Article posted on Thursday, February 17, 2011
The beginning of tree pollen is closer than you
think! (hint, you can't JUST pay attention to when you see it on
your car) Here are some tips for things that spring allergy
sufferers need to remember as March approaches!
Top 5 Spring Allergy Mistakes to Avoid This
Season
Do you sneeze and wheeze all spring long? If so, you may be
making common mistakes that prevent you from keeping your allergy
symptoms under control. The American College of Allergy, Asthma and
Immunology (ACAAI) alerts allergy sufferers to avoid these five
common mistakes:
• Treating symptoms without knowing what you're allergic
to. You may think you know what's causing your allergy symptoms,
but more than two-thirds of spring allergy sufferers actually have
year-round allergies. An allergist, a doctor who is an expert in
treating allergies and asthma, can perform tests to pinpoint the
cause of your suffering and then find the right treatment to stop
it.
• Spending blindly on over-the-counter medications. There are
tons of treatments available at the store, some of which can be
very effective. But if you're buying new products all the time,
spending a bundle and not feeling better, consult with an allergist
who can discuss which options might be best for you. Your allergist
may suggest nasal spray or allergy shots, also called
immunotherapy. Immunotherapy can actually cure your allergies and
keep you out of the drug store aisles for good.
• Waiting too long to take allergy meds. Don't wait until
symptoms kick in and you're already feeling bad to take allergy
medication. Instead, prepare by taking medication that has worked
for you in the past just before the season starts. Pay attention to
the weather: When winter weather turns warm, pollens and molds are
released into the air. Start treatment prior to the warm up.
• Not steering clear of your allergy triggers. Finding the
right treatment is important, but it's also critical to start
avoiding what you are allergic to. For example, if you have a
pollen allergy, make sure you keep your windows shut, take a shower
when you come inside and stay indoors during mid-day when pollen
counts are highest. All of these things can make a big difference
in how you feel.
Eating produce and other foods that might aggravate sniffles and
sneezing. If your mouth, lips and throat get itchy and you sniffle
and sneeze after eating certain raw or fresh fruits or other foods,
you may have "oral allergy syndrome". The condition, which affects
about one third of seasonal allergy sufferers, occurs in people who
are already allergic to pollen when their immune system sees a
similarity between the proteins of pollen and those of the food,
and triggers a reaction. If you are allergic to tree pollen, for
example, foods like apples, cherries, pears, apricots, kiwis,
oranges, plums, almonds, hazelnut and walnuts may bother you.
Cooking or peeling the food may help, but you should talk to an
allergist.
Informaion obtained from www.acaai.org
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The Beginning of Allergy Season is Here
Article posted on Thursday, February 17, 2011
The beginning of tree pollen is closer than you
think! (hint, you can't JUST pay attention to when you see it on
your car) Here are some tips for things that spring allergy
sufferers need to remember as March approaches!
Top 5 Spring Allergy Mistakes to Avoid This
Season
Do you sneeze and wheeze all spring long? If so, you may be
making common mistakes that prevent you from keeping your allergy
symptoms under control. The American College of Allergy, Asthma and
Immunology (ACAAI) alerts allergy sufferers to avoid these five
common mistakes:
• Treating symptoms without knowing what you're allergic
to. You may think you know what's causing your allergy symptoms,
but more than two-thirds of spring allergy sufferers actually have
year-round allergies. An allergist, a doctor who is an expert in
treating allergies and asthma, can perform tests to pinpoint the
cause of your suffering and then find the right treatment to stop
it.
• Spending blindly on over-the-counter medications. There are
tons of treatments available at the store, some of which can be
very effective. But if you're buying new products all the time,
spending a bundle and not feeling better, consult with an allergist
who can discuss which options might be best for you. Your allergist
may suggest nasal spray or allergy shots, also called
immunotherapy. Immunotherapy can actually cure your allergies and
keep you out of the drug store aisles for good.
• Waiting too long to take allergy meds. Don't wait until
symptoms kick in and you're already feeling bad to take allergy
medication. Instead, prepare by taking medication that has worked
for you in the past just before the season starts. Pay attention to
the weather: When winter weather turns warm, pollens and molds are
released into the air. Start treatment prior to the warm up.
• Not steering clear of your allergy triggers. Finding the
right treatment is important, but it's also critical to start
avoiding what you are allergic to. For example, if you have a
pollen allergy, make sure you keep your windows shut, take a shower
when you come inside and stay indoors during mid-day when pollen
counts are highest. All of these things can make a big difference
in how you feel.
Eating produce and other foods that might aggravate sniffles and
sneezing. If your mouth, lips and throat get itchy and you sniffle
and sneeze after eating certain raw or fresh fruits or other foods,
you may have "oral allergy syndrome". The condition, which affects
about one third of seasonal allergy sufferers, occurs in people who
are already allergic to pollen when their immune system sees a
similarity between the proteins of pollen and those of the food,
and triggers a reaction. If you are allergic to tree pollen, for
example, foods like apples, cherries, pears, apricots, kiwis,
oranges, plums, almonds, hazelnut and walnuts may bother you.
Cooking or peeling the food may help, but you should talk to an
allergist.
Informaion obtained from www.acaai.org
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