You’ve Got All The Typical Symptoms
If you think of sneezing, wheezing and watery eyes when you think of seasonal allergies, you’d be on the right track. There’s a good chance you have seasonal allergies if you experience any of the following symptoms:
- Frequent sneezing
- Itchy throat
- Puffy eyelids
Most seasonal allergies are caused by pollen from trees, grasses and weeds. If you have winter allergies, you’re probably allergic to an indoor allergen like dust mites.
Cbd Oil For Dogs With Allergies: A New Hope
CBD oil is a hemp-derived supplement thats getting a lot of attention right now. It has many therapeutic properties and offers an effective and safe treatment for anxiety, pain, sleep deprivation and allergies!
Yes, some studies suggest that you can also use CBD to treat your dogs allergies. But lets take a moment to understand the mechanism behind the many health benefits of CBD oil.
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!
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There Can Be A Lot Of Overlap In Coronavirus And Allergy Symptoms
Allergies and viral infections can present in similar ways, especially nasal congestion, cough, sinus pressure, fatigue, and achiness, Tina Sindher, M.D., allergist with Stanford Health Care and clinical assistant professor at Stanford Medicine, tells SELF.
These similarities can make it challenging to know exactly whats going on in your body if you start feeling sick while the COVID-19 pandemic is happening. Having a good understanding of coronavirus symptoms and signs of seasonal allergies is a helpful first step.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists the following common symptoms for the coronavirus:
- Coughing
- Swollen, discolored under-eye skin
- Itching in your mouth, throat, eyes, or nose
Keep in mind that these arent all-inclusive lists, and you may experience other symptoms with both COVID-19 and seasonal allergies. For example, the more experts learn about the coronavirus, the clearer it becomes that the disease can sometimes cause gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea. But still, its good to have a solid understanding of the most common symptoms involved with both conditions.
How Doctors Can Help To Ease Allergy Symptoms
An allergist can diagnose a seasonal pollen allergy with a blood test or skin-prick test. A variety of treatments are available, including:
- prescription medications
- allergy shots , which may help to eliminate symptoms over time
- sublingual immunotherapy, a symptom-reducing medication thats placed under the tongue
Additionally, your allergist may ask you about your personal lifestyle and recommend changes like these to help minimize seasonal allergy symptoms:
- keeping your windows closed during pollen season, to prevent pollen from getting inside
- changing out of your clothing when you come indoors, to keep pollen off of your furniture
- showering and washing your hair before getting into bed, to keep pollen off of your sheets
- using a clothes dryer, rather than an outdoor clothesline, to keep pollen off of clean clothing
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How To Help Prevent An Allergic Reaction
Unfortunately, theres no cure for allergies. You cant prevent your dog from having allergies.
However, there are things you can do to help keep their symptoms and discomfort under control.
First, you have to identify the underlying cause, be it seasonal, food, flea, etc. From there you can help your dog avoid those allergens.
Carvalho explained that sometimes a prescription diet could be necessary along with using flea/ectoparasite control all year round. Pet owners should also keep an eye out for and treat any itches so that they dont lead to inflamed and infected skin and ears.
Because good health for your canine companion is always in season .
How What You Breathe Affects Your Skin
It may seem strange that something you breathe can cause a problem with your skin, but its all related to the immune system.
Seasonal allergies are caused by windblown ragweed pollen or mold spores. These tiny bits contain proteins that your body misidentifies. When you inhale an allergen, your body doesnt see a harmless protein, it sees an evil invader.
The immune system begins strong warfare, and one of its primary weapons is histamine. Histamine affects almost all parts of your body, including the nervous and digestive systems. It causes blood vessels to swell. You can have hives or eczema or just dry, itchy skin. Thats how seasonal allergies cause your skin to itch. Now heres what to do about it.
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Hay Fever: Natural Ways To Treat Seasonal Allergy Symptoms
May 30, 2021
What makes spring so beautiful for many people leads to misery for those who suffer from seasonal allergy symptoms. Fresh-cut grass, blooming trees and flowers, and weeds release pollen, causing seasonal allergies in an estimated 40 million to 60 million people each year, or up to 20 percent of people living in certain countries.
Surveys have shown that when left untreated, seasonal allergy symptoms can become pretty miserable, affecting day-to-day activities and sometimes even spurring asthma attacks. For example, approximately 80 percent of people with asthma also suffer from seasonal allergies.
Treating hay fever symptoms can reduce asthma-related hospitalizations and emergencies.
How do you treat seasonal allergies? The good news is that natural allergy treatments can be as effective and, in many cases, even more effective than allergy medications.
Some of the best options for managing seasonal allergy symptoms include making changes to your diet to reduce common allergens and inflammatory foods, taking supplements that support your immune system, and ridding your home of allergy triggers.
When To See A Doctor
People often deal with their allergy symptoms for years without seeking treatment. Many symptoms are manageable with antihistamines and decongestants, especially for those who only experience symptoms seasonally. However, for some, symptoms either become severe enough or last long enough that they disrupt the ability to live a normal life. In those cases, you should consider seeking treatment.
You should especially seek medical attention if over-the-counter medications fail to provide relief or if you find you have to take these medicines for longer than a couple of weeks. These medications are meant for short-term use because, over time, they begin to lose their effectiveness.
If you or your child begin to show asthma symptoms, it is important to seek the guidance of a doctor immediately. Asthma symptoms include excessive coughing that may include wheezing, difficulty catching your breath, and tightness in your chest. Asthma can be life-threatening if not treated, and allergies can exacerbate these problems.
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Dogs Can Experience Acute Allergic Reactions Including Anaphylactic Shock
The most worrisome part of any dog allergy is the possibility that your canine companion can go into anaphylactic shock. This is when dogs have a severe allergic reaction and besides the symptoms listed above, could include your dog struggling to breathe. Since anaphylactic shock affects the liver in dogs, you can also expect to see gastrointestinal symptoms like excessive drooling, seizures, vomiting, sudden diarrhea, and shock.
This kind of reaction can happen after your beloved pup is stung by a bee on a walk. Thankfully, anaphylactic reactions are rare.
If your dog experiences anaphylaxis, its a medical emergency. These reactions can be fatal if left untreated, but as long as you seek treatment immediately , your dog should fully recover.
If your dog experiences an anaphylactic reaction, get them to your veterinarian or an emergency veterinary hospital immediately.
Are Allergy Shots Right For You
While we recommend you visit your doctor or allergist to ascertain whether youre a good candidate for allergy shots, these questions will also help you decide:
- What are your allergies? If youre allergic to one or more of the substances listed above, then allergy shots can help lessen your symptoms. However, if you have an allergy to latex, drugs, or certain foods, immunotherapy is not recommended.
- How bad are your allergies? If symptoms persist for longer than three out of 12 months or are impacting your daily activities then allergy shots may provide more relief than other treatment methods.
- What other treatments have you tried? If youre on a prescription antihistamine or another medication from an allergist but these dont help your symptoms, let your allergist know. They could recommend immunotherapy as your next treatment.
- Are you okay with needles? If you have a severe fear of or significant discomfort associated with needles, then you might want to rethink allergy shots. While its true the injections become less frequent as the treatment goes on, it will take a while to get there. You may want to discuss sublingual immunotherapy or SLIT with your allergist. This treatment involves you taking tablets or drops under your tongue instead of receiving injections.
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What Kind Of Tests Does An Ent Do
ENTs employ a wide variety of tests in helping them determine the causes of a patients ear, nose, and throat discomfort. Visual, tactile examination and endoscopy all provide a baseline from which additional tests like laboratory analysis and imaging can confirm. Appropriate treatment is then provided for the given diagnosis.
Q: Is It True That A Child Has To Be At Least 2 In Order To Develop Allergies
A: For a long time many doctors believed that babies under 2 couldnt develop allergies because their immune systems were not developed enough. But now we know thats not true. A baby can have an allergic reaction to almost anything shes exposed to on a consistent basis, including dust, mold, pet dander, or even certain foods.
On the other hand, seasonal allergies tend to manifest later because it takes at least one allergy season for a babys immune system to learn to be allergic to them. Depending on when your baby was born, youre not likely to notice seasonal allergies earlier than 12 to 15 months.
The symptoms of allergies in babies and young children include a runny nose with clear mucus, itchy, watery eyes, sneezing, hives, and dark circles under the eyes . If you suspect your child has allergies, talk to your pediatrician. If your child is diagnosed with allergies, your doctor may suggest you see an allergy specialist, but most pediatricians can manage mild to moderate allergies very well with over-the-counter antihistamines like Zyrtec or Claritin .
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Beware Of Foods That Trigger Your Symptoms
If you have seasonal allergies to ragweed, be aware that eating certain foods may trigger your symptoms. “This is the concept of oral allergy syndrome,” Bassett says.
It’s a double-whammy, he says. About one-third of people with fall seasonal allergies will have a cross-reaction to certain foods, he says. Foods that might provoke symptoms in those with ragweed allergies, according to AAAAI, include bananas, cucumbers, melons, zucchini, sunflower seeds, and chamomile tea.
Why Do I Have Seasonal Allergies
Seasonal allergies develop when the immune system identifies normally harmless airborne substances as dangerous. A combination of genetic and environmental factors appear to increase the likelihood of seasonal allergies.
If you have a close relative with allergies, youre much more likely to develop them yourself. Additionally, people with seasonal allergies tend to have other allergic conditions such as asthma and eczema.
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What Are Allergic Rhinitis And Allergic Asthma
Allergic rhinitis occurs when your immune system overreacts to particles in the air that you breatheâyou are allergic to them. Your immune system attacks the particles, causing symptoms such as sneezing and a runny nose. The particles are called allergens, which simply means that they can cause an allergic reaction.
Asthma is a long-lasting condition that causes wheezing, trouble breathing, tightness in the chest, and coughing. When allergens such as pollens, dust mites, animal dander, cockroaches, and mould make your symptoms worse, it is known as allergic asthma.
Dont Assume You Know What Youre Allergic To
Two-thirds of people with any allergies also have year-round allergies to things like dust mites, mold, or pets, says James Sublett, MD, chair of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Indoor Environment Committee and section chief of pediatric allergy at the University of Louisville School of Medicine. You may assume youre allergic to your cat, for example, but testing may reveal that its actually something else, says Dr. Sublett. Also, many people experience delayed reactions to allergens, which makes them harder to recognize. You could be outside mowing the lawn and sneeze a little bit, but experience more significant wheezing and coughing six hours later when youre inside getting ready for bed. Here are tips on how to handle allergies.
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When To See A Veterinarian To Diagnose Seasonal Allergies
If your dog has an allergic reaction, you need to take them to the vet. Your veterinarian is the only person who can diagnose if your pup is facing seasonal allergies. Even if you think its just seasonal allergies causing your pups problems, some of the symptoms seen can be a result of a different underlying condition. Its always best to check in with your vet so they can help your canine companion feel their best.
A vet will be able to identify the underlying cause of the allergy. Seasonal allergies may be to blame, but allergies can also be caused by food, fleas, and more.
Always see your veterinarian if you are concerned about your dogs health.
If you notice that your pup is extra itchy, experiencing skin conditions like dryness, or have opened up skin wounds due to excessive scratching, its time to take your dog to a veterinarian.
The Allergist Treats Asthma And Allergies
An allergist is a physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of asthma and other allergic diseases. The allergist is specially trained to identify allergy and asthma triggers. Allergists help people treat or prevent their allergy problems. After earning a medical degree, the allergist completes a three-year residency-training program in either internal medicine or pediatrics. Next the allergist completes two or three more years of study in the field of allergy and immunology. You can be certain that your doctor has met these requirements if he or she is certified by the American Board of Allergy and Immunology.
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Can Babies Get Seasonal Allergies
Seasonal allergies are usually caused by pollen from weeds, grasses, and trees. These types of allergies are actually very rare in babies, and they arent typically seen until children are 2 or 3 years old at the earliest. Allergies develop after a cumulative exposure to an allergen, explains Anne Miranowski, M.D., a pediatric allergist in Fairfax, Virginia. An infant doesnt spend enough time outdoors to develop a reaction to tree pollen, grass, or ragweed.
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One your little one becomes a toddler, though, the allergies may kick in. Shes at an increased risk if Mom or Dad also has an allergy. Her trigger may be completely different, though if youre allergic to pollen, your child might react to cats. But even if you and your spouse never itch or sneeze, your kid isnt necessarily in the clear.
Childhood allergies are on the rise, and many young sufferers have no family history. Some experts think our super-clean, ultra-hygienic lifestyle plays a role. If kids live in an almost-germ-free bubble, the theory goes, their immune system will pick fights with other invaders, like pollen or household particles.
What Can I Give My Dogs For Allergies
Wondering what you can give your dog when theyre suffering from allergies? The treatment will depend on the type of allergen. If the dog suffers from food allergies, the best way to address the problem is to avoid certain types of food. With seasonal allergies, treatment options may vary from over-the-counter supplements to dietary changes to antihistamine medications like Atopica or Apoquel.
Unfortunately, antihistamines and other drugs used to treat allergies in dogs can sometimes harm our canine friends.
Its recommended to err on the side of caution when giving these medications to your allergic dog. Some of them may even further disrupt your dogs immune system, resulting in secondary infections or a greater susceptibility to autoimmune diseases.
The next section will cover traditional treatments that veterinarians recommend to dogs with allergies.
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What Are Allergy Shots
When you get immunotherapy in the form of allergy shots, your allergist or doctor injects small doses of substances that you are allergic to under your skin. Over time, this decreases your reaction to the allergen and may reduce the symptoms of allergic rhinitis. Allergy shots are available for allergies to:
- Pollen .
- Animal dander .
- Mould .
Sublingual immunotherapy may be another way to treat certain pollen allergies. Instead of getting shots, you dissolve a tablet under your tongue daily. Each tablet has a small amount of allergen in it. This treatment, like allergy shots, helps your body “get used to” the allergen, so your body reacts less to it over time. Talk to your doctor if you have a pollen allergy and you want to know more about this treatment.
