Allergies:
For more serious cases, specialised medications or even procedures like immunotherapy can be very effective. If you suffer from allergies all year, you'll have to turn detective to discover what's causing your symptoms.
CAN BEING TOO CLEAN CAUSE ALLERGIES ?
The incidence of allergies is rising, but nobody knows why. Some experts cite the 'hygiene hypothesis' as a possible reason. According to this theory, the squeaky-clean kitchen counters, germ-free bathrooms and well-sealed living spaces in modern homes, combined with antibiotics and vaccinations, mean that more and more children are exposed to fewer and fewer germs at an early age, when their immune systems can properly process them. The possible result of this ultrhygienic cleanliness, some believe, may throw our under-utilised immune systems into overdrive, triggering allergic reactions to harmless moulds or pollens. That may be one reason why allergies are much more common in developed countries than in rural areas of Africa or Asia. It may also explain why infants who grow up with a dog or cat, younger children in large families, or children who've had a lot of illnesses are less likely to suffer from allergies when they get older. Other possible causes of the allergy boom include pollutants, an increase in smoking, a decline in breast feeding and dietary changes. Any or all of these factors might interact with generic suscepibilities to bring on allergies.
You may also be more willing to undergo the prolonged commitment necessary to get injections. And finally, there are also a number of sensible changes you can make in your daily life that can help keep your allergies in check.
PROMISING DEVELOPMENTS
Allergy sufferers in Europe have an exciting new option: drops, rather than injections, for desensitising their allergy triggers. Also known as oral or sublingual ('under the tongue' ) immunotherapy, the new treatment uses liquid drops with tiny amounts of allergens. The regimen gradually desensiteise you, just as injections do. But you can use drops at home, rather than trekking to the doctor's surgery. More than a dozen small studies show that drops safely reduce symptoms by 30% and that people might cut their allergy dosages in half.
A promising new prosepect for allergy sufferers is anti-IgE drugs. These medications intercept the allergic reaction at an early stage, stopping symptoms before they start. Early tests show that these medications appear to be effective, though they must be taken indefinitely in order to remain beneficial.
Medications
Most allergy drugs relieve symptoms, and they act quickly. You'll get considerable relief, for instance, within an hour of taking an anti-histamine, which helps dry out the sinuses, relieve itching and hives and prevent sneezing. Such drugs are most effective if taken prior to an allergy attack, say before you plan to go outside.Most older anti-histmaines, such as Polarmine or Phenergan, can cause drowsiness or slowed reactions. This can be dangerous if you're driving or handling heavy machinery--but helpful if you want to go to sleep. Newer antihistamines, such as loratadine (Claratyne), cetirizine (zyrtec) and fexofenadine (Telfast), cause less drowsiness but are more expensive. An antihistamine nasal spray called azelastine (Azep) is good for nasal congestion and other symptoms.
If allergies have you all stuffed up, decongestants can be very useful, and they also help prevent sinusitis. Nasal decongestants come in a multitude of sprays, gels, drops, mists or vapours. Some, such as oxymetazoline (Vicks Sinex, Dimetapp 12 hour, Logicin, Drixine), last up to 12 hours. Others, such as phenylephrine (Nyal Decongestant Nasal Spray) or tramazoline (Spray-Tish), last about four hours. These sprays should not be taken for more than three days straight, because they can lose effectiveness or cause dependence if used for too long. There are also many oral decongestants (such as Sudafed or Demazin Sinus), which typically contain pseudopherdrine.
Antihistamines and decongestants may be more effective when combined with a steroid nasal spray, which works more slowly (doctors usually recommend using the steroid spray daily ). These
sprays, which gradually reduce inflammation and block the allergic response, are very effective for hay fever. Begin daily use a week before allergy season starts. Familiar brands include budesonide
(Rhinocort), beclomethosone (Beconase, Aldecin) and mometasone (Nasonex). Nasal steroids are safer than oral steroids and have few of the severe side effects fo the pills. Sodium chromoglycate nasal sprays, such as Rynacrom, quiet inflammation by preventing mast cells from releasing histamine. They're not as effective as steroids but may help milder allergies. Children often respond nicely to these sprays, which have virtually no side effects if they're given before a reaction begins.
For more serious cases, specialised medications or even procedures like immunotherapy can be very effective. If you suffer from allergies all year, you'll have to turn detective to discover what's causing your symptoms.
CAN BEING TOO CLEAN CAUSE ALLERGIES ?
The incidence of allergies is rising, but nobody knows why. Some experts cite the 'hygiene hypothesis' as a possible reason. According to this theory, the squeaky-clean kitchen counters, germ-free bathrooms and well-sealed living spaces in modern homes, combined with antibiotics and vaccinations, mean that more and more children are exposed to fewer and fewer germs at an early age, when their immune systems can properly process them. The possible result of this ultrhygienic cleanliness, some believe, may throw our under-utilised immune systems into overdrive, triggering allergic reactions to harmless moulds or pollens. That may be one reason why allergies are much more common in developed countries than in rural areas of Africa or Asia. It may also explain why infants who grow up with a dog or cat, younger children in large families, or children who've had a lot of illnesses are less likely to suffer from allergies when they get older. Other possible causes of the allergy boom include pollutants, an increase in smoking, a decline in breast feeding and dietary changes. Any or all of these factors might interact with generic suscepibilities to bring on allergies.
You may also be more willing to undergo the prolonged commitment necessary to get injections. And finally, there are also a number of sensible changes you can make in your daily life that can help keep your allergies in check.
PROMISING DEVELOPMENTS
Allergy sufferers in Europe have an exciting new option: drops, rather than injections, for desensitising their allergy triggers. Also known as oral or sublingual ('under the tongue' ) immunotherapy, the new treatment uses liquid drops with tiny amounts of allergens. The regimen gradually desensiteise you, just as injections do. But you can use drops at home, rather than trekking to the doctor's surgery. More than a dozen small studies show that drops safely reduce symptoms by 30% and that people might cut their allergy dosages in half.
A promising new prosepect for allergy sufferers is anti-IgE drugs. These medications intercept the allergic reaction at an early stage, stopping symptoms before they start. Early tests show that these medications appear to be effective, though they must be taken indefinitely in order to remain beneficial.
Medications
Most allergy drugs relieve symptoms, and they act quickly. You'll get considerable relief, for instance, within an hour of taking an anti-histamine, which helps dry out the sinuses, relieve itching and hives and prevent sneezing. Such drugs are most effective if taken prior to an allergy attack, say before you plan to go outside.Most older anti-histmaines, such as Polarmine or Phenergan, can cause drowsiness or slowed reactions. This can be dangerous if you're driving or handling heavy machinery--but helpful if you want to go to sleep. Newer antihistamines, such as loratadine (Claratyne), cetirizine (zyrtec) and fexofenadine (Telfast), cause less drowsiness but are more expensive. An antihistamine nasal spray called azelastine (Azep) is good for nasal congestion and other symptoms.
If allergies have you all stuffed up, decongestants can be very useful, and they also help prevent sinusitis. Nasal decongestants come in a multitude of sprays, gels, drops, mists or vapours. Some, such as oxymetazoline (Vicks Sinex, Dimetapp 12 hour, Logicin, Drixine), last up to 12 hours. Others, such as phenylephrine (Nyal Decongestant Nasal Spray) or tramazoline (Spray-Tish), last about four hours. These sprays should not be taken for more than three days straight, because they can lose effectiveness or cause dependence if used for too long. There are also many oral decongestants (such as Sudafed or Demazin Sinus), which typically contain pseudopherdrine.
Antihistamines and decongestants may be more effective when combined with a steroid nasal spray, which works more slowly (doctors usually recommend using the steroid spray daily ). These
sprays, which gradually reduce inflammation and block the allergic response, are very effective for hay fever. Begin daily use a week before allergy season starts. Familiar brands include budesonide
(Rhinocort), beclomethosone (Beconase, Aldecin) and mometasone (Nasonex). Nasal steroids are safer than oral steroids and have few of the severe side effects fo the pills. Sodium chromoglycate nasal sprays, such as Rynacrom, quiet inflammation by preventing mast cells from releasing histamine. They're not as effective as steroids but may help milder allergies. Children often respond nicely to these sprays, which have virtually no side effects if they're given before a reaction begins.
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