Can You Get Allergy Shots During Pregnancy
Allergy shots are considered safe for pregnant women, but only for those who had been on the receiving end for a while before conceiving. Most allergists say it’s not a good idea to start allergy shots during pregnancy, because they trigger changes in your already-fluctuating immune system and may cause unexpected reactions.
Know Where To Go For Allergy Care: Carolina Asthma & Allergy Center
Allergies can begin in childhood, adulthood and anytime in between. If youre dealing with a new or persistent case of allergies, we encourage you to reach out to us at Carolina Asthma & Allergy. We serve patients throughout North and South Carolina and work with traditional allergy treatment methods as well as allergy shots and allergy drops.
Our board-certified doctors are experts in food allergies, asthma, insect bite allergies and other uncommon, yet often serious allergies that require specialized care. We even offer anaphylaxis prevention and treatment, immunotherapy care and treatments for the lungs, skin, throat, nose, ears, and eyes. To set up your appointment today, contact us today!
Avoid Opening Windows Once Spring Hits
It can be hard to resist the allure of a warm spring breeze once the temperature rises, but opening your windows when seasonal allergies are at their peak is like giving pollen an open invitation to invade your living space and cause allergy symptoms. Keeping your windows closed and using an air conditioner with an allergy filter can be an effective way of treating allergies and may help you breathe better, says Dykewicz.
Recommended Reading: Can Cats Get Seasonal Allergies
Antihistamines Can Make Allergy Shots Easier
Taking an oral antihistamine before each shot can help reduce side effects and reactions. “We really encourage patients to take them beforehand, especially as they get closer to their maintenance dose and their local reactions can get pretty bad,” Dr. Dziadzio said.
Of note, taking an antihistamine can help prevent most reactions but not all. MedlinePlus indicated that completing pretreatment with antihistamines “does not prevent anaphylaxis,” when the body has an extreme immune system response to something foreign.
Can Allergies Make You Tired How To Beat Allergy Fatigue
Its that time of year againspring means leaves returning to trees and blooming flowers. Unfortunately for allergy sufferers, it also means the reemergence of pollen, weeds, mold spores, and other common seasonal allergens.
Youre probably familiar with common allergy symptoms like coughing, sneezing, and watery eyes, but can allergies make you tired, too?
The short answer is yes, although it varies from person to person. Some people may just feel a bit sleepier than usual in the afternoon, while others experience fatigue thats so debilitating that it keeps them from being able to work or engage in everyday activities and hobbies.
Why do allergies make us tired, and is it possible to beat the fatigue? Florida Medical Clinic immunologist Dr. Daniel Reichmuth answers your questions about allergy fatigue and provides tips on how to alleviate your symptoms and start feeling more awake and alert.
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Youre Seriously Stressed Out
High levels of stress can cause either more frequent periods or completely missed ones, says Dr. Masterson, because the hormones that trigger your ovaries to ovulate every month originate in the brain .
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Basically, when youre swamped at work or worrying a lot , those hormones can misfire and affect your cycle in negative ways.
You have irregular periods if the length of your menstrual cycle keeps changing.
Your periods may come early or late.
The average menstrual cycle lasts 28 days, although its normal for it to be a bit shorter or longer than this.
After puberty, many women develop a regular cycle with a similar length of time between periods. But its not uncommon for it to vary by a few days each time.
They’re A Big Time Commitment
Allergy shots are given in two phases. In the “build-up” phase, you’ll need a shot once or twice a week for about three to six months. After that, you’ll enter the “maintenance” phase and receive them less oftenabout once or twice a month, for several years, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology ,
Sticking to this schedule is important, for the shots’ effectiveness and to reduce your chances of having a bad reaction. “For some people it’s absolutely worth it, but some people just don’t have that time to spare,” Dr. Dziadzio said. And while the shots themselves only take a minute, you probably will have to wait those 30 minutes in your healthcare provider’s office after each one.
Also Check: Is Allegra Or Claritin Better For Allergies
Matt Hancocks Constituents Vow To Never Vote For Him Again After Slating His Im A Celeb Stint
RESIDENTS in Matt Hancocks constituency yesterday vowed never to vote for the MP again because of his jungle trip.
He quit as Health Secretary over breaking lockdown rules with lover Gina Coladangelo, 45.
Voters in Newmarket, Suffolk, slated his TV stint.
Paul Hodgkins, 70, said: He should be doing what hes employed to rather than having a jolly in the jungle.
I voted for Matt. I don’t know whether I’d vote for him again but I went off him after the affair with his staff member. He should not have gone to the jungle.
He lost my vote over his affair and performance as a minister.
I think it was the wrong time to go away.
There’s an awful lot going on, especially with the Tory party.
If he wants to continue to be an MP he should have stayed here and pulled his weight.
No Youre Not Imagining It: Seasonal Allergies Are Worse This Year
School of Medicines Fred Little on reasons for the spike and what you can do about it
Its that time of year againyoure sitting outdoors enjoying the sunshine, when all of a sudden, you start to feelitchy. Within an hour, that itch has turned into a full-blown sneeze attack complete with watery eyes and congestion, and now youre running to the nearest pharmacy to buy some Zyrtec.
Seasonal allergiesor an allergic reaction to the tree and grass pollens that float around in the spring and summer, known as allergic rhinitisaffect nearly 60 million people in the United States every year. This year, theyre particularly bad in the Northeast, which can be attributed to factors such as climate change and recent dry spells, says longtime allergist Fred Little, a Boston University School of Medicine clinical associate professor of medicine and the director of the Boston Medical Center allergy-immunology fellowship.
We spoke with Little about how allergies work and what you can do to cut down on the sneezing, itching, and watery eyes.
Also Check: Do Allergies Cause Scratchy Throat
Can You Take Allergy Medications When Pregnant
Check with your practitioner to see what medications you can safely take during pregnancy. That goes even if you were already regularly taking prescription, over-the-counter or homeopathic medications: Don’t continue to use any of them until you get the go-ahead from a practitioner, who should be the first and final word on any allergy treatments you use.
That said, there are some general do’s and don’ts about allergy medications during pregnancy:Trusted SourceAmerican College of Allergy, Asthma & ImmunologyPregnancy and AllergiesSee All Sources
Make A Checklist Of Symptoms
It may be difficult for you to differentiate between an allergy and a cold because both come with similar symptoms. It that is the case, it would be best to write down the symptoms you are experiencing.
If you have a fever, green mucus, and body aches, then you most likely have a cold. However, if you have sneezing, watery eyes, clear mucus, and itchy eyes, ears, nose, or throat, you most likely have an allergy.
Also Check: How To Treat Ragweed Allergy
Can You Get Allergies If Youve Never Had Them
In the past, you may have pitied others walking around in the springtime sneezing, itching, and coughing. You were glad to not be among them! But suddenly, you may find that youre getting those same nagging respiratory symptoms and head congestion when the trees, flowers, and plants start blooming. Alternatively, you might develop a more serious allergy too, such as reactions to shellfish, nuts, and bees. Unfortunately, its true that allergies can develop later in life! If you suspect new allergies, a doctor can perform allergy testing to make a diagnosis.
How Common Are Adult Allergies?
In 2018, there are about 18 million adults in the US living with allergies, according to WebMD. Environmental pathogens, such as grasses, weeds, and pollen are the most common causes of adult-onset allergies. However, adults can also develop allergies to dogs, cats, and dust mites. Some adults will develop food allergies later in life, and some may become allergic to medications. What complicates adult allergy statistics a bit is that doctors arent always sure whether their patients actually developed a full-blown allergy later in life, or if they had mild allergies before but were never officially diagnosed.
What Causes Allergies To Develop?
Keep Cool Inside And Stop The Sniffles
Too hot and too many allergens outside? The simple fix is to stay inside and enjoy the cool, filtered air. When your AC filters the air in your home, it helps capture dust and pet hair that could be causing your allergies. And with an ENERGY STAR® certified air conditioner, you can avoid having your utility bill go through the roof while you make your home more comfortable.
Also Check: How Long Is Juniper Allergy Season
How To Prevent Allergies During Pregnancy
Wondering what you can do for allergies during pregnancy besides taking medicine? In general, the best defense is a good offense. Try these tips to prevent or alleviate allergy symptoms while you’re expecting:
- Stay away from people who are smoking. Smoke can make allergies worse, and exposure to second-hand smoke during pregnancy isn’t good for you or your baby.
- If youre allergic to pollen: Try to stay inside where theres filtered, air-conditioned air. If you do go outside, try wearing wraparound sunglasses to keep pollen out of your eyes. When you come back inside, take off your shoes, wash your hands and face, and change clothes so the pollen doesn’t stay with you. Showering and washing your hair before you go to sleep can also help relieve nighttime symptoms.
- If youre allergic to dust: Heres your excuse to get someone else to do the cleaning for you! Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter, a wet mop or a sweeper to avoid stirring up dust. A microfiber cloth is better than a traditional feather duster. Also try to stay away from attics, basements and other musty places.
- If youre allergic to pets: Let your dog- and cat-owning friends know of your allergy before you drop by, so they have time to make arrangements .
Why Do Seasonal Allergies Make Us Tired
Seasonal allergies can do more than just cause a runny nose or coughwhen left untreated, they can lead to drowsiness and poor concentration, too.
Allergy fatigue is the result of your body working hard to fight off a foreign invader. Its similar to the way your body fights a virus like the common cold or the flu, which can also leave you feeling drained.
When you have an allergic response to something like dust, pollen, or pet dander, your body also releases proteins , which can cause inflammation in your nose. Chronic inflammation has been linked to fatigue and depression.
Allergies can also indirectly cause you to feel tired during the day by disrupting your sleep at night. Common allergy symptoms like coughing, sneezing, and congestion can make it hard to get a good nights rest, making it hard to stay focused the next day.
Treating seasonal allergy tiredness isnt always simple, either. Common medications like Benadryl often cause drowsiness as a side effect. Fortunately, there are ways to manage fatigue and stay alert during allergy season.
Also Check: How To Test For Food Allergies
Your Body On Allergies
So what exactly is happening in your body when youre exposed to an allergen like pollen ?
Essentially what happens is your immune system decides that it wants to become hyper-sensitive, or allergic, to something. So your immune system recognizes pollen as foreign and it releases a big amount of a chemical called histamines into your blood stream. What the histamine does is triggers this whole immune, or inflammatory, cascade of itchy, watery eyes and stuffy or runny nose. Some people are unlucky and it can be even more severe where they can have breathing problems, asthma attacks, and even bad skin reactions, like flare-ups of eczema, hives or rashes from it as well, because we have histamines and allergy cells throughout our entire body.
So why are you dying a slow death at your desk, while your co-worker just has the sniffles?
The severity of the immune response, and triggered symptoms vary from person to person. Just like any medical illness its a spectrum, where some people have a very severe, strong reaction where more body systems are involved and some people have it milder, says Parikh. Even within the same body system: For one person the itching in their eyes may be very mild, but Ive seen patients come in where their eyes are swollen shut.
Prevention Of Food Allergies
The development of food allergies cannot be prevented, but can often bedelayed in infants by following these recommendations:
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If possible, breastfeed your infant for the first six months.
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Do not give solid foods until your child is 6 months of age or older.
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Avoid cow’s milk, wheat, eggs, peanuts, and fish during your child’s first year of life.
Also Check: What To Take For Allergy Cough
Spending Time Outside On The Wrong Days
Heading outside when pollen counts are high is one way to trigger seasonal allergy symptoms. If you suffer from this misery, try to stay indoors on windy days and reserve your outside time until after it rains. Rain clears pollen, which helps to keep allergy symptoms at bay. If you have to do outdoor chores on a day with high pollen counts, always wear a NIOSH-rated 95 filter mask and take appropriate medication beforehand.
Avoid Foods That Can Cause A Reaction
People with seasonal allergies often have antibodies that can cause their immune system to overreact to certain foods. This phenomenon is called cross-reactivity. For instance, if youre allergic to ragweed, you may experience allergy symptoms like itching on your lips, tongue, and mouth if you eat bananas, melons, cucumber, or zucchini, Dykewicz says. If youre allergic to birch tree pollen, you may have allergy symptoms after eating apples, pears, peaches, hazelnuts, kiwi, carrots, or celery. These problems may only occur during the season in which your allergies are at their worst.
Regardless of the season, help minimize your allergy symptoms by keeping all these triggers in mind and avoiding them as much as possible.
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Is It Possible To Suddenly Develop Allergies
4 Minute Read
For those who suffer from seasonal allergies, you know that this time of year can be a challenge. Flowers, trees, and grasses are in bloom and growing which means pollen and other allergens are in the air. In the U.S., an estimated 18 million adults have hay fever or allergic rhinitis, caused by pollens, weeds, grasses, and molds. Other people may have environmental allergies to things like animals and dust mites. Did you know your allergies change and this year may be the first you experience symptoms?
How To Skip Your Period Using The Ortho Evra Patch
The impact of having a monthly period, for some women, can be experienced as a minor inconvenience, yet it can also be a major health concern for others. The use of the Ortho Evra patch gives women the choice to decide when and if they become pregnant while also allowing women the ability to control when and if they have a period.
Research shows that if given the choice, most women would prefer extended menstrual cycles. Many women may have medical reasons for wanting to skip a period. The most common medical reasons that women give include headaches, cramping, painful periods, heavy bleeding, and PMS.
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Also Check: What Helps With Sneezing Allergies
What Causes You To Develop Allergies
Allergies can develop at any point in a persons life. Usually, allergies first appear early in life and become a lifelong issue. However, allergies can start unexpectedly as an adult. A family history of allergies puts you at a higher risk of developing allergies some time in your life.
Allergies develop when your body thinks a substance such as animal hair, pollen, or mold is harmful. That substance awakens your immune system to release a chemical called histamine, which leads to your allergy symptoms. As you age, your immune system may start to weaken, so your response to an allergen also weakens. Repeated exposure can also cause your immune system to overreact. If you develop allergies as an adult, you may have had slight symptoms throughout your life, but an event such as a move or a new pet triggered your immune system to respond.
Can You Develop Allergies As An Adult
One of the most mind-boggling things about allergies is that they can ebb and flow throughout your life, seemingly at random.
Babies with milk allergies often outgrow them. Recent research has shown that with consistent exposure, some kids with peanut allergies may develop tolerance to them.
On the other hand, adults whove never had an allergy can suddenly find themselves having an allergic reaction to a trigger that never previously bothered them. Or they can find that things that used to cause reactions just dont bother them anymore.
Dr. Pien walks us through some common scenarios and offers up some reasons you may develop allergic reactions later in life.
Food allergies
Research shows that about 10% of U.S. adults have a food allergy, and half of those developed during adulthood. Dr. Pien says there are a few reasons you may develop food allergies as an adult.
One reason is that some food allergies can be related to other allergies you may already know about.
We find that allergies to shrimp are sometimes coupled with a dust mite allergy, Dr. Pien says. Some people will already know they have an allergic reaction to dust. Then over time, they find they cant eat shrimp without a reaction. We dont know how these allergies might be related, if there is cross-reactivity, or coincidence involved.
Other times, food allergies in adults may be a matter of long-term exposure.
The most common food allergies in adults include:
- Shellfish, especially shrimp.
Pet allergies
Also Check: What Does A Wheat Allergy Look Like
