Treatment for Allergies

Allergies can mean your immune system is out of balance. One can be allergic to dust, pollens, flowers, medicines, foods, materials, pets, drinks, and specific objects. If you are allergic to something, your body treats it as harmful. Instead of attacking the intruder (pollen), your immune system mistakenly goes after some parts of your body, making them inflamed.

Symptoms

In addition to fatigue and a runny nose, allergies may cause many different symptoms, including −

• Sneezing

• Itchy eyes

• Skin rash

• Hives

• Difficulty breathing

In children, allergy symptoms may also include stomachaches, headaches, and vomiting. The severity of allergic reactions can vary from person to person. There are various ways to treat Allergies.

Some of the top ways to treat Allergies are

Eat a Healthy Diet − The first step in treating allergies is eating foods that won't harm your immune system. Some people find that cutting out dairy products helps reduce allergy symptoms, but if you choose to cut them out, make sure you replace them with healthy alternatives such as almond milk or soymilk. Also, ensure you are eating many fresh fruits and vegetables. Although they are high in sugar, eating more fruit and vegetables will help balance the sugar in your system and lower your risk of developing diabetes later on.

Get Enough Sleep − Sleep is essential because it restores your immune system. If you sleep well, you will wake up more refreshed, which means if you develop allergies, you will be able to fight them off more effectively.

Regular Exercise − Exercise can increase the number of natural killer cells used by your body to destroy viruses, bacteria, and other unwanted substances that enter the body. It can also help reduce stress, lowering your risk of allergies.

Take Supplements − The right combination of vitamins and minerals can boost your immune system. The vitamin C found in orange and other citrus fruits can help you stay hydrated by preventing water loss from the body through urination.

Find an allergy specialist − An allergy specialist treats allergies regularly, so he can tell you what triggers your allergies and how you can stop them from affecting you too much. Ask your primary care doctor for a referral to an allergy specialist, or look online for someone who specializes in allergies.

Take Anti-inflammatory Medication − Anti-inflammatory drugs, which include aspirin and ibuprofen, can help to reduce the swelling of your airways, so your body has a better chance of fighting off allergens.

Take an Antihistamine − An antihistamine helps prevent histamine from forming in your body, which reduces the severity of allergic reactions and swelling. The most common kind of antihistamine is Benadryl. It treats mild allergies by preventing histamine release in the body. It can help to open the airways and reduce a runny nose and itchy throat. Taking an antihistamine may also help you fall asleep.

Try Herbal Supplements − Many herbal supplements have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which means they can help to relieve symptoms associated with allergies such as congestion, sneezing, and sinus irritation. Herbal remedies may be helpful in the treatment of allergic rhinitis.

Consider Using Steroid Nasal Sprays − Steroid nasal sprays reduce swelling, mucus, and watery eyes to help patients live allergy free and breathe easier.

Use an Inhaler in Emergencies − Inhalers are a quick treatment that increases airflow through the nose and throat, relieves congestion, and reduces inflammation by neutralizing histamine. They are essential in preventing dangerous respiratory conditions such as asthma or severe allergies with acute symptoms.

These are some top ways to treat allergies, but we all know prevention is better than cure. So, let's look into some preventive steps to avoid allergies.

A few preventive measures to avoid allergies are

• Avoid foods that trigger allergies: Often, the first action when treating allergies is to avoid the food, chemical, or ingredient that is putting your body into shock. You should avoid them if you are allergic to a particular ingredient, such as red dye or peanuts. If you want to eat them, ensure you eat only a few of them. For example, if you are allergic to strawberries, avoiding consuming them for the rest of your life is better. Eating strawberries in quantity may aggravate the allergens, which could risk your health and make you very ill.

• Avoid pets − A pet or other animals can trigger an allergy. If you have an animal with any allergy, you should limit your exposure to it.

• Avoid cigarette smoke − Smoking is one of the top causes of respiratory allergies, especially if exposed to second-hand smoke regularly.

• Avoid allergens at work − If you work around people who use allergens, such as in a hospital or restaurant, you must avoid allergic material as much as possible.

• Avoid allergens outdoors − Outdoor allergens include pollen, dust, and mold spores.

• Use air conditioning − If you are allergic to pollen, using an air conditioner can help to filter out pollen and other allergens.

• Get allergy shots − Allergy shots can help the immune system create tolerance for allergens. Thus, they do not trigger a harmful immune response even if the person exposes himself to the allergens daily.

• Get a humidifier − A humidifier will help to reduce allergens in the air and protect against allergens that you would otherwise breathe in.

• Reduce stress − Stress can worsen allergies because it causes inflammation and activates your immune system. Studies show that lessening stress can improve your immune system and decrease the symptoms of allergies like sinus irritation, congestion, headaches, sore throat, and fatigue. However, the decrease in symptoms varies from person to person and one's surrounding.

Conclusion

Thus, there are many ways to treat allergies. The treatment option you choose will be based on the severity of your symptoms, the frequency with which you experience them, and any other health problems you may have. So, try to avoid allergy triggers as much as possible, do a good cleaning in your home, use air filters, and even get allergy shots if needed.