Allergy FAQ'S

1. Is everyone at risk for getting allergies?
2. What is rhinitis?
3. How common are allergies, is everyone likely to get them?
4. Are there specific times of day I should stay indoors if I have bad allergies?
5. I heard you could wash your allergies away, is this true?
6. What exactly is pollen?
7. How do I know if there is a lot of pollen in my area?
8. Can bad weather make allergy symptoms better?
9. I used to get really bad hay fever each fall, but I moved to the Midwest and now my symptoms are gone. Will they stay this way and why has this happened?
10. I plan to travel in the early summer. Are there ways I can enjoy my trip without having to worry about allergy flare-ups?
11. What is the RAST test?
12. What is allergy?
13. What causes allergy?

Is everyone at risk for getting allergies?

While allergies are becoming more common among people, not everyone will experience allergic symptoms to even common allergens. Many times those most at risk for developing symptoms are people with a family history of allergies. While allergies do tend to run in families, a family member with a specific allergy doesn’t often pass on the same allergy to another family; rather, the tendency to pass on allergies runs from family to family. So, if a mother has an allergy to wheat, her child may also be allergic to a certain food, but it may be corn. Or, her child may be more predisposed to allergies to other substances, like pollen. Someone who has never had allergies may develop them if exposed to allergens during times when their immune system is comprised, as in when they have a chronic illness, or even in women during pregnancy. There are some studies that suggest that viral infections may predispose other people to allergies, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. 

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What is rhinitis?

Rhinitis, or more commonly referred to as “allergic rhinitis” involves nasal irritation and typically occurs when someone is allergic to pollens, weeds, grasses and other substances. Many confuse this symptom of allergies with the common cold. You may experience nasal congestion relieved by over-thecounter nasal decongestants and similar products.. 

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How common are allergies, is everyone likely to get them?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, roughly 40 million people will suffer from allergies each year; despite this, as many as half of all doctors will misdiagnose patients with allergies. The simplest and easiest way to find out if you are allergic to something is through a serologic testing. Any allergist can do this for you to determine what specific substances you are allergic to. You can use this test to avoid triggers and to target treatments specific to your allergies.

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Are there specific times of day I should stay indoors if I have bad allergies?

Like the sunshine is brightest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., so too are pollen counts the highest. If you can stay inside during these hours your symptoms may not be as bad as they might be if you spend most of your day outdoors. You should also consider closing your windows during these “peak” pollen hours to help prevent pollen from entering your home and causing you added discomfort.

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I heard you could wash your allergies away, is this true?

While you can’t literally “wash” your allergies away, you can reduce the pollens and irritants in your home by washing your laundry, including your bedding and clothes, in water 140 degrees or hotter. This will help kill dust mites and other allergens, compared to washing clothing and bedding in cold or cooler water. Washing is effective for removing pollens, dust mites and even animal dander. If you spend a long day outside, come in, change your clothes and wash them. You may also find it helps to rinse all clothes two times instead of once. You can usually rinse clothing in cold water, because at this point any microscopic bugs have likely been destroyed.

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What exactly is pollen?

Pollen are tiny cells produced from flowering plants. Bright flowers usually do not trigger allergies, but trees and grasses often do. Even weeds are subject to pollen producing cells, with pollen carried through the air by wind currents and on the backsides of insects. Certain plants and trees more likely to produce and release pollen include: oak trees, walnut, cypress, elm, sycamore, orchard grass, ragweed, Bermuda and blue greases. Hay fever is usually triggered by the release of ragweed, and typically is a fall allergy problem for most sufferers sensitive to this weed.

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How do I know if there is a lot of pollen in my area?

Turn on your morning news. Usually in the spring, summer and fall local weather stations provide “pollen counts” that tell you whether levels of grass, mold or tree pollens are high for the day. How do weather reporters collect this information? Usually they are able to measure the grains of pollen per cubic meter of air, according to the American Academy of Allergy & Immunology. There is specific equipment available to researchers that makes this task easier. Universities and medical centers often have equipment handy to measure pollen counts in the area, and many voluntarily provide this information as a free resource to the public. So, if you don’t have time to watch the news, call up your local medical center and see if they can guide you. 

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Can bad weather make allergy symptoms better?

That depends on what you mean by “bad” weather. Usually weather does have some affect on pollen counts. Allergies are often worse on bright sunny days, and milder on cold or damp ones. This is because during rainy days there is usually little wind present to carry pollen and other allergens through the air.

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I used to get really bad hay fever each fall, but I moved to the Midwest and now my symptoms are gone. Will they stay this way and why has this happened?

Different regions of the world have different climates and different temperate zones, so different trees and grasses grow in varying areas. You may live on the East Coast for example, and suffer from terrible oak allergies and ragweed allergies, which result in allergic rhinitis and seasonal hay fever. Since oak is uncommon in the Midwest, you will find your symptoms dramatically improve. While they may never come back, if you are predisposed to allergies, you may find with time you become sensitive to other grasses, trees or molds native to the region you now live in. Even if you don’t there is a strong chance if you have children, they will be sensitive to the allergens in your area. So, if you were to travel back East, your symptoms may return but your children’s may improve. Allergies are complicated, and not always a win-win proposition!

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I plan to travel in the early summer. Are there ways I can enjoy my trip without having to worry about allergy flare-ups?

Nobody wants to spoil their vacation by having an allergy flare-up or by experiencing an asthma attack while on vacation. The good news is you don’t have to. You can take preventive steps to ensure you have an enjoyable and fun vacation. Here are a few tips to get you started:

• If you plan to travel, keep in mind that automobiles, trains and buses are likely to carry irritants and allergens that can make your symptoms worse. Some people wear a mask, and others choose to walk if they can to avoid this problem. You can also reduce symptoms by ensuring you travel in air conditioned vehicles, as the air conditioner acts as an internal filtering system helping to weed out potential allergens.
• Stay away from smoke infested areas. When traveling abroad, you may find smoking policies much more liberal than they are in your hometown. To help reduce your allergic response to smoke or other outdoor pollution, try to stay within well-ventilated areas. Ask for non-smoking rooms when traveling to hotels.
• Make sure you know what you are eating BEFORE you put it in your mouth, especially if you have food allergies. If you have a seafood allergy and travel abroad, there is a strong likelihood that you will eat some kind of food prepared with or prepared in an area where seafood is also handled. Be prepared, and have an emergency kit handy, like an epinephrine kit, in the event that despite your cautions, you eat something you have a severe allergic reaction to.
• Plan your trip ahead of time. Find out what types of pollen, trees and weather you are likely to encounter when traveling. Make sure you contact your doctor and find out if you should take any special precautions when traveling. Find out what medication you should bring with you; your doctor may recommend you use a decongestant or antihistamine throughout your trip just to be safe.
• If planning a cruise, make sure there are competent medical professionals available in the event you suffer an anaphylactic reaction or asthma attack and require medical assistance. Most offer very adequate medical facilities, but you should always double-check.
• Carry around a portable air filter. There are literally dozens to choose from. These work exceptionally well in small hotel rooms, where dust mites, indoor pollutants and other allergens tend to abound. Many people also find it helps to bring their own pillows or coverings when possible to keep their exposure to unwanted irritants minimal.
• If visiting friends or family and you have a pet allergy, make sure you alert anyone with a pet ahead of time. You may need to stay elsewhere and make alternate arrangements to visit with friends to avoid having a severe reaction while on vacation. Key to your success and your chance for fun is open communication. Bring up your allergies and their severity ahead of time, and you shouldn’t have a problem. The same is true if you invite guests to your house; some will automatically assume it is ok to bring along their toy poodle, but not so if you have a pet allergy. Let them know this well in advance to avoid any uncomfortable situations or problems.
• Keep any medications you need in one, easily located and safe storage place. When traveling, carry on your medicines when possible to avoid them from becoming lost if your travel carrier loses your luggage. Also seek out a local medical healthcare supplier just in case so you know where to go if you need something while traveling.
• Make sure you take your medications on time. If you plan to travel abroad or through different time zones, you may make the mistake of missing a dose or overdosing on your regular medicines. You can prevent this by writing down the times you should take your medicines in your current and your travel zone.
• Consider some added travelers medical insurance, in the event you land in the hospital while on vacation. At the very least, look carefully at your health policies and find out what coverage you have in the event you need care while traveling internationally.

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What is the RAST test?

This is one of the more common allergy tests, also referred to as an allergy screen. The complete name for this test, or clinical name, is the “allergen-specific IgE antibody tests.” An allergist may order this test or others, including a total IgE test to determine what triggers you have or what allergies you have that may contribute to various health conditions, including asthma. The RAST test specifically screens for hypersensitivity to specific allergens, and is usually recommended to patients with chronic or an acute allergic type reaction to determine the cause of symptoms, and possible treatment alternatives. This test is also sometimes performed for patients with eczema, a condition that is commonly caused by allergies or the release of histamines in the body. Sometimes this test is also performed on older children if they demonstrated a sensitivity to a food product earlier in life, since many children outgrow their sensitivity to allergies with time. This test can also help your healthcare provider assess whether you have a “true” allergy or whether you have a sensitivity to a substance. Typically patients with “sensitivities” are more easily treated, and will not have to avoid a known allergen entirely. They may also decrease their sensitivity by avoiding a product for extended periods of time.

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What is allergy?

An allergy is an abnormally high sensitivity to a certain substance, such as dust, pollens, foods, or drugs. Symptoms of allergies commonly include inflammation, sneezing, itching, and skin rashes.

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What causes allergy?

An allergic reaction occurs when your immune system reacts to a foreign substance from the outside world. These foreign substances, normally small proteins, can come from dust mite feces, pollens, molds, and many other natural and man-made objects. When your immune system mistakes these normally harmless foreign substances as dangerous invaders and sends out antibodies to attack them, then the foreign substances are referred to as "allergens," and you will experience the symptoms of an allergic reaction.

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