Rite Aid, AAAAI team up to offer guides to allergy sufferers

Rite Aid and the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) are again teaming up this spring to help allergy sufferers with free allergy guides available now in nearly 4,800 Rite Aid stores nationwide and online at www.riteaid.com.

According to the AAAAI, each year, allergies strike 50 million Americans, leaving many sidelined from favorite activities or even rushed to emergency rooms with potentially life-threatening reactions. But allergies are also one of the most treatable medical conditions.

The 16-page allergy guide shares useful information to help people cope with allergies. Additional resources can be found at www.aaaai.org including an allergist locator, a pollen monitoring database for local conditions and The Virtual Allergist^TM, an interactive tool to help patients better understand their symptoms before consulting with a board-certified allergist or Rite Aid pharmacist. Visitors to www5.riteaid.com/health/allergies can also sign up for electronic alerts to their e-mail account, cell phone and more through Pollen.com.

Rite Aid is offering several reward programs including a three-month program that offers customers $10 or $25 Rite Aid gift cards with either $25 or $50 purchases of select allergy and health products. Customers also can take advantage of a six-month Rite Aid Allergy Rewards program, earning a $20 Rite Aid gift card by purchasing $75 of Zyrtec and/or Benadryl. Details of both programs can be found at www5.riteaid.com/health/allergies.

Available in Rite Aid pharmacy waiting areas as well as at registers, the free allergy guide makes understanding allergies easy with:

• A simple explanation of the science behind all allergic reactions, whether they're caused by air-borne particles - such as pollen or pet dander - or proteins in many foods
• Five tips to decrease pollen exposure
• Common food allergies and surprising products that could trigger a reaction including barbecue sauce or cake icing (tree nuts), imitation crab or ice cream (wheat gluten) and canned tuna (milk).
• A guide to skin allergies explaining how insects, household products, plants and even latex or metal can cause problems ranging from embarrassing rashes to serious health complications
• A look at how eyes are affected by allergies as well as possible short- and long-term solutions

The guide also offers three reference charts to help patients compare and contrast the following:

• Distinct health conditions that often are confused with allergies such as colds and sinus infections
• Thirteen categories of over-the-counter allergy products that treat eight common allergy symptoms
• Specific products to treat allergies that can be discussed with an allergist or Rite Aid pharmacist

Rite Aid's focus on allergy awareness is part of its yearlong commitment to health and wellness. Each year Rite Aid offers free information, answers and education on health and wellness topics including skin care, oral health, diabetes, weight management and heart health.