What Are The Side Effects Of Allergies

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.

What Is Anaphylactic Shock

Anaphylactic shock, also called anaphylaxis, is a severe, life-threatening reaction to certain allergens. Body tissues may swell, including tissues in the throat. Anaphylactic shock is also characterized by a sudden drop in blood pressure. The following are the most common symptoms of anaphylactic shock. However, each person may experience symptoms differently. Other symptoms may include:

• Itching and hives over most of the body

• Feeling warm

• Swelling of the throat and tongue or tightness in throat

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath

Which Allergies Can Allergy Shots Treat

Allergy shots cant treat all allergies, but they can help those with allergies to several different pollens including grasses, trees, and weeds. They are also beneficial for molds, house dust mites, cockroaches and pet dander.

If you have general insect allergies, including an allergy to yellow jackets, hornets, wasps, bees or fire ant, allergy shots could also be a good option.

If you struggle with seasonal allergies, talk to your doctor or allergist about immunotherapy injections.

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Safeguards Are In Place

• Everyone who gets a COVID-19 vaccine should be monitored on site for at least 15 minutes after vaccination.
• You should be monitored for 30 minutes if:
• You have had a severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis due to any cause.
• You have had any type of immediate allergic reaction to a non-COVID-19 vaccine or injectable therapy.
• You had a severe allergic reaction to one type of COVID-19 vaccine and are now receiving another type of COVID-19 vaccine . This vaccination should only be done in a health clinic, medical facility, or doctors office.
• You had an immediate allergic reaction that was not severe from a previous dose of that type of COVID-19 vaccine. This vaccination should only be done in a health clinic, medical facility, or doctors office.

Vaccination providers should have appropriate personnel, medications, and equipmentsuch as epinephrine, antihistamines, blood pressure monitor, and timing devices to check your pulseat all COVID-19 vaccination provider sites.

If you experience a severe allergic reaction after getting a COVID-19 vaccine, vaccination providers can provide care rapidly and call for emergency medical services. You should continue to be monitored in a medical facility for at least several hours.

Natural Remedies For Allergies

Many natural remedies and supplements are marketed as a treatment and even a way to prevent allergies. Discuss these with your doctor before trying them. Some natural treatments may actually contain other allergens and make your symptoms worse.

For example, some dried teas use flowers and plants that are closely related to plants that might be causing you serious sneezing. The same is true for essential oils. Some people use these oils to relieve common symptoms of allergies, but essential oils still contain ingredients that can cause allergies.

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What Should You Do If You Dont Know The Cause Of Your Allergy Symptoms

One of the most important ways to manage allergy symptoms is to avoid triggers. So, what do you do if you dont know your trigger?

• Keep a symptom diary detail when and where you experience symptoms, any new products you have used, foods eaten, etc.
• Try an over-the-counter allergy medicine
• For severe symptoms make an appointment with a doctor for testing, diagnosis, and to develop a treatment plan.

What Are The Reactions

When you get allergy shots, there are some common side effects you may experience. Many patients develop a small hive or bump at the injection site. This bump may look like a mosquito bite or swell and become red. It can happen immediately after your allergy shot or a few hours later. It is a normal reaction and nothing to worry about.

You may also experience a slight worsening of your allergy symptoms, such as:

• Nasal congestion

• Slurred speech

If anaphylaxis goes on for too long, the body cant respond to the massive allergic response and goes into anaphylactic shock. Once this shock sets in, immediate emergency medical attention is necessary. Patients experiencing anaphylactic shock may struggle to breathe or feel weak. They may be dizzy, confused, or even lose consciousness. It is life-threatening.

In the rare occurrences when anaphylaxis develops, it does so within 30 minutes of receiving allergy shots, which is why you must stay for monitoring after your injections.

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What Are Allergy Shots

Allergy shots are an allergy treatment that gives you long-term relief. A form of immunotherapy, these shots expose your body to trace amounts of allergens that trigger your allergic reaction. Over time, your immune system builds a tolerance for the allergens, and its response to the substances lessens. Along with a reduced immune reaction, you experience a reduction in symptoms and get allergy relief that lasts.

Are There Any Long

Yes, there are. Some long-term side effects that Benadryl may cause include:

• dependence or withdrawal symptoms, such as psychosis, when you stop taking Benadryl

Benadryl is recommended only as a short-term treatment for people with symptoms of allergies or other conditions that the drug treats. If you take Benadryl long term, you may develop long-term side effects of the medication.

Which side effects you experience can determine how long your side effects last. For example, if you feel sleepy, this side effect may last a few hours or until the medication is no longer in your body. But other side effects can be longer lasting.

Talk with your doctor about your Benadryl use and which other medications may be better for your condition.

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What You Need To Know

• Allergies are the result of your immune systems response to a substance.
• Immune responses can be mild, from coughing and a runny nose, to a life-threatening reaction know as anaphylaxis.
• A person becomes allergic when their body develops antigens against a substance. Upon repeated exposure the severity of the reaction may increase.
• Allergies affect people of all ages, races, genders and socioeconomic statuses.

Allergic disease is one of the most common chronic health conditions in the world. People with a family history of allergies have an increase risk of developing allergic disease. Hay fever , eczema, hives, asthma, and food allergy are some types of allergic diseases. Allergy symptoms can range from mild to a serious, life-threatening allergic reaction .

Allergic reactions begin in your immune system. When a harmless substance such as dust, mold, or pollen is encountered by a person who is allergic to that substance, the immune system may over react by producing antibodies that “attack” the allergen. The can cause wheezing, itching, runny nose, watery or itchy eyes, and other symptoms.

What Is Allergic Rhinitis

Nasal allergy symptoms and hay fever are referred to as allergic rhinitis. Seasonal allergic rhinitis is nasal allergies that change with the seasons because of pollen from plants . Seasonal symptoms arise during the pollinating seasons for particular plants. Because you can be allergic to more than one thing, your symptoms may get worse at different times throughout the year, or may be constant.

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Does The Shingles Vaccine Contain Thimerosal

You may be concerned about additives to the shingles vaccine, like thimerosal.

Thimerosal is a preservative that contains mercury. Its added to some vaccines to prevent bacteria and other germs from growing in them. The shingles vaccine contains thimerosal.

The worry about thimerosal arose when early research linked it to autism. This connection has since been found to be untrue.

Recent Reports Reveal Allergy Season Is Getting Even Longer

Dr. Dlott tells ETNT, “Location and weather play a large part in why some people experience worse seasonal allergies than others. For instance, if you live in a major metropolitan location, you could be impacted by environmental factors such as air pollution.”

In addition, if you reside in the south where the climate remains warm for a much longer period of time, it’s likely your allergies wreak havoc for longer. Dr Dlott shares that recent reports reveal allergy season is extending in more parts of the U.S. as a result of climate change and a higher amount of pollen in the air.

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Do Seniors Have A Higher Risk Of Side Effects From Benadryl

Yes, older adults likely have a higher risk of side effects from Benadryl than younger adults. This is because their bodies may get rid of the drug more slowly.

Older adults may have more side effects from Benadryl, including sleepiness, dizziness, or heart problems. Sleepiness and dizziness can increase the risk of falling, which can be very serious.

If youre an older adult interested in taking Benadryl, talk with your doctor. They may recommend that you take a lower dose of Benadryl to reduce your risk of side effects. Or they may suggest that you take a different medication to treat your allergy or cold symptoms.

What Are Skin Allergies

Skin allergies occur when your skin comes in contact with an allergen that your skin is sensitive or allergic to. Also, allergies to other things, like food you eat or proteins you inhale or touch, may cause symptoms to appear on your skin. The allergic reaction usually appears within 48 hours after the initial exposure to the allergen. Symptoms often include the following: redness, swelling, blistering, itching, hives and rashes. The allergen doesnt have to be new to you. It can be something youve been using or eating for many years. Common skin allergies include allergic contact dermatitis, eczema, chronic urticaria and angioedema.

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The Ugly Side Effects Of Seasonal Allergies Expert Says

Springtime can be a beautiful time of year. Flowers are blooming, trees are budding, and vibrant colors are simply popping out all over. If you deal with seasonal allergies, though, the side effects aren’t too pretty. We spoke with Dr. Jeffrey Dlott, Medical Director, QuestDirect to get the lowdown on the ugly side effects of seasonal allergies. He explains to Eat This, Not That! exactly what happens to your body when you experience allergies, stating, “Seasonal allergies refer to when the body’s immune system overreacts to outdoor stimulants, including mold spores and pollen.”

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Why Do We Sneeze

People sneeze in response to an irritation or tickle in their nose. When the inside of your nose gets a tickle, the nerve endings send a message to the sneeze center in your brain. This transmits a call to an amazingly complex set of muscles to get rid of the tickle quickly.

In a split second, your stomach, chest, diaphragm , vocal cord, throat, face and eyelid muscles flex and Ah-Choo! At a roaring 600 miles per hour, your body tries to dislodge the pollen, dust, mold, virus or bacteria trapped in your nose.

Some people sneeze when they breathe cold air. Others sneeze in threes. And still others sneeze when stepping from dark into bright light. If this happens to you, then you have a condition called photic sneezing.

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Does My Risk Of Side Effects From Benadryl Vary Depending On The Dose

Yes, your risk of side effects can vary, depending on the dose of Benadryl you take.

A higher dose of Benadryl can increase the risk of side effects. So youre more at risk of side effects from taking 50 milligrams of Benadryl than from taking 25 mg.

If you have concerns about side effects from your dose of Benadryl, talk with your doctor.

How Does A Person Become Allergic

Allergens can be inhaled, ingested, or enter through the skin. Common allergic reactions, such as hay fever, certain types of asthma, and hives are linked to an antibody produced by the body called immunoglobulin E . Each IgE antibody can be very specific, reacting against certain pollens and other allergens. In other words, a person can be allergic to one type of pollen, but not another. When a susceptible person is exposed to an allergen, the body starts producing a large quantity of similar IgE antibodies. The next exposure to the same allergen may result in an allergic reaction. Symptoms of an allergic reaction will vary depending on the type and amount of allergen encountered and the manner in which the body’s immune system reacts to that allergen.

Allergies can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, race, or socioeconomic status. Generally, allergies are more common in children. However, a first-time occurrence can happen at any age, or recur after many years of remission. Hormones, stress, smoke, perfume, or environmental irritants may also play a role in the development or severity of allergies.

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Fast Facts On Allergy Shots:

• Allergy shots are a proven allergy treatment and have been used for more than 100 years.
• Most insurance plans will cover the cost of allergy shots.
• They have been shown to decrease the symptoms of many allergies.

Over time, the dosage of the allergen will be given in increasing amounts to build up the persons immunity or tolerance.

The treatment will be split into 2 phases.

Build-up phase

Injections will usually be given once a week for the first 7 months, although in some cases they can be more frequent. Individuals often notice a decrease in the symptoms of their allergy, during the build-up phase.

Maintenance phase

After the initial 7 months, an injection every 2 weeks is usually sufficient. Eventually, injections can be given every 4 weeks, and the whole course of treatment will usually last for between 3 and 5 years.

The maintenance phase can often be ongoing for as long as 12 months before a person starts to notice an improvement.

An allergy specialist will decide on the specific dosage and time gaps between the injections and also when to stop allergy shots being given.

Both adults and children can be given allergy shots, although they are not usually recommended for children under the age of 5. This restriction is because of the difficulty of getting young children to cooperate and communicate if they have side effects.

An allergist or immunologist using proper equipment in their office, including treatment for adverse reactions, should give allergy shots.

When Is It An Allergy

According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology , allergic reactions account for 5-10% of adverse drug reactions. Dr. Alexander says new data suggests that allergies are responsible for 33.7% of adverse drug events.

Penicillin famously comes to mind for drug allergies, and it may very well be the most common drug allergy, with as many as 10% of people being allergic to the antibiotic. Patients may also report being allergic to sulfa drugs, including sulfa-antibiotics like sulfamethoxazole and the arthritis drug sulfasalazine .

An allergic response happens when your body has come into contact with a substance that is sees as foreign. In order to get rid of this undesirable substance, your body recruits the help of special cells in your immune system that launch a response to get rid of the foreign invader. Some allergic reactions may occur immediately, while other reactions may take hours to develop.

Common allergic reactions to a medication are similar to what you might feel with seasonal or food allergies: a rash or hives, swelling of the lips or face, itching, and wheezing. An allergic reaction to a drug youve swallowed will affect your whole system as compared to a pollen allergy that more commonly would affect only your respiratory tract.

If you take a medicine often or for a long time your body may begin to produce antibodies to the drug that trigger a reaction at unpredictable time.

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Alcohol Use And Benadryl

You shouldnt drink alcohol while youre taking Benadryl. Alcohol can increase your risk of drowsiness or dizziness. It may also cause more serious side effects, such as trouble breathing or slowed breathing.

If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about other medications you can take to treat your cold or allergy symptoms.

Many Herbal Medicines Are Made From Asteraceae Flowering Plants

The Asteraceae are common flowering plants. Exposure to these plants is common and hard to avoid. Pollen from Asteraceae plants are an important cause of allergic rhinitis and asthma. These plants are sometimes used as herbal medicines. Asteraceae plants include:

• Flowering plants such as chrysanthemums, dahlias, sunflowers, marigolds, safflowerand daisies – the pollen from Chrysanthemum and sunflower cause symptoms in some people who are exposed to heavy concentrations, such as flower growers.
• Edible plants such as lettuce, safflower, chicory and artichoke
• Weeds such as Ambrosia species, Artemisia species, Parthenium – the pollen from these plants are important causes of allergic rhinitis and asthma
• CAM such as echinacea, dandelion, chamomile, feverfew, milk thistle and wormwood.

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