Allergy Drops Provide Freedom.

The person that is being treated for allergies, it can be a real pain to have to go in for allergy shots once a week. But the nice thing is today there is an alternative to allergy shots, and that alternative is allergy drops. These allergy drops are used to help people who have serious allergies.

Are you chained to your weekly allergy shot treatments? Typically shots need to be given once a week and require not only time but money as well. Allergy drops which have been used in Europe for some time are now being offered here in the United States. These drops are given at home and therefore can reduce the cost of doctor office visits even if you only have a copayment.

The nice part about the allergy drugs is that the person takes the allergy drops at home. This is a much better treatment for people suffering from allergies compared to going to the allergist’s office once a week for shots.

Allergy shots and allergy drops are both immunotherapy treatments allergists use for their patients. The "new" sublingual allergy drops(not to be confused with eye drop treatments) have the same goal of slowly making the sufferer immune to whatever allergen is causing their problems. This is sometimes referred to as desensitization.

What allergy shots consist of is a diluted version of what the patient is allergic to. This ratio is usually 100,000 to 1. There are some cases, such as ear, nose and throat allergist use a dilution rate of about one million to 1. And how the allergy shots work is the patient is injected and then must wait around 30 minutes. They are then checked to make sure that there is no reaction to the injection prior to leaving the doctors office.

Disadvantages of Allergy Shots.

1. Allergy shots can be inconvenient because they require a weekly trip to the doctor's office. Typically, shots consist of diluted versions of the allergen to which the patient reacts. The patient then has to wait approximately 30 minutes after the injections to make sure there is no adverse reaction before leaving the allergist's office.
   
   
In addition to the time involved for leaving work or school on a weekly basis, traveling to the doctor’s office, getting the shot and waiting the half hour and then returning to work or school, there is also the cost of the visit to the office. Even those with health insurance that covers the cost of the allergen injection, most insurance companies require a co-payment by the patient, which adds up quickly with weekly visits.
2. Allergy shots can be costly. Even if you don't count the time lost out of work or school there is usually a cost associated with the office visit itself. Even if the shots are covered by your medical insurance typically there is a copayment with each visit. I know my copayment for an office visit is $15. If you have to go every week that adds up to a whopping $780 per year out of your pocket.
   
   

Allergy Drops Save Time and Money.

With the use of sublingual allergy drops, the patient visits the doctor two or three times a year and receives the prescription for the allergy drops. Most insurance plans cover the cost of the drops and patient’s co-pay costs are reduced to the number of visits to the doctor’s office. They also save the time of the weekly visits and the allergy drops are placed under the tongue each week as directed.

Advantages of Allergy Drops.

• Save time - the patient visits the doctor only two or three times a year versus as many as 52.
  
  
• Save Money - reduced patient visits equals reduced copayments.
  
  
• Much More Convenient - patient received the prescription at the office and places the drops under his or her tongue at home.
  
  

In the number of patients using the sublingual allergy drops there have been rare instances when a patient reacts to the drops as they may react to injections, but the advantages far outweigh the need to be in the presence of the doctor when receiving the allergen.

Some patients have experienced adverse reactions to sublingual allergy drops. The risk is similar to that of taking allergy shots but you can see that most people would think that the advantages far outweigh the risk of having to deal with a reaction on their own. Typically you would seek medical treatment immediately.

What a lot of allergist do is they start the treatment using both the allergy shots and the allergy drops. They are then compared, and if the allergy drugs are showing a reduction in the allergy symptoms then the patient is advised to use the allergy drops exclusively.

Many allergists will begin a patient's treatment using both shots and allergy drops and if the drops show a reduction in symptoms similar or better than the shots the allergist will most likely suggest that the patient move to just the drops. Given the convenience of this course of treatment it has been shown that more people will take the drops on a regular basis in comparison to the injections.

When dealing with children most will choose the allergy drops over the shots. In fact it has been shown that most people will use the allergy drops on a regular basis as compared to getting the allergy shots... [read more]

Treatments get better every day, rumor has it that allergy pills are around the corner that will treat more than the symptoms of allergies but will act as replacements for the allergy drops and allergy shots that exist for immunotherapy therapy treatments that exist today. Though immunotherapy does not work for everyone if it does the effects can seem miraculous.

Marilyn Franklin writes for AllergyFiles.com where you can find more info on how to manage your allergies.

Dealing with a cashew allergy.

If you start to sneeze, develop teary eyes, a runny nose and a headache every time you get near your cat you might be having an allergic reaction. Cat allergens from the saliva and dander have to be airborne in order for you to breathe them in and then have an allergic reaction. Since they are airborne, they can circulate everywhere in your house and on you. Have yourself tested so you can be sure your symptoms are coming from your cat. Allergists can perform a scratch test on your skin that can reveal 70-80 possible allergens. Allergies to a pet can begin at any age. Many people that have pet allergies may have allergies to other things like molds or pollen. Allergies also tend to run in families.

Cashews are one of the most popular nuts, offering a unique, rich nutty flavor. Grown in trees, cashews are typically grown in tropical regions near the equator. While this nut grows wild in Brazil, it is farmed in other countries such as India. The trees are quite large but many people think of them more as bushes since the branches hand down low to the ground. Interestingly, the branches often fall so low that they actually go back into the ground and replant themselves.

The great thing about the cashew nut is that it can be used for baking, grilling, salads, or simple snacked on. The down side is that people all around the country have a cashew allergy, which depending on the severity, can be very dangerous. For these individuals, a cashew allergy creates two problems. First, the shell of the cashew has oil, which is one source of allergy. The second is the actual nut.

Most people do not want to give up their cat unless they absolutely have to. If the symptoms are mild, you probably will be able to keep your cat. There are ways to decrease the unpleasant symptoms of the allergy.

If a person has a cashew allergy to the oil in the shell, what happens is that when the cashew is roasted, vapors are emitted. However, if the cashew is roasted completely, then the allergens become inactivated. Generally, the problem is most commonly seen has to do with handling the raw shell, buying cashews that have not been shelled properly, or roasting them to incompletion. The second problem with a cashew allergy is that the consumption of the nut.

Start by not letting your cats sleep with you anymore. In fact, keep them out of your bedroom completely. Wash your bedclothes in a hot water temperature of 140-degrees. This will eliminate any allergens while you are trying to get your symptoms under control.

Keep in mind that when a person has a cashew allergy, they are also allergic to foods containing cashews. For example, nut butter made from cashews, peso with cashews, cashew oil for cooking, anything that contains the nut and oil becomes a problem. In most cases, when a person has a cashew allergy, the reaction involves a rash that oral steroids will fix. However, some people have such an intense cashew allergy that the throat can swell, actually placing the individual in a life-threatening position. In this case, emergency treatment is crucial.

Try to keep your cat confined to one area of the house until you have been treated and feel better. This might be difficult but it may be the only solution if you have severe allergies. A room you don't use could be a good area to keep your cat in temporarily. Make sure you put toys, food and water in the room. A room with windows with wide panes may be a good idea so they can sit and look outside. Have someone without allergies take your cat outside for a while every day... [read more]

Another important aspect of having a cashew allergy is that in most cases, when a person shows indication of this type of nut allergy, he or she probably has allergies to other nuts, specifically things like pistachios and walnuts. In fact, a person could eat a small amount of cashews and not have a reaction at all and then eat several wholes nut and suddenly have a significant cashew allergy. Therefore, if you love nuts and have not tried cashews, start with a few to see if you respond to the oils. If not, then you will be in for a wonderful treat. If you do show signs of a cashew allergy, you will need to avoid them!