The beautiful trees and blooming flowers make spring a beautiful season. Unfortunately, this is the season when seasonal allergies kick in. The allergies result from the pollen from trees, grasses, and flowers. The allergies are dangerous to people with asthma as they can lead to narrowing of the airways making it difficult for you to breath. If you regularly suffer from allergies, you should know how to deal with them to avoid complications. To help you out, here are tips that will help you survive the season.

Consult your allergy doctor

If you have developed allergy before, you should visit your doctor before the season begins. The professional will undertake skin or blood tests to determine the allergens that you are allergic to. After the test, the health professional will then recommend medications. The allergy doctor may recommend tablets or allergy shots if you are looking to eliminate the allergy. Although there are many anti-allergy drugs that you can buy over the counter, you should avoid doing it to avoid side effects.

Keep your home clean and pollen-free

Keep your home clean especially around the areas where dust and pollen tend to sit. This includes the shelves and carpets. You should vacuum carpets and dust the shelves more frequently. To control airborne pollen inside your home, consider installing an air purifier. Also, make sure that you clean the air filters on a regular basis and keep the doors and windows closed. Pollen tends to stick to fabrics. To get rid of it, you should wash your beddings, pillow cases, sheets, and clothes as often as possible. If you use your garage for storage, clean it out. This will allow you to go from your house to your car without getting into contact with pollen.

Stay indoors especially in the morning

Airborne pollen is usually high in the morning. The good thing is that you can avoid them by staying indoors. Although it can be really nice to jog and go out in the morning, just do your morning exercise indoors and save yourself from developing allergies. If you can’t help being outdoors you should schedule your activities early in the morning or go outside when the pollen count is low. While outdoors, allergists recommend that you wear a protective allergy face mask. To survive spring allergies, you should avoid exposing yourself to the pollen as much as you can. When you develop symptoms, visit a reputable allergy clinic and get the advice of a doctor.

Allergy shot therapy, also known as immunotherapy is an allergy treatment option where you visit an allergy doctor and he/she injects you with allergens so that your body can get used to them. Over time your body will get used to the allergens and you won’t develop symptoms.  Immunotherapy is grouped into two phases: the buildup and maintenance phases.

The buildup phase lasts for 6 months. During this time the doctor administers shots 1-3 times a week. During the administration, the doctor increases the allergy dose so that he/she can stretch the body’s response. The maintenance phase continues for 3-5 years or longer. During this time you have to take a shot at least once a month.

When to consider immunotherapy

You should consider allergy shots as a treatment option when all the known allergy medications aren’t working. Also, consider the treatment option when your body is interacting with the medications. To avoid the complications you should get the allergy shots. When you are suffering from allergies you have to regularly take the medications for you to avoid the symptoms. Regular consumption of the medications can be a bother to most people. If you don’t like taking the drugs you should consider undertaking immunotherapy.

Allergies that you can control using allergy shots

While this allergy treatment option is highly effective, you can’t use it for all types of allergies. According to allergy experts, the allergy shots are effective for

Indoor allergies: These are allergies brought about by indoor allergens such as mold, pet dander, dust mites, and cockroaches.

Seasonal allergies: The conditions come about when you are allergic to pollen released by weeds, trees, and grasses. One of the most common types of seasonal allergy is hay fever.

Insect stings: This is brought about by insect stings from insects such as hornets, bees, wasps and yellow jackets.

It’s good to note that allergy shots don’t work when you are suffering from hives or food allergy.

Conclusion

Immunotherapy is probably one of the most effective ways of treating your allergies. When considering it, you should know that it will take you years before it’s complete. During the treatment, you stand to face a number of risks such as local and systemic reactions. It’s also common to suffer from anaphylaxis which is a life-threatening condition. To lower the risks of developing complications you should work with a certified and experienced allergist. This calls for you to take your time doing your research.

Allergy tests are done by an allergist in order to determine the substance that you are allergic to. The tests are recommended when you show allergy symptoms that include: eczema, itchiness, runny nose, chest congestion, wheezing, severe reaction to insect stings, and coughing. There are three main types of allergy tests: skin, blood, and elimination diet.

Skin allergy test

This test is used to identify the airborne allergens that you are allergic to. The test will also help you determine whether you are allergic to a given food or insect venom. The allergy doctor starts by scratching the skin surface and places an allergen on the scratched section. You will be closely monitored to observe how your skin reacts to the allergen. If there is swelling or redness, you are definitely allergic to the allergen. If you are unresponsive to the scratch test, the professional may order an intradermal skin test. Here a small amount of allergen is injected into your skin and you are closely monitored.

The allergy doctor may also do a patch skin test. Here the doctor places adhesive patches treated with suspected allergens on your skin. The patches are supposed to remain on your skin for 24-72 hours. The doctor will review your condition every 24 hours. According to allergy experts, this test will help you identify contact dermatitis.

Blood allergy test

The blood test is recommended when there is the risk of you reacting to the allergen. The test will also be recommended under these conditions:

• You have hives or another skin condition such as eczema that makes it hard for you to see the results of skin testing.
• You regularly suffer from severe allergic reactions
• You have tested positive for many types of foods.

The testing process involves removal of blood from your body. The blood is tested in the laboratory for the presence of allergen fighting antibodies. Allergy experts report that this test is highly effective in detecting antibodies to major allergens.

Elimination diet

This test is recommended when you are allergic to certain foods. The test involves removal of certain foods from your diet and later reintroducing them. Your doctor will then analyze your condition and determine the foods that you are allergic to.

Conclusion

Allergy tests are important in determining the products that you are allergic to and this helps the doctors recommend the best measures that you should take to protect yourself. For ideal results, you should visit a reputable allergy clinic to have the tests done.