Laser Allergist

Archive for September, 2010

Have you been suffering from a prolonged case of the sniffles? Do your eyes constantly water and itch? Have you been coughing and sneezing so much that nobody wants to come close for fear of catching something icky? The good news is that you’re probably not contagious. The bad news is that you might have allergies.

Allergies occur when we inhale, touch, ingest, or otherwise come into contact with substances known as “allergens”. Different substances trigger different people; for example, one person might be allergic to pet dander, and another might be allergic to pollen. One thing all allergens have in common is that they provoke an allergic reaction in people who are sensitive to them. While most people develop a tolerance to most substances, allergic individuals are continually prone to all or some of these annoying symptoms:

•    Skin rashes or hives
•    Itchy, watery eyes
•    Itchy nose or scratchy throat
•    Sneezing
•    Shortness of breath or wheezing
•    Anaphylaxis (in severe cases)

An anaphylactic reaction is a serious, sometimes life-threatening reaction to allergens. Victims of anaphylaxis experience swelling, dangerously low blood pressure, and difficulty breathing. A reaction of this sort requires immediate medical aid.

Airborne allergens such as pollen, dust, and mold commonly cause allergic reactions. Sometimes our bodies have an adverse reaction to the foods we eat. Though they produce symptoms similar to allergies, these reactions are considered food intolerances. There is no immune system involvement during a food intolerance, but sufferers usually experience gastrointestinal distress.

Dealing with Allergies

Anti-histamines are commonly prescribed to treat allergies. But these drugs can cause drowsiness or restlessness in the user. Rather than depending on chemicals to ward off their allergies, more people are now turning to natural alternatives. Citrus fruits have a natural antihistamine effect. So do onions and garlic. Since allergens settle around the home, many people endeavor to clean, dust, wash bed linens, and vacuum once a week. Others plan their outdoor activities around the pollen count; if it’s high, they stay home. Allergies can play havoc on nasal passages and sinus cavities, so many allergy sufferers try to improve the quality of the air they breathe by installing air filters and setting up dehumidifiers. Still others find relief with saline nasal washes.

If you’ve got allergies, experiment with the solutions presented above to find the one that works best for you. Some changes are easy to incorporate, while others might be a challenge. Once you find relief, though, you’ll agree that the time and effort were well worth it.

Before starting immunotherapy, the allergist will take a complete medical history. Be sure to tell him or her about every medication you take, prescription and nonprescription, even those you take only occasionally. Report any vitamins, dietary supplements, herbal products, and other alternative therapies you take. Also report every allergy you know of.

If you are a woman, it is essential that you tell your allergist if you are pregnant or have any plans to become pregnant in the foreseeable future. In this case, allergy shots might be better suited for another time. Based on your particular situation, the allergist will tell you your options for treatment of your allergies during pregnancy.

In certain situations, allergy shots can be continued during pregnancy, if it is determined that the potential benefits outweigh the risk of an unlikely, but potentially severe, reaction to one of the shots.

The allergist will prepare a schedule for your allergy shots. It is extremely important that you adhere to this schedule.

At first you will get the shots often, once or twice a week. After about 6-12 months, you will start maintenance therapy, which means a shot about every month or so. Most people continue to take maintenance therapy for 3-5 years.

The allergist will also keep track of your symptoms to see how well the shots are working for you. The only reason to have further skin testing is if the allergy shots are not working and there is concern that you may have developed more allergies.

Immunotherapy, if properly managed, can significantly reduce allergy symptoms. In some people, it greatly reduces the need for allergy medication. These effects become noticeable 6-12 months after starting the therapy. Most people notice continued gradual improvement over the next 2-4 years. By years 3-5, most people are desensitized to their allergen or allergens. Many can stop immunotherapy at that point.

There are several things you can do to increase the success of the therapy. Make a commitment to follow your allergist’s recommendations to the letter.

Follow through with the entire course of treatment recommended. If you stop half way through, the treatment will not work. Continue to avoid the allergens as much as possible. Just because you complete a course of immunotherapy for your allergy to pet dander doesn’t mean you can now go out and get a cat. Immunotherapy is much less likely to work if you do not continue to avoid your allergens.

Allergy shots do not work for all allergens or for all allergic conditions. While they reduce symptoms of allergies such as seasonal allergic rhinitis (hay fever), indoor allergies such as dust and dust mites, molds and mildews, and animal dander; and stinging insect venoms, they are not effective for food or medication allergies at this time. Generally, they are given only for allergens that are bothersome all year long or for significant portions of each year.

A final factor in your consideration of allergy shots is your patience. If they are to work properly, the shots must be given in a series over time.

My six month old granddaughter is allergic to most foods and environmental factors.
Why? How have allergies evolved in our genetic history?

Hopkinton walk aims for food allergy cure
Patricia Rivers’ son, Odin, “is a very happy, video game-playing, Lego-building, almost-5-year-old boy.”

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