How Do You Treat Allergies
There are various ways to combat unpleasant allergy symptoms, including:
- Medications: An array of medicationsboth over-the-counter and prescriptioneffectively and safely treat allergy symptoms. Different types of medications treat allergy symptoms in different ways, ranging from reducing swelling to keeping your body from releasing histamines.
- Immunotherapy treatments: These treatments consist of giving a patient either an allergy shot or sublingual immunotherapy tablet with a dosage of the allergen to lower their sensitivity to it gradually. With allergy shots, you need three to six months of injections with increasingly higher doses of the allergen to build up immunity or tolerance. Once youve reached an effective dose, you can expect to receive an injection every two to four weeks. Allergen immunotherapy may reduce the need for medications to control symptoms.
Tips To Manage Your Allergy
Get tested. It’s important to know which trees trigger your allergies. Once you do, you can figure out how to minimize your exposure to their pollen.
Avoid contact. Itâs simple: Stay inside when pollen counts are high. Keep your windows shut. If you are going outside wear a baseball cap, and when you come in, rinse your face and wash your hands — and you may even want to change your clothes.
Remove trigger trees. If one in your yard clearly causes symptoms, prune back the branches to reduce the amount of pollen it releases. You could also take it out and replace it with one thatâs less likely to cause allergies, like apple, cherry, dogwood, fir, or pine trees.
Treat it. Medicine — antihistamines — can ease or prevent allergy symptoms. Allergy shots and other forms of âimmunotherapyâ can also make a difference.
Limit Exposure To Primary Allergens
Once you know which plant pollens are triggering your allergies, you can take steps to reduce your exposure to the troublesome material. Keep track of local pollen counts so you can stay indoors on heavy pollen days. Keep windows closed during peak pollen times, and use extra filtration if possible on your HVAC system.
Change out of dirty clothes whenever you come indoors from outside. Place dirty clothes in the laundry as soon as possible. Shower and wash your hair before bed each night to remove pollen from your hair and body.
Limit your exposure to animals and to mowing, raking, and other outdoor chores. Wear an allergy mask if you must be outdoors for prolonged periods. Wash your bedding well at least once per week.
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Managing Tree Pollen Allergies And Reducing Exposure
If you know you are allergic to tree pollen, start taking allergy medication in the weeks leading up to the time your allergies usually start. Getting ahead of your reaction will help you manage your hay fever symptoms.
During the spring, you can also take steps to limit your exposure to pollen. For example:
- Keep your home’s windows closed and use an air filter.
- Limit your time outside and stay away from pets that are frequently outside.
- Shower daily before bed to remove any pollen from your hair and skin.
- Wash your bedding weekly in hot water and dry clothes inside rather than on an outdoor clothesline.
- Check the pollen count. Pollen counts are typically highest in the morning and again at night. Avoid spending long periods of time outdoors when the pollen count is high.
Although there are many over-the-counter allergy medications available, it’s still a good idea to talk to your doctor about your allergy symptoms. They can let you know which treatment will be the most helpful.
Sabadilla Officinalis Homeopathic Medicine For Allergy With Violent Sneezing
Sabadilla Officinalis is a homeopathic medicine prepared from the cevadilla seed that belongs to the natural order Melanthaceae. It is an effective homeopathic medicine for allergy caused by pollen grains. The main characteristic feature that indicates the need for this remedy is violent, spasmodic sneezing followed by eye discharges. Along with this, itching and tickling sensations in the nose are present, which the person tends to rub excessively. Running nose with copious watery discharge, severe pain in the head in the frontal area, and obstruction of nostrils on alternate sides may also be present.
Key indications for using Sabadilla for Allergy:
-Violent sneezing Sneezing with itching, tickling in the nose Frontal pain in head
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Hay Fever Didnt Exist 200 Years Ago
The interesting thing is, as little as 200 years ago, hay fever was virtually nonexistent! No one knows exactly what combination of factors is causing this steady increase over the years. Some pets are having hay fever symptoms now too!
Most experts do seem to agree that it probably has a lot to do with the modern obsession with cleanliness. An overly sterilized home environment combined with playgrounds sprayed with pesticides and little exposure to healthy soil/farm animals hampers the development of a normal immune system due to a lack of frequent exposure to diverse and beneficial microbes .
With seasonal allergies as predictable as they are annoying, it is surprising that more people dont know how to harness the power of herbs for fast allergy relief with no drugs needed. Heres a primer for those who wish to give it a go this coming season.
What Is Allergic Rhinitis
Allergic rhinitis is the medical term for hay fever or allergies. You have an allergy when your body overreacts to things that dont cause problems for most people. These things are called allergens. Your bodys overreaction to the allergens is what causes symptoms.
There are 2 forms of allergic rhinitis:
- Seasonal : Caused by an allergy to pollen and/or mold spores in the air. Pollen is the fine powder that comes from flowering plants. It can be carried through the air and is easily inhaled. Symptoms are seasonal and usually occur in spring, late summer, and fall.
- Perennial: Caused by other allergens such as dust mites, pet hair or dander, or mold. Symptoms occur year-round.
Hay fever is the most common form of allergy. Symptoms of hay fever are seasonal. You will feel worse when the pollens that affect you are at their highest levels.
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Treating Both The Cause And Symptoms
There are several different classes of drugs used to treat allergy symptoms. The most common include antihistamines, nasal steroid sprays, and antileukotrienes such as Singulair .
Each of these medications has a different mechanism of action. Some may be used to treat acute symptoms while others aim to achieve longer-lasting relief. The choice depends largely on the types of symptoms you have as well as their severity.
What Are The Side Effects Of Zyrtec
With any medication, there are risks and benefits. Even if the medication is working, you may experience some unwanted side effects.
Contact your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following:
- Antihistamine overdose
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your doctor know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
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How Do I Know Which Otc Allergy Medicine Is Right For Me
When determining which type of OTC allergy medication is right for you, consider your worst allergy symptoms.
There is a lot of crossover among the different categories, but in the most simple terms, antihistamines are best for itchy, sneezy noses and help itchy eyes, says Dr. Passer. Nasal sprays are best for congestion and post nasal drainage, but help itch quite a bit, too, and decongestants help with congestion. OTC eye drops are best for eye symptoms.
I dont think there is any differentiation between the medication categories for pollen versus, say, indoor allergens like dust or dog dander, she adds. It really is all the same process in the bodyit just comes from different sources.
Pharmacist Tips For Allegra
Always take the medication with water. Don’t take with fruit juices as they can affect the way this medication is absorbed by your body.
Allegra is usually marketed as a non-drowsy allergy medication, but some people report dizziness and drowsiness after taking the medication. Avoid driving or operating heavy machinery until you know how the medication affects you.
Avoid taking antacids containing aluminum or magnesium within 30 minutes before or after taking Allegra . These antacids can affect the way this medication is absorbed. If you commonly take antacids for heartburn or indigestion you can try calcium-containing antacids like Tums, which don’t interact with the medication.
Take the quick dissolving tablets on an empty stomach. All other forms of the medications can be taken with or without food.
Follow age-specific dosing on the package label and don’t take more than recommended, even if you are still having symptoms. Taking too much can lead to an overdose.
Talk with your provider or local pharmacist if your symptoms get worse or don’t get better with daily use of Allegra . They may recommend a different allergy medication for you.
Prices for Allegra start at just $6.07 with a GoodRx coupon. Theyâre fast, easy-to-use and free!
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Buying Information For Allergy Medicine For Pollen
After our biology lesson, we can now understand why many of the medicines designed to deal with allergy symptoms are called antihistamines. They are designed to stop the body from releasing the histamines that fight the pollen.
Rather than wait and battle symptoms, however, the goal in using allergy medicine should be to prevent symptoms from occurring in the first place by taking these products on a regular basis long before pollen seasons hit and then continuing them throughout the year.
It may seem odd, after all the talk about antihistamines as allergy treatment, that the #1-rated product in our guide above is not one. It is a rinse instead. But we have found that most allergy sufferers rely on a rinse when severe attacks occur because it can relieve the burning and itching of nasal passages that accompanies allergies.
Likely the best strategy is to choose and routinely utilize a top antihistamine product to prevent symptoms but pair it with a rinse when symptoms are present.
Symptoms Of A Pollen Allergy
Since every plant has its own pollinating period, the symptoms of pollen allergies are triggered when the particular plant is producing pollen. A person who is allergic to a specific type of pollen will develop allergic symptoms only when exposed to that particular pollen. The main symptoms of a pollen allergy include:
A runny nose
Watery, itchy, red, swollen eyes
Itchy, scratchy throat
Asthmatic reaction with wheezing, breathlessness, and coughing
Worsening of sinusitis complaint
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Which Otc Allergy Medication Is Best For You
Runny nose, watery eyes, nasal itching, sneezingdo any of these sound familiar to you? Many of us suffer from seasonal allergies. Seasonal allergies are usually due to tree pollens in the spring, grass pollens in the summer, and weed pollens in the fall. Some people even suffer from indoor allergies such as animal dander, dust mites, and molds.
The first step to managing allergies is to avoid exposure to allergens that trigger an allergic reaction. People are most commonly exposed to allergens by inhaling them. Outdoor allergens are often responsible for seasonal allergy symptoms while indoor allergens may be responsible for year-round allergy symptoms.
Often, allergens cant be completely avoided, and drug therapy is needed to decrease or prevent symptoms due to allergies. Common over the counter medications used to treat allergies include oral antihistamines, decongestants, and nasal steroids.
Oral AntihistaminesOral antihistamines are often considered the first-line agents for the treatment of mild to moderate allergy symptoms and are sometimes given in combination with a nasal decongestant or a nasal steroid. These medications are effective in reducing symptoms of itching, sneezing, and runny noses. There are two types of oral antihistamines: first-generation and second-generation antihistamines. For the best symptom relief, antihistamines should be taken either prophylactically , or on a regular basis if needed chronically.
Jame Drew Of New York City
Drew, 34, had been allergy-free until about four years ago when he moved to the U.S. from Hong Kong. “I’m originally from Australia. I never had allergies until I came here,” he says. “It’s really weird.” Each spring he’d get what he thought was a cold: Runny nose, itchy, puffy eyes, and respiratory problems. One day he happened to see a flyer for an allergist who practiced in his building and realized his symptoms pointed to hay fever. Skin tests identified the allergens. A combination of prescription and over-the-counter drugs helped, but annoying symptoms remained. Drew decided to start allergy shots. “With immunotherapy I’d get up to five years without symptoms, which is kind of cool,” he says. In just six months he improved. “The biggest change I noticed after starting treatment was being able to go outside and exercise and being able to breathe.”
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Are There Side Effects Associated With Oral Medications For Allergies
Oral medications for allergies include antihistamines, decongestants, and leukotriene receptor antagonists. The side effects depend on the type of medication. Side effects of antihistamines may include dry mouth, constipation, drowsiness, difficulty urinating, fatigue, headache, nausea, and sore throat.
For decongestants , headache, dizziness, dry mouth, irritability, rapid or irregular heartbeat, tremor, increase in blood pressure, and trouble sleeping may occur.
For the class of medication called leukotriene receptor antagonists , common side effects include diarrhea, stomach pain, flu-like symptoms, headache, thirst, itchy skin, and rash.
Causes Of Pollen Allergies
The most common cause of pollen allergies is, of course, pollen grains spread by plants. The common sources of pollens include grass, trees, and weeds.
Grass The common grass species that tend that cause pollen allergies include ryegrass, Timothy, and Bermuda. The pollination periods of these grasses are different, and a person allergic to a specific type of grass pollen will develop allergies in the corresponding season.Ryegrass produces pollen throughout Spring to Fall, while Timothy produces pollen during the months of June and July. Bermuda produces pollen from May to September.
Trees The common trees that are known to cause pollen allergy are birch, oak, and cedar. The pollinating period of these trees during the Spring season.
Weeds The common weeds that tend to trigger allergies are ragweed and sagebrush. The peak levels of pollen production of ragweed are around mid-September. The pollinating period of sagebrush is mid-August to late September.
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Arsenic Iod Homeopathic Medicine For Allergy With Burning Nasal Discharge
Arsenic Iod is an effective homeopathic medicine for pollen allergy with burning nasal discharge. Thin, watery, hot discharge drips from the nose. The discharge tends to cause soreness and redness of the upper lip. Irritation, tingling of the nose with a constant desire to sneeze is present. Irritating watery secretions and marked burning and smarting in eyes are also noted.
Flonase Sensimist 24hour Allergy Relief Nasal Spray
If youre wary of nasal sprays, Flonase Sensimist might be a good option for you. After all, its one of the more gentle versions on the market. Sensimist is also scent-free and practically drip-free as well. Similar to the regular Flonase product, this spray also blocks six inflammatory substances . Hence, it does a great job combatting nasal congestion and sneezing along with itchy, watery eyes, and noses. Even better, Sensimist is also non-drowsy and provides 24-hour relief.
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What Types Of Grasses Cause Allergy Symptoms
If you have a grass pollen allergy, you may be allergic to more than one type of grass.
There are hundreds of types of grasses, but only a few are responsible for allergy symptoms. Your geographic location may determine which grasses may be responsible for your symptoms.
The most common types of grasses that cause allergies are:
- Bermuda
- Timothy
Dealing With Allergies From Artificial Christmas Trees
When it comes to artificial Christmas trees, the number one way to avoid allergen exposure is to be a stickler for proper storage. To prevent dust and mold growth, store your tree in a cool, dry place when it is not in use. Putting the tree parts in sealed bags or containers can help further protect them. Then, when the Christmas season rolls around again, make sure to dust off each part of your artificial Christmas tree before assembling it.
Tip: Christmas trees are not the only holiday decorations that can harbor unseen allergens. Wreaths, garlands and ornaments can all accumulate dust or mold spores during storage. Try cleaning off all decorations outside or in a well-ventilated area before putting them up.
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What Are The Points To Know About Pollen
- Pollen that causes allergy tends to be small, light and dry. It is easily spread by wind over long distances. The pollen that gets all over your car or lawn furniture is not as much of an allergy problem as the pollen too small to be seen.
- Bright-colored flowers actually release less pollen into the air than their drab cousins. Instead they depend on insects to carry pollen from one blossom to another.
- Airborne pollen counts are usually highest early in the day just after the dew dries and on into late morning.
- There is often a burst of pollen into the air when the wind comes up just before a rainstorm. During and after the rain, however, pollen becomes damp and heavy with moisture, keeping it still and on the ground.
Treating Symptoms With Allergy Shots
If you’ve tried pills, sprays, and rinses but your child continues to suffer, talk to their allergist about allergy shots . This treatment exposes your child to increasing amounts of the allergen though shots. In the long run, it makes the body less reactive to triggers.
“They are still the cornerstone of long-term treatment,” says Dr. Demain. “We have shots for almost every common allergen, and they also reduce the risk for developing new allergies and asthma.” The only real drawback? Getting your kid on board with a plan involving needles. The treatment starts out with two shots a week for up to two to three months, then tapers down to once a week, then every other week, and finally monthly.
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