Allergies
What are Allergies?An allergy is when your body overreacts to allergens or substances that don't cause problems for most people. Allergies are sometimes referred to as "hay fever" or "rose fever."
What are the Symptoms?
- Runny nose
- Watery eyes
- Itchy nose, eyes and roof of mouth
- Sneezing
- Stuffy nose
- Pressure in the nose and cheeks
- Ear fullness and popping
- Dark circles under the eyes
- Hives
The first step is to try and figure out what allergens cause problems for you. Then stay away from them as much as possible. Here are some tips:
- Pollen from trees, grass and weeds: Shower or bathe before bedtime to wash off pollen in your hair and on your skin. Avoid going outside during the time of year when your allergies cause the most problems, especially on dry, windy days. Keep windows and doors shut at home and in your car, and use an air conditioner or special air filters, such as HEPA and electrostatic filters.
- Mold: Remove houseplants. Frequently clean shower curtains, bathroom windows, damp walls, areas with dry rot, and indoor trash cans. In areas where mold has built up, clean with a mixture of water and chlorine bleach. Don't carpet bathrooms or other damp rooms and use mold-proof paint instead of wallpaper. Reduce the humidity in your home to 50% or less.
- Pet dander: If your allergies to dander (skin and hair from animals) are severe, you may need to give your pets away or at least keep them outside.
- Antihistamines help reduce sneezing, runny nose and itchiness. Anti-histamine medications that don't cause drowsiness are available at most pharmacies without a prescription. Ask the pharmacist if you have questions.
- Decongestants help temporarily relieve a stuffy nose. They come as pills, nose sprays and nose drops. Decongestant tablets or liquids are best used only for a short time (one to two weeks). Medicated nose sprays and drops shouldn't be used for more than three days because if used longer, they will cause your nose to feel even more stopped-up when you stop. Decongestants are purchased over the counter; however, they can raise blood pressure so talk to your family doctor before using them.
- Cromolyn sodium is a nasal spray that helps keep your body from reacting to inhaled allergens. More helpful if you use it before you're exposed, this over-the-counter medicine may take up to two to four weeks to begin working.
- Nasal steroid sprays reduce the inflammatory reaction of your nasal tissues to inhaled allergens and make your feel less stopped-up. This prescription medicine may take a couple of weeks to start working.
- Eye drops can help itchy, watery eyes. Your doctor may suggest eye drops that contain an antihistamine/decongestant combination. These drops are available in over-the-counter and prescriptions forms. Many of these eye drops should not be used for longer than a few days.