Are Allergy Shots An Effective Treatment For Relief Of Symptoms?
Allergies got you down? Perhaps you’ve tried changing the sheets and having the carpet steam cleaned. Mabye you’ve already switched to using HEPA filters to eliminate any dust mite problems. And those medications make you sleepy and don’t seem to help all that much either. If you’re fresh out of options for finding relief, how about this one—allergy shots. Now before you wince at the thought of being jabbed by a needle, just listen to all the benefits of taking allergy shots. Allergies, as you know, are caused by a defect in your immune system. What happens is this: first, you breathe in a foreign body such as ragweed, pollen, dust mites, pet hair, and such. Your body incorrectly identifies them as a threat to the body and begins to dispatch antibodies to “fight off” the invasion. This causes in a host of unpleasant symptoms—runny nose, watery eyes, itching, etc. While you can try steering clear of the things that set off your allergy, this may not always be possible. You can also keep taking drugs and pills, but they only treat the symptoms and may keep you from feeling alert. The best approach is to stop the cause and effect cycle entirely by teaching the immune system to better distinguish a harmless substance from a true hazard. Allergy shots can accomplish this over a period of time, and is known as immunotherapy. Allergy shots are similar to vaccine shots in that you are given a weakened form of the allergen (the same way you might be given a dead or weakened virus). Also, allergy shots can actually prevent allergies in children as young as five. The body is gradually desensitized over a period of time. By increasing the doses each time, the immune system builds a tolerance for certain allergens, thereby reducing symptoms. Allergy shots can’t fix every type of allergy. The most common use is to manage seasonal allergies (like hay fever or ragweed) and people allergic to insect stings. Shots aren’t a solution for those who are pregnant, have urticaria, suffer from asthma, have a heart condition requiring a beta blocker, or are allergic to certain foods. If you simply can’t stay away from the things that trigger your symptoms and medicines are either ineffective or come with their own miserable side effects, it may be time to look into immunotherapy and allergy shots for permanent relief. Check with your allergist to see if allergy shots are right for you.
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