My Sneezing, Runny Nose, and Peanut Allergy

Sneezing and runny nose have been part of my life as far as I can remember. The experiences had never been pleasant. Before the easy availability of tissue papers, I used a handkerchief to cover the nose and take care of the discharge when in public. Unlike disposable tissue paper, the handkerchief after prolong usage presented a hygiene problem.

Most importantly, sneezing and runny nose prevented me from conducting normal living routines as I no longer had full control of my focus and concentration. So, it becomes a high priority to seeking the cause and cure of my sneezing and runny nose. After years of analyses, documentation, and experimentations, my sneezing and runny nose can be characterized in the following paragraphs.

Pollens

Pollens in springtime are a major cause of my sneezing and runny nose, specifically during windy and der conditions. It is a well-understood scenario where an overactive autoimmune system treats the pollen as an allergen and triggers the release of histamine that causes sneezing and runny nose.

I usually found relief by taking anti-histamine pills. Before there are Claritin and Allegra, these pills made me drowsy. So, I avoided taking them whenever possible. Sometimes, the sneezing and runny nose were so intense that mucous membranes lining the nasal cavity were bruised and infected. That was when I visited my doctor who prescribed a steroid nasal spray (Beconase) to counter the inflammation.

The steroid spray was quite effective in getting rid of the infection when it was used in the early stage. Over the years, I find that applying saline solution through the nasal passage or petroleum jelly is also effective in preventing my sneezing and runny nose caused by pollens from occurring in the first place.

As I get older, I find that working in the yard and mowing the lawn will also cause my sneezing and runny nose. Over time, I learn to wear a face mask while doing the garden chores. Even though it is inconvenient, the reward of an unimpeded nasal passage afterward makes it worthwhile.

Common cold

Common cold (without fever) can also cause my sneezing and runny nose accompanied by coughing occasionally. The episode normally occurs during the winter season. I can feel the urge to sneeze coming from within my body and taking anti-histamine pills (Claritin or Allegra) is not always effective.

Since my sneezing and runny nose usually lasted for 3 to 4 days, I elected to toughen it out. However, sometimes, I had to apply the steroid spray when a nasal infection resulted.

Flu

In addition to body aches and high fever, the seasonal flu also causes my sneezing and runny nose. Mucus in the throat and coughing are common symptoms too. I took Tylenol to reduce the fever and let the rest of the discomfort take its course. After 3 to 4 days, all that remained was the coughing which might last 3 to 4 weeks.

While I was working for a company, I contracted the flu average twice a year and the vaccination did not seem to make a difference. After I retired, I had a minor flu symptom only once. My experience tells me that the yearly flu shot and washing hands frequently help since the primary source of infection comes from contact with other people.

Peanuts

For many years I was bothered by my sneezing and runny nose that did not follow the feelings and symptoms described in the above 3 conditions. The only consistency was that they often occurred after my vigorous exercise (heavy perspiration and cardio workout) and they lasted only for the day.

I started to check my condition on the Internet. The only relevant information I gathered was that after a vigorous exercise the body's immune system could be temporarily weakened. Thus, the body was susceptible to infections of all kinds. Then, I read how some people were allergic to peanuts.

At the time, peanuts were one of my favorite snacks. I used to consume a whole jar (21 oz) in a few days. So, I decided to stop munching on the peanuts completely to see what would happen. To my great delight, the sneezing and runny nose after my vigorous exercise stopped. Nowadays, my snacks consist of mostly potatoes/ corn chips and a controlled quantity of cashews, pecans, and almonds.