Don't Sneeze at Allergy Relief
For many of us, our allergies are not seasonal. One of
us has attacks of pressure urticaria (deep hives) year-round and, after about a
half hour of torture, finds relief from a non-sedating antihistamine such
as Zyrtec or Claritin.
But for many of us, our allergies are seasonal. Our son
Matthew has had a bad case of hayfever that made him miserable. He opted
for immunotherapy (better known as "shots") which has eased the
allergy.
There are a number of different options for treating
allergies today. Read on below.
Barbara K. Hecht,
Ph.D.
Frederick Hecht, M.D.
Medical Editors, MedicineNet.com
Itching for Some Allergy Relief?
by Michelle Meadows
Pollen grains from trees, grasses and weeds can float through the air in
spring, summer or fall. But along with staying on mission to fertilize plants
and tree flowers, pollen particles often end up in our noses, eyes, ears and
mouths. The result can be sneezing spells, watery eyes, congestion and an itchy
throat.
Pollen allergy, commonly known as hay fever, affects about 1 out of 10
Americans, according to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious
Diseases (NIAID). For some, symptoms can be controlled with occasional
over-the-counter (OTC) medicine. Others have reactions that may more seriously
disrupt the quality of their lives. Allergies can trigger or worsen asthma and
lead to other health problems such as sinusitis and ear infections in children.
"You can distinguish allergy symptoms from a cold because a cold tends
to be short-lived, results in thicker nasal secretions, and is usually
associated with sore throat, hoarseness, malaise, and fever," says Badrul
Chowdhury, M.D., Ph.D., an allergist and immunologist in the FDA's Division of
Pulmonary and Allergy Drug Products. Many people with seasonal allergic rhinitis
notice a seasonal pattern with their symptoms, but others may need a doctor's
help to find out for sure that pollen is the source of their misery. If these
symptoms crop up year-round, dust mites, pet dander or another indoor allergen
could be the culprit. This is known as perennial allergic rhinitis.
Chowdhury suggests you see a doctor if you're experiencing allergies for the
first time, if your symptoms interfere with your ability to function, if you
don't find relief in over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, or if you experience allergy
symptoms on a chronic basis. You may need an allergy test, the most common of
which is a skin test that shows how you react to different allergens, including
specific pollen allergens like ragweed or grass pollen.
Once you know you have seasonal allergies, probably the most important step
you can take is to avoid pollen as much as possible. Try to stay indoors when
pollen levels are highest. In the fall ragweed pollen season, pollen levels are
highest in the morning. During the grass pollen season in the spring and summer,
pollen levels are highest in the evening. Pollen counts measure how much pollen
is in the air and are expressed in grains of pollen per square meter of air
collected during a 24-hour period.
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