For many, allergy is just a word until you or someone you love is diagnosed as having it. Then there are seemingly hundred of pieces of information you need to help you explore all the options and make informed choices about how to effectively manage your condition. The questions in this article relate to allergy that is triggered by airborne allergens as opposed to those that cause reactions when ingested. Here are 5 questions and answers to some of the most frequent questions about allergy.
1. Is there a cure for allergy?
As of this writing, there is no cure for allergy. It is caused by a person's chemical make-up which triggers the body to overreact to certain airborne particulates.
These triggers are different for different people and can include everything from household dust, dust mites, mold and mildew spores to pet dander, airborne chemicals, and even smoke; and the toughest cases often involve a combination.
2. How can I tell which airborne triggers are causing a reaction?
Your allergist can do a series of test which expose you to very small doses of many potential triggers. You are deemed allergic to those that show a positive reaction. Some may show a stronger reaction than others, but any trigger that shows as positive is one you want to avoid.
Many triggers only occur seasonally, and once that season passes and your exposure to them decreases, the symptoms fade as well. For others who are allergic to indoor allergens like household dust, dust mites, or pet dander, they are likely to suffer continuos exposure as these are harder to avoid.
3. What kinds of medications are available?
There is a wide range of medications available on the market today that can be had from your local drug store. But before taking any medication you should consult a physician to make sure that you do in fact have allergy, rather than some other condition that presents similar symptoms. Your physician will determine whether your case indicates prescribed medications or can be dealt with using medicines available over the counter.
Many medications dry up the extra mucus that is produced to minimize congestion, runny nose, and coughing. Others try to reduce the reaction before it starts, making your body able to tolerate the trigger better.
4. Should I take allergy shots?
Allergy shots are designed to desensitize your body to selected triggers. It requires many shots of small doses of the allergen and will take time for your body to slowly build up immunity against the trigger. This is not a quick fix, but may be worth it for indoor triggers that are common and harder to avoid.
Shots do cost time and money, but if you weigh that against what it can do for your quality of life, it can be a viable solution. If effective this can reduce your dependency on long term use of drugs to control your condition.
5. What other options are there?
One of the best ways to constantly eliminate airborne particulates is by using a high efficiency particle arresting (or HEPA) air purifier. Filtering the air in your home or office will remove indoor airborne triggers that are hard to avoid such as dust, dust mites, mold and mildew spores, pet dander, smoke, and chemical based odors.
Designed to remove particulates as small as .3 microns, HEPA filtration is a non-invasive, effective, and cost efficient way to clear the air, increase indoor air quality, and ultimately improve your quality of life.
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