Script for Hay Fever
Q. What
a beautiful day! Blossoms have replaced the
Tuly fog. So how come so many people dread
this time of year?
A.
The blooming trees bring “yellow rain”.
Pollen! And this triggers America’s most
common disability, Hay Fever.
Q. How
come? What is the big deal of a little runny
nose, sneezing, and itchy nose and eyes?
A. Yes,
allergies may come off as the common cold
but there is no comparison. Colds last about
a week. Hay Fever distresses the average
victim for about 19 weeks!
Q. I
had no idea. Sounds like Hay Fever gets the
Rodney Dangerfield award of “no respect”.
A. Hay Fever is the #1 disease of
childhood and #3 in adults. It costs the
country over $10 billion dollars a year.
Q. Come
on, why all this pampering. Some sneezing
and stuffiness. Sounds like a poor excuse
for so much money and absenteeism.
A. The real problem
with Hay Fever is its complications.
Sinusitis, post nasal drip, unrelenting
coughs, ear infections, sore throats, chest
colds, and asthma.
Q. What makes for
allergies anyway?
A. Allergies are the
immune system gone wrong. The body over
reacts to the pollen and produces abnormal
antibodies. These in turn combine with the
pollen resulting in a chemical spillage.
These literally chew up the body with
inflammation.
Q. Don’t we all have
allergies, particularly here in the San
Joachim Valley.?
A. Not yet. But more
and more are developing them. Allergies
result through an interplay of our genetics
and the environment. It used to be simple.
When our antibody system was exposed to lots
of tree, grass, and weed pollen, allergies
would eventually develop in susceptible
people. A new factor has been added.
Pollution. Simply put bad air makes it
possible for many more of us to break down
and develop allergies.
Q. Then is there no
hope? Improving air quality is hardly likely
in my lifetime!
A. Science marches
on! A better “Quality of life” is the goal.
Research has discovered better and safer
medications.
Q. What about the
infamous allergy injections?
A. When injection
therapy is indicated, shots are given to
build up immunity and actually to cure part
or most of the allergies.
Q. How is that
possible?
A. First we do
allergy skin tests to find the responsible
allergens. . Later the problem allergens are
formulated and injections are given to build
up immunity. Eventually the patient should
be well enough to be off regular
medications.
Q. I’ve heard the
medications cause more side effects than the
Hay Fever?
A. Modern day Hay
Fever medications are not like that. The
antihistamines namely Claritin, Zyrtec,
Astelazine, and Allegra have replaced the
medications of old. Side effects are minimal
to none. Even better are Cromolyn and
particularly the inhaled nasal steroids.
Q. If its all the
same, don’t most people prefer the tablets?
A. Probably. Yet the
head to head comparative studies clearly
show the inhalers are surely more effective.
I recommend that patients take
their inhalers every day, and the
antihistamines when needed.
Q. Aren’t you
concerned with giving “steroids”?
A. No! These are
corticosteroids and not the muscle building
risky anabolic steroids. When the patient
takes these nasal inhalers as prescribed, no
short or long term side effects should
occur. Instead the benefit from these agents
is dramatic.
Q. Isn’t this all
expensive?
A. What’s expensive?
The cost of being well compared to
remaining ill and missing work or school?
As a doctor I’ll take wellness all the time.
To cinch it, outcomes analyses studies also
clearly demonstrate its far cheaper taking
these second generation antihistamines, the
steroid inhalers and the injection therapy.
This in not to denigrate
costs. Surely the expenses of medical care
are prohibitive. A better solution to the
high costs of health care must come forth.
Q. One final
question, can’t my primary doctor do this
for me?
A. Perhaps. Still its
what an Allergist does as a specialist, over
and over each day. Allergists will follow
you closely. They will “fine tune” you
individually to insure your successful
course through these “19 weeks.” Preventing
the complications such as asthma, sinusitis,
otitis, bronchitis, and pneumonia is
critical for your health. Further, while
Generalists prescribe more antihistamines,
Allergists prefer inhaled steroids. Nasocort,
Vancenase, Rhinocort, and Flonase are
preferable. Lastly should you be on Allergy
injections, an Allergy Center has the safety
experience.
More on Hay
Fever
Bill Ziering
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