Tips on Coping When Its Hard to Breath
About 20% of the US population or 35 million people suffer from hay fever or allergic rhinitis. Spring allergy season is already upon us. Trees pollinate during early spring and grasses during late spring. Cedar is the earliest tree that starts pollinating in Huntsville.
Treatment approach for seasonal allergies include:
1. Environmental control or Allergen avoidance:
Pollens are difficult to avoid. Individuals who suffer from allergies should avoid outdoor activity during peak pollen times. Trees and grasses pollinate mainly during early morning hours (5-10 AM). You should keep windows closed in the house and car and operate your air conditioner.
2. Medication treatment:
Patients should start medication (antihistamines, Nasalcrom nose spray or cortisone nose spray) a week before and throughout the season.
3. Allergy vaccination or Allergy shots:
Allergy shots are used for those with moderate to severe allergies who are not easily controlled on medications or who cannot tolerate medications. Shots can also be offered for those who desire permanent relief after 3-5 years of treatment.
Allergy shots reduce the need for medications and provide the possibility of long-term benefit after 3-5 years of treatment. This was clearly shown in a recent landmark study published in New England Journal of Medicine. Researchers at Imperial College in London treated grass allergic patients with monthly allergy shots for 4 years. Patients significantly improved compared to a control group treated with medications.
After stopping allergy shots, patients continued to get benefit for an additional 3 years. Related research has also shown that allergy shots prevent the development of persistent asthma and also reduce the development of new allergies. Research has also shown that allergy shots prevent the development of persistent asthma in individuals with hay fever and reduce the development of new allergies.
The allergy shot program consists of a "buildup phase" where individuals start with a very small amount of allergenic extract and progress on a weekly basis to reach a "maintenance dose". This maintenance dose is the dose that gives clinical benefit. Once a patient reaches the maintenance dose, he/she can get shots once every 2-4 weeks during the "maintenance phase" which usually lasts for a period of 3-5 years. It generally takes 5-10 months to reach the maintenance dose with the traditional weekly build- up program.
About 20% of the US population or 35 million people suffer from hay fever or allergic rhinitis. Spring allergy season is already upon us. Trees pollinate during early spring and grasses during late spring. Cedar is the earliest tree that starts pollinating in Huntsville.
Treatment approach for seasonal allergies include:
1. Environmental control or Allergen avoidance:
Pollens are difficult to avoid. Individuals who suffer from allergies should avoid outdoor activity during peak pollen times. Trees and grasses pollinate mainly during early morning hours (5-10 AM). You should keep windows closed in the house and car and operate your air conditioner.
2. Medication treatment:
Patients should start medication (antihistamines, Nasalcrom nose spray or cortisone nose spray) a week before and throughout the season.
3. Allergy vaccination or Allergy shots:
Allergy shots are used for those with moderate to severe allergies who are not easily controlled on medications or who cannot tolerate medications. Shots can also be offered for those who desire permanent relief after 3-5 years of treatment.
Allergy shots reduce the need for medications and provide the possibility of long-term benefit after 3-5 years of treatment. This was clearly shown in a recent landmark study published in New England Journal of Medicine. Researchers at Imperial College in London treated grass allergic patients with monthly allergy shots for 4 years. Patients significantly improved compared to a control group treated with medications.
After stopping allergy shots, patients continued to get benefit for an additional 3 years. Related research has also shown that allergy shots prevent the development of persistent asthma and also reduce the development of new allergies. Research has also shown that allergy shots prevent the development of persistent asthma in individuals with hay fever and reduce the development of new allergies.
The allergy shot program consists of a "buildup phase" where individuals start with a very small amount of allergenic extract and progress on a weekly basis to reach a "maintenance dose". This maintenance dose is the dose that gives clinical benefit. Once a patient reaches the maintenance dose, he/she can get shots once every 2-4 weeks during the "maintenance phase" which usually lasts for a period of 3-5 years. It generally takes 5-10 months to reach the maintenance dose with the traditional weekly build- up program.
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