Richmond Leader

Hay fever, also known as allergic rhinitis, can cause cold-like symptoms in people.

With the allergy season starting, hay fever is going to become very common. However, one of the best ways to deal with it is sinus irrigation, also known as nasal lavage.

"The paranasal sinuses, and the nose and the airway are linked because of airflow and because of their mucosa, and how they react to allergens and other agents that could irritate either one," said Dr. John Ditto from Richmond Breathe Free Sinus and Allergy Center.

Several chronic illnesses in the U.S. are caused by hay fever or allergic rhinitis. This happens because people accidentally inhale environmental pollutants that are airborne, including tree pollen. However, there are other reasons behind hay fever, too, like mold, insects and pets.

There is a specific type of hay fever known as persistent allergic rhinitis or pollinosis, and this persists year-round, according to Mayo Clinic. Symptoms of both acute and chronic diseases include sneezing, stuffy nose, runny nose, postnasal drip, watery eyes, and itching of the nose, eyes or the roof of the mouth. As long as the person exposes themselves to the trigger, the symptoms will persist.

In recent years, there have been major changes in the type of chronic inflammation solution options. However, there are still some fundamental options available, like Netipot, according to WebMD. This is a nasal lavage and has been around for centuries. As more and more OTC medications take center stage, Netipot is being increasingly overlooked.

According to the National Library of Medicine, a study was conducted on 747 participants over a span of three months. The study came to the conclusion that saline rinsing reduced the number of patients who reported symptoms versus using no rise at all, and that rinses are an inexpensive yet effective alternative to steroids and OTCs.

Prospective patients may evaluate their symptoms with this sinus assessment.