When Allergies Attack (and How to Fight Back)
We hear constant warnings about allergy season, usually in spring and summer, but there are few unlucky souls for whom allergy season seems to exist year-round. It’s the itchy eyes, the sneezing, and even sometimes rashes or hives. In severe cases, allergies can develop frequent sinus infections or even pneumonia. At best, allergies are a minor inconvenience that requires over-the-counter medications. At worst, they can seriously affect your productivity at work and your overall quality of life. You shouldn’t have to suffer, but many people feel like they don’t have a choice. They think they’ve tried everything, but they probably haven’t. Keeping reading to find out what to do when Allergies Attack.
Get tested
A lot of people associate allergy testing with a painful, time-consuming process that involves a lot of poking and a lot of needles. Those kinds of tests do still exist, but there are other options as well. You can get an allergy test without leaving your regular doctor’s office. The whole thing can be done in a few minutes, and you won’t have to wait days or weeks for your results. The best testing site is usually going to be your back. Your skin will be swabbed with a disinfectant, and then you’ll be scratched with all sorts of allergens. You’ll get tested for things like pet dander, pollen, and mold, in addition to food groups like wheat and dairy. The best part? You should be able to receive your results before you leave your doctor’s office. If you have a stuffy nose or red eyes after the allergy test, don’t panic. That’s a perfectly normal reaction to being bombarded with allergens. Even if you aren’t allergic to everything, you’ll still be allergic to at least a few things, and your body is trying to respond in the only way it knows how.
Find a strategy
Once the tests are completed and you’ve received the results, you and your doctor should sit down to create a plan of action. While it will be a relief to finally know exactly what’s wrong and how to fix it, it may mean making some painful choices. No one who is allergic to mold is going to miss the mold that’s been secretly growing in his or her house, but people who are allergic to cats are going to be pretty sad about the possibility of giving up Princess Whiskers. Plenty of people who are allergic to pets can get by with allergy shots or other treatments, so talk about that option with your doctor before you resign yourself to a pet free life.
Some of the hardest changes to make involve the things you eat and drink regularly. Plenty of Americans know they’re allergic to cow’s milk, but it doesn’t stop them from having the occasional milkshake. However, your quality of life could be improved by eliminating certain food groups entirely. Sure, milkshakes are great, but the sick feeling you get after you drink one isn’t so great. The good news is that there are more options than ever for people with special dietary needs. A life without wheat or dairy doesn’t have to be miserable.
