Control Your Allergies Symptoms

What causes allergies?
You have an allergy when your body overreacts to things that don't cause
problems for most people. These things are called allergens. Your body's
overreaction to the allergens is what causes symptoms. For example,
sometimes the term "hay fever" is used to describe your body's allergic
reaction to seasonal allergens in the air, such as grass or pollen.
Your family doctor may want to do an allergy skin test to help determine
exactly what is causing your allergy. An allergy skin test puts tiny amounts
of allergens onto your skin to see which ones you react to. Once you know
which allergens you are allergic to, you and your family doctor can decide
the best treatment. Your family doctor may also decide to do a blood test,
such as the radioallergosorbent test (called RAST).

Common Allergy Symptoms:
* Runny nose
* Watery eyes
* Itchy nose, eyes and roof of mouth
* Sneezing
* Stuffy nose
* Pressure in the nose and cheeks
* Ear fullness and popping
* Dark circles under the eyes
* Hives

What are the most common allergens?
Pollen from trees, grass and weeds.
Mold. Mold is common where water tends to collect, such as shower curtains,
window moldings and damp basements. It can also be found in rotting logs,
hay, mulches, commercial peat moss, compost piles and leaf litter. This
allergy is usually worse during humid and rainy weather.
Animal dander. Proteins found in the skin, saliva, and urine of furry pets
such as cats and dogs are allergens. You can be exposed to dander when
handling an animal or from house dust that contains dander.
Dust. Many allergens, including dust mites, are in dust. Dust mites are tiny
living creatures found in bedding, mattresses, carpeting and upholstered
furniture. They live on dead skin cells and other things found in house
dust.

Things that can make your allergy symptoms worse
* Aerosol sprays
* Air pollution
* Cold temperatures
* Humidity
* Irritating fumes
* Tobacco smoke
* Wind
* Wood smoke

How can I avoid allergens?
Pollens. Shower or bathe before bedtime to wash off pollen and other
allergens in your hair and on your skin. Avoid going outside, especially on
dry, windy days. Keep windows and doors shut, and use an air conditioner at
home and in your car.
Mold. You can reduce the amount of mold in your home by removing houseplants
and by frequently cleaning shower curtains, bathroom windows, damp walls,
areas with dry rot and indoor trash cans. Use a mix of water and chlorine
bleach to kill mold. Open doors and windows and use fans to increase air
movement and help prevent mold.
Don't carpet bathrooms or other damp rooms and use mold-proof paint instead
of wallpaper. Reducing the humidity in your home to 50% or less can also
help. You can control your home air quality by using a dehumidifier, keeping
the temperature set at 21 degrees, and cleaning or replacing small-particle
filters in your central air system.
Pet dander. If your allergies are severe, you may need to give your pets
away or at least keep them outside. Cat or dog dander often collects in
house dust and takes 4 weeks or more to die down.
However, there are ways to reduce the amounts of pet dander in your home.
Using allergen-resistant bedding, bathing your pet frequently, and using an
air filter can help reduce pet dander. Ask your veterinarian for other ways
to reduce pet dander in your home.
Dust and dust mites. To reduce dust mites in your home, remove drapes,
feather pillows, upholstered furniture, non-washable comforters and soft
toys. Replace carpets with linoleum or wood. Polished floors are best. Mop
the floor often with a damp mop and wipe surfaces with a damp cloth. Vacuum
regularly with a machine that has a high-efficiency particulate air filter.
Vacuum soft furniture and curtains as well as floors. Install an air cleaner
with a high-efficiency particulate or electrostatic filter. Wash carpets and
upholstery with special cleaners, such as benzyl benzoate or tannic acid
spray. Wash all bedding in hot water (hotter than 130°F) every 7 to 10 days.
Don't use mattress pads. Cover mattress and pillows with plastic covers.
Lower the humidity in your home.

What medicines can I take to help relieve my symptoms?
Antihistamines help reduce the sneezing, runny nose and itchiness of
allergies. They're more useful if you use them before you're exposed to
allergens.
Some antihistamines can cause drowsiness and dry mouth. Others are less
likely to cause these side effects, but some of these require a
prescription. Ask your family doctor which kind is best for you.
Decongestants, such as pseudoephedrine and phenylephrine help temporarily
relieve the stuffy nose of allergies. Decongestants are found in many
medicines and come as pills, nose sprays and nose drops. They are best used
only for a short time. Nose sprays and drops shouldn't be used for more than
3 days because you can become dependent on them. This causes you to feel
even more stopped-up when you try to quit using them.
You can buy decongestants without a family doctor's prescription. However,
decongestants can raise your blood pressure, so it's a good idea to talk to
your family doctor before using them, especially if you have high blood
pressure.
Cromolyn sodium is a nasal spray that helps prevent the body's reaction to
allergens. Cromolyn sodium is more helpful if you use it before you're
exposed to allergens. This medicine may take 2 to 4 weeks to start working.
It is available without a prescription.
Nasal steroid sprays reduce the reaction of the nasal tissues to inhaled
allergens. This helps relieve the swelling in your nose so that you feel
less stopped-up. They come in nasal sprays that your family doctor may
prescribe. You won't notice their benefits for up to 2 weeks after starting
them.
Your family doctor may prescribe steroid pills for a short time or give you
a steroid shot if your symptoms are severe or if other medicines aren't
working for you.
Eye drops. If your other medicines are not helping enough with your itchy,
watery eyes, your family doctor may prescribe eye drops for you.

What are allergy shots?
Allergy shots (also called immunotherapy) contain small amounts of
allergens. They're given on a regular schedule so that your body gets used
to the allergens and no longer overreacts to them.
Allergy shots are only used when the allergens you're sensitive to can be
identified and when you can't avoid them. It takes a few months to years to
finish treatment, and you may need to have treatments throughout your life.
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