Carbon Dioxide Helps with Nasal Allergies

MSNBC reported recently that a shot of carbon dioxide gas into the nose can help with allergies based on preliminary findings funded by Capnia, a company that makes the product.

Upside:
Symptoms of nasal allergies improved within 30 minutes.
No liquid is involved... just carbon dioxide gas.

Downside:
Lasts only 4 hours
80% has nasal discomfort after use
25% became teary eyed
14-20% developed headaches

My take?
I'll pass on this drug... There are already good drugs with minimal side effects that lasts up to 24 hours already on the market .

Read the story here.

Of note, some readers may point out that there is an older study that had better results. With two one-minute carbon dioxide treatments into the nose resulted in symptom relief within 10 minutes and lasted for 24 hours. Even with these results, I'll still pass... not sure how many people will go with 2 one-minute treatments when a 1 second swallow with an allergy pill or nasal spray use works just as good.

Reference:
Nasal carbon dioxide for the symptomatic treatment of perennial allergic rhinitis. Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology - 19 August 2011 (10.1016/j.anai.2011.07.014)

Intranasal noninhaled carbon dioxide for the symptomatic relief treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis. J Allergy Clin Immunol. Volume 121, Issue 1, Pages 105-109 (January 2008).

Drinking Alcohol Increases Risk of Allergies!

Well at least in women and only for perennial allergies (not seasonal allergies) according to a study published in July 2008 in the journal "Clinical Experimental Allergy." The study entitled Alcohol consumption and the risk of self-reported perennial and seasonal allergic rhinitis in young adult women in a population-based cohort study found that in Danish women between the ages of 20-29 who drank more than 14 drinks/week were significantly more likely to develop around the year allergies when compared to those who drank <1 drink/week.

Interestingly, smoking was found to not increase the risk of allergies.

It seems there is yet another reason not to drink alcohol! Whether men and other age groups are similarly affected is unknown.

Read more about this here.