Allergic reactions are common among many individuals. In fact, 30% of adult Americans and 40% of children suffer from these conditions. Our immune system wards off potential invaders in the body but in cases where it fights with other substances called “allergens,” allergic reactions happen.
Allergic reactions can range from mild to life-threatening conditions. The good thing is that there are still natural ways to manage them. To learn more about the holistic approach to managing allergic reactions, we have prepared this comprehensive guide for you.
Understanding Allergic Reactions
Allergic reactions occur when allergens come in contact with the nose, eyes, skin, gastrointestinal tract, and respiratory tract. When the immune system reacts, antibodies are released.
These proteins would signal the cells to stop the suspected “invader.” As a result, histamine will be sent out by the cells, causing blood vessels to respond and allergic reactions to take place.
Different types of allergies include hay fever, food allergies, eczema, medications, and stings. Severe cases of these allergies could lead to anaphylaxis, which may put your body into shock.
Identifying Allergies
The symptoms could vary depending on how your body reacts to the allergens. Common ones include sneezing, runny nose, watery eyes, itching, shortness of breath, and chest tightness, among many others.
Of course, you must consult a medical practitioner to get a proper diagnosis. In many cases, doctors would prescribe patients with antihistamines, decongestants, and nasal sprays like Fluticasone Propionate to manage the symptoms.
If you are a patient suffering from allergic-type asthma, it’s common for an inhaler to be prescribed as part of your treatment. If you’re based in the US, you have the advantage of accessing coupons and rebates for inhalers from various pharmacies, which can help mitigate costs. Furthermore, for those in need of a nasal spray, the Affordable Fluticasone Propionate with BuzzRx Coupon is a cost-effective choice, readily available via their app or website.
How to Manage Allergic Reactions
Refer to the valuable recommendations and tips below to help you manage common allergic reactions.
Avoid Allergens
To avoid allergic reactions, you must also avoid allergens that trigger these conditions. Common allergens found in the environment include dust, animal proteins, fungal spores, insect and mite feces, insect bites and stings, pollen, some food, and drugs like antibiotics and skin products.
To control allergens in your place, make sure to maintain good indoor air quality. To do that, you must ventilate your area well, use air cleaners, vacuum once or twice a week, keep pets out of your bedroom, and change your filters often to avoid pollen from entering your home.
Medication and Treatment Options
If you’re diagnosed with a specific allergic reaction, you must know your options regarding medication and treatment. Some oral antihistamines may be available as over-the-counter medications that can help with mild symptoms, while others are prescribed. You might be prescribed nasal sprays like azelastine and olopatadine for symptoms like sneezing, sinus congestion, and runny nose.
For temporary relief of sinus and nasal congestion, decongestants in pills and liquids form may be prescribed. There are also nasal decongestant sprays and drops you may be prescribed to use for a short time since they could lead to the recurrence of congestion if used for more than three consecutive days.
You can also opt for natural remedies to alleviate the symptoms. Saline nasal irrigation may help with allergic rhinitis, as revealed in a 2018 review.
A marsh plant called butterbur could also be a natural oral antihistamine effective for itchy eyes based on a 2003 review. According to a 2015 study, acupuncture can be an alternative treatment to perennial allergic rhinitis.
Dietary Changes and Nutritional Support
A person’s diet can make a difference in terms of managing allergic reactions. You can include Omega 3-rich food sources like tuna, mackerel, salmon, and sardines in your meals. Foods abundant with Omega 3 are proven to lower the likelihood of asthma and allergies in children. The antioxidants in grapes may also help with hay fever.
Meanwhile, a diet that includes highly processed food alters the gut microbiome, resulting in severe allergy symptoms.
Lifestyle Modifications
Stress can make the symptoms of allergic reactions worse. When stressed, your body releases histamine, which could lead to allergy symptoms. As you get more stressed, your body releases more histamines, resulting in severe allergy symptoms.
The allergy symptoms would then lead to sleeplessness and fatigue. To avoid all these, you must be serious about your stress relief strategies and lifestyle changes. Start by setting a schedule for everything. Make sure you go to bed at night and get adequate sleep.
To reduce the stress hormones in the body, make time to exercise outside or even indoors. Of course, do not skip your medications. Symptoms would likely recur when you are less compliant with your medications and treatment.
Conclusion
While symptoms are mild for many, allergic reactions can be dangerous in some circumstances. This is why you should take proactive steps in managing allergic reactions. Of course, always seek professional advice to maintain a healthy, allergy-free living
