If you are struggling with allergies, you are definitely not alone. Approximately 50 million people in the United States suffer too, and that number keeps increasing. Some allergies may be temporary or seasonal, while other people may have chronic allergies, and suffer constantly.
It is those sneezy, itchy-eyed, congested months from early spring to late fall when trees and grasses bombard the air with pollen. Allergy symptoms may last right through summer, depending on what you’re allergic to, with trees, grass, and mold being the most common culprits. Allergies can take a toll on many aspects of your life.
What are Allergies?
In simple terms, allergies occur when your immune system mistakenly believes that something that has touched or entered your body is a dangerous threat, eliciting an immune system response.
According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, during allergy season, your body has an immune reaction when exposed to different allergens and forms allergy-specific antibodies called immunoglobulins, which sit on cells in your eyes, nose, lungs and skin. Every time you come into contact with a particular allergen, your body reacts by releasing chemicals called histamines, leading to an allergic reaction.
Are Allergies and Asthma the Same Thing?
During allergy season, your body has an immune system reaction when you come into contact with a particular allergen, or aggravating material. Asthma is categorized as a chronic lung disease associated with inflammation and narrowing of the airways in our lungs. The two are different conditions, but can occur simultaneously.
Have a Plan in Place
Before you can treat allergies or try to avoid the cause of your flare-ups, you need to identify what’s causing your symptoms. If you know that you’re at an increased risk for allergies due to family history, it’s a good idea to get an allergy skin test (called a scratch test) before the season begins. Due to several years of record-breaking levels of seasonal pollens, it is important to have an allergy survival plan in place. Check pollen alerts, invest in an air purifier, manage stress, and get an allergy test to determine what you are in fact allergic to. Stay one step ahead for an allergy-free season.
Tips on How to Control Allergy Symptoms
- Get pollen alerts: Your local weather station or weather app may provide pollen reports, so you can prepare yourself before you leave the house.
- Invest in an air purifier: Run an air filter in your bedroom and keep pets out of your sleeping space to ensure that your body has time to rest and recharge overnight with no allergy flare-ups.
- Manage your stress: Extra stress can throw off your immune-system balance. For some people, it’s a case of fatigue and adrenal exhaustion.
- Find the right treatment: Once you’re in full-blown itchy, sneezy, watery-eye mode, there are a number of things that you can try in order to manage your symptoms and relieve discomfort. Whether prescription or over the counter medication, it’s important to be informed about what to take, and when to take it.
To learn more about allergies and getting the right treatment for them, call SC Internal Medicine Associates and Rehabilitation at (803) 749-1111 to make an appointment, or request one online.
