About allergy treatment
Allergies can be triggered by a wide variety of substances. Because the types of known allergens are so varied, most forms of allergy treatment focus on treating the symptoms rather than the causes.
Any treatment plan for an allergy will include avoidance – completely avoiding the allergen known to trigger an allergic reaction. However, avoiding an allergen is not always possible. The allergen may be airborne and constantly present (e.g., dust) or the individual may be highly sensitive so that even minute amounts will trigger a reaction. Therefore, a number of other strategies may be necessary to treat allergic conditions.
The majority of allergy treatments are designed to ease symptoms of an allergic reaction that has already occurred. There are some treatments, however, designed to prevent the onset of allergic reactions in people with known allergies, reduce the frequency of reactions or reduce the severity of symptoms if a reaction does occur.
Most allergy treatments for symptom relief are in the form of medications. Some medications target specific symptoms (e.g., itchiness, difficulty breathing). Others may target the relief of a variety of related symptoms, such as those associated with hay fever (e.g., runny nose, sneezing, watery eyes).
Medications may be effective in one of two ways: symptom relief or symptom prevention. Symptom relief medications are taken after the onset of symptoms to reduce allergy symptoms that are already present. These medications may seek to either:
* Interrupt the allergic cascade itself (e.g., antihistamines, leukotriene modifiers). These medications interfere with the histamines and leukotrienes released into the bloodstream during an allergic reaction. It is these chemical mediators that promote common allergy symptoms throughout the nose, throat, lungs, skin and gastrointestinal regions.
* Directly target symptoms caused by the allergic reactions (e.g., decongestants, bronchodilators). These medications often target the cellular swelling or blood vessel constriction that leads to symptoms such as runny noses, itching and redness. Other types of these medications help to relax and open airways and loosen mucus to improve a person’s breathing.
Symptom prevention medications are taken before the person comes into contact with an allergen to lessen the severity of an allergic reaction or prevent symptoms entirely. This usually requires the daily use of medication.
Allergy medications can be administered in a number of ways. These include:
* Pills. Solid form of medication that is swallowed. The medication dissolves and is absorbed into the bloodstream through the lining of the stomach and intestines.
* Inhalers. Aerosol devices that allow medications to be delivered directly to the interior of the lungs through inhalation.
Inhalers are portable devices that deliver medication to the lungs to treat breathing problems. Dry Powder Inhaler
* Nasal sprays. Sprays that distribute medicine – through the nose – directly to the nasal passages in the form of a fine mist.
* Eye drops. A sterile solution or medicine that is applied directly to the surface of the eye in the Nebulizerform of liquid drops.
* Nebulizers. Devices that use a compressor to convert liquid medication into a fine mist that can then be inhaled into the lungs.
* Topical creams. Medications in lotion or ointment form that can be spread directly onto the skin where it is absorbed into the body.
* Injections. Uses a needle and syringe to push liquid medication directly into body tissue.
Allergy medications are available over-the-counter (OTC), as well as by prescription. However, OTC allergy products are still medications, and should be treated as such.
All allergy medications have the potential to cause side effects, some of which could harm the patient. For instance, people with high blood pressure may be advised against taking decongestants because they can raise blood pressure. Patients should discuss OTC allergy medication with their physicians before using them.
In addition, patients experiencing any side effects from their allergy medication (prescription or OTC) should contact their physician. The physician may be able to prescribe another type of medication.
Patients should take allergy medications exactly as prescribed by their physician, because untreated allergy symptoms can lead to further complications. For instance, people who “ignore†their allergy symptoms and do not treat them can develop sinus and ear infections (otitis media). Overuse of allergy medication can also lead to problems. Those who use OTC decongestant nasal spray for more than three consecutive days can actually worsen their nasal symptoms (e.g., swelling, congestion).
Another form of allergy treatment focuses on desensitizing an individual to a specific allergen over time. This is accomplished through regular allergy shots, usually over a period of months or years. Each shot exposes the person to greater amounts of the targeted allergen. Eventually, the person’s immune system becomes tolerant to that allergen. Allergy shots can result in severe reactions in very sensitive individuals and some people fail to respond to the treatment at all. For these reasons this treatment is not always effective. They are also not an effective treatment for some types of allergies (e.g., food allergies).
Source : http://allergy.health.ivillage.com/asthmamanagement/allergytreatment2.cfm