Breathing easy with spring allergies?

Breathing easy with spring allergies?
Eugene S. Hurwitz, M.D. FAAAAI
Center for Allergy and Asthma of West Georgia

The spring allergy season will has already started, with warm weather days resulting in increasing tree pollen counts as early as February, peaking in March and April. However, people with allergies can breathe easy this spring if they know how to take control and some key survival techniques, according to Dr Eugene Hurwitz of the Center for Allergies and Asthma of West Georgia.

  • Spring Allergy & Asthma

"Many of the people who have allergies often unnecessarily suffer during peak seasons," said Dr Hurwitz. "There are a variety of treatment options available to patients with allergies that can control their symptoms and bring relief."

TABLE 1 (LIST SYMPTOMS IN TABLE)
Typical allergy symptoms are sneezing, itchy and watery eyes, runny nose, as well as coughing, wheezing and other breathing difficulties. These conditions are often associated with other complications, including repeated episodes of sinus infections, ear problems, and asthma. Such problems can lead to work loss or school absences. Allergies may also have a severe impact on the quality of someone's life, leading to poor work or school performance.

What is not understood by many is that allergies can be controlled and even eliminated with a combination of actions and treatment, including:

TABLE spring allergy avoidance

Reducing exposure to the tree pollens that trigger allergy symptoms, can be helpful. Measures include:

  • Postpone outdoor activities until later in the morning.
  • Pollens are usually highest between the hours from 5 - 10am
  • Know your local pollen count --VISIT CAAWG.COM FOR COUNT 
  • If possible use air conditioning instead of having windows opened 
  • When traveling in a car have the windows up and the air conditioning on 
  • Don't hang your laundry out to dry. Allergens will collect on them 
  • Do not mow the lawn or rake the leaves without a filter mask 
  • Wash bedding weekly in hot water 
  • Shower and wash your hair every night before going to bed

Medications to Treat Symptoms

Although the symptoms of seasonal allergies can make children and adults feel miserable, there are medications that can help. Some medications are available over-the counter and some by prescription only. These include:

Antihistamines: Control itching sneezing and runny nose

Examples over- the counter- claritin , zyrtec, benadryl, chlorpheneramine ; prescription allegra , xyzal , lodrane and many others – Note- many otc medicines may cause drowsiness

Nasal steroid spray – Control iitching, sneezing, runny nose, and congestion. Nasal corticosteroids are the strongest medications available for the preventive treatment of nasal allergies, if used daily can prevent symptoms in many many allergy sufferers

Examples:prescription only,- Flonase, Veramyst , Nasonex

Antihistamine Eyedrops - control itchy eyes

prescription, Pataday,, zatidor, and others also antihistamines (Claritin, Benadryl)

FOR ASTHMA, COUGHING WHEEZING SHORTNESS OF BREATH SYMPTOMS

Rescue inhalers- relieve coughing wheezing shortness of breath, chest tightness and exercise problems


EXAMPLES): prescription only- Albuterol, such as ventolin, proventil, maxaire and others

PREVENTIVE INHALERS- For daily and long term Control of asthma symptoms, - inhaled steroids or combination products long acting beta agonists

Examples flovent , pulmicort , combination products advair and symbicort

Allergy shots or immunotherapy:

If avoidance and medications are not effective, allergy shots as a treatment option are highly effective, particularly for patients who continue to suffer.

FACTS ABOUT ALLERGY SHOTS

This treatment is more effective and less expensive than relying on medications every day.

Allergy shots are recommended for patients when medications are not effective, need to be taken all the time or for those having frequent problems related to their allergies, difficult to control symptoms, repeated episodes of sinusitis or asthma

In most cases, the shots eventually reduce symptoms and related problems such as sinusitis by 80-90%

Shots may be required once a month for a few years and then can be discontinued, along with the allergy medications, and the immunity maintained.

These shots are relatively painless and are effective for both children and adults. Many children as young as 4-5 can take them without pain or fear.

A NEW TREATMENT: ALLERGY DROPS- INSTEAD OF SHOTS

These drops are new available at the CENTER FOR ALLERGY AND ASTHMA

Allergy drops given under the tongue (or sublingual immunotherapy), are an alternative to allergy shots.

Allergy drops can be effective for season and year round allergies for children and adults

Drops are to be given daily, under the tongue.

We are happy to discuss this option with our allergy patients as part fo their evaluation..