How An Allergist Can Help You

During the spring months, you would expect an allergist to be busy with patients suffering due to the increase of air pollen. Of course, pollen isn't the only thing out there that causes symptoms to pop up. You may be allergic to pet dander, peanut butter, or dust mites. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of allergens out there and you'll need a doctor to review your symptoms and triggers to determine which ones bother you. From there, you can begin addressing things from both a symptom standpoint and a cause standpoint. There are some things you should know about clearing your head.
Cleaning Isn't the Answer
Yes, keeping a clean house is a good idea if you're fighting allergies, but many sufferers take things to an extreme level, potentially making things worse. If you're constantly vacuuming the floors, for instance, you may just be putting dust into the air that would have been fine if allowed to simply settle into the carpet. It sounds gross, perhaps, but it's true. An allergist won't necessarily dissuade you from cleaning your house, but you're probably not going to reduce your symptoms significantly by going on a bleaching rampage.
Take Your Meds Early
If you know the season is coming for your symptoms to start kicking in, start taking the appropriate medication before they do. Antihistamines can work much more efficiently if they don't have to fight an attack already in progress. This doesn't mean that it's already too late if the itching and sneezing has begun. You should still get on an allergist-approved regimen as soon as possible. But, if you know it's coming, it would do you well to get your defenses going before those allergies start getting to you.
Shots May Do the Trick
For some reason, many an allergist has found that their patients believe shots are just for children. But, it's actually quite the contrary as these shots can work at any age and have been shown to be one of the most successful defenses against allergies. It should be noted, however, that this isn't the plan for everyone. If you're shy of needles, you aren't going to want a shot once or twice a week for the next six months (and monthly shots for the next couple of years). But, if you don't have any problem with them, they can be very effective. Certainly, they are not the only available option to address your triggers.

Seeking an Allergist - Treating the Root Cause

Allergy medications are responsible for a billion dollar business in the United States alone, and it's no wonder why. Every year, millions of Americans are confronted with unpleasant symptoms ranging from itchy skin to difficulty breathing because of allergens in the air. Unfortunately, because the medications are easily available from your local drugstore, many people simply buy more boxes of pills instead of visiting an allergist to see what can be done about the root problem. Are these medications bad? Not at all, but they are addressing the symptoms alone. What you want to treat is the cause.
Know The Cause
It is far from unusual to see someone downing endless pills without having the slightest clue of what they are or are not treating. Many longtime fans antihistamines aren't even sure if they're allergic to anything at all. They know they're experiencing the same symptoms they see on the commercials, and that's about all. This is no way to take care of your health. Make an appointment with an allergist and get to the bottom of your suffering. Perhaps nothing can be done. Perhaps all a doctor will do is confirm your suspicions and recommend you continue taking your medicine. But at least you'll know what you're fighting.
Don't Wait
Many people make the mistake of waiting until their symptoms kick into high gear before they start looking for relief. You can't blame someone for doing this the first time they experience the cycle, but what about the fourth or fifth time? At some point, you have to realize this if going to happen every year. Don't wait until your symptoms overwhelm you to seek help. If you're in a treatment plan with an allergist, keep it up, even when your symptoms seem to have disappeared. If you're taking OTC meds to fight through it, try starting your regimen a few weeks before your annual triggers start showing up.
Control Your Environment
It's common sense, but it's one of the most frequently dispensed pieces of advice an allergist will give to his patients. If you know you're allergic to something, do everything in your power to avoid that substance. If that means you cut out your walks through a flowery meadow in the spring, so be it. If it means giving away your pets, well, that might be tough but you have to do what you have to do. Over cleaning your house probably isn't going to help much, but you should stay on top of the chores. A tidy, clean house is much less likely to trigger your symptoms.