From dog and cat allergies to food and the environment, allergies are becoming increasingly more prevalent in the U.S., ranking as the 5th leading chronic disease among all ages! Symptoms range from running nose, watering eyes, itchy skin, hives, bronchial constriction, and even swelling of the throat depending on the source and severity of the reaction. If you have a consistently recurring reaction, known or unknown, you should seek medical attention from an Allergist/Immunologist to determine the causes and offer more comprehensive treatment options.

No matter what your allergy, you can expect to change some things about how you go about life. If it's pollen, dust, or mold you may have to take an effective antihistamine or find a new home for your pet. If it's a food you used to not have problems with, you'll have to find an alternative. And if it's a skin allergy, you may have to change your laundry detergent. You and your Allergist can determine the best route for you. Possible treatment options are listed below.

Mild to moderate asthma and seasonal allergy sufferers could benefit from something as simple as washing their hands and face more often, not handling animals and sitting in non-upholstered furniture in homes with pets, or exercising indoors during peak allergen periods. The most common reactions include itchy watery eyes, running nose or congestion, shortness of breath, and bronchial inflammation. Over the counter antihistamines such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl) or loratadine (Claritin, Alavert) treat the reaction before it happens, and decongestants such as pseudophedrine (Sudafed) or chlorpheniramine maleate (Chlor-Trimeton) help treat the symptoms. You can also get stronger oral prescriptions or a prescription inhaler or Nebulizer for shortness of breath and bronchial constriction due to inhaled allergens.

Food allergies are more difficult in that you need to know what the food is so you can avoid it. Eight foods - milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, soy, fish, shellfish - account for 90% of all food related allergies according to the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology. Keeping a food diary, having an Allergy Skin Test, or a blood test can help identify your food allergy. The simple treatment answer is to avoid what you're allergic to. However, you should also acquire the skill of asking about ingredients at restaurants and at friends' houses, reading labels at the grocery store, having an epinephrine/antihistamine injection prescription and knowing how to use it, and wearing a Food Allergy Identification bracelet in case you lose consciousness from consuming an allergen.

Skin allergies are consistent reactions to allergens that result in itching, redness, swelling, and blistering and is most commonly a hereditary condition. Treatments include steroidal topical creams which work by decreasing swelling, anti-itch creams which treat symptoms of the allergy, and Immunomodulatory Medications which alter the skins immune system response to the allergen. A doctor can prescribe any of these appropriately for recurring symptoms such as eczema.

Good sources of information include an Allergist and General Practitioner or the AAAAI website www.aaaai.org where you can sign up for email alerts from the National Allergy Bureau. You can also research common household appliances and products for their allergen effectiveness at www.online.consumerreports.org.

Learn more about this author, Sean Siemen.
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