Allergy Relief Products
 
HACKER SAFE certified sites prevent over 99.9% of hacker crime.
About achoo! ALLERGYAbout UsWhy Shop with achoo! ALLERGYWhy Shop achoo!Free Shipping on Allergy Relief ProductsFree Shipping on Orders Over $150 
Allergy Bedding | Air Purifiers | Mattresses | Vacuum Cleaners | Humidifiers | Dehumidifiers | Sinus Relief

Medication, Allergen Avoidance, and Immunotherapy

"Environmental control to reduce exposure to indoor and outdoor allergens is critical. It can reduce asthma symptoms, the need for medication, and the level of airway hyper responsiveness."
-- The National Institute of Health

Substances that cause allergic reactions are called allergens. Allergies to airborne allergens - like house dust mites, mold, pollen and animal dander - affect over 50 million people in the United States. Allergies can develop at any age, and heredity plays a key roll in who will develop it. An allergic reaction is your body's response to an allergen that many others can tolerate without difficulty. People have varying degrees of sensitivity to allergens. Allergy sufferers who are highly sensitive will have symptoms every time they are exposed to an allergen. People who are only slightly allergic require a higher concentration of allergens to trigger symptoms. What many people fail to recognize is that allergies are treatable and symptoms are controllable. Depending upon your situation, your physician will recommend one or more of the following treatments:

1. MEDICATION:
Using pharmaceuticals to block the symptoms of allergy. Although this does nothing to eliminate the specific allergy causing symptoms, it can be a necessary part of treatment, especially in asthma or severe nasal allergy.

2. ALLERGEN AVOIDANCE:
Eliminating or decreasing your exposure to the substances to which you are allergic. The less of the allergy-causing substance you breathe in, the more comfortable you will be, and the less medication you will require.

3. IMMUNOTHERAPY (ALLERGY SHOTS):
Injecting the actual substances to which you are allergic, in order to build tolerance to them. The allergist at first injects very small amounts of the allergens, and then very slowly and gradually increases the dose over time, thereby decreasing your degree of sensitivity.

Once your physician determines the specific substances that cause your symptoms, the most important thing you can do is reduce your exposure to those allergens as much as possible. In many instances, exposure can be eliminated or decreased to the point that no other treatment is necessary. In other instances, exposure can be decreased only partially, making other types of treatment necessary. Even in those instances, less treatment will be required, and it will be more effective if you have implemented allergen avoidance.

Breathing in airborne allergens is a cumulative problem. Think of an allergy attack as an overflowing bucket of water. Each time you come in contact with an allergen, it's as if a little more water has been added to the bucket. Eventually, the bucket overflows, setting off an allergic reaction.

Successful allergen avoidance does not necessarily mean lowering exposure to zero. It does, however, require implementing environmental control measures to decrease exposure and get the level of allergen in your environment below your allergic threshold. Practicing simple allergen avoidance and following your physicians other recommendations will help you keep your bucket from overflowing, relieve your allergic symptoms, and help you feel and breathe better.

Return to the Allergy Relief Learning Center
 

Allergy Relief
Allergy Bedding
Air Purifiers
Furnace Filters
Mattresses
Vacuum Cleaners
Dust Mites
Child Allergy
Food Allergy
Sinus Relief
Asthma Treatment
Humidifiers
Dehumidifiers
Humidity & Mold
Personal Care
Pet Allergy
Cleaning Products
Masks
Allergy Relief Masks
Dust Masks
Compare Masks
MCS
Eco Friendly
Request your FREE catalog
Buying Guides
Air Purifier Buying Guide
Allergy Relief Bedding Buying Guide
Pillow Buying Guide
Vacuum Cleaner Buying Guide
Miele Vacuum Cleaner Buying Guide
Dehumidifier Buying Guide
Humidifier Buying Guide
Furnace Filter Buying Guide
Mask Buying Guide
Royal-Pedic Buying Guide
Hypodown Comforter Buying Guide

Comparison Charts
Allergy Relief Bedding Comparison Chart
Comforter Comparison Chart
Pillow Comparison Chart
Air Purifier Comparison Chart
Miele Vacuum Cleaners Comparison Chart
Allergy Relief Mask Comparison Chart

Buying Calculators
Air Purifier Customizer
Allergy Relief Bedding Calculator
Miele Vacuum Shopping Assistant

Shop by Brand
Allergy Armor
Miele
Austin Air
IQAir
3M Products
See All Brands

Newsletter Archive

Allergy Blog

Physician Support Services

Allergy Relief Product Reviews

Clearance Items
 
 
 
Top Air Purifiers
 
TRUSTe Certified Privacy HACKER SAFE certified sites prevent over 99.9% of hacker crime. GSA Advantage

© 2000 - 2008 achoo! ALLERGY & AIR Products, Inc.
*Free shipping on orders over $150 to the contiguous United States.