| Q. |
What
are allergies? |
| A. |
Allergies
reflect an overreaction of the immune system to substances
that usually cause no reaction in most individuals. These
substances can trigger sneezing, wheezing, coughing and itching.
Allergies are not only bothersome, but many have been linked
to a variety of common and serious chronic respiratory illnesses
(such as sinusitis and asthma). Additionally, allergic reactions
can be severe and even fatal. However, with proper management
and patient education, allergic diseases can be controlled,
and people with allergies can lead normal and productive lives.
|
| |
|
| Q. |
How
can I find out what is causing my allergies? |
| A. |
Your
family physician or an allergist can help you determine what
causes your allergies by looking at your medical history, giving
you a physical exam and testing for sensitivity to specific
allergens. There are typically three types of tests: the skin
prick test, blood tests and the elimination diet. |
| |
|
| Q. |
What's
the best place for people with allergies or asthma to live?
|
| A. |
Although
people can have allergies or asthma anywhere, there are some
areas where allergens (allergy triggers) tend to be more prevalent.
You might see some improvement in your symptoms if pollens and
molds in the new place are different than those you left behind.
However, it's not uncommon for people to develop sensitivities
in a new location to local allergens within a year or two. Only
in rare cases should people move because of their allergies
or asthma. Bottom line: no place is allergy-free! The good news?
Effective control measures can significantly reduce your exposure
to known triggers in any environment. |
| |
|
| Q. |
How
can I tell the difference between a cold and an allergy? |
| A. |
You
can tell the difference from a cold and an allergy from your
symptoms. Not everyone may be able to tell without a doctor's
diagnosis. In any case, here are some clues. With an allergy
you do not have a fever and muscle aches, but with a cold
you might. Allergies last week or months, while colds last
7 to 10 days. Nasal discharges caused by allergies are clear,
thin and watery, while a cold it starts off clear but changes
to thick, yellow/green. With allergies you may have itching
in the ear, nose and throat, while rarely with colds. Sneezing
spells are common with allergies and not often with colds.
Allergies occur during different seasons depending on what
you are allergic to, while colds mostly occur during the fall
and winter.
|
| |
|
| Q. |
Do
I need to see a doctor if I suspect I have allergies? |
| A. |
Allergies
are a serious condition and should be treated seriously. Untreated
allergies can lead to more serious conditions like sinusitis
and asthma. A doctor can help you determine what is causing
your allergies. This is important so you can learn to avoid
the substances that trigger your allergic reaction. Your doctor
can also provide you with tips on how to avoid the allergen
and prescribe medications that can help ease your symptoms when
the allergen can't be avoided. |
|
|
| Q. |
Can
I outgrow my allergies? |
| A. |
Many
people wonder whether or not they will outgrow their allergies.
Although allergic asthma may spontaneously improve, particularly
during adolescence, it may also worsen or reoccur later in life.
It is no longer thought that people outgrow these diseases.
The diseases sometimes can become dormant and you may be free
of symptoms. Still, allergic disease can return or even have
its initial onset later in life. Despite this, there is a tendency
for many allergies to become less severe in people after age
40 and more severe after age 60. |
|
|
| Q. |
Should
I get allergy shots? |
| A. |
When
medications aren't helping and you're having a hard time avoiding
your allergens, it might be time to consider allergen immunotherapy,
or "allergy shots." With immunotherapy treatment, you receive
increasingly higher doses of your allergens over time, gradually
becoming less sensitive to them. Allergy shots have been proven
effective for symptoms caused by grass, tree and weed pollens,
dust mites, cat dander, certain molds and stinging insects.
To date, allergen immunotherapy is the only treatment that has
the potential to provide long?term prevention of allergic asthma
or rhinitis symptoms. Allergy shots may have a lasting effect
after they are stopped, whereas medications do not. |
|
|
| Q. |
Is
ragweed allergy the same as hay fever? |
| A. |
Hay
fever is a general term used to describe what we doctors call
"seasonal allergic rhinitis." Many plants cause allergic rhinitis
symptoms. Ragweed is one of the chief culprits since it is a
prevalent weed in most parts of North America. If you are allergic
to ragweed, your symptoms will appear in late summer or early
fall when ragweed plants pollinate. You may experience itchy
eyes, a runny nose and sneezing. People with greater sensitivity
may have wheezing, coughing, sinus headaches or asthma attacks.
Allergy testing will give you a definite diagnosis. Prescription
antihistamines, nasal steroid sprays and allergy shots can reduce
or eliminate your symptoms. |
|
|
| Q. |
What
is a food allergy? |
| A. |
People
with food allergies have immune systems that react to harmless
substances found in food and drink. These substances are called
allergens. When people have an allergy, there are antibodies
to the allergens in their blood and throughout their body. When
that person eats a food to which they are allergic, the food
allergens react to antibodies on cells releasing chemicals.
Any food can cause an allergic reaction, but only eight foods
cause nine out of ten reactions. In infants and young children
milk, soy, eggs, wheat, peanuts, tree nuts, fish and shellfish
are most common, while adults are more likely to be allergic
to peanuts, tree nuts and shellfish. |
|
|
| Q. |
How
can I tell if my infant has food allergies? |
| A. |
If
you suspect your baby is allergic to any food, your best approach
is to discuss his or her symptoms with your pediatrician.
Common allergy symptoms in babies include hives, colic, wheezing,
or red and itchy scaly patches on the skin (eczema). Keep
a log of what foods cause a reaction in your child and how
soon symptoms appear. Share this information, along with your
family's history of asthma or allergies with your health care
provider, If you and your spouse have allergies, your child
has about a 75 percent chance of having allergies. If one
of you is allergic, or if relatives on one side of your family
have allergies, then your child has about a 50 percent chance
of developing them. Sometimes blood tests and allergy testing
are done to help make a diagnosis. Your pediatrician may refer
you to an allergist for specialized testing or treatment.
|
|
|
|
|
|
