How Red Light Therapy Relieves Allergic Rhinitis？
Allergic rhinitis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the nasal mucosa that is mediated by various immune cells and cytokines mediated by IgE after atopic individuals are exposed to allergens.
At present, there are 500 million patients with allergic rhinitis worldwide .Its typical clinical symptoms are sneezing, runny nose, nasal itching, nasal congestion, decreased sense of smell, and headach Rhinoscopy examination shows pale nasal mucosa or off-white, blue, double inferior turbinate edema. If co-infected, mucous membrane hyperemia, mucus or purulent secretions can be seen. For long-term patients, middle turbinate polypoid changes can be seen. Turbinate hypertrophy or middle meatus polyps. Corticosteroids (such as beclomethasone dipropionate) and 1% ephedrine nasal drops are commonly used to reduce nasal congestion. Antihistamines (such as chlorpheniramine, etc.) can also be used, and turbinate freezing, laser radio frequency, microwave and other treatments can also be used , to reduce the sensitivity of nerve endings, relieve nasal congestion and other symptoms. A hyperbaric oxygen chamber can also be used, and the improvement rate can reach 99%. Traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture are also commonly used.
It has been found that allergic rhinitis is often related to contact with allergens, such as air pollution (ozone, nitrogen oxides, SOz, toluene, formaldehyde, etc.), dust mites, animal fur, pollen, fungi, etc., and food allergens, Such as fish, shrimp and eggs.
In 1957, Itai Neaman et al. reported the use of narrow-band red light to treat 50 patients with chronic allergic rhinitis and 10 patients with nasal polyps. These patients had used steroids, and 20 of them had asthma symptoms. These patients were treated with 660nm red light , 4.4 minutes each time, 4 times as a course of treatment, irradiating the nasal cavity, while the control group was irradiated with false light. The results proved that the 660nm narrow-band red light therapy can significantly improve the symptoms without any side effects.
