There is no cure for allergies, but your CMP Provider can help provide some relief from them. When Visiting your provider for allergy treatment, be prepared to share the following information:
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When your symptoms started |
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When do they often occur |
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How often do the symptoms occur |
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What medicines you take, prescription and over-the-counter drugs |
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Any major life stressor which may have helped facilitate the symptoms |
Your CMP Provider will generally use a combination of three approaches to treat allergies:
1. Avoiding Allergens
Since relocating out of the pollen-rich San Joaquin Valley to the arid desert is probably not an option for you, here are some suggestions of ways to avoid allergens:
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Remain indoors in the morning. This is when the outdoor pollen levels are highest. |
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Wear a pollen-filtering facemask when working outdoors, particularly on windy days or days with a high pollen count. The pollen count is listed daily in the newspaper or can be accessed on the Internet. |
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In general, an allergic person should not do yard work such as mowing the lawn and raking leaves. If there is no one else to do this task, wear a tight-fitting pollen-filtering mask. |
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Avoid walks through tall vegetation. |
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Use a dehumidifier to help prevent mold growth in the home. |
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Try to avoid wall-to-wall carpeting that can hide molds and dust mites. |
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Venetian blinds, down-filled blankets, feather pillows, heating vents with forced hot air and closets full of clothes are all potential hazards to the allergic person. |
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Vacuums can cause dust to be stirred up in the air; special filters on vacuums can lower the amount of dust. |
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Pets with hair should generally be avoided by the allergic person, however, if animals are already a part of your life, bathe the animal regularly (preferably once per week) and have a non-allergic member of the family brush the animal frequently. |
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During periods of high pollen levels, people with pollen allergy should try to avoid unnecessary exposure to irritants such as insect sprays, tobacco smoke, air pollution, and fresh tar or paint. |
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Various types of air-filtering devices made with fiberglass or electrically charged plates used with air-conditioners and heaters might help reduce allergens produced in the home. |
2. Allergy Medications
For those who can’t avoid allergens, there are many medications that can help limit the effects of these allergens:
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Antihistamines – Histamine is released by the mast cells in the body's tissues and contributes to allergy symptoms. For many years, antihistamines have proven useful in relieving sneezing and itching in the nose, throat, and eyes, and in reducing nasal swelling and drainage. |
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Antihistamines can have serious side effects such as drowsiness and can react when taken with certain other drugs. A patient should always let the doctor know what other medications he/she is taking. |
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Topical nasal steroids - Anti-inflammatory drugs that stop the allergic reaction. In addition to other beneficial actions, they reduce the number of mast cells in the nose and reduce mucus secretion and nasal swelling |
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Decongestants - Drainage of the nasal passages sometimes will help to relieve symptoms such as congestion, swelling, excess secretions, and discomfort in the sinus areas that can be caused by nasal allergies. Over-the-counter and prescription decongestant nose drops and sprays, however, should not be used for more than a few days. When used for longer periods, these drugs can lead to even more congestion and swelling of the nasal passages. |
3. Allergy Shots
A series of allergy shots, also known as Immunotherapy may reduce the allergy symptoms over a longer period of time. Patients receive subcutaneous (under the skin) injections of increasing concentrations of the allergen to which they are sensitive. These shots help the body produce a protective antibody against allergies. Often regular treatments with allergy shots can reduce need for allergy medicines in the future.
PLEASE! Make sure and discuss your options with you provider before deciding on any type of treatment.
Source: AllerDays Allergy Guide, courtesy of Aventis Pharmaceuticals.
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