September 24, 2006
Allergy relief
Shots can improve symptoms.
FROM LATE SUMMER until the first freeze, my allergies can make me pretty miserable. Ragweed is in full bloom, and I'm allergic to it. Luckily, whether people suffer from seasonal allergies (like me) or year-round allergies, both over-the-counter and prescription medicines dramatically improve quality of life. But for some folks, these don't suffice.
Allergy shots are effective for allergies to:
pollens (trees, grasses, etc.)
pet dander
molds
They tend not to work as well for food allergies.
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If you're one of these people, call upon an allergist. One of the allergist's tools is the allergy shot, also called immunotherapy. If, after testing, you are found to have allergies to specific substances, allergy shots can help to increase your tolerance (and decrease your symptoms) when exposed to those allergens in the environment. Of course, the shots aren't for everyone, but they can help those who have symptoms that haven't responded to other types of therapies and those with symptoms lasting for months.
Allergy shots must be taken regularly to be effective. Generally, the allergist will begin with very low doses of medicine and slowly increase them over time. Patients get shots at regular intervals for several years, over which time symptoms typically start to improve.
I know the shots can be cumbersome; I'm taking them for my ragweed allergies. But I also know that by taking shots, my symptoms will be better until Mother Nature provides me a respite with that first frost.
Tedd Mitchell, M.D., president and medical director of Dallas' Cooper Clinic, writes HealthSmart every week.
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