Hello Everyone,

As several of my friends always seem to be sneezing no matter the time of day or year, I thought the following article from Every Day Health may be of some use to both them an’, ah’-ah’—achuuuuuu!!!  (Smile)

Enjoy,

Mark

NOTE:
A link to the original article is located at the bottom of this post. 

A sneeze is a sudden, forceful, involuntary burst of air through the nose and mouth. It is caused by irritation to the mucous membranes of the nose or throat. Sneezing can be very bothersome but is generally not a sign of a serious problem. The five most common causes of sneezing are:
1.
Allergy to pollen, mold, dander, or dust (hay fever).

2.
Viral infections (common cold, upper respiratory tract infections).

3.
Nasal irritants such as dust and powders.

4.
Withdrawal from drugs such as alcohol and opiates.

5.
Corticosteroid inhalation, such as with asthma medications.

For sneezing not caused by an allergy, the problem will disappear when the underlying disorder is cured or treated. When allergies are the culprit, antihistamines are the first line of therapy. Nasal steroid sprays may be helpful in more chronic conditions. Allergy shots, also called immunotherapy or hyposensitization, may be considered for seasonal reactions that can’t be managed with other drugs because of their side effects.

The best way to control sneezing caused by allergies is to avoid exposure to the offending allergen. To reduce your exposure:

1.
Remove pets from the home to eliminate animal dander

2.
Change furnace filters

3.
Use air filtration devices to reduce pollen in the air

4.
Travel to areas with low pollen counts

5.
In extreme cases, moving out of a residence with a mold spore problem may be necessary

Click Here to continue to the original article with many helpful links and resources.