Is
It
A
Cold
or
Allergy?
Cold-Like
Symptoms
Have
Many
Americans
Guessing
Press
Release
Sept.
14,
2000
--
Aside
from
the
traditional
hallmarks
of
fall
-
sweaters,
schoolbooks
and
falling
leaves
-
nearly
two-thirds
of
Americans
surveyed
wonder
if
the
season's
familiar
cold-like
sniffling
and
sneezing
symptoms
may
be
due
to
an
allergy
(62
percent).
According
to
results
of
a
new
Yankelovich
Partners
survey
released
today,
about
one
out
of
five
Americans
say
they
have
a
cold
every
year
at
the
same
time
of
year
(18
percent),
a
strong
indicator
that
their
cold-like
symptoms
may
in
fact
be
caused
by
an
allergen
in
the
air.
The
confusion
that
many
Americans
have
over
a
cold
vs.
allergy
symptoms
is
not
surprising,
since
the
start
of
the
fall
allergy
and
cold
virus
seasons
coincide,
making
it
difficult
for
those
with
mild
seasonal
allergy
symptoms
to
know
if
they
have
a
cold
or
an
allergy.
"Many
patients
with
allergies
diagnose
themselves
as
having
colds,"
said
Eli
O.
Meltzer,
MD,
clinical
professor
of
pediatrics
at
the
University
of
California,
San
Diego.
"Allergy
symptoms
such
as
itching,
sneezing
spasms
and
clear
nasal
mucus
with
congestion,
tend
to
last
longer
than
the
seven
to
ten
days
of
the
common
cold."
Over-The-Counter
Allergy
Treatments
Other
survey
results
showed
that
more
than
half
of
Americans
take
an
over-the-counter
(OTC)
medication
to
treat
their
nasal
symptoms
(54
percent),
and
about
61
percent
said
they
have
experienced
some
side
effects
with
an
OTC
cold
and
allergy
medication.
"The
fact
is
many
of
the
over-the-counter
allergy
medications
are
very
effective.
However,
patients
need
to
consider
not
only
their
benefits,
but
also
the
risks,
and
many
of
these
OTC
products
have
side
effects,"
said
Dr.
Meltzer.
Indeed,
according
to
Patient
Care
magazine,
more
than
600
OTC
medications
contain
ingredients
and
dosages
that
required
a
prescription
20
years
ago;
within
the
last
five
years,
about
20
drugs
that
once
were
available
only
by
prescription
can
now
be
purchased
over-the-counter.
One
of
the
most
recent
products
to
switch
from
prescription
status
is
NasalCrom®
nasal
spray,
a
nasal
allergy
medication
known
as
a
mast
cell
stabilizer
that
unlike
antihistamines,
which
can
cause
drowsiness,
steroids,
which
carry
a
growth
retardation
warning,
and
decongestants,
which
can
cause
sleeplessness
or
jitteriness,
NasalCrom
does
not
produce
these
side
effects.
NasalCrom,
available
OTC
since
1997
for
adults
and
children
six
and
older,
relieves
nasal
allergy
symptoms
and
when
used
regularly,
can
prevent
future
attacks.
When
an
allergen
such
as
pollen,
dust
or
animal
dander
enters
the
nose,
the
tiny
mast
cells
that
line
the
nasal
passages
break
down
and
release
the
chemical
triggers
that
cause
the
symptoms
that
make
allergy
sufferers
miserable
-
sneezing,
runny
nose
and
itchy,
watery
eyes.
NasalCrom
helps
prevent
the
mast
cell
from
breaking
down
halting
the
response
before
the
triggers
are
released.
"Cromolyn
sodium,
or
NasalCrom,
can
be
an
effective
agent
for
preventing
and
alleviating
nasal
allergic
rhinitis
symptoms,"
said
Dr.
Meltzer.
"It
also
is
one
of
the
safest
of
the
allergy
medications."
NasalCrom,
a
non-systemic,
non-steroidal
therapy,
can
be
safely
used
in
combination
with
other
medications.
It
should
be
used
one
full
week
before
coming
into
contact
with
allergens
and
should
be
taken
three
to
four
times
a
day.
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