Allergies Facts
Important Facts About Allergies
Allergies facts will help you deal with your allergies, and not let them run your life.
• Over fifty million people in the United States are afflicted with allergies, and facts say that roughly half of our population tests positive to one allergen, or more than one.
• Penicillin is the most common cause of allergy deaths. Roughly 400 people die in the United States every year, due to anaphylactic reactions to penicillin.
• When you have allergies, they cause your immune system to over-react to any allergen that you eat, breathe, are injected with, or touch. Allergies facts state that some symptoms are sneezing, runny nose and coughing. But the symptoms can be serious, including hives, rashes, difficulty breathing and even death.
• There are many, many different types of allergies. Indoor, outdoor, seasonal, food, drug and latex are only a short list of all the types of allergies that affect Americans.
• There are no cures for allergies. Facts say that staying away from whatever you are allergic to, and treating the symptoms if they begin, is the way most allergies are dealt with today. An allergist will conduct tests for you, to find out exactly what you are allergic to.
• The two types of over-the-counter medications that are most often used to treat allergies are antihistamines and decongestants.
• Antihistamines work by being histamine blockers. That is, they block the substance that the body makes in response to exposure to something you are allergic to. They relieve general symptoms like runny nose, itching and sneezing. Doctors advise many patients to take an antihistamine whenever their allergy is “in season”.
• Antihistamines can have some troublesome side effects, including drowsiness, constipation, blurred vision and a dry mouth.
• Decongestants are also used to combat symptoms of allergies. Facts say that these meds reduce blood flow to the areas that are affected by allergies, and thus by narrowing the blood vessels. This clears your congestion and makes breathing easier. The side effects of decongestants include headache, sleeplessness, nervousness and increased heart rate.
• Allergy shots, and drops given sub-lingually, are two more ways that health care providers can help you treat your allergies. If you have had an allergy test, you can also get a shot that contains mild versions of the things you are allergic to. You take these shots over a period of months or years, and eventually they will help you build an immunity to those allergens, and they can alleviate your symptoms.
• There are ways to modestly “allergy-proof” your home, too, if you have indoor allergies. Keep your home cool, maintain a low level of humidity, and make sure you have adequate ventilation. These measures will help you to remain comfortable at home, and may mean you don't need OTC medications while you're at home.