inflammation in the nasal lining, which increases sensitivity to inhalants.

Allergic rhinitis symptoms:

• Itching of the nose

• Sneezing
• Stuffy nose (Nasal congestion)
• Runny nose
• Tearing eyes


("Rhinitis (Hay Fever)", American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology, September 2, 2011)

What causes the sneezing, itchy eyes and other symptoms?

When a sensitive person inhales an allergen (allergy-causing substance) like ragweed pollen, the body's immune system reacts abnormally. The allergen binds to allergic antibodies (immunoglobulin E or IgE) that are attached to cells that produce histamine and other chemicals. The pollen "triggers" these cells in the nasal membranes, causing them to release histamine and the other chemicals. Histamine dilates the small blood vessels of the nose making fluids leak out into other tissues. This causes runny noses, watery eyes, itching, swelling and other allergy symptoms.

No hay, no fever, so why "hay fever"?

"Hay fever" is a century-old term that has come to describe the symptoms of allergic rhinitis, especially when it occurs in the late summer. However, the symptoms are not caused by hay (ragweed is one of the main culprits) and are not accompanied by fever. So, the term "allergic rhinitis" is more accurate. Similarly, springtime symptoms are sometimes called "rose fever," but it's just coincidental that roses are in full-bloom during the grass-pollinating season. Roses and other sweet-smelling, showy flowers rely on bees, not the wind, for pollination. Not much of their pollen gets into the air to cause allergies.

("Allergic Rhinitis (Hay Fever)", Allergist; Sponsored by the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology)

Children & Allergies

An estimated 50 million Americans have some type of allergy. In most people, allergies first appear during infancy or childhood. Allergic disorders rank first among children’s chronic diseases. Any child may become allergic, but children from families with a history of allergy are more likely to be allergic. Children may inherit the tendency to become allergic from their parents, but only some of them will develop an active allergic condition.

Allergic rhinitis is the most common of all childhood allergies. It causes runny, itchy nose, sneezing, postnasal drip and nasal congestion (blockage). Children with allergies may also have itchy, watery and red eyes and chronic ear problems. Despite its common name, "hay fever", these allergy problems can occur at any time of the year -- seasonally or year-round, and do not cause fever.

Nasal Congestion

Allergies are the most common cause of chronic nasal congestion in children. Sometimes a child's nose is congested or blocked to the point that he or she breathes through the mouth, especially while sleeping. This may also cause the child to not get a restful night’s sleep and then be tired the next day. If the congestion and mouth breathing are left, they can cause abnormal changes the way the teeth and the bones of the face grow. Taking precautions and applying NasalGuard® AllergieBlock® is an easy way to block allergens from entering a child’s nose.

Fall means going back to school. For children with allergies, that may mean absences due to problems related to allergic rhinitis or side-effects from medications.
Prevent their allergy symptoms with drug-free, easy-to- apply, portable AllergieBlock --- without the drowsiness!

(“Children’s Allergies”, Allergist; Sponsored by the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology)

Pet Allergies

Almost 62% of U.S. households have pets, and more than 161 million of these pets are cats and dogs. Unfortunately, millions of pet owners have an allergy (allergic rhinitis) to their animals.  The proteins found in a pet's dander, skin flakes, saliva and urine can cause an allergic reaction or aggravate asthma symptoms in some people. Also, pet hair or fur can collect pollen, mold spores and other outdoor allergens.

Pet Exposure & Symptoms

An estimated 10 percent of the population may be allergic to animals.
Responses to cat and dog dander can cause allergy symptoms such as sniffling, sneezing and itchiness in many people.
Pets can cause problems to allergic patients in several ways. Their dander, or skin flakes, as well as their saliva and urine, can cause an allergic reaction. The animal hair is not considered to be a very significant allergen. However, the hair or fur can collect pollen, dust, mold and other allergens.
A frequent misconception is that shorthaired animals cause fewer problems. Contrary to this belief, there are no truly “hypoallergenic breeds” of dogs or cats. Allergic dander in cats and dogs is not affected by length of hair or fur, nor by the amount of shedding.
Cat and dog allergens are everywhere. Pet dander is even in homes never occupied by these animals because it’s carried on people's clothing. The allergens get in the air with petting, grooming or stirring the air where the allergens have settled. Once airborne, the particles can stay suspended in the air for long periods of time.

What Makes Cat Allergies More Common?

Cat allergies are about twice as common as dog allergies. It's difficult to say exactly what causes cat allergies to be more common than those of dogs. It could be a combination of things, including the possibility that the allergens in cat dander and saliva are simply more potent (fewer particles needed to produce a reaction), because cats aren't very often bathed, or spend more time indoors. Cat dander is also incredibly small and sticky, allowing it to stick to clothing and be efficiently transferred. So even if you don't have cats, you could very well have cat dander floating around the air in your home.

What can I do if visiting people with pets?

Apply NasalGuard® AllergieBLOCK® before entering a home with pets. AllergieBlock, when used as directed, prevents allergic reactions such as sneezing, nasal congestion, runny and itchy nose since it blocks pet dander on contact.
Because NasalGuard® AllergieBLOCK® is a preventative topical gel, users should apply AllergieBLOCK as directed for at least 48 hours before noticing its optimal effects and benefits.
After the initial 48 hours, reapply regularly before you come into contact with pet allergens, just like putting on sunblock before you go into the sun!

(“Pet Allergies Information”, Allergist; Sponsored by the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology) , (“Pet Allergy Overview, American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology) and (“Cat Allergies More Common Than Dog Allergies-Indoor Allergies Support Group”, HelloLife® — The Smart Living Network, January 2010)

Allergy Statistics

• Number of people in the U.S. who have either allergy or asthma symptoms: one in five
• Percentage of the U.S. population that tests positive to one or more allergens: 55%
• Rank of allergies among other leading chronic diseases in the U.S.: 5th
• One estimate of the annual cost of allergies to the health care system and businesses in the U.S.: $7.9 billion
• Percentage of all U.S. households with detectable levels of dog and cat dander: 100%
• Number of workdays lost each year as a result of hay fever: 4 million
• Number of weeks by which the ragweed pollen season has increased in the last 10 to 15 years, likely as a result of global warming: four
• Odds that a child with one allergic parent will develop allergies: about 50%
• Odds that a child with two allergic parents will develop allergies: 75%

(“Allergy Statistics and Facts”, Allergies Health Center, WebMD, March 2010) and (“Allergy Testing for Children”, Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), 2005)

The information contained in Allergy Resources section is provided from third parties for informational purposes only.