Allergy Treatment - The Basic Facts

Spring, summer and fall are difficult times for allergy sufferers. If you struggle with allergies, these times can create misery with wheezing, sneezing, coughing, and constant discomfort. Unless, of course, you have the proper approach to allergy treatment. The normal way to treat allergies is to control an inappropriate immune response. In the more chronic situations, suppressing the entire immune function with system and topical steroids can help. Allergens are the culprit for unsuspecting allergy patients.

What is an Allergen?

An allergen is a harmless substance that calls the immune system into action. Unfortunately, most of the time the action is an inappropriate response known as an allergic reaction. The first place to start involves testing you for many allergens at the same time. An allergist will put several rows of tiny drops on your skin. Then, the allergist pricks or scratches the skin underneath each allergen drop, so the substance can get under your skin. By observing the skin week after week, the allergist knows what allergen is affecting you.

How Treatment Works

Allergy treatment aims at achieving a certain balance: avoid or minimize contact and treat symptoms with the least potent yet most effective medication. Treatment varies with the severity and type of allergy symptom. No treatment will work as well as simply avoiding the allergen in the first place. For more severe reactions, see a doctor; don't attempt to treat yourself without medical consultation. A number of energy-based treatments are effective at treating allergies. These treatments have in common the fact that they are relatively new in the medical field, and all use some aspects of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) such as acupressure. Body cleansing is an extremely important part of every prevention and treatment.

What is Immunotherapy?

Immunotherapy works best for allergies to pollen, mold, cat dander, insect stings and dust mites. Allergy shots are a form of this therapy. To stop the body from reacting to an allergen, the common treatment method is to give an individual small, injected amounts of a specific allergen. Gradual increases in doses can help your body can build an immunity to the allergen(s) so that the reaction is no longer triggered. A doctor schedules weekly injections to slowly raise the amount of the injected allergen. The doctor evaluates the previous week's response and adjusts the dosage. For some people, this method can make a tremendous difference in their body's sensitivity to a specific allergen. In immunotherapy, the patient is given a series of shots or vaccinations to help build immunity to the allergen.

Conclusion

Medical science has come a long way in allergy treatment. The most natural approach is to avoid those allergens in your environment that trigger allergic symptoms. Keep your environment under control. Establish a regular routine of thorough cleaning and control the temperature and humidity. These practices often lead to fewer symptoms and a vastly improved quality of life. If the your allergy symptoms occur all year round, or if the allergy is caused by an unavoidable allergen, you may need allergy shots as the most effective treatment.