How Do You Treat Severe Allergies?

How Do You Treat Severe Allergies?

Allergies can be such a struggle to deal with. Statistics show that allergies are the sixth leading cause of chronic illness in the United States, with over 50 million Americans experiencing its effects each year.

If you are dealing with seasonal symptoms due to the changes happening outside, it is important to understand that you can take various steps in order to alleviate your symptoms.

Causes

Seasonal allergies (sometimes referred to as hay fever) are the most common form of allergies. The main culprit are those yellow, powdery irritants floating through the air – better known as pollen. Pollen – which is the fertilization agent of plants – clings to literally everything outdoors. Fruit, seedlings, and the reproduction of other wildlife all depend upon this natural process.

The problem for humans is that certain microscopic pollen grains consist of a type of protein that causes allergic reactions. Immune system cells, known as B cells, overproduce antibodies in response to pollen, leading to the activation of white blood cells. White blood cells produce histamines, which cause blood vessels to dilate. Our hypersensitivity to these processes is essentially what results in allergic symptoms.

Symptoms of seasonal allergies include the following:

• runny nose
• sneezing
• itchy eyes
• nasal congestion

Allergy season starts as early as February, which is when trees begin their pollination process. Grass pollination occurs in the spring and summer months.

In the fall, ragweed is the main culprit when it comes to allergy symptoms. Mold also occurs in the fall months, developing underneath damp piles of leaves.

How to treat severe allergies

There is no magic cure for surviving allergy season, but here are some tips you can use for alleviating your symptoms:

• Find the right medications and treatments. This may take some experimentation on your part until you find what combinations work best for you, but luckily your local drugstore has no shortage of options. Over-the-counter nasal steroid sprays, antihistamines and decongestants are a great starting point. Drugstores also carry various nasal irrigation products, which literally flush out mucus and debris from your nose and sinuses. Your doctor can also begin a traditional immunotherapy (allergy shot) program.

• Get your house in order. While it may be hard to control what irritants you come across outside, you don’t have to suffer through the same effects inside your own living quarters as well. Dust mites, cobwebs and mold can all accumulate and do real damage to your allergy symptoms. Pollen likewise sticks to clothes and hair, so changing outfits as soon as you get home and washing your hair before going to bed at night can all significantly reduce your symptoms. Also remember to always keep your windows closed so that no pollen can enter – no matter how nice that cool spring breeze may feel!

• Keep track of pollen counts. Just like you check the weather forecast, new apps and technologies can now tell you when pollen amounts are particularly bad in your area. Being aware of which allergens are present in the air will help you avoid them (if you can). It can also teach you which allergens are particularly bothering you the most.

Should these home treatments and preventative lifestyle methods fall short of your expectations, it may be time to see a professional.

You should see an allergist if:

• Your seasonal allergy symptoms last for several months a year.
• Your allergies are causing other severe symptoms, such as sinus infections or difficulty breathing.
• Your allergy symptoms are having a negative effect on your quality of life.
• You are experiencing unpleasant side effects from over-the-counter allergy medications, such as drowsiness.

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