Riley Hendersen asked:


Millions of people suffer from allergies each year. When certain materials come into contact with a person suffering from a specific allergy, their immune system mistakenly believes the material to be harmful. In response, the body will then produce histamine and other chemicals as a form of protection. Due to the presence of these chemicals within the body, reactions will take place such as a rash, swelling, and itching. In some cases, people may be affected by objects within the environment such as pollen, pollutants, mold, and dust. Reactions to environmental substances may include eye or skin irritations or breathing difficulty. In all cases, finding a successful allergy treatment is dependent on the type of allergy.

The most important step in successful allergy treatment is to avoid the materials that are causing the allergy symptoms. In order to prevent an allergy reaction, testing must be completed to find out which specific substance is causing distress within the individual. Allergy treatment must begin with testing the skin to find out what substances react with the skin when they make contact on the body. An allergist, a doctor that specializes in allergy treatment, will use a scratch test or a patch test to introduce various materials onto the skin to see if the skin has a reaction. If the site of the skin test reacts with redness or swelling, it is determined that the individual is allergic to the corresponding allergen.

The doctor will then recommend the right course of action for an allergy treatment based on the results of the skin tests. The doctor will also obtain a detailed medical history and a detailed description of the types of allergy episodes the individual has encountered. Several options are available in allergy treatment. Avoidance of the substances causing an episode can prevent distress. Pets, mold, pollen, dust mites, or certain foods, depending on your allergy, should be eliminated from your daily life and exposure should be kept to a minimum. Allergy medications may also be recommended by your doctor and include antihistamine, decongestants, mast cell stabilizers, or leukotriene modifiers. These medications can help reduce inflammation, block histamines, or eliminate nasal and sinus congestion.

Allergy medications can be utilized on a short term basis, or if the allergy is more severe, a long term medication may be recommended. Short term medications do not require a prescription but can cause drowsiness. A long term allergy treatment may require a prescription medication that does not cause the same side effects as a short term over-the -counter medication.

Allergy treatment depends on the specific allergy symptoms and the recommendations of the doctor. Certain over-the-counter medications could be used such as nasal sprays, creams, eye drops, pill or liquid decongestants, and antihistamines. Prescription strength allergy treatment may be suggested by doctors if the allergy is severe and needs a quick resolution due to shortness of breath or difficulty in breathing.

Each individual will require their own specific allergy treatment. There are many options to help relieve the discomfort allergy sufferers experience during allergy attacks. Working together with the doctor and routinely monitoring your current health status can lead to successful management of outbreaks and long term allergy treatment.

Blair Stephens asked:


According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, more than 50 million people in the U.S. suffer from some kind of allergy. Most of these allergens are things like common dust mites, ragweed and pollen but these simple allergens and the symptoms they cause have helped allergies become the 6th leading cause of chronic disease in America. The reasons and hypotheses that scientists have postulated on this topic are many, but no one seems to have the real answer. One thing is for sure, taking medications forever does not have to be the only method by which you can combat allergies. There are a number of homeopathic options for treating allergies, seasonal or otherwise, and taking a long, hard look at your bed, bedding and bedroom should be at the top of your list.

Most American’s currently own a traditional inner spring mattress and many of us will hang on to that mattress for a long time to avoid costly replacement. After all, if the bed is still relatively comfortable, why spend additional money before you absolutely must? If you suffer from allergies through part or most of the year your bed and your bedroom could be major culprits. Inner spring mattresses, for example, can be wonderful homes to dust mites. Dust mites are microscopic pests that thrive in human homes. They live on sloughed off skin cells and are particularly common in rugs, mattresses and bedding. If you are allergic to dust mites you probably suffer from allergies all year long and dust mites have been identified as a leading cause of asthma.

Simply replacing your innerspring mattress is not really going to solve your problem. In today’s specialty sleep market, you can find a number of options that serve consumers with significant allergy problems. Not only do the newer sleep technologies offer benefits to your joints, back and neck, they have also been designed with new materials that do not house allergens like traditional mattresses. If you are an allergy sufferer, or one of your children suffers from allergies or asthma is to consider purchasing one of the hypo allergenic specialty sleep options; an airbed, latex bed or a water bed.

Airbeds work beautifully for people with allergies to mold, dust mites and other common allergens. Dust mites cannot live inside an air mattress and you can empty and refill your air mattresses seasonally to ensure that you have a clean slate. If you consistently wash your bedding and maintain your airbed, not only will it last a lifetime but you can significantly reduce your exposure to allergens during sleep. Additionally, if you sleep with a partner, you can enjoy the benefits of tailoring your sleep surface to each individual offering firmer or softer mattress options to each sleeper. Airbed mattresses today come in all sizes from twin to California King and you can purchase memory foam toppers and other bedding that will work wonderfully with your airbed. They even make airbeds that can cater to women during pregnancy - a time when allergies can be a particular nuisance.

Latex mattresses are equally inhospitable to dust mites. Because latex mattresses contain a core of latex material, rather than springs, batting and other materials, they are impervious to dust mites. You can find latex mattresses at varying levels of softness and latex mattresses are now being manufactured by more and more companies so your options for this sleep surface are improving. Again, you can buy a memory foam topper and other bedding to customize this excellent sleep surface for you or you and your partner. Latex mattresses, like airbeds, often offer extended warranties and additional benefits to your overall joint and physiological health.

Waterbeds have been around for years, but the newer generation of this “old school” sleep surface makes it far more attractive. Obviously, dust mites cannot live within the fluid core of your waterbed mattress which makes these beds ideal for those who suffer from allergies and asthma. Additionally, if you like the warmth of the water bed but not the incessant “rocking” and lack of stability, there are now waterbed options that provide both the softness and feeling of sleeping on water with a newfound firmness. New advances in waterbeds have yielded a variety of options for all whether you opt for a firmer feeling or the traditional waterbed technology. Waterbeds now come in both hard sided and soft-sided models that look like traditional beds and you can get special toppers and bedding that can customize this specialty sleep surface for you and your partner.

Depending on your sleep situation and the preferences of both you and your partner, either an airbed, a latex mattress may make for a wonderful hypo allergenic sleep surface and may offer other benefits as well. Additionally, you can get pillow and mattress topper covers that are impervious to dust mites and you should consider replacing any carpeted floors in your home with another material that is not as habitable to this common allergen, among others. You may find that by replacing carpeting with vinyl, wood or alternative flooring, replacing your inner spring mattress, washing bedding more regularly and by vacuuming weekly that your allergies are significantly reduced.

Samantha Kay asked:


There are currently a variety of allergy treatment medications available to help alleviate the misery allergies can bring. The coughing, sneezing, runny eyes and itchy nose associated with allergies can make life hard to deal with.

Allergy relief can come in the form of allergy shots, prescription medications or over-the-counter treatments. Your doctor can suggest the treatment that will be best for your individual condition.

One form of allergy relief comes in the form of a series of allergy shots. In order to receive allergy shots, your doctor will take tests to determine which allergens you are allergic to. An allergen is basically a substance, such as pollen, ragweed or cat dander, that produces an allergic reaction. The shots you will be given will contain a small amount of this allergen.

The idea is that if the body is exposed to a small bit of this allergen over an extended period of time, the body will begin to produce an antibody for the allergen. After a period of six months, you should start to see some relief from your allergies.

Before you start allergy shots, however, talk to your doctor about your entire medical history. Certain health conditions you have or medicines you take may prevent you from being a candidate for allergy shots.

Allergy relief is also available in the form of both over-the-counter and prescription allergy medications. Most allergy medicines will contain one of two different classes of ingredients. One of these ingredients is a class of drugs called antihistamines.

Antihistamines, such as diphenhydramine, help to stop the chemical reaction in your body that result in an allergic reaction. Decongestants, such as pseudoephidrine, on the other hand, will help to relieve nasal and sinus congestion caused by allergies. Allergy medicines may also contain ingredients to help thin mucus, lower fever or ease aches and pains if you experience these symptoms also.

If you choose to see your doctor for you allergies, he might order a prescription allergy medicine for you. Prescription allergy medications are available in tablets, capsules, liquids and even eye drops. Non-sedating antihistamines are available only by prescription.

Generally prescription allergy medications are longer acting than those you can get without a prescription. These treatments also don’t impair learning abilities. This is especially important for children who suffer with allergies.

There are also a variety of allergy treatments available over-the-counter if you want to treat your allergies on your own. You can purchase these medicines without a doctor’s prescription; however, you might want to consult with your pharmacist about your particular symptoms to be sure you are choosing the best one for you.

Many forms of allergy relief that once required a doctor’s order, such as Claritin and Nasalcrom, are now available without a prescription. While these two medicines generally don’t cause drowsiness, most other over-the-counter antihistamines, such as Benadryl, will possibly make you sleepy. If you do decide to take these medicines, pay attention to the effect they have on you. You might not want to drive if you notice yourself becoming very sleepy.

Whatever extent your allergies bring misery there is allergy relief available. See your doctor to find out if your case could be helped with allergy shots or if your best bet is prescription or even over-the-counter treatments.

Steve Johnson asked:


Allergy medications are everywhere - oral antihistamines, nasal antihistamines, decongestants - Maybe it’s time to get the facts on your allergy medication.

Allergy medication is available over the counter and it is prescribed widely by doctors all around the world. Pick up a magazine there’s ads, the television is full of ads - these products are heavily marketed and choosing the one that’s going to work is an entirely different game.

There are four allergy medication categories - nasal sprays, decongestants, nasal antihistamines, and oral antihistamines. Let’s have a look at all four categories.

Oral antihistamines are by far the most common allergy medication prescribed by doctors. The block the histamines which is the chemical that is responsible for most of your symptoms. They do not offer permanent relief but as an allergy medication they do provide relief for itching, sneezing, hives, and nasal drip. Antihistamines can cause drowsiness and make it difficult to concentrate. You can actually be given a DUI if you are driving and taking this medication. Some of the OTC antihistamines are Benadryl, Atarax, Dimetapp, Tavist, Chlor-Trimeton, and Claritin. In fact Benadryl should be in every medicine cabinet.

Nasal antihistamines are newer and available through prescription and are a good allergy medication for the right situations. They work for12 hours and are steroid free. It is believed because of inhalation the dosage absorbed is better. It cause drowsiness, headache, and post nasal drip.

Oral and nasal decongestants are another allergy medication choice that is commonly used for those that have runny noses, sinus issues, post nasal drip, fever, pollen, sneezing, and itching. They are available in both prescription and OTC and in pills, drops, sprays, and liquids. However the ingredient phenylpropanolamine which was found in older decongestants has been banned. Current decongestants include Sudafed, Triaminic, Entex, and Ornade. Decongestants can make you jittery, elevate your blood pressure, and make sleeping difficult. Sudafed should be in every medicine cabinet.

The last allergy medication we’ll look at is nasal sprays. The non-steroid formulas are considered very safe and work best if you started a few weeks before the allergy season. Steroid formulas are available through prescription and are more effective and include Flonase, Nasonex, and Beclovent. Side effects include cataracts, hypertension, headache, weight gain, and nasal ulcers.

But wait we’ve had a look at a variety of allergy medications but there are also several natural remedies and an allergy medication that contains no harsh chemicals is likely to make your body much happier.

Besides considering a natural allergy medication you might also consider giving your body’s immune system a boost with the right supplement. After all the cause of allergies is an immune system that is misfiring.

And that means that an allergy medication isn’t always the solution to the problem. Sure it will reduce the symptoms but it is doing nothing to actually get to the bottom of the problem.

Once you get the facts on allergy medication you are in a much better position to make educated choices that work for you, your type of allergy, and your person situation. Choose what’s right for you.

Chris L. asked:


My 2 1/2 year old daughter has terrible allergies, she has been suffering since she was 5 months old. She had 12 sinus infections and 3 ear infections in her first 2 years alone. We started her on Flonase 6 months ago, which really helped teh infections, but since September 1st she has had a lot of congestion again, and has been coughing for at least 2 hours each night due to drainage. We had a Sharper Image UV air purifier, but it has broken 2 weeks ago and we are getting it replaced, not having the unit may be making her allergies worse, we are not sure. We tried Claritin syrup for the past 2 weeks but it does not agree with her stomach. Would a portable UV lamp wand help with some of her symptoms? Has anyone tried the UV wands for dust mites, bacteria, and viruses? The one I see on-line costs nearly $300, would a small aquarium UV light work in the same way for a lot less? ($50?) What is your opinion on UV light alleviating dust mite allergies, do you think it is worth it?
I thought that insect lights attracted insects, then the electric shock killed them!! Anyway, thinking more about it, my daughter’s allergis are more seasonal, probably not dust related so much, since all summer she was 100% fine, it really kicked up first week in September as it has when she was 5 months old (she was born April 3) and 18 months old, she is now 30 months old-my doctor (who I just called) agreed it was seasonal for her. I did not know that the HEPA filters are better I will look into those for her too, that is a better idea for her. She does not have asthma though thank goodness, and she is mostly ok during the day, night time is worse for her. Our house is 15 years old and I know the ducts are very dusty also. I jsut thought the idea of the UV light wand was very interesting.