Conditions Are Often Mistaken for “Smoke Allergies”

• Vasomotor Rhinitis:     Vasomotor rhinitis will cause all of the same annoying, persistent, instantaneous and maddening symptoms associated with allergies. This is because vasomotor rhinitis is the evil twin of allergic rhinitis (nasal allergies). The worst part is that though the shelves of your local drug store may be crammed with different medications for allergies, very few of these will actually diminish the effects of vasomotor rhinitis. This is because the pills that are so often popped for allergies work by interrupting the histamines made by your immune system that react to an allergen – if you have vasomotor rhinitis, the problem starts with your nervous system, not you immune system.

  You might have Vasomotor Rhinitis if: 

  1. You are highly sensitive to other elements like perfume, strong odors, changes in weather, changes in temperature, or even spicy foods.

2. Walking into a slightly warmer (or cooler) room makes your nose runny or feel completely dry.

3.  Antihistamine medications do not alleviate the symptoms.

• Allergies that are Aggravated by Smoke:     

  

   Allergies may be under control, but adding the additional strain of second hand smoke may cause them to flare up. Maybe that spec of pollen or your flake of dander from your friend’s dog may not be enough to cause a flare-up normally, but one cigarette can make all the difference! Everyone knows the phrase “the straw that broke the camels back” – well, I guess smoke would be considered more of a brick than a piece of straw. The heavy, choking concoction of pollutants that comprises cigarette smoke usually is enough to push your immune system over the edge.   Though a tiny pollen grain normally wouldn’t trigger an allergic reaction – the added strain of cigarette smoke makes it an enormous problem. 

  You might Smoke-Aggravated Allergies if:

  1. You know that you are allergic to other things like pollen, pets, mold or dust mites.

  2. You have eczema (skin allergies), asthma or food allergies.

   

• Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS):     If notice the same group of symptoms occurring and reoccurring from exposure to a chemical substance, then you might have a syndrome called Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, or MCS. There is very little known about the underlying causes of MCS due to insufficient scientific evidence to link the symptoms of MCS to a specific cause. It appears that certain environmental chemicals can cause an array of symptoms that often resemble an allergic reaction or the flu. It could caused by formaldehyde commonly used to construct furniture; or VOC’s found in interior paints; or wall-to-wall carpeting (which is made of some very nasty chemical substances); or even cigarette smoke.

  Your might have MCS if:

  1. You often have episodes of flu-like or allergy-like symptoms that only occur only from being in certain buildings, cars, or environments where pollutants are present.

  2. After leaving a certain area, your symptoms quickly start to vanish (whereas a true allergy attack can take several minutes to several hours to abate).

How to Treat "Smoke Allergies"

• Consult your doctor.  If your sensitivity to smoke is causing your daily life to be interupted and uncomfortable, it is worth talking to a professional.  You may want to seek a referal to a local allergist who can help  you to determine whether you have underlying allergies that are complicating the situation.

• Avoid smoke.  This is often more easily said than done.  In cases where family members or friends are smoking, you can ask them to smoke outside, since this really is the best way to ensure that the least amount of smoke will be present in your home.  

• Invest in clean air.  If even the scent of smoke from someone's clothing caused your symptoms (or if someone cannot go outside to smoke), it is definately a worthwhile investment to buy a smoke removal air filter like the Dynamic CT500 made by Dynamic Air Quality Solutions.  Not only will an air filter remove residual smoke particles, but it will also cut down on the number of airborne allergens in your home.