Where Can I Receive Pet Allergy Treatment
Portland Urgent Care provides a variety of allergy treatments to improve your life. We can help with symptoms like asthma, sinus pressure, headaches or migraines, sore throat, fatigue, cough, sneezing, congestion, runny nose, nasal congestion, rash, and much more. First, we will test for allergens and work with you to reduce or eliminate symptoms with a plan tailored to your allergies.
Recommended Reading: Dog Eye Drops For Allergies
How To Get Rid Of Allergies
Home – Allergy – How to Get Rid of Allergies
As allergy season rolls around each year, many of the 50 million people battling allergies find themselves wondering, can allergies be cured for good?
As the 6th leading cause of chronic illness in the U.S., allergies can significantly impact quality of life.
Many of us know firsthand the congestion, runny nose, watery eyes, sneezing, and itchiness that accompanies the seasonal shifting of allergies.
Allergies typically belong to one of seven categories, and each results in a variety of symptoms that can range from mild to severe based on the person.
At their most severe, allergic reactions result in anaphylaxis, where the body goes into shock and can result in death.
How Long To I Have To Keep Getting My Allergy Shots
There are two phases to allergy shot therapy: a build-up phase and a maintenance phase.
- Build-up phase: In this phase you will start with a low dose injection and build to a higher dose of allergens over time. For typical immunotherapy this phase lasts from 6 to 10 months, depending on how often you get your shots and how well you tolerate them. The build-up phase for venom therapy generally lasts for 10 weeks.
- Maintenance phase: When you reach your effective therapeutic dose you will begin the maintenance phase. During this phase you receive your allergy shots less often, usually every 3 to 4 weeks. The maintenance phase typically lasts 3-5 years .
Recommended Reading: How To Stop Itchy Eyes From Allergies
How To Test For Cat Allergy
Upon visiting an allergy specialist, they will perform a skin-prick test to diagnose a cat allergy. This involves placing a small extract of cat allergen on to your skin. Your skin is then pricked so the liquid can seep beneath the surface.
You can also order at-home allergy testing kits, which you can perform yourself and send off to a lab for the results. These tests check for the number of cat-hair-specific IgE antibodies in your blood, telling you whether you are sensitised to cat dander and, therefore, possibly allergic to cats.
Use An Air Filtration System
This might not sound like the best carpet allergy solution. Although indirectly but using an air filtration system is very useful for reducing allergies from your carpet. The air filter is a crucial component of a functional HVAC system. Air purifiers clean your homes air of any unwanted pollutant or allergens. Good quality air filters are capable of filtering all kinds of allergens, either pet dander or pollen.
How does an air filter help in inquiring about how to get rid of carpet allergies? Well, 80% of the allergens present on your carpet came through outside air. Especially dust particles and pollen are present in concentrated quantities in the air. With an air filter, these pollutants wont be able to enter your house. Having good air quality inside your home is crucial for allergic people.
Recommended Reading: Can Allergies Cause Body Ache
Also Check: Why Are Allergies So Bad This Year
Use Natural Antihistamines Or Artificial Ones
Antihistamines can be used to treat many allergic reactions.
You can find them naturally in several veggies and fruits.
Veggies and fruits like broccoli, apples, grapes, etc. will be quite useful for treating allergies and asthma problems as they contain a pretty good amount of Quercetin which reduces allergic reactions.
Or, you can simply use antihistamines meds such as diphenhydramine , loratadine or cetirizine .
Also, you can have stinging nettle capsules to reduce the symptoms from the allergy. However, it will be better to consult your doctor to get those capsules as per the prescription to avoid any possible side effects.
Dont Miss: Do Dogs Have Seasonal Allergies
Develop The Habit Of Licking Natural Honey
Eating local unprocessed honey can help your allergies. How? Honey introduces small amounts of pollen that bees collect from nature. Bees gather pollen from flowers, grasses, weeds, and trees.
Heres the thing: pollen is naturally allergenic. But only a small portion of the pollen that bees bring is allergenic. According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, eating honey may desensitize a person whos allergic to pollen.
Honestly, though, getting an allergy shot may be a much better idea than eating honey to manage allergies. In fact, theres no scientific evidence that eating honey can help people get rid of seasonal allergies.
So, whats the point here? Its a good idea to eat honey as it may help you manage your allergy symptoms.
Besides, honey offers many other health benefits. But you must remember that honey may not be as effective as far as allergy relief. In fact, a super-sensitive person may get an allergic reaction after ingesting honey. Such a reaction may be attributable to pollen or contaminants found in natural honey.
Read Also: How To Test For Tattoo Ink Allergy
What Happens In Allergies
In an attempt to protect the body, the immune system produces IgE antibodies to that allergen. Those antibodies then cause certain cells in the body to release chemicals into the bloodstream, one of which is histamine .
The histamine then acts on the eyes, nose, throat, lungs, skin, or gastrointestinal tract and causes the symptoms of the allergic reaction. Future exposure to that same allergen will trigger this antibody response again. This means that every time you come into contact with that allergen, you’ll have some form of allergy symptoms.
How Do You Get Rid Of Seasonal Allergies Permanently
Unfortunately, theres no way to get rid of seasonal allergies permanently. But that doesnt mean you have to tolerate incessant sneezing, coughing or watery eyes. You have a better fighting chance with Breathe-X on your team.
Its time to finally breathe easy during allergy season. Its time to try Breathe-X.
Read Also: Can Allergies Make Your Throat Sore
What Causes Seasonal Allergies
Airborne agents , such as pollen, grass, mold, cedar, ragweed, or even some chemicals, are breathed in. Once they enter our bodies, these allergens start to wreak havoc. The immune system mistakenly sees the pollen as a danger and releases antibodies that attack the allergens and release a chemical called histamine into the nose, eyes, and lungs. Histamine is intended to attack harmful agents and remove them from the body. One of the main things that histamine does is cause inflammation.
The good news is there are many natural remedies you can try to control your allergy symptoms:
How To Cope With Hay Fever Symptoms
Regardless of whether your allergies are mild or severe, or if it is a skin or eye allergy, it doesnt take long for you to start feeling lousy after seasonal allergy symptoms strike. So how do you prevent seasonal allergies from getting in the way of your day? Here are some helpful tips to reduce or keep symptoms from worsening.
You May Like: What Is The Actual Name For Allergies To Pollen
When To See A Doctor
You should see a doctor for a cat allergy if managing your symptoms with OTC medications, and natural allergy management choices have not worked. If you have ongoing allergy symptoms such as wheezing, a stuffy nose, or itchy eyes that are interfering with your daily functioning, or with your sleep, its time to contact a doctor.
In some cases, other medications, such as albuterol or steroid inhalers, may be needed for those with asthma or severe cat allergies. If you are struggling with difficulty breathing or wheezing, its best to contact a doctor.
Read Also: Best Food Allergy Dog Food
Keep Your Home Clean Always
I really dont need to tell you this, but you really should vacuum your home regularly. Preferably, use a vacuum cleaner that uses True HEPA filters because it traps lots of allergens.
Dust your floor, tables, walls, countertops, and all the other surfaces that collect dust, too. Cleaning your home is a hugely successful approach of reducing allergens in your indoor air.
Be sure to wear a mask while cleaning up the place. If youre over-sensitive to dust, ask someone who isnt to help you. Or hire a cleaning professional to do it. That costs money though. But persuading a loved one to help out with the task shouldnt be too hard.
You May Like: Can You Take Allergy Medicine With Alcohol
Myth : You Cant Outgrow Allergies
A lot of people do outgrow allergies over time, says Princess Ogbogu, MD, chief of the Division of Allergy, Immunology, and Rheumatology at University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Childrens Hospital in Ohio. According to the Mayo Clinic, about 60 to 80 percent of young children outgrow allergies to milk or eggs by the age of 16, for instance.
Research has shown that allergic sensitization, or the bodys reaction to allergens, is higher in younger people. A study found that aging was associated with lower levels of sensitization, specifically to dusts mites and cats.
Benefits Of Allergy Immunotherapy
When oral medication and/or avoidance of allergens fail to control a patients allergic reaction, allergy, shots also known as immunotherapy or allergy desensitization therapy, may be the solution. There are several benefits for patients who get allergy shots and they include:
- Some people dont tolerate oral medications well. These patients might do better with allergy shots so long as needles and injections do not bother the individual. Though shots are taken on a weekly schedule that becomes monthly, after three to five years the shots may be ended when the response is permanent.
- While the cost of allergy shots is more expensive than oral over-the-counter medication, in the long run, allergy shots are less expensive than oral medications as patients do not need shots forever.
- Allergy medications taken by mouth treat the symptoms of allergies, but, allergy shots treat the causes of allergic responses. When immunotherapy is successful, patients enjoy a complete cure as the shots treat the underlying causes of allergies rather than the symptoms.
Recommended Reading: Is Almond Extract A Peanut Allergy
Essential Oils May Help
Peppermint essential oil is thought to improve the symptoms of allergic rhinitis and bronchial asthma. Experts in support of natural healing methods think its a good idea to put some eucalyptus oil in your washing machine. They say thats a great way of managing seasonal allergies. You can also consider buying an air purifier that diffuses essential oils such the Medify MA-440.
Additionally, one study indicated that frankincense oil may help patients manage perennial allergic rhinitis. You can diffuse peppermint and frankincense oils into the air or apply them topically. While applying essential oils topically, you should dilute them using some base oil or vegetable oil.
Can Trees Cause Itchy Skin
This sticky substance is known as colophony or rosin, and it can cause a rash similar to one from poison ivy after coming into contact with it, which usually lasts a day or two.
Most people in the United States recognize the term oak as a common tree. Oak trees have five leaflets in each leaf. Oak trees leaves can cause a rash when exposed to sunlight, but it is less severe than the rash caused by poison ivy. Oak can cause a rash that lasts up to two weeks, and it can be difficult to differentiate between poison ivy and oak.
Read Also: Can Allergies Give You A Headache
Ten Ways To Control Allergies Without Medication
The best way to control allergies without medication is to avoid them altogether, but thats not always possible, or realistic. Some allergens like pollen are tiny, which means they can travel long distances and cover a lot of ground, surfaces, skin and hair. So, unless you have severe allergy symptoms that require medication, there are a lot of ways you can alleviate your symptoms and get back to doing the things you love, including:
Also Check: Best Medicine For Cat Allergies
How To Live With Allergies And Pets
Millions of people enjoy sharing their homes and their lives with pets, even those who are allergic to animals. Unfortunately, some people believe that once they are diagnosed with a pet allergy, they have no choice but to remove their pets from their family.
Thankfully, there are many solutions that can be explored that would allow an allergy sufferer to keep their beloved pets while successfully managing their allergies. You’d be surprised to know how many people with allergies that aren’t life-threatening are able to live happily with their pets.
In many cases, the benefits of having a pet outweigh the drawbacks of pet allergies.
Recommended Reading: Does Medicaid Cover Allergy Medicine
Is It A Cold Or Allergies
If the spring and summer seasons leave you sneezing and wheezing, you might have allergies. Colds, on the other hand, are more likely to happen at any time .
Colds and allergies have similar symptoms, but colds usually last only a week or so. And although both may cause your nose and eyes to itch, colds and other viral infections can also cause a fever, aches and pains, and colored mucus. Cold symptoms often get worse as the days go on and then gradually improve, but allergies begin immediately after exposure to the offending allergen and last as long as that exposure continues.
If you’re not sure whether your symptoms are caused by allergies or a cold, talk with your doctor.
How Do I Know If Its Allergies Or A Cold
The symptoms can be similar:
Look for patterns: Both can cause sneezing, congestion, runny nose, watery eyes, fatigue, and headaches. Itching in the eyes or nose is more common with allergies and less common with a cold. Cold symptoms have no pattern to how they develop. An allergic reaction happens all at once. Allergies are not contagious.
Watch the timing: Cold symptoms go away after 7 to 10 days. A reaction will go on as long youâre exposed to the allergen. It may ease up when you get away from whatever it is youâre allergic to, but it may not.
Check your hankie: Yeah, itâs kind of gross, but the mucus tells you what you need to know. Colds may cause yellowish nasal discharge. That suggests thereâs an infection to blame. Allergic reactions result in clear, thin, watery gunk.
Wait for the sneezes to start: Sneezing is common with both allergies and colds. However, itchy eyes and a nose are more common with an allergy.
Consult a calendar:Colds are more common during the winter months. Allergies can be year-round or seasonal, depending on the type of allergies you have.
Take your temperature: You might have a fever with a cold, but probably not with an allergy
You May Like: Is It Allergy Season In Arizona
How Much Do Allergy Shots Cost
The cost of allergy shots varies based on a few factors, including how many things you are allergic to and how frequently you need shots to keep your symptoms under control. Shots begin on a weekly basis and over time, your doctor may reduce your shots to once per month. Typically, the cost is between $2,000 – $4,000 yearly, if you dont have medical insurance.
The good news is that insurance will usually cover some maybe even most of the cost of getting allergy shots. And depending on your plan, you may only need to pay your copay. But check your insurance so you know for sure.
How To Prevent Cat Allergies
Other ways to minimize cat allergy symptoms when living with cats include:
- Avoid hugging and kissing pets if you are allergic to them
- Wash your hands regularly, especially after coming in contact with furry animals.
- Keeping pets out of specific areas such as your bedroom can reduce allergy symptoms since you spend about eight hours every day in this room. So can keeping your pet off of upholstered furniture.
- Grooming: Have someone who doesnt have allergies brush the cat regularlyoutside, not indoors.
- Vacuuming: Regularly vacuum using a double or micro-filter bag in the vacuum to reduce the amount of pet allergen present in carpeting that leaks back into the room air.
- Air purifiers: Use HEPA air cleaners, which can be a big help in removing unwanted allergenic particles from the air.
- Remove carpeting and rugs, which can trap pet dander and other allergens, low pile carpet can reduce trapped dander.
Keeping animals outside may only a temporary solution, since pet dander will eventually make its way indoors as it is carried on clothing.
Read Also: How To Get Rid Of An Allergy Cold
