health & wellness

Spring allergies bring discomfort,
but there are some solutions.

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month of June, 2013!

46 ay 30 • 2013

pring arrived weeks ago, but
it's not the sounds of chirping
birds or buzzing bees we hear
— it's sniffling, sneezing and cough-
ing children that fill the air.
Are these symptoms of a common
cold or is allergy season here?
According to Beaumont Children's
Hospital pediatric pulmonary and
allergy specialist Dr. Martin Hurwitz,
"It's been a wetter season, which can
result in more allergies. Those who
are allergic to molds may show more
symptoms."
Hurwitz says "avoidance" is an easy
way to free yourself from breathing
in allergens like pollen from trees,
grasses and weeds, mold and dust.
"Keeping windows closed at home
and while driving a car are easy ways
to avoid breathing in allergens:' he
adds.
Hurwitz advises checking with your
doctor or child's pediatrician before
symptoms start or worsen.
"If you are aware that you or your
child has allergies, it's best to get
a head start before allergy season
peaks," he says. "Allergy medications
always work better when taken a
week or two before symptoms start,
so you are not chasing the symptoms:'
Although allergy symptoms can
sometimes be confused with a com-
mon cold or respiratory issues, "sea-
sonal allergies usually last more than
a week and develop at about the same
time every year:' Hurwitz explains.
In addition to coughing, sniffling
and sneezing, allergy symptoms may
include runny or stuffy nose, watery
eyes, itchy eyes, nose or throat and
red circles under the eyes.

Treatment Options
• Antihistamines: Reduce sneez-
ing, sniffling and itching. Several
over-the-counter antihistamines
generally do not cause drowsiness or
fatigue. According to Hurwitz, "There
is an advantage of once-per-day

dosing with these medications:'
• Decongestants: Clear mucus
out of the nasal passageways to
relieve congestion and swelling. Oral
decongestants should not be given
to young children. They may be
helpful for adults with nasal allergy
symptoms but can have side effects,
including increasing blood pressure
and interfering with sleep. "Long-
lasting use of decongestants may lead
to decreasing effectiveness as well
as headache and other side effects:'
Hurwitz says.
• Nasal spray decongestants:
Relieve congestion and may clear
clogged nasal passages faster than
oral decongestants. They should not
be used more than three days.
• Prescription steroid nasal
spray: Can help prevent hay fever
by stopping the release of histamine,
a chemical in the body that causes
allergy symptoms, and by reducing
allergic swelling.
• Eye drops: Relieve itchy, watery
eyes. "Prescription eye drops that con-
tain antihistamine or corticosteroid are
very useful in relieving eye allergy
symptoms," Hurwitz says. "Your doctor
may want an eye specialist or allergist
to prescribe these medications as there
has to be precision in diagnosis for the
eye medications to be safe and effec-
tive:'
• Allergy shots: For children and
adults whose allergy symptoms are
more severe and not easily treated
with medications, referral to an
allergist for allergy shots should be
considered.
"Most patients who are correctly
diagnosed and treated will experience
substantial reduction of allergy
symptoms," says Hurwitz. "It may
take six to 12 months of therapy
for the benefits to be noticeable.
A complete course of therapy is long
— approximately three to five years
for maximum benefit:'

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