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Seasonal allergies can wreak havoc on your life. Fortunately, there are many different medication options available to keep the symptoms under control. There are even some treatment options that try to lessen the severity of an allergy, or prevent them in the first place.

Antihistamines

Antihistamines do exactly what their name implies. When your body reacts to an allergen, which is basically seen as a threat to your body, it produces a chemical known as histamine. Histamines cause many, if not all, of the allergy symptoms you suffer from (sneezing, itchy and watery eyes, or runny nose). Anti-histamines can offer symptomatic relief. These medications come in the form of pills, nasal sprays, liquid forms, and eye drops. For most people over the counter and histamines are strong enough to provide and allergy remedy. Prescription antihistamines are available for those who have severe allergies that do not respond to over-the-counter treatment.

Decongestants

Many people who suffer from allergies get the pesky side effect of nasal congestion. Decongestants worked to clear the nasal passages. Decongestants coming in the form of pills, liquids, nasal sprays. Nasal decongestants should not be used for more than three days, as they can cause rebound congestion that is worse than the original congestion.

Allergy shots

An allergy specialist can help determine which allergens are causing you the most trouble. The most common way is via a skin allergy tests, where common allergens are injected directly under the skin’s surface. The bigger the skin reaction, the worse the allergy is. Once you know which allergens to target, you may want to seek allergy shots for a more permanent treatment option. Allergy shots are usually given once a month or so, over 3 to 5 years. The idea behind allergy shots is that the body is slowly introduced to the allergen in increasing doses, so your body can build up a tolerance to the allergen.

Unfortunately, there is nothing you can do to get rid of allergies. An allergy is the reaction of the immune system to substances your body thinks are harmful to you. Once the body detects these foreign substances (which are called allergens), it releases a chemical into your bloodstream (the most common being histamine) and these chemicals cause the familiar allergic reaction you get: the runny nose, the watery eyes and the rashes on your skin. The more severe allergies are called anaphylactic reactions and can cause you to have chest pains, breathing difficulties or even loss of consciousness.

Because the body will always react the same way to allergens every time, you can’t really do anything to permanently get rid of an allergic reaction. You can, however, prevent allergies from happening by avoiding allergens that affect you. If you’re already affected, you can get rid of the allergic symptoms instead. In the case of allergies, the saying “prevention is the best cure” really applies.

First, identify your allergens. Everyone has different allergic reactions to different allergens, so it is impossible to treat someone’s allergy based on another’s reaction. For this reason, it is imperative that you identify which allergen you have a reaction to. You can accomplish this through the process of elimination. When you develop symptoms of allergy, try to think of the immediate things around you that could have triggered it. Things like the food you ate, the material of the clothes you wore, or even the things you touched are perfectly good suspects. The hard thing about allergies is that anything can be an allergen. It is only through experiencing one personally that you can start identifying it.

When trying to pinpoint your allergens, keep a list of the common allergens. You can find them in medical books or on the Internet. This way, the process of elimination will be easier. Since you can have allergic reactions to multiple allergens, a list can also be helpful to keep track of all the possibilities. If you still can’t identify your allergens on your own, enlist the help of a doctor. An allergy testing can be done, which usually involve scratch tests that bring out reactions that point to specific allergens.

Once you’ve identified your allergens, get rid of them. The simplest way to get rid of the allergens is to get them out of your environment. For example, if you are allergic to peanuts or to shellfish, remove them from your diet. If you’re eating out in a restaurant, ask the waiter about the ingredients of the food so you won’t have an embarrassing attack in the middle of the restaurant. Likewise, if you’re allergic to certain animals, like cat or dog fur, get them out of your house or steer clear of them.

Be sure to clean your house or environment regularly. Remember that allergens are not usually rooted in one place. Therefore, if someone brought a cat over and you’re allergic to cat fur, you are still at risk from any fluff the cat may have left behind, even if the cat’s long gone. Also, one of the more common allergens is dust, so regular house-cleaning will ensure that you’re relatively safe, always.

If you can’t get rid of an allergen (say, the allergen is a pollen from one of the flowers your next-door neighbor has), then the best course of action would be for you to get pharmacological help.

Use allergen-free products.

There are various products on the market that advertise themselves as hypoallergenic. Hypoallergenic products have ingredients that are less likely to cause any allergic reaction. While they do not totally eliminate allergens, hypoallergenic products contain as few common allergens as possible. Products such as pillows, detergents, beddings, and food have their hypoallergenic counterparts. For pet lovers, there are pets that are promoted as hypoallergenic, such as the Yorkshire terrier, whose hair or coat does not shed, and whose pH is the same as the human hair, so there is no dander.

Antihistamines can help you alleviate the symptoms of allergies. Antihistamines are drug products that serve to inhibit or counteract the effect of histamines in your body. As mentioned before, your allergic reaction is mainly due to the histamines produced by the body’s immune system when it senses an allergen. While antihistamines do not remove the allergy per se, they can help you relieve the allergic reactions, like the sneezing and the scratching. Most commonly, antihistamines come in nasal spray or oral form. Oral ones usually contain an added decongestant or pain reliever. Examples of common over-the-counter antihistamines are Benadryl and Claritin.

Antihistamines come in two families: the first generation and the second generation. The first generation antihistamines generally have heavier side effects than the second generation. Before taking any antihistamine, consult with your physician because he or she can prescribe the most apt medication for your case.

Take food and vitamin supplements. There are several vitamins and minerals that can boost and strengthen the body’s immune system, helping to combat allergens. Vitamin C, for example, is believed to be a good natural antihistamine when taken in sufficient doses. Certain antioxidants like grape seed extracts and N-Acetyl-Cysteine (NAC) are also good immune boosters that help your immune system cope better with the allergens. Consult with your physician about these supplements and how they can be used in conjunction with drugs to better alleviate your allergic reactions.

Check for other medical alternatives. Allergen immunotherapy is a procedure in which you are injected with allergen vaccines. The aim is to reach a dose that will consistently reduce your allergies by moderating and controlling your immune system’s reaction to them. The procedure does involve the risk of possibly inducing anaphylaxis, but advances in modern standard vaccines have lessened the risk of the side effects. Allergen immunotherapy has been developed specifically for several allergens like cat dander, red top, and sweet vernal grasses. Allergen immunotherapy should only be considered when normal, conventional methods of alleviating the allergy have proved ineffective.

Allergic reactions can be very annoying and uncomfortable, especially if you are allergic to several allergens at the same time. While there are many treatments available today and many others currently in development, everything should always be discussed with your physician. Allergies are common, but you can live life with them without suffering too much inconvenience.

An allergy is the disorder of the immune system where the system ends up becoming extremely sensitive to certain substances which are normally considered harmless. Usually when bacteria, fungi or viruses enter the body, the immune system produces antibodies and certain chemicals to kill these organisms. In a person who is allergic, the immune system produces antibodies and chemicals to fight non-infectious substances. These substances are known as allergens and the body’s reaction to allergens is known as allergic reaction.

Medical science has still not been able to make headway when it comes to allergies. Researchers know that number of substances can cause allergic reactions but the exact cause of allergies is still not known. However, science has proven that allergies are hereditary as they tend to run in families.

A baby, child or adult can be allergic to dust, mites, pollen, mold, latex, animal dander or certain types of foods. The most common types of foods that babies are allergic to include cow’s milk, egg, wheat, soy, peanut, cashew nut, fish and walnut.

If you baby is allergic to dust, mites or pollen, you will notice symptoms like rash, red watery eyes and sneezing each time he comes in contact with that particular allergen. Sometimes, the baby can also develop runny nose, nasal congestion and cough. These are mild allergic reactions and can be tackled with antihistamines and decongestants. However, if the baby develops breathing problems, you should immediately rush the baby to ER.

Some babies are also allergic to certain types of food. When they eat that particular food item, they develop an allergic reaction either immediately or within 24 hours of eating. Allergic reactions to food include hives, diarrhea and vomiting. The most common foods that babies tend to be allergic to are eggs, milk and wheat. Once you figure out which food your baby is allergic to, you should avoid feeding him that particular food item. This way you can avoid any kind of reaction — mild or severe.

Remember, anaphylactic shock has to be treated immediately or else it can be fatal. Anaphylactic shock is characterized by difficulty in breathing, swelling, vomiting, abdominal pain, dizziness, confusion and diarrhea.

Spring means many different things, to many different people. For individuals who live with seasonal outdoor allergies, it means finding a way to cope with months of discomfort every time they step outside. Each year, millions of allergy sufferers instinctively reach for over-the-counter medications and prescription drugs as their first line of defense. Unfortunately, not all users take the time to read and fully understand the potential side effects of these chemicals.

Allergy medications work by suppressing the immune system to prevent the release of a substance called histamine. Under certain circumstances, haphazardly taking these medications could pose a significant health threat to individuals with a compromised immune system. Surprisingly, very few people are even aware that there are natural compounds available to help support healthy histamine and immune system response. Let’s review four of the most promising.

Quercetin

During an allergy attack, white blood cells produce billions of molecules that scour the body in search of mast cells. Once they have been located, the two types combine to form one cell. Once this merger has occurred, they newly formed cells gradually begin to secrete histamine. Quercetin is a bioflavonoid that works by stabilizing mast cells, thus preventing them from releasing excess histamine into the bloodstream. It is histamine that promotes the sneezing, runny nose, watery eyes, and other symptoms associated with allergies. Stabilizing the cells that produce histamine has a powerful effect on how much histamine circulates throughout the body. Nutritionists recommend taking Quercetin with Bromelain, to help increase efficacy.

Probiotics

Many people fail to realize that the human digestive tract plays an important role in allergies. In 2003, the Kirin Research Group in Japan discovered a particular strain of Lactobacillus, named Lactobacillus KW. According to Kirin researchers, this unique bacterium could be helpful in preventing the onset of some common allergies, including hay fever. This was evidenced in studies using animal models, where a marked reduction in allergy symptoms was reported. More impressive, studies conducted on humans with hay fever showed that adding Lactobacillus KW significantly reduced the frequency and severity of allergy symptoms. This is an indication that probiotics may be helpful in modulating immune response to allergic triggers.

Omega- 3

Researchers are constantly finding potential new health benefits associated with the consumption of omega-3 essential fatty acids, found in fish and flax oils. One study that may be of great interest to allergy sufferers took place in 2003. This study examined the effect of fatty acids in 334 individuals who suffered from hay fever. At the conclusion of this study, researchers determined that there appears to be link between high oleic acid (omega-9) levels and hay fever. Interestingly, they were also able to determine that people who consumed little to no omega-3 fatty acids reported the worst symptoms. This is just another reason that we, as health-seeking consumers, need to remain keenly aware of maintaining adequate omega-3 intake.

N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC)

NAC is a potent antioxidant that has been shown to increase the body’s production of the important antioxidant, glutathione. To date, there’s no evidence that it can completely eliminate allergy attacks, however it does appear to create an environment that is unfavorable to their proliferation. Within the body, glutathione is heavily involved in the protection of cells, oxidative cellular defenses, and a number of immune-related activities. Research has shown that glutathione also helps stabilize the lung’s response to inflammation in asthma models, while increasing the body’s production of T-cells involved in immune response. Ultimately, researchers believe that NAC might help the body naturally reduce the inflammatory response that leads to heightened allergy symptoms.

If you are one of the millions of individuals who enjoy spring and summer with some trepidation, relief might be closer than you think. The nutritional sciences are constantly discovering new ways to improve the quality of life without drugs and synthetic chemicals. A skilled, certified nutritionist can be very helping you in understanding what may be best for you.

References

Kimata M, Inagaki N, et al. Effects of luteolin and other flavonoids on IgE-mediated allergic reactions. Planta Med. 2000 Feb;66(1):25-9.

National Institutes of Health (NIH). Available at [http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/print/] druginfo/uspdi/202060.html, Accessed 4-2-2006

New Bacteria to Fight Allergy Symptoms. Online resource, information obtained from nutraingredients.com Nov 2003. Accessed 4-2-2006

Blesa S, Cortijo J, et al. Oral N-acetylcysteine attenuates the rat pulmonary inflammatory response to antigen. Eur Respir J . 2003 Mar;21(3):394-400.

Witschi A, Reddy S, et al. The systemic availability of oral glutathione. Eur J Clin Pharmacol . 1992;43(6):667 – 9.

Nagle G. The influence of the dietary intake of fatty acids and antioxidants on hay fever in adults. Allergy 2003; 58(12): 1277-84