Allergies are a relatively widespread disease that millions of people worldwide are diagnosed with. They are more commonly known as seasonal allergies, food allergies resulting from contact with pet dander, pollens, and many more. Allergies can be rather disturbing and often interfere with one’s everyday life. Management is very important since allergies can severely affect an individual’s health and quality of life.
Let’s discuss how to better understand allergies and some simple but best ways to control them.
What Are Allergies?
Individuals develop allergic reactions when the body’s immune system produces an exaggerated response to an unrecognized harmless substance. These substances are called Allergens, and they cause a reaction in the immune system that may result in a sneeze, an itch, coughing, or even breathing problems at their worst.
Grass, tree, and weed pollens are the most common allergens that cause seasonal allergic reactions in the spring and fall. Mites abound in the house, and dust can also cause allergies, especially in asthmatic patients. Additionally, some foods that may cause allergic reactions include peanuts, tree nuts, fish, some kinds of seafood, and eggs.
How to Better Manage Allergies
You need to know what causes the allergy to avoid the causes or take precautions against them. There are also treatments for allergy symptoms. Here are some essential tips for managing allergies better:
Identify and Avoid Triggers
The best approach to dealing with allergies is to avoid coming across the allergens that cause allergic reactions. That may be achieved by an allergy test, which reveals what in particular triggers your allergy. Hence, you may try to avoid them where possible.
For instance, if you are affected by pollen and dust, avoid going outside during the day when pollen counts are high, use air filtering machines while keeping the windows shut, wash your bed linens frequently at high temperatures, use dust-proof covers for your pillows and mattresses, and vacuum the rugs or sofa often.
Maintain a Clean Environment
Maintaining the cleanliness of the rooms where you spend most of your time at work reduces your chances of coming into contact with allergens. Use a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter to remove dust and allergens. Wash bed sheets, pillowcases, curtains, and any textile that may harbor the allergens at least once a week. Buy air purifiers with HEPA filters capable of filtering dust and pollen from the air to reduce their concentration indoors.
Take Over-the-Counter (OTC) Medications
Many nonprescription drugs can alleviate allergic symptoms and are available in over-the-counter shops. Antihistamines like Cetirizine (Zyrtec), loratadine (Claritin), and diphenhydramine (Benadryl) help reduce symptoms such as sneezing, itching, and a runny nose.
Nasal washing with saline drops can help flush the allergens and institute a friable nasal septum. However, Sudafed, which belongs to the group of decongestant agents, should not be taken for more than three days because of the possibility of developing rebound congestion.
Steroid Prescription for Serious Allergies
If simple over-the-counter pain relievers do not help, your physician may recommend other therapies, like medical steroids. Steroids are legal in Canada and may well effectively help or even treat severe signs of allergies. As long as you have a prescription, you can buy steroids in Canada at Canadapeds or any other authorized online pharmacy and have them delivered to your home or workplace. They are available in various forms, such as Nasal sprays for nasal allergy, which work by shrinking the swollen nasal tissue. Oral steroids are used in severe allergic reactions. A doctor may prescribe oral corticosteroids, such as prednisone.
These medications minimize inflammation and decrease the immune system’s reaction to allergens. They can also be used to manage the symptoms when allergies are worse or other drugs are ineffective. Adults with asthma or respiratory allergies may use inhaled steroids to prevent airway inflammation and breathing problems.
Try Natural Remedies
Some patients prefer to treat the symptoms of allergies with natural products. These do not form part of conventional therapy, but they can assist in managing allergies. For instance, Quercetin is a naturally occurring flavonoid found in foods such as apples and onions. It seems to possess antihistamine and Anti-Inflammatory properties.
Butterbur is also an herbal supplement used to treat hay fever and has been rated fairly well in several allergy studies. However, it is always recommended that you talk to your doctor before using natural remedies, especially if you are taking other medications.
Prepare for Allergy Seasons
People with allergies are most likely troubled in spring and fall when pollen concentrations are high. To avoid worsening symptoms, start taking allergy medicines at least two weeks before the season begins. When high-pollen days are inevitable, wearing a mask when stepping out of the house can also be helpful.
