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Frequently Asked Questions About Allergies
Is there any permanent relief? What types of Immunotherapy are available? What are sublingual allergy drops? Do Sublingual Allergy Drops work better the Allergy Shots? What about nasal sprays and pills?
What is an allergy?An allergy is a reaction by a person’s immune system against a normally harmless substance. The immune system overreacts as if it were an “enemy invader” and starts releasing chemicals to fight it. This reaction can lead to symptoms that can affect the patient’s work, play, rest, and overall quality of life. Symptoms vary from person to person, but typically people experience one or more of the following: runny nose, watery eyes, itching, etc.
What is an allergen?An allergen is any substance a person is allergic to specifically and what causes an allergic reaction. Allergens enter the body by being inhaled, swallowed, injected, or absorbed through the skin. Common allergens include pollen, dust, mold, pet dander, grass, weeds, and bees. Other allergens may include specific foods such as peanuts, milk, eggs, and seafood.
How common are allergies?Allergies are among the nations most common and costly health problems. They affect as many as one in four people. More than 50 million Americans have allergic rhinitis, which is an itchy, runny nose, and watery eyes.
Is there any permanent relief?Yes there is! Fortunately there is a way to get permanent relief from your allergies. Antihistamines and other decongestants will only last for several hours, whereas allergy therapy otherwise known as immunotherapy provides lasting relief to many of your allergies. Your immune system controls how your body defends itself. Immunotherapy aims at increasing your tolerance to certain allergens. It does this by introducing very small amounts of allergens into the body over a period of time, so that your immune system eventually develops a resistance to it.
What types of Immunotherapy are available?Here at Madison Ear Nose & Throat, we specialize in two forms of immunotherapy: Allergy Shots and Sublingual Allergy Drops. Allergy Shots are administered during an office visit anywhere from once a week to once a month depending on what you and your doctor decide is right. Click here to learn about Sublingual Allergy Drops, an alternative to Allergy Shots.
What are sublingual allergy drops?This form of therapy is where you place treatment drops under the tongue (sublingually) and is a common alternative to Allergy Shots due to their convenience. This method can be taken once a day at home orally, which alleviates both the weekly doctor’s visits and shots.
Do Sublingual Allergy Drops work better the Allergy Shots?Studies have not proven yet whether the drops work any faster at eliminating allergy symptoms; however, Sublingual Allergy Drops do present several advantages such as no injections, fewer visits, no waiting periods after the injections, and a lower likelihood of side-effects.
When will I feel better?Some people using Sublingual Allergy Drops see a decrease in symptoms within 12 months, but other patients may take up to 3 years to be completely cured of their allergy symptoms. Allergy Shots have a similar time frame, but require the maintenance shots for up to 5 years.
What about nasal sprays and pills?Antihistamines in the form of nasal sprays and pills are great for temporary day-to-day relief but do not provide lasting results. For chronic, every day allergies or even seasonal allergies, we recommend you come in to learn about our Sublingual Allergy Drops and get back to living life again allergy free! |
