You At Your Best

BY KAREN RICE YOU AT YOUR BEST Allergies can be thought of as abnormal reactions to normal things. The immune system of a person with allergies reacts to something in the environment that it thinks is harmful, even though it's not—think of it as a case of mistaken identity. Dr. Steve Cashman, of the ENT and Allergy Center in Fayetteville points out that during an allergic reaction, the body's immune system overreacts to the allergen— which can be food, dust, pollen or medicine—and creates inflammation. "The strength of the immune response and the site of contact with the body determine what symptoms develop," he points out. "For example, if the contact is in the nose from small inhaled particles such as pollen, then the immune response causes nasal inflammation with congestion and drainage. If the contact is to the skin then a rash could form." Most common and bothersome for the patients in Dr. Cashman's clinic are the nasal congestion, itching eyes and sneezing that come with seasonal allergies. He further states that about ten percent of people in the U.S. have allergy problems, but not all seek the help of an allergist. For many, over-the-counter (OTC) allergy medications may be enough to control their symptoms and provide relief. "Most people will get adequate symptom control with regular use of an OTC non-sedating antihistamine and nasal steroid nose spray," he states. And, if decongestants are used, such as topical nasal decongestant sprays, they should not be used for more than five days. "All decongestants will eventually lose their effectiveness and users will find they have to take more and more of the medication just to maintain symptom control," according to Dr. Cashman. Dr. Cashman has definitely seen an increase in allergy patients, and problems, over the past several years. Food allergies are also on the rise. Being proactive about avoiding allergy triggers is a key way to manage allergies.. Those with food allergies should identify the food that is causing the reaction and then avoid that food. For environmental allergies, contact with triggers should be avoided, such as contact with cigarette smoke and pets. Managing the air quality in your home is very important as well, Dr. Cashman maintains. He says that portable indoor air cleaners have limited effectiveness, and a better way to manage home air quality is to regularly clean the air filters of your heating/cooling system. In fact, failing to do so actually worsens your home air quality because the filters act as sort of a reservoir of allergens, allowing them to get recirculated throughout your home. Allergy sufferers also might want to re- think their chores list. "Activities like mowing the yard or raking leaves can lead an allergy sufferer into a miserable or even life- threatening allergy crisis," Dr. Cashman says. "Avoiding those activities will help minimize the risk of having a crisis, but there is no escaping the pollen completely when you are an allergy sufferer." Avoiding allergens can definitely improve the quality of life for allergy sufferers. But even with the most diligent effort, it's very difficult for a person with allergies to completely avoid allergens. OTC medications will not "cure" allergies, but will give relief from symptoms for most people. For those who don't find enough relief from allergen avoidance and OTC medications, an allergy evaluation is in order. An allergist who can identify and treat the actual cause of their allergies, which can be serious or even life threatening. Allergy testing can determine which allergens are causing a reaction. Weekly injections or sublingual drops can help your immune system to stop overreacting to those specific allergens. These solutions require long-term commitments, Dr. Cashman says, but they do offer the possibility of changing your immune system so that you will no longer overreact to allergens such as dust, mold, pollen and animals. Understanding allergies Local allergist discusses trends and treatments According to the American Lung Association, pet dander is composed of tiny flecks of skin shed by cats, dogs, rodents, birds and other animals with fur or feathers. While pet dander is so small it's sometimes microscopic, it can still cause reactions in people who are allergic to pet dander. But skin is not the only potential allergen associated with pets. Pets may cause allergic reactions in some people thanks to various proteins found in the saliva, urine and feces from cats, dogs and other pets. Dried saliva containing allergens may flake off from animal fur and enter the air, where it can be inhaled by people and trigger an allergic reaction. That might be one reason why, according to the ALA, nearly twice as many people report allergies to cats compared to dogs. Cats often clean themselves by licking their own fur. Any dried saliva left on cats after these cleaning sessions may contain allergens that eventually flake off of that fur before entering the air and being inhaled by people who are allergic. While it might seem odd that a tiny cat can trigger a reaction that causes such significant discomfort, the amount of allergens necessary to trigger allergic reactions varies greatly from individual to individual, with some being capable of handling small amounts and others experiencing reactions almost instantly upon inhalation. Did you know? Allergy testing can determine which allergens are causing a reaction. 6 | YOU AT YOUR BEST | NWADG.COM/YOUATYOURBEST APRIL - ALLERGIES & ASTHMA | SATURDAY, MARCH 28, 2020 Our genetic clinics are staffed by the only clinical geneticist and genetic counselors in the area to help you understand potential risks. Clinics include the Adult Genetics Clinic, UAMS Schmieding Developmental Center and Pediatric Genetics and Metabolics Clinic. Referrals and self-referrals accepted. For appointments, contact Michelle Haygood at 501-526-4020. Funds provided for by the UAMS Cancer Institute Auxiliary from the sale of the UAMS Partners Card to benefit cancer patients. Prevent Your Family's Cancer History from Repeating Itself. Learn your inherited cancer risks with UAMS Cancer Genetic Clinics. Breast Cancer Colorectal Cancer Ovarian Cancer Prostate Cancer

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