Preventing Allergic Rhinitis

There are no guidelines for reducing your risk of allergic rhinitis because it is not fully understood why some people develop allergic reactions to certain substances while others do not.

But researchers are studying to see if mothers can reduce allergies in their children by taking certain measures during pregnancy. For example, not having pets may help reduce wheezing in babies prone to allergies. For adults, closely following the Mediterranean diet may offer some protection from allergic rhinitis. More research needs to be done before any recommendations for reducing the risk of allergic rhinitis can be made.

References:

Advice from your allergist: rhinitis. American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology website. Available at: http://www.acaai.org/public/advice/rhin.htm . Accessed September 15, 2008.

Allergic rhinitis. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what.php . Updated September 2008. Accessed September 15, 2008.