How Many People Suffer From Allergies
According to Dr. Eidelman, one out of five people has some sort of allergy and the intensity can range from very mild to severe.
He says people with mild allergies tend to just grin and bear it. They may not have any particular need for medication. If their allergies are a little bit more intense, they may take over-the-counter medications as needed.
But as you get further along that spectrum, the severity of the illness can become disabling. People feel very sick, they cant get out of bed, they cant sleep it can be intense. So, it all depends on where they are on that spectrum of intensity, he says.
How To Treat Food Allergies: Pharmacological Treatments
Whats meant by pharmacological is a treatment that can be acquired with a doctors prescription or one that can be purchased at a store. An allergist, pediatrician, or another medical professional can prescribe the product thats best for your situation. Pharmacological treatments are typically not preventative in nature. They treat the symptoms of an allergic reaction.
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:
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Lifestyle And Home Remedies For Allergies
- Nasal irrigation. Use of nasal irrigators, such as a neti-pot, can aid in the relief of sinus congestion and hay fever symptoms. By rinsing the sinuses with a saltwater solution, allergens are swept out of the nasal cavities along with mucus and other irritants. It is important to note that improper use of a nasal irrigation system can lead to infection, so it’s necessary to learn how to treat allergies safely, using this method.
- Air filtration. Common household allergens can be reduced by installing specific filtration systems in your home to eliminate irritants such as pet dander and dust mites. Vacuuming with a high-efficiency particulate filter , replacing carpet with hard flooring, washing sheets in hot water, and maintaining low levels of humidity in your home may also help alleviate symptoms.
- Remove dampness. Allergy symptoms which result from mold may be relieved by reducing moisture in stereotypically damp areas in the home such as the bathroom and kitchen, using dehumidifiers and fans for ventilation, and repairing leaks both inside and outside your home.
- Alternative medicine. There is some research which suggests that alternative therapies such as acupuncture may help to reduce the symptoms of seasonal allergies.
If you’re experiencing symptoms of allergies, contact South Florida ENT Associates today to help you get back on the road to a healthy, happy life.
Find Relief From Chronic Cough With Ent Experts
You, and those around you, dont have to suffer from a chronic cough forever. Advanced ENTs experts specialize in nose, sinus, and allergy issues, so we can identify the problem and develop an effective treatment plan quickly. Meet with our experts now to find a lasting solution to your chronic coughing.
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What Are The Types Of Allergies And How Are They Treated
You can be allergic to a wide variety of substances including pollen, animal dander, mold and dust mites.
Pollen
Seasonal allergic rhinitis, or hay fever, is an allergic response to pollen. It causes inflammation and swelling of the lining of your nose and of the protective tissue of your eyes .
Symptoms include sneezing, congestion , and itchy, watery eyes, nose and mouth. Treatment options include over-the-counter and prescription oral antihistamines, anti-leukotrienes, nasal steroids, nasal antihistamines, and nasal cromolyn. In some people, allergic asthma symptoms can be caused by exposure to pollen.
Your symptoms can be reduced by avoiding pollen. Stay indoors when pollen counts are high, close your windows, and use air conditioning. Ask your healthcare provider about immunotherapy to treat pollen allergy.
Dust mites
Dust mites are tiny organisms that live in dust and in the fibers of household objects, such as pillows, mattresses, carpet, and upholstery. Dust mites grow in warm, humid areas.
The symptoms of dust mite allergy are similar to those of pollen allergy. To help manage dust mite allergies, try using dust mite encasements over pillows, mattresses, and box springs. Also, remove carpet, or vacuum frequently with a high-efficiency filter vacuum cleaner. Treatment may include medications to control your nasal/eye and chest symptoms. Immunotherapy may be recommended if your symptoms are not adequately controlled with avoidance methods and medications.
Molds
Treating Severe Allergic Reactions
Some people with severe allergies may experience life-threatening reactions, known as anaphylaxis or anaphylactic shock.
If you’re at risk of this, you’ll be given special injectors containing a medicine called adrenaline to use in an emergency.
If you develop symptoms of anaphylaxis, such as difficulty breathing, you should inject yourself in the outer thigh before seeking emergency medical help.
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How To Treat Severe Allergies
There is no magic cure for surviving allergy season, but here are some tips you can use for alleviating your symptoms:
- Find the right medications and treatments. This may take some experimentation on your part until you find what combinations work best for you, but luckily your local drugstore has no shortage of options. Over-the-counter nasal steroid sprays, antihistamines and decongestants are a great starting point. Drugstores also carry various nasal irrigation products, which literally flush out mucus and debris from your nose and sinuses. Your doctor can also begin a traditional immunotherapy program.
- Get your house in order. While it may be hard to control what irritants you come across outside, you dont have to suffer through the same effects inside your own living quarters as well. Dust mites, cobwebs and mold can all accumulate and do real damage to your allergy symptoms. Pollen likewise sticks to clothes and hair, so changing outfits as soon as you get home and washing your hair before going to bed at night can all significantly reduce your symptoms. Also remember to always keep your windows closed so that no pollen can enter no matter how nice that cool spring breeze may feel!
Should these home treatments and preventative lifestyle methods fall short of your expectations, it may be time to see a professional.
How Bad Can Spring Allergies Get
People can be very miserable. Their eyes can become itchy and swollen, their noses get congested, they sneeze a lot and if they have asthma, their lungs can become irritated.
Dr. Eidelman says if you have allergic rhinitis or nasal allergies, things can get really bad and may affect your quality of life quite significantly.
People might have trouble working or going to school. They may have trouble sleeping and they often feel tired. Even if they try to get enough sleep, its not normal sleep. So, work presenteeism can be quite common. This is when people show up to work or school but they cant function at 100% because theyre kind of out of it like they feel when they have a cold or the flu.
According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, allergies are the sixth leading cause of chronic illness in the United States. The annual cost from all of this is around $18 billion per year.
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What Is The Outlook For People Who Have Hay Fever
Hay fever can make you feel miserable, but it doesnt cause serious health problems. Most people with hay fever manage symptoms with lifestyle changes and over-the-counter medication.
People with airborne allergies have a higher risk of ear infections and sinus infections. Because hay fever can make it tough to get a good nights sleep, you may feel tired during the day. If you have asthma, hay fever can make your asthma symptoms worse.
How To Tell Seasonal Nasal Allergies From The Common Cold
- Symptoms happen during pollen season
- Had the same symptoms during the same month last year
- Hay fever symptoms last 6-8 weeks for each pollen. .
- Allergies: itchy eyes and nose. Not seen with colds.
- Colds: fever and/or sore throat. Not seen with allergies
- Both: runny nose and watery eyes. Can also have a cough with both, but less common with allergies.
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How Allergy And Sinus Issues Cause Coughing
Any irritation inside the nose can cause drainage, which can cause coughing. Some of the most common reasons for drainage are allergies, sinusitis or infection, and a deviated septum. Other sinus problems such as enlarged turbinates can also cause excess mucous or postnasal drainage, leading to chronic cough. Often, chronic coughing is caused by a combination of these factors which can make the diagnosis difficult. This is why most people with a chronic cough have gone for long periods of time and seen other doctors without finding a solution.
An expert ENT doctor will be able to find the root cause of the drainage, helping you determine which treatment will be the most effective to alleviate your cough. A CT scan of the sinuses and an allergy test will identify the source of the drainage, allowing a precise treatment plan to be developed.
Herbal Remedies For Allergic Rhinitis
We get a lot of questions from patients inquiring about ideas of natural solutions for treating their allergy symptoms. We are devoting this blog to explaining two common types of allergies we most often see at our office in Arizona and share some natural herbal which may help.
Please keep in mind, that we are not giving medical advice in this blog. We cannot properly treat your unique condition or allergy without seeing you or conducting one of our comprehensive allergy tests. We suggest you talk to your doctor.
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To Truly Get Rid Of Post
Post-nasal drip is one of those health issues that can be filed under livable, but completely annoying. After all, regularly swallowing, clearing your throat, and even gagging on mucus in the back of your throat isnt exactly the stuff dreams are made of.
Youve probably dealt with post-nasal drip in varying degrees your whole life. But even though you can probably ID the symptoms as soon as it ramps up, you may have some questions about what, exactly, is going on in your throat. Below, doctors dish on everything you should know, including how to stop post-nasal drip ASAP.
Possible Side Effects Of Decongestants
Pseudoephedrine can help with congestion and is found in combo medications like Allegra-D®, Claritin-D® and Zyrtec-D®. Dr. Eidelman says its a good medication, but it can cause side effects and the side effects are more prominent in older people.
It can raise blood pressure and it can also cause palpitations because it is a stimulant. Overall, I dont recommend it for people with heart problems. I also wouldnt recommend that people over 40 take it regularly.
He adds that pseudoephedrine can also cause prostate problems. So if youre older, youre much better off with a topical nasal steroid.
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Use A Saline Sinus Rinse
When allergies cause sinus problems, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology recommend a person rinse their sinuses with saline. This can remove allergens and clear the airways.
The AAAAI recommend the following saline recipe:
- mix 3 teaspoons of salt with 1 teaspoon of baking soda
- add 1 teaspoon of this mixture to 8 ounces of boiled water
- dissolve the mixture in the water then use as a saline rinse
Sinus rinsing devices can be purchased online or from a pharmacy.
What Happens During The Spring Allergy Season
When we talk about spring allergies, were talking about tree pollen, says Dr. Eidelman. In a temperate climate, there are three basic pollen seasons. You have spring which is tree season, summer brings more grass pollen and in the fall, you have more weed pollen and a little bit of mold.
He adds that in subtropical areas, there are still three main pollen seasons. However, the grass pollen season can be much longer and since these areas dont get winter weather or true frost to stop trees and plants from producing pollen, allergy seasons dont end.
If you feel like your spring allergies are worse year after year, youre not imagining things. What youve experienced was most likely due to global warming.
Dr. Eidelman explains.
With climate change, spring pollination has become worse during the last 10 to 20 years. As the seasons get hotter, were getting more pollen, longer pollination seasons and more intense pollination seasons. This seems to be a worldwide trend.
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Flush Irritants Away With Saline Drops Or Artificial Tears
Normal saline drops or artificial tears can be used to flush away irritants that can cause inflammation. While there are many DIYs to make saline drops at home, its critical that you do this in a sterile environment and ensure all utensils and ingredients are uncontaminated. You could also use simple store-bought ones instead. Also, clean your eyelids and the area around your eyes with a wet washcloth to remove any allergens if youve been outside.3
Ten Ways To Alleviate Seasonal Allergies Without Medication
When your immune system overreacts to an airborne substance that doesnt bother everyone around you, you have allergies. Pollen, dust mites, pet dander, mold spores and insect stings are the biggest culprits of seasonal allergies.
Increased pollen counts and higher temperatures across the globe are contributing to longer and more severe allergy seasons. This means many people whove never had an issue before are experiencing seasonal allergy symptoms for the first time. However, because these symptoms are so similar to the common cold, many just assume theyve caught a bug. If this sounds familiar, the best way to tell the difference between allergies and a cold is whether you have a fever. If youve been feeling unwell for 7 days or longer without a fever, you are probably suffering from seasonal allergies.
When you seek medical treatment for allergy symptoms, your doctor will typically prescribe medications or injections to help you feel better. But the good news is that there are a lot of things you can do at home to alleviate seasonal allergies without medication.
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How To Treat Allergies
This article was co-authored by Katie Marks-Cogan, MD. Dr. Katie Marks-Cogan is a board certified Pediatric & Adult Allergist at Clear Allergy based in Los Angeles, California. She is the Chief Allergist for Ready, Set, Food!, an infant dietary supplement designed to reduce the risk of childhood food allergies. She received her M.D. with honors from the University of Maryland. She then completed her residency in Internal Medicine at Northwestern University and fellowship in Allergy/Immunology at the University of Pennsylvania and CHOP.There are 14 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. In this case, 90% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 174,879 times.
Allergies range from being a nuisance to dangerous medical emergencies. They occur when your body produces antibodies to fight substances that arent actually dangerous to you . This overreaction of your immune system produces the symptoms that make you miserable, such as skin irritation, a stuffy nose, digestive problems, or it can cause a life-threatening reaction. There are some things you can do at home to reduce your allergies and if that doesnt work, you might need to see a doctor.XTrustworthy SourceMayo ClinicEducational website from one of the world’s leading hospitalsGo to source
In The Air We Breathe
Aside from oxygen, the air contains a wide variety of particles, including allergens. The usual diseases that result from airborne allergens are hay fever, asthma, and conjunctivitis. The following allergens can trigger allergic reactions when inhaled by sensitized individuals.
- Pollens from trees, grasses, and/or weeds
- Dust mites
- Mold spores
- Insect parts, especially from cockroaches
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What Causes Allergies
Anything that you come into contact with that your body views as a harmful invader can be a cause of an allergy. Normally harmless substances that are common causes of allergies include pollen, animal dander, mold, dust, foods, insect venom and latex
Technically, your symptoms are the result of a chain of events that are your bodys response to the harmful invader. Your body sees the invader, makes antibodies to fight the invader, and in so doing, releases histamines that cause your allergy symptoms.
