What are allergies?

Allergies are usually caused by your body overreacting to particles in the air such as pollen, mold, dust or animal dander. The symptoms of allergies include itchy and watery eyes, sneezing, a runny or stuffy nose, fatigue or headaches. You can sometimes determine the cause of an allergy by recognizing when your symptoms occur. People who suffer year round are usually allergic to indoor allergens such as pet dander or dust. If you have symptoms during a specific time of the year you probably are allergic to a type of pollen or mold that is around during that time. Tree pollen usually arrives in the early spring, mold in the mid summer and grasses in the late spring and fall. The amount of outdoor allergens, pollen and mold, dramatically drops off after the first or second hard frost, usually the second or third week in October in Cincinnati.

What testing can be done?

You may require referral to an Allergist for skin testing or your doctor may order a blood test called a RAST test to see what exact what you are allergic to. This will allow you and your doctor to devise ways to avoid those substances.

Prevention tips

The best way to treat your allergies is to avoid those things you are allergic to. If your symptoms occur during a particular season:
  • limit the time you spend outside when pollen counts are highest
  • keep your car windows and house windows closed
  • use an air conditioner to filter pollen from the air

Symptoms brought on by dust

  • Symptoms that seem to be caused by dust can be reduced by:
  • keeping your house as dust free as possible
  • avoiding carpeting and upholstered furniture
  • avoiding feather pillows
  • covering your pillows, mattress and box springs with special plastic covers to reduce dust
  • washing all bedding in hot water

Symptoms brought on my mold

Symptoms caused by mold spores can be reduced by:
  • using your air conditioner
  • keeping your humidifier below 50%
  • cleaning your air filters frequently

Symptoms brought on by pets

If you are allergic to a pet:
  • remove the pet from the home
  • keep out of the bedroom
  • consider finding new home for your pet, if allergies are severe and not relieved with medicine

Treatment Options

Antihistamines are medications that block a potent chemical involved in causing inflammation during an allergic reaction called histamine. These are the most commonly used medications to treat allergies and hayfever. If you have itchy eyes, antihistamine eye drops are available without a doctor's prescription.
Decongestants such as pseudoephedrine or phenylpropanolamine, will temporarily open congested nasal passages. They can cause jitteriness and difficulty sleeping.
Nasal steroids are also an effective way to block inflammation in the nose and reduce sneezing and congestion. They are only available with a doctor's prescription. They can be used alone or in combination with an antihistamine.
Allergy shots may be your only alternative if all else fails. You will likely need to see an allergist and you will require testing to see exactly what you are allergic against. Then you will be given a series of injections with a small dose of the purified material to which you are allergic. Your immune system develops a tolerance for that allergen and when you are exposed to it you no longer react by having allergy symptoms. You will need to continue to get repeat injections for this treatment to work.
Talk to your doctor to find out what the best options are for you to keep allergy symptoms in control.