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News Main
Lower Urinary Tract Disorders: A Puzzle No Longer
Tri-City
Voice, March 11, 2008
Washington Hospital Seminar Focuses on Poison Prevention
Tri-City Voice, March 11, 2008
Tri-City
to begin flu shots this week
Fremont
Argus, October 5, 2007
New Surgical Options Make for
a Better Night's Sleep
Tri-City Voice, July 24, 2007
June is
Men's Health Month
Tri-City Voice, June 26, 2007
Ouch! Those
Vaccinations Keep Adults and Teens
Healthy Too
Tri-City Voice, September 26, 2006
Cholesterol Education Month:
Know Your Numbers
Tri-City Voice, September 12, 2006
Have You
Had Your Shots?
Tri-City Voice, August 1, 2006
Summertime Safety at Home and
Away
Physician Recommends Preventive
Medicine, Education
Tri-City Voice, July 11, 2006
Connect the
Dots: Cardiovascular Health, Diabetes,
Diet and Exercise
Tri-City Voice, May 30, 2006
Control
Seasonal Allergies - Before They Control
You
Tri-City Voice, March 21, 2006
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| Control Seasonal Allergies -
Before They Control You
Tri-City Voice, March 21, 2006 Spring is in the air. And so is an abundance of pollen. For seasonal allergy
sufferers, springtime can be one of the worst times of year for sneezing, runny
nose, watery eyes and itchy ears and throats.
Allergies are abnormal reactions of the body's immune system to various organic
substances called allergens. When an allergen enters the body, the immune system
overreacts and produces antibodies to attack the allergens. Many people suffer
from seasonal respiratory allergies caused by pollen or grasses. Those seasonal
allergies often are compounded by reactions to year-round indoor allergens such
as dust mites, molds and pet dander. The only way to determine whether your
symptoms are due to allergies is to conduct skin tests or blood tests to
determine whether you have developed specific antibodies to various allergens.
"In the Bay Area, people can suffer from respiratory allergies year-round
because of our mild climate, but allergens from pollen and grasses are at their
peak in the early spring and fall," says Dr. Steven Curran, a family medicine
physician at Washington Hospital. "Although colds and respiratory allergies can
produce similar symptoms, colds generally last only a week or so. Allergies can
last much longer - as long as you are exposed to whatever is causing the
allergic reaction."
The tendency to develop allergies is often inherited, so children whose parents
have allergies have a higher likelihood of being allergic, too. In addition to
respiratory allergies caused by airborne "environmental" allergens, many people
also have allergic reactions to various foods, chemicals, medicines or insect
bites and stings.
"Some seasonal respiratory allergies produce multiple symptoms, including itchy
eyes and nose, hives or rashes, and sneezing or wheezing," Curran says. "For
people who have asthma, allergies may be significant triggers for asthma
attacks. Allergies also can make asthmatics more susceptible to non-allergy
triggers, such as respiratory infections. In rare cases, a severe allergic
reaction may cause anaphylaxis, which is characterized by difficulty in
breathing and swallowing, or swelling of the lips or tongue. If you experience
any of those symptoms, it is imperative to call for immediate medical help."
Curran notes that treatment for seasonal allergies falls into three general
categories:
- Avoidance - Avoid contact with the specific substance causing the
allergy.
- Medications - Over-the-counter and prescription drugs such as
antihistamines, decongestants and nasal sprays can provide effective
treatment. Anti-inflammatory drugs and bronchodilators may be used for
allergy-related asthma. Epinephrine, delivered by injection, is used to
treat severe allergic reactions.
- Desensitization - A series of injections of small amounts of allergen
over a period of several months or even years, gradually increasing the
dosage so the body builds up resistance over time.
"You may need to apply a combination of the three forms of treatment," Curran
observes. "Desensitization is not a 'quick fix,' but it can be very effective
for people whose quality of life is severely affected by allergies. It's
important for you to work with your doctor to tailor an individual treatment
plan that helps you deal effectively with your allergies. It's also important to
seek treatment early in the allergy season because it is easier to treat
allergies early than to wait until your symptoms get out of hand. You need to
take control of your allergies before they take control of you."
If you would like to find out more about a treatment plan to deal with your
allergies, call Washington Clinic/Warm Springs at (510) 651-2371 for an
appointment. The clinic is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday,
and is located at 46690 Mohave Drive, Fremont.
For more information about Washington Hospital's primary care clinics, located
in Warm Springs, Newark, and the newest in Union City, visit
www.whhs.com, click on "Our
Facilities," and select "Washington Hospital Clinics" from the drop-down menu. |
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