Taking Control and Being Prepared

You don’t have to let allergies control your life: you can avoid and prepare for allergic reactions in many ways. Different allergies call for different tactics, but there’s no reason you can’t live a good life without constantly worrying about allergens.

Medical Standbys: Allergy Pills and Bronchodilators

If your doctor has prescribed allergy pills or bronchodilators, follow the dosing instructions carefully. Different medications treat allergies in different ways: while allergy pills are usually taken once or twice a day, other medications are designed for long-acting relief.

Albuterol is a common fast-acting allergy medication. Albuterol is part of the family of drugs known as bronchodilators: medications that relax and open respiratory airways. Like many bronchodilators, albuterol is available in an inhaler. The inhaler can be used to treat allergic reactions as they occur. Many allergy sufferers experience asthma symptoms during exercise, so they use their inhaler a few minutes before starting to exercise.

Not all inhalers provide fast-acting relief. Some inhaled medications are taken on a regular basis to help prevent attacks from occurring. They are not designed to relieve an allergic reaction in progress. You may be prescribed more than one inhaler. Follow dosing instructions carefully: overuse of bronchodilators can worsen some existing medical conditions, most notably heart conditions.

Emergency Treatment: Epinephrine Injection

Anaphylaxis requires prompt medical attention to prevent loss of consciousness and death. For that reason, many people who suffer from life-threatening allergies are prescribed epinephrine, an adrenaline-based medication that is administered using an EpiPen^®. An EpiPen is an easy-to-use injection system that quickly releases epinephrine into the bloodstream.

If your doctor has prescribed epinephrine, carry your EpiPen with you at all times. Your doctor will teach you how to use it correctly. It’s a good idea for family and friends to know how to use the EpiPen in case of an emergency.

Diet and Allergies
If you suffer from food allergies, controlling your diet is very important. Many food allergens are “hidden” in processed foods, candies and restaurant meals.

 Breathing Easier: Air Filters and Pollen Counts

A pollen count report can help hay fever sufferers predict how severe their allergy symptoms may get on a particular day. The higher the pollen count, the more likely you’ll experience adverse reactions. Pollen counts are available from a number of meteorological or news sources. You can even access a pollen count service online that can send you email whenever the forecast pollen count reaches moderate to high levels.

If house molds, dust or animal dander cause your hay fever, air filters can help reduce allergen levels in your home. Your choices of air filters are varied, but generally HEPA filters are the most efficient. A HEPA (HighEfficiencyParticulate Air) filter can filter extremely small particles from the environment, including pollen and animal dander. You can also purchase a HEPA filter for furnaces, and some vacuum cleaners.

The Myth of Hypoallergenic Cats and Dogs

If you’re a pet lover, and allergic to animals, it can be quite tempting to believe that hypoallergenic dogs and cats exist. The sad truth is that any dog or cat can trigger allergies. Remember that it’s not animal fur that causes the allergic reaction, but dander, saliva, and urine. So fur length doesn’t play a large role in pet allergies.

Just because hypoallergenic dogs and hypoallergenic cats don’t exist doesn’t mean that you necessarily have to get rid of your pet. Certainly removing the animal from the house is the best solution, but many of us can’t bear to part with a beloved animal. Here are some methods for reducing your animal allergy as much as possible:

Keep pets out of the bedroom.
Have a family member groom and wash the pet regularly. Don’t do it yourself!
Replace carpeting with wood or linoleum (carpets trap allergens).
Wash your hands after handling your pet.
Use air filters.

If you chose to find your pet another home, don’t expect immediate allergy relief: it takes six months to clear a home of animal allergens.

Medical Alert Jewelry
If you have severe allergic reactions, consider wearing a bracelet or necklace that identifies your condition. In an emergency situation, the information engraved on the tag lets people quickly identify your symptoms as an allergy attack, and warns medical staff of any possible medication allergies you might have. Check with your doctor or clinic about obtaining one or more of these important items.