Allergy Medications and Their Benefits
If you’re suffering from seasonal allergies, you’ve likely been told to wear protective eyewear and take showers before heading outdoors. But how do you combat the annoying symptoms? Medications can help you minimize the runny nose, itchy eyes, and other symptoms of seasonal allergies. You can find antihistamines in the form of nasal sprays and pills, and some medicines require a doctor’s prescription. Learn about some common allergy medicines and their benefits.
Hay fever is the most common type of allergy, and it manifests as seasonal allergic rhinitis. Symptoms are usually seasonal and worse during the peak pollen season. Unlike a cold, allergic rhinitis does not cause a fever. Symptoms may vary from mild itching to a painful sneezing spell. There are medications available for these conditions, as well as over-the-counter remedies such as corticosteroids. You may also experience a runny nose, which can increase irritation and cause dryness in the nasal passages.
Allergies tend to run in families, and you may be suffering from allergies as well. If your parents are afflicted, your chances of developing allergies are high. Even if you don’t have a family history of allergies, it’s possible to be allergic to a child or grandchild. Allergic reactions are the result of your body mistaking a harmless substance as harmful and reacting by releasing histamine, which causes watery eyes and sneezing.
Allergic reactions can be life-threatening, and even fatal. The effects of allergy can affect your digestive system, respiratory system, and cardiovascular system. In severe cases, your blood pressure may drop to dangerous levels, causing a person to pass out or become unconscious. If the allergic reaction is severe, your doctor may prescribe an epinephrine auto-injector, which is considered a “rescue drug”.
Medications are not the only way to treat allergy symptoms. Some drugs and over-the-counter medications can even worsen the symptoms. There is no cure for allergies, but allergy shots can help. Allergy shots can help desensitize the body to certain allergens. However, they’re only effective for dust, mold, pollen, and animals. Food allergies are not affected by allergy shots. It’s important to know the different types of allergies so you can be proactive.
Allergies to food and environmental factors can worsen or improve over time. Many people experience allergic reactions to food and other environmental triggers, but some have no allergy to food. However, exposure to sunlight can exacerbate symptoms. Whether your allergy is allergic to food or environmental allergens, it’s important to seek medical care as soon as possible. You should always consult your doctor or dermatologist if you notice any of these symptoms.
If the cause of your allergies is mold, it’s important to consult a doctor. House dust contains a lot of allergens, including dust mites. Some molds even cause asthma. A doctor can treat you with allergy medication to relieve your symptoms. If you’re not able to reduce your symptoms with avoidance alone, your allergist might recommend immunotherapy as an alternative treatment. These treatments are effective for reducing the severity of your allergies, but they may not be the right choice for you.