ATLANTA, Aug. 26, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- For those of us with allergies, fall is the "sneezing season." And it's not all sneezing ... it's runny noses and congestion, scratchy throats and postnasal drip, coughing and itching, especially itchy eyes.
Although goldenrod, another plant that flowers in the fall, is often blamed for causing hay fever, the culprit behind all of this misery is the lowly ragweed plant. Considered a weed, ragweed has small yellow flowers and is named for the raggedy shape of its leaves. Ambrosia aratemisiifolia belongs to the Aster family and is found throughout the United States. Each plant is capable of producing about a billion grains of pollen, more than enough to make millions of Americans unhappy each fall.
"An allergy is a specific reaction to a normally harmless substance, one that does not bother most people," said Reza Haque, M.D., spokesman for Novartis Ophthalmics North America. The company is the maker of Zaditor(tm) (ketotifen fumarate ophthalmic solution 0.025%). "The symptoms of allergies -- sneezing, coughing, runny noses, itchy eyes -- are the body's way of trying to rid itself of the annoying substance. In this case, it's ragweed pollen."
Hay fever is the name given to pollen allergy, and ragweed pollen is the No. 1 cause of fall hay fever. According to the American Lung Association, approximately 26.1 million Americans suffer from seasonal allergies.
Antihistamines, decongestants and steroid nose sprays are often used to alleviate most of the allergic reactions caused by ragweed, said Haque, but itchy "allergy eyes" are best relieved by eye drops. Fast-acting, easy-to-use Zaditor is the only allergy eye drops that relieves and prevents itchy allergy eyes for up to 12 hours. Zaditor also addresses the specific cause of ocular itch -- histamine.
"Zaditor blocks histamine's effects and thus stops the allergic reaction -- the itchiness -- in the eyes," said Haque.
In addition to medication, hay fever sufferers can control their allergies by reducing their exposure to ragweed. Policing lawns and garden for ragweed is not enough, because the airborne pollen grains can travel for miles. People with allergies should avoid being outdoors on hot, windy days and should stay indoors early in the morning. After being outside, they should shower and change clothes because the pollen adheres to hair, skin and clothing. Windows in the house and car should be kept closed. Pets are also guilty of bringing pollen indoors.
Hay fever season usually lasts from mid-August until November, when frost kills off the ragweed plant, said Haque.
Background on Novartis Ophthalmics
With worldwide headquarters in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis Ophthalmics is a global leader in research, development and manufacturing of leading ophthalmic pharmaceuticals that assist in the treatment of glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, eye inflammation, ocular allergies and other diseases and disorders of the eye. Novartis Ophthalmics products are available in more than 110 different countries. The North American headquarters is based in Atlanta, Ga. Novartis Ophthalmics has production sites in Switzerland, France and Canada. For more information, please go to the web site www.novartisophthalmics.com/us.
Background on Novartis AG
Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS) is a world leader in pharmaceuticals and consumer health. In 2002, the Group's businesses achieved sales of CHF 32.4 billion (USD 20.9 billion) and a net income of CHF 7.3 billion (USD 4.7 billion). The Group invested approximately CHF 4.3 billion (USD 2.8 billion) in R&D. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis Group companies employ about 72,900 people and operate in over 140 countries around the world. For further information please consult http://www.novartis.com