Advice on indoor allergies available at the pharmacy

The pharmacist told me that allergies are common and affect around 10-20% of people. There are a wide variety of things in the air that can cause an allergic reaction, like dust mites, fungus and particles from pets and household chemicals.

If you have an allergy the body incorrectly identifies these airborne particles as a threat and releases histamine to combat it. This then causes the nose lining to become inflamed and swollen, which makes you sneeze and have a runny nose.

The pharmacist also told me that many pharmacies now provide an allergy screening service. This involves a simple blood test which will test for 10 of the most common airborne allergens. You can then take steps to reduce it in your home, such as dusting and vacuuming frequently.

In terms of medication, the pharmacist recommended taking nasal decongestants and antihistamines. These are available over the counter without a prescription and prevent the release of histamine.

In more severe cases the pharmacist said you can visit the GP for a prescription e.g. a stronger nasal spray to reduce your nasal congestion.

Useful links

http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/indoor-allergy/ http://www.allergyuk.org/news_indoorallergy2010.aspx http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/physical_health/conditions/in_depth/allergies