Managing your allergies | Sponsored by Pharmasave

Helping you understand and manage your allergies

What are “allergies”?

• Inflammation of nasal passages
• Triggered by allergens
• Experienced seasonally or perennially

The facts

• Can affect daily life
• Affects 10 to 25% of Canadians
• Genetic element
• Associated with asthma, sinusitis and ear infections

Causes

• Immune response to allergen
• Seasonal allergens
• Perennial allergens

Signs and symptoms

• Runny nose, sneezing
• Itchy nose, mouth and throat
• Itchy, red, watery eyes
• Congestion

Symptom severity

Mild allergy symptoms will still allow a person to have normal sleep, participate in normal daily activities and will not interfere with work or school.
Symptoms of moderate to severe allergies could cause a person to have abnormal sleep, and may impair daily activities and/or affect performance at work or school.

Preventing allergies

• Vacuum, dust, remove carpet, upholstered furniture and drapes
• Keep pets outside (if possible)
• Use central air conditioning
• Keep windows and doors closed
• Avoid outdoor activities during high pollen and mold times
• Avoid drying clothes outside

Goals of therapy

• Prevent symptoms
• Ease any signs and symptoms
• Improve quality of life

Treatment

• Antihistamines
• Decongestants
• Steroid nasal sprays
• Eye drop medications
• Nasal saline
• Allergy shots

Oral antihistamines

• Help with runny nose, sneezing, itchy, red and watery eyes
• No effect on congestion symptoms
• Drowsy antihistamines
• Non-drowsy antihistamines
• Usuallyfirst treatment option
• Take before exposure to allergen

Steroid nasal sprays

• For moderate to severe allergy symptoms
• Relief within 7 to 8 hours
• Regular use more effective
• Very well tolerated

Eye drops

• Help relieves itchy, watery eyes
• Many options:
• Antihistamine Eye Drops
• Cromolyn Eye Drops
• Avoid drops with decongestants
• Look for ‘preservative free’ drops if you have sensitive eyes

Nasal saline

• Helps with runny nose
• Wash away the allergens and inflammatory substances
• Many options:
• Netipot, squirt bottle, bulb syringe
• To prevent infection, clean properly and use only appropriate solutions

Allergy shots

• “Allergen immunotherapy”
• Use when other treatments have failed or if allergen is not avoidable
• Injected at regular intervals for a period of 3 to 5 years

Allergies and children

• Hay fever is the most common chronic condition in children
• Can affect up to 20 to 40% of children
• Children with hay fever have:
• Poor sleep
• Decrease in school attendance
• Impaired cognitive function
• Lower self-esteem
• Higher risk of shyness, depression and anxiety