Millions of Canadians suffer from allergies and asthma. When your immune system identifies a normally harmless material as a threat, it can set off symptoms like sniffles, sneezes, rashes, or breathing problems.
Allergy shots
If you have severe allergies, you or your allergist might have considered "allergy shots" - officially called allergen immunotherapy. But are all those needles worth it? For some people, the answer is "yes."
Like a vaccination, immunotherapy allows you to gain "resistance" or immunity to the things to which you're allergic. That way, your body won't overreact when you're exposed to these triggers, or allergens, and your symptoms won't interfere as much in your daily activities.
However, the therapy might require patience on your part. Allergen immunotherapy is not a one-time injection, but rather a series of shots. It starts when a doctor or allergist injects a tiny amount of the allergen, and then increases the amount of allergen injected each week, depending on how sensitive you are. It can take four to six months of weekly injections to reach the amount that is needed for immunity, which is called the maintenance dose. This dose is given every one or two weeks, eventually spreading out to every three or four weeks, and continuing for three to five years or longer.
The good news? After this process, people are usually less sensitive, so they don't need as much allergy medication - sometimes even none at all - and can enjoy their daily activities more easily. Experts suggest that immunotherapy is especially helpful for people with asthma because their attacks are often triggered by allergens.
Hay fever
You may have heard the term "hay fever," but seasonal allergies, also known as allergic rhinitis, can be triggered by more than just hay. When trees and grasses begin growing in the spring, they release light, powdery pollen that floats on the wind. If you're allergic to this pollen, it can result in sniffling, sneezing, wheezing, a runny nose, and itchy, watering eyes.
Allergy triggers vary depending on the time of year. In late summer and early fall, weed pollen (especially from ragweed) and fungal spores are the main culprits. As well, the specific allergens in the environment will vary with the geographical area.
So if you're an allergy sufferer, how can you enjoy the outdoors without experiencing unpleasant symptoms? Here are a few tips:
- Keep windows closed so pollens can't drift in. Air conditioning will keep you more comfortable in hot, humid weather. But don't forget that air conditioners also create the best conditions (damp and dark) for moulds to grow in your home. Do some spring cleaning, and do it regularly.
- Stay inside when pollen counts are high (watch for these in weather reports) and on windy days when pollen and spores can get blown around. Avoid being outdoors in the early morning hours (between 5 am and 10 am), when pollen counts are usually highest.
- Don't hang your laundry outside to dry - it can trap pollen and mould, bringing them inside. Use your dryer instead.
Parent power fights asthma
Experts are beginning to understand that allergies and asthma are related. In fact, children with allergies often have asthma and a skin condition known as atopic dermatitis (eczema) as well. Since allergy triggers can lead to asthma attacks, effective control of allergies may lead to better control of asthma. However, asthma attacks cannot always be prevented.
Seeing your child have an asthma attack can be worrisome or make you feel unsure of what to do the next time an attack occurs. Your child's doctor and pharmacist will recommend the right medication(s), doses and delivery devices for your child. Learn how to give the medications properly and make sure you understand the "action plan" designed to best manage your child's asthma. Keep the action plan handy: it's a list that takes you through specific steps to know when the asthma symptoms are worsening, how to increase the dose of medications, and when to seek medical attention. You might also be advised to use a peak flow meter at home, which measures how well the lungs are working. If your child has an asthma attack, here's what to do:
- Act calm and confident and speak to the child reassuringly.
- Give the asthma-reliever medications at the very start of an attack.
- Make sure your child drinks liquids to prevent dehydration.
- Try to determine what triggered the attack, and then remove it (or the child) from the area.
- Follow the action plan. If your child uses a peak flow meter, take a measurement to use with the action plan.
- If the attack is under control, you can relax. If it isn't, call the doctor.
You can be your child's most important ally in controlling asthma. Inform teachers, principals, school nurses, coaches, and babysitters of the asthma, what triggers it, and what should be done during an attack. As kids get older, you can teach them to manage their asthma themselves. And if you're a smoker, try to quit, or at least don't smoke in the house - smoke aggravates asthma symptoms.
© MediResource Inc. Terms and conditions of use: The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Resources
Conditions database - Asthma
Click here
Conditions database - Allergic Rhinitis
Click here
Article - Health Tip: Dealing with Exercise-Induced Asthma
Click here
Ontario Lung Association - Asthma Basics and Management
Click here
Asthma Society of Canada
Click here