Allergies: Things You Can Do to Control
Your 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
(see the box below for a list of symptoms). For example,
sometimes the term "hay fever" is used to describe your body's
allergic reaction to allergens in the air.
Your 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 doctor can decide the best treatment. Your doctor
may also decide to do a blood test, such as the
radioallergosorbent test (called RAST) or the ELISA
test.
What are the most common
allergens?
Pollen from trees, grass and weeds.
Allergies that occur in the spring (late April and May) are
often due to tree pollen. Allergies that occur in the summer
(late May to mid-July) are often due to grass pollen.
Allergies that occur in the fall (late August to the first
frost) are often due to ragweed.
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.
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 house plants 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. (A dehumidifier can help you do
this.)
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, so a short-term trial of removing your pet from
your home may not help.
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.
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 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 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 doctor may prescribe. You
won't notice their benefits for up to 2 weeks after starting
them.
Your 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 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.
