hayfever Tag

17 Dec

Posted at 10:03h in Allergies
Please consult your health care provider regarding your allergies and in particular any swollen lymph nodes. Swollen lymph nodes may be a sign of a serious illness, including malignancies and therefore should be addressed by your provider. Do not treat swollen lymph nodes with supplements or other products unless approved by your health care provider. Swollen lymph nodes can be uncomfortable and sometimes worrisome. They’re usually tied to infections, but did you know allergies can also trigger it? Although rare, allergies can sometimes cause lymph nodes to swell, making it important to understand this connection. The question is: What’s the relationship between allergies and swollen lymph nodes? allergies-swollen-nodes

Role of Lymph Nodes in the Immune System

Lymph nodes, small bean-shaped glands, sit throughout your body, with noticeable clusters in your neck, armpits, and groin. They trap harmful invaders like bacteria, viruses, and allergens, helping to keep you healthy and acting as the body’s safety net. These connect through lymphatic vessels, working to filter lymph fluid, and this very fluid carries white blood cells, proteins, and other components that strengthen your immunity. What happens when lymph nodes swell? It’s often a sign that the body is combating an infection or responding to another immune challenge. While infections are the most frequent cause of swelling, allergic reactions can also play a role by triggering the immune system.

16 May

Posted at 10:40h in Allergies
Allergy drops, not to be confused with allergy eye drops, have been gaining popularity for their convenient and effective approach to tackling pesky allergies. But are allergy drops the same as allergy immunotherapy? This option falls under the umbrella of allergy immunotherapy, and while allergy drops are allergy immunotherapy, not all allergy immunotherapy are allergy drops.  In this blog, we’ll explore allergy immunotherapy and allergy drops to help you better understand the best course of action for combatting your pesky allergies. 

Understanding Allergy Immunotherapy

Allergy immunotherapy (AIT) is a treatment that desensitizes the body to an allergen. It’s much unlike traditional allergy treatments, such as corticosteroids, decongestants, and antihistamines, because it focuses on the allergy, not the symptoms.  To understand how it works, we need to understand what an allergy is. Simply put, an allergy is a reaction in the body to a foreign substance called an allergen, such as bee venom or pet dander. When your body comes into contact with the allergen, your antibodies send a signal to specific cells that release chemicals, resulting in an allergic reaction.  allergies-allergy-pexelsThe reaction triggers the symptoms you recognize as your allergy, such as a runny nose and itchy eyes.  To desensitize your body to the allergen and help your body become less reactive, allergy immunotherapy delivers a small dose of the allergen under your skin or tongue. This small, incrementally increasing dose helps your body adjust, “training” it to become less sensitive.  It achieves this result by minimizing the production of “blocking” antibodies responsible for the reaction. Over time and with consistent doses, you may find that you can be exposed to the allergen with little to no reaction.  However, it’s important to note that everybody is different. Most people notice some results within the first year, but the most noticeable results usually take two to three years after beginning treatment. 

30 May

Posted at 22:45h in Abuse and Neglect, Allergies, Education, Pediatrics, Sleep Disorders
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_42070" align="alignleft" width="200"]Michael S. Blaiss, MD, FACAAI Executive Medical Director American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Arlington Heights, IL 60005 Dr. Blaiss[/caption] Michael S. Blaiss, MD, FACAAI Executive Medical Director American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Arlington Heights, IL 60005 MedicalResearch.com: Is this research important? Why or why not? Response: There has not been a comprehensive review of how allergic rhinitis impacts the adolescent population. Most studies put adolescents in with children and yet we know that how disease affects adolescents may be dramatically different than children. Adolescents is a difficult enough time with a chronic condition MedicalResearch.com: What is the key take-home message? Response: The symptoms associated with nasal and eye allergies can be different in adolescents compared with adults and children and lead to poor quality of life and impair learning in school. Adolescents with AR/ARC may experience difficulties falling asleep, night waking, and snoring, and generally have poorer sleep. Therefore health care providers need to aggressively control the adolescent’s allergic rhinitis.