Spending more time indoors will expose us to allergens like mold, pet dander and dust mites which may trigger symptoms like sneezing, itchy eyes and runny nose.
Keep a diary of when and where your allergy symptoms appear, to help your physician pinpoint the source. This may enable them to better determine the source.
Medication
Many of us spend over 24 hours per day indoors, and the quality of indoor air can have an adverse impact on their health. People suffering from allergies can suffer a range of symptoms that include itchy and watery eyes, runny nose, nasal congestion, itchy or inflamed throat or nasal passages and sneezing; in rare instances reactions to allergens may even prove life-threatening.
Allergy medications can provide immediate relief, with many different kinds of antihistamines and decongestants available to combat stuffy noses quickly, while antihistamines provide effective solutions to treat runny noses or itchy eyes. Nasal steroids may also provide beneficial results against swelling and congestion.
If allergies are interfering with your daily activities, it’s essential to speak to a doctor immediately. An allergy specialist will conduct a skin test and recommend ways to limit exposure. Immunotherapy may also be effective; this involves receiving injections containing small quantities of allergens which desensitizes immune systems to them.
Allergy shots may provide relief for severe allergies caused by dust mites, cockroaches, pet dander, mold or other common allergens found in homes and offices. Immunotherapy may also be an option if other treatments don’t help or your allergies are associated with asthma. Shots will be administered supervised by an allergy specialist over an extended period of time–usually one year.
Allergy shots
Allergy shots offer long-term or even permanent relief from allergy symptoms. They’re particularly useful for people suffering seasonal allergies such as hay fever or longstanding reactions such as those to ragweed, certain grasses, or dust mites; and those unable to take oral allergy medicines due to asthma triggers or who have difficulty using their therapies.
Before administering allergy shots, your physician uses skin or blood tests to make sure the shot will help. Allergy shots contain small doses of the allergen that causes symptoms; once injected into an arm vein, an allergy test can detect any changes, such as itching or swelling; depending on its results, an allergist may decide to increase or decrease the allergen dosage accordingly.
Most reactions to allergy shots are local, or temporary reactions that only impact the area around the injection site, such as redness, itching or swelling at the site of injection. Systemic reactions are more serious and potentially life-threatening; symptoms could include breathing problems, low blood pressure or hives. Should you experience one at an allergist’s office, their nurse will administer an epinephrine auto-injector for quick treatment – for your safety they ask that you stay for at least 30 minutes post injection just in case anything serious occurs.
Home maintenance
Allergy medications may help manage indoor allergy symptoms, but home maintenance can often be the most effective means of decreasing them. This could involve repairs such as small home repairs and additional cleaning as well as dehumidifiers.
Mold spores, dust mites, pet dander and other indoor allergens can produce similar symptoms as outdoor allergens – eye itching and tearing, runny nose, nasal congestion, sinus pressure, throat clearing and chronic coughing can be experienced as a result of exposure. They may even trigger asthma attacks.
When allergy season arrives, it’s essential to keep doors and windows closed to reduce pollen exposure in the house. Also consider swapping out carpet for hardwood or tile surfaces that are easier to maintain while being less likely to harbor allergens.
Maintaining an ideal humidity level can also help protect against mold and dust mite growth, with 30-50% being recommended as optimal humidity levels for this purpose. Use dehumidifiers in damp areas as needed, and wash bed linens regularly using hot water.
Professional furniture cleanings (for instance couches) can also help eliminate allergens in living and bedroom spaces, particularly during allergy season or when symptoms worsen, so any issues can be quickly addressed and managed. Furthermore, family members should ensure an open line of communication with those allergic so that any issues are quickly dealt with and dealt with effectively.
Pediatric allergists
Allergies occur when our immune systems overreact to something normally harmless, like pet dander or pollen from grass and flowers, and release antibodies which cause symptoms like sneezing and runny nose. Allergies may occur seasonally or year-round and be caused by mold spores, dust mite droppings, cockroaches or animal dander as allergens.
Pediatric allergists are experts in allergy, asthma and immunology who treat children who are affected by these conditions. Their experienced staff understands how these issues may interfere with physical and social development in young people – something which shouldn’t occur as often during their early years.
Allergists utilize special testing to pinpoint the allergens causing your child’s symptoms. In one such test, an allergist will prick your child’s arm or back with a device containing small samples of allergens being tested for. If there is an allergic reaction, their skin may become red and itchy similar to how mosquito bites look; and their treatment plan may include avoiding certain allergens, taking medication or getting allergy shots; allergy shots work to build tolerance over time, thus decreasing frequency of allergic reactions.
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