Is Treating The Symptoms Rather Than The Allergy Damaging Your Health?

There is no question that allergies are annoying. The symptoms are uncomfortable and potentially dangerous whether caused by airborne allergens, pet dander, or food allergies. People that suffer severe attacks that lead to breathing difficulties and hives are often under medical care, but those that regularly suffer basic problems like itchy eyes, sore throat, and congestion may feel they can handle the issue alone. The problem is that those simple health problems may cause more harm over time than what people expect. 

Is more at risk than a runny nose? 

Allergies may begin with cold-like concerns, but over time they often develop into sinus infections and throat irritation. Chronic sinus infections lead to a host of other problems like nasal polyps, ear infections, and chronic headaches. The post-nasal drip that is common with a sinus infection may also irritate the vocal cords and potentially cause strep throat. All of these issues affect sleep. Sleep deprivation in known to increase the risk of many conditions like heart disease, obesity, depression, and many other concerns. Some people even develop allergy-induced asthma.

Are medications harming more than helping? 

Many medications used to treat colds and allergies were identified as potentially risky for some people because of their tendency to raise the blood pressure. In individuals sensitive to the medication the jump could be dramatic. The problem is that many of these drugs are available without prescription and someone not under the care of a doctor may have their hypertension go undetected for a long period of time. New studies are also revealing that many of these drugs may be linked to an increased risk for dementia. Using medication to relieve the symptoms without determining what is causing the allergy is only a temporary solution. 

What can allergy sufferers do? 

A primary care physician can monitor blood pressure and the patient's response to allergy medications. Staying under their supervision is vital while attempting to get allergies under control. The assistance of specialists in the field is also helpful. An ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat) specialist may remove nasal polyps to make breathing easier, insert tubes in the ears to drain the fluid causing chronic ear infections, and treat irritated vocal cords. An allergist can help to identify what each patient is allergic to and assist them with allergy shots and other treatments to reduce sensitivity and prevent, or at least reduce, future allergic reactions.

Take allergy symptoms seriously no matter how mild they may seem. Without proper care it is possible for them to worsen over time. The physical exhaustion people experience when allergies act up can make them more susceptible to issues like headaches and infection. This creates a reliance on more medication and causes more exhaustion. It is a vicious circle that many people are unable to control on their own. 

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