April is Allergy Awareness Month:

Did You Know.

• Allergies include allergic rhinitis (hay fever), allergic asthma, food allergies, drug allergies and insect sting/bite allergies.
   
• Allergens, which cause irritation, can get into the body through the following ways:
   
  • Inhaled into the nose and the lungs (airborne pollens)
  • Ingested by mouth (eating)
  • Injected (medications)
  • Absorbed through the skin (such as poison ivy)

   

• Plant pollens carried by the wind cause most allergies of the nose, eyes and lungs.
   
• Heredity does play a role in passing on allergies to the following generation, yet allergenic symptoms may not show until later years in life.
   
• Medications to control symptoms:
   
  • Antihistamines – Ones taken by mouth can help with itchy watery eyes, runny nose and sneezing, as well as itchy skin and hives. Some types may cause drowsiness.
  • Nasal Corticosteroids - Highly effective for allergy symptom control and are widely used to stop chronic symptoms.
  • Allergy Immunotherapy - allergy shots