Managing Allergies

AVOIDANCE

Avoid the causes of allergic rhinitis where possible. Avoidance is the most effective way to manage allergies.

TIPS FOR AVOIDING AIRBORNE ALLERGENS

  • If you are allergic to airborne pollens and molds, use air conditioning in your home, your car, and at work.
  • Keeping doors and windows closed also is an effective way to keep out airborne pollens and molds.
  • Dry your laundry inside during pollination times.
  • Clean up areas of obvious mold growth. Consider a dehumidifier for damp basements.
  • If you have seasonal allergic rhinitis, it may help to leave the geographic area during the allergy season. For example, if you are allergic to ragweed, consider going to places such as the Rocky Mountains or northern Minnesota during the ragweed season.

 

 

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TIPS FOR AVOIDING PET ALLERGENS

  • If you are allergic to pets, removing them from your home and cleaning the house thoroughly may give complete relief of symptoms.
  • If you decide to keep your furry pets, bathe them weekly. After washing your cat once a week for several weeks, you may reduce the amount of its allergen that floats in the air (airborne allergen).
  • A special filter such as a HEPA filter can reduce the dander level in the air.
  • Keep your pets outside as much as possible.
  • Do not let them on your bed or even in your bedroom. Also, keep them out of other rooms in which you spend a lot of time.
  • If you are allergic to animals, do not buy furniture or rugs that are made with animal hair.
  • For dust mite allergy, encase the mattresses and pillows in allergy control barriers, wash the blankets and sheets weekly, and keep the humidity down.
  • Have the bedroom out of the basement and have smooth floors where possible.
  • If you are allergic to cockroaches, use a roach control method to rid your home of these pests.

TIPS FOR AVOIDING IRRITANTS

  • If you have any type of rhinitis, try to avoid things that irritate your nose and lungs, such as dust, smoke and temperature change.
  • Don’t smoke.
  • Avoid frequent nasal sniffing or blowing, and throat clearing. These actions can be irritating and can cause sensitive nasal and throat membranes to secrete more mucus.

MEDICATIONS

Use the medication prescribed by your allergist at Dakota Allergy & Asthma. Medications for allergic and non-allergic rhinitis we may prescribe to you fall into these categories:

ANTIHISTAMINES

These lessen symptoms of an itchy, sneezy and runny nose, and itchy, watery eyes.

NON-SEDATING

The non-sedating forms are preferred and include Allegra™, Clarinex™, and Claritin™.

MINIMALLY SEDATING

Patanase, AstePro, Zyrtec, Astelin, and Xyzal.

SEDATING

Sedating antihistamines are commonly sold over-the-counter and include Benadryl® and chlorpheniramine. All can be used on an as-needed basis as they start working in 30 to 60 minutes. Antihistamine eye drops are also available such as Patanol® and Vasocon®.

DECONGESTANTS

Decongestants work by shrinking (decongesting) swollen nasal membranes. Various forms of pseudoephedrine (such as Sudafed®) are the main products available. They are stimulant drugs and may aggravate high blood pressure. On rare occasions, decongestants may cause your heart to beat differently. Decongestants can cause difficulty with urination, however, this occurs most often in older men.

Avoid nasal decongestant sprays. Although these medications offer temporary relief, they can result in chronic obstruction of the nasal passage. They shrink the nasal mucous membranes briefly, and when the effect of the medication ends, the membranes once again swell. This swelling becomes greater with repeated use, and finally, the nose becomes severely obstructed.

Many allergy medications contain both antihistamines and decongestants. Asthmatics can use antihistamines and decongestants for their nasal symptoms. These medications do not help the asthma symptoms.

ALLERGY BLOCKING MEDICATIONS

Allergy blocking medications inhibit the body’s mast cells from releasing histamine and other mediators that cause your allergic symptoms. Cromolyn (Nasalcrom™) is available as a nasal spray or eye drop (Crolom™) that can relieve allergy symptoms. Lodoxamine (Alomide™) is another eye drop. Both are preventive types of medication and to be most effective, they should be started before the beginning of the allergy season. In some people, they cause stinging or burning.

CORTICOSTEROIDS

These are effective in treating both allergic and non-allergic rhinitis (and nasal polyps) and can be given by injection, pill or spray.

When used in pill form or by injection, cortisone may have serious side effects, particularly when used over long periods of time. The allergists at Dakota Allergy & Asthma always use their expertise to carefully weigh the side effects of cortisone-containing drugs against the seriousness of the allergic symptoms.

CORTICOSTEROID NASAL SPRAYS INCLUDE:

  • Beclomethasone (Qnasl™, Beconase AQ™, or Vancenase AQ™)
  • Budesonide (Rhinocort Aqua™)
  • Flunisolide (Nasalide™, Nasarel™)
  • Fluticasone (Flonase™)
  • Mometasone (Nasonex™)
  • Triamcinolone (Nasacort AQ™)
  • Ciclesonide (Omnaris™, Zetonna™)

Common nasal steroid sprays contain fluticasone, triamcinolone, or budesonide. Most are now over the counter.  These nasal sprays usually do not cause the same serious side effects as the pills or injections.  The allergists at Dakota Allergy & Asthma generally recommend you start taking them before your allergy season, take them every day, and only stop taking them after the season is over.

EYE DROPS

Eye drops help with the itchy, watery eyes symptoms of your allergy. They can be antihistamines, decongestants, allergy-blocking agents, or anti-inflammatory agents. Be sure to tell us if you wear contact lenses, as many eye drops cannot be used with them.
Note: New treatments are being tested and put on the market continuously. Ask your allergist at Dakota Allergy & Asthma about new medications for treating your condition.

ALLERGY IMMUNOTHERAPY OR ALLERGY SHOTS

Allergy immunotherapy is also called desensitization, hyposensitization or allergy shots. It is a form of treatment that can make you less sensitive to allergens. Approximately 70 to 80 percent of people who have allergic rhinitis benefit from allergy shots.It is helpful for allergic rhinitis, especially for allergies to trees, grasses, weeds, cats, and dust mites. It can also help with mold or dog allergies. It is generally not helpful for non-allergic rhinitis or nasal polyps.

NASAL SURGERY

Surgery is not generally helpful for allergic and non-allergic rhinitis. However, it may help in some situations where another condition arises with allergic rhinitis. We will work with you to determine whether or not surgery might help you.

Surgery can often improve nasal breathing in people whose internal nose structures block air passage, such as a deviated nasal septum. Turbinate reduction procedures can reduce nasal congestion. Nasal polyps may need surgical treatment if they cause severe nasal obstruction, repeated sinus infections or erosion of the bone. Unfortunately, nasal polyps tend to return and may require additional surgery. Long-term cortisone nasal sprays are often recommended to help reduce the regrowth of the polyps. Other procedures can, at times, help with chronic sinusitis.

THREE STEPS TO RELIEVE & FIX ALLERGIES

Having allergies can be downright miserable! However, you might find your self asking, “Is it allergies that are causing me or my child to be sick?” Oftentimes, the symptoms associated with allergies, the common cold, and sinus issues are similar. Read our resource and find useful tips on how to relieve allergies