Spring is on the horizon, and with it comes allergies. Allergy symptoms can be annoying at best and dangerous at worst, and they can make daily life incredibly difficult. If you suffer from seasonal allergies, you’re not alone; one in four American adults has a seasonal allergy. February and March are the perfect time to get the ball rolling on allergy management, so you have a head start when the pollen starts flying.
How Can I Manage My Allergies?
The most effective way to prevent allergy symptoms from occurring is to avoid the substance (or substances) that you’re allergic to altogether. Oftentimes, however, this is easier said than done.
Failing avoidance, your first line of defense is allergy medications. There are myriad options for allergy medications, the most common being antihistamines (Zyrtec, Claritin and Allegra, for example). These block the chemicals that your body produces that cause your most annoying allergy symptoms.
Antihistamines work best when you take them daily. This allows the chemical blockers to accumulate in your bloodstream so they can more effectively prevent the allergy chemicals from working. Therefore, it’s a good idea to check your medicine cabinet now for your favorite antihistamine and stock up if you don’t have any, and begin taking them now so your body is more protected once pollen season starts.
Can I Get Longer-Lasting Allergy Relief?
For many people, the idea of taking an oral medication daily in order to keep symptoms at bay isn’t appealing, especially if it means taking it for a lifetime. The good news is that longer-lasting relief is available. Under the supervision of a trained allergist, you can begin immunotherapy, a treatment that ultimately lessens your body’s reaction to your allergy triggers, significantly reducing your reactions for the rest of your life.
Immunotherapy is almost like a vaccine for allergies. In fact, it’s even available as a shot. A dose of the offending substance is introduced to your body in small doses. These doses will increase in size throughout treatment. The idea is to desensitize your immune system to the substance entirely.
How Can I Begin Immunotherapy?
To begin immunotherapy, your first step is to consult an allergist. You’ll have an allergy test performed to isolate exactly which substance will be administered to you in immunotherapy, determine whether you want to do immunotherapy as shots or drops and then you’ll set your schedule.
Just like with building up antihistamines, now is the perfect time to begin immunotherapy. Starting a treatment like this will mean you’re already ahead of the game once spring arrives in full force. Let this be an allergy-free spring. Talk to Spartanburg-Greer ENT & Allergy about how you can treat your allergies.