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The Doctors Book of Home Remedies II: Sneezing

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Sneezing

Don't feel dopey and try not to be grumpy if you achoo on cue. You're just sneezy, so there's nothing to be bashful about. Without dwarfing the size of the problem, you should be happy to know that within limits, you can be your own doc in stopping those noisy nose fits.

"A sneeze is usually a response to an allergic nasal irritant," says Howard J. Silk, M.D., a physician at the Atlanta Allergy Clinic and assistant professor of pediatrics at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta. "And you must always guard against common household allergens such as dust, mold, mildew, pets and dust mites."

But don't hold your breath--literally or figuratively. After taking all cleaning and allergic precautions, "don't expect miracles right away," Dr. Silk, says. "It could take six months to significantly reduce all the allergic materials in your house." Start with patience, and add the following actions.

Muffle your mattress. Beds often harbor mites that feed on dead skin cells, Dr. Silk says. Sheathe mattresses and box springs in an airtight noncotton cover, then wash the sheets regularly in water at least 130°F. That temperature is hot enough to kill the microscopic monsters that cause so many sneezes.

Down with down. Though comfortable and natural, down pillows have a big minus: They hold dust and mites, Dr. Silk says. Instead, choose a washable, hypoallergenic polyester pillow. Wash it every few weeks, again in water hot enough to kill any mites that might pervade the polyester.

Sneeze. . . And Blow

Although some people try to stifle their sneezes, the best response is to go with the blow, according to Gailen D. Marshall, Jr., M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor and director of the Allergy and Clinical Immunology Division at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston. "It may be socially acceptable to stifle a sneeze, but it's potentially extraordinarily dangerous," he says.

The peril is in the eustachian tubes, which connect nasal passages to the middle ear, regulating air pressure on both sides of your eardrums. If you suppress a sneeze, mucus from your throat and nose could be thrust into the middle ear or sinuses.

Since the mucus is nonsterile, Dr. Marshall says, "it's very possible to create a sinus infection from sneezing improperly. You can potentially precipitate a middle ear infection as well." At the very worst, if the snuffed-out sneeze is forceful enough, the backed-up pressure may rupture an eardrum.

As for the best way to blow your nose: Close one nostril and blow gently through the other into a tissue, Dr. Marshall says. Force out air and mucus in several puffs, not one all-or-nothing blow. Alternate nostrils until your nose, at least for the time being, is clear.

Stuff the stuffed animals. They're cute and cuddly, but stuffed animals and, dolls collect dust and dust mites. To safeguard your sneezing snout, Dr. Silk says, you may have to give your teddy bear to the family archivist. It doesn't belong in your room anymore.

Don't get your pet's dander up. People who have allergic reactions to dogs or cats are usually reacting to dander, the small flakes and scales of the animal's skin, according to Dr. Silk. Cat saliva and urine can also be allergens. "If you're allergic to pets, don't keep them," says Dr. Silk. "If you have them and don't want to get rid of them, keep them outside or at least out of the bedroom."

Always wash your hands immediately after petting any cat or dog, he recommends, and bathe your pet once a week.

Be pro-antihistamine. "If the sneezing spell is short and seasonal, people can try an over-the-counter antihistamine to see if it provides some relief," says Horst R. Konrad, M.D., chairman of the Division of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in Springfield. Topical nasal sprays containing cortisone are the most effective medicine for reining in sneezing fits and allergies, according to Dr. Konrad. But these are available only by prescription.

Let the grass grow. If plants send your sneeze control haywire, limit your time outside. "Don't mow the lawn," Dr. Konrad says. "Talk someone else into doing it." And keep the windows closed when the grass flies.

Don't make a move. You may think relocation is the answer to your allergies, but there are always going to be allergens, no matter where you move. "Obviously, it's hard to avoid spring," says Mark Loury, M.D., assistant professor in the Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery at Johns Hopkins University Hospital in Baltimore. "In the spring, it's tree pollen. In summer and early autumn, sagebrush and tumbleweed pollinate throughout the western United States. In the fall, regardless of location, ragweed and molds are just about everywhere." Dust, of course, is unavoidable year-round, no matter where you live.

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