It’s that time again. Time to grab the tissue box, time to get out the Claritin, time to stay indoors with red, itchy eyes and uncontrollable sniffles.
An estimated 35 million Americans suffer from some form of allergies, and it can be quite inconvenient to manage without proper care. With almost one in five Americans dealing with allergies, the experiences that we have with this condition vary almost as much as we do. Seasonal allergies are the most common, with food allergies and medicine sensitivities coming in a close second. No matter what your particular situation, it is essential that you diagnose your allergies properly in order to treat them effectively.
What Are Allergies?
An allergy is classified as an exaggerated response of the body’s immunodefense system to normal stimuli, such as pollen, pet dander, food, and medicines. Allergic responses can be mild, such as rash, itching, or watering of the eyes, nose, and throat, or they can be severe. Severe allergic responses included difficulty breathing, difficulty swallowing, and in extreme cases, death. It is important to know what you are dealing with and what your individual sensitivities are in order to treat your allergies properly.
How Do I Treat My Allergies?
It is highly suggested that you avoid your cause of allergies as much as possible. If you know that you are allergic to peanuts, for example, then it will be necessary to stay away from all products containing peanuts. With other allergies, it might be more difficult to stay away from the irritant completely. In a case of seasonal allergies, it may be necessary to take an antihistamine in order to make your movement through spring and fall seasons more comfortably.
In a case of a severe allergic reaction, administration of medical intervention is necessary to stave off life-threatening consequences. Epi-pens are commonly used to treat anaphylaxis, a dangerous condition where a person’s ability to breathe is compromised. In these cases, minutes matter; epi pen administration of medicine is essential to minimizing the consequences of the reaction.
How Do I Get Diagnosed?
When you make an appointment with an allergy specialist, the doctor will ask a host of trigger specific questions, asking if you have ever had reactions to allergen stimuli. It will also be important for the doctor to know if your family has a history of allergies, as this can be a factor in determining whether your symptoms are also allergy related.
Doctors will perform some tests to see which allergens are irritants for you. These tests may include blood tests, skin prick tests or patch tests to see what happens when different allergens are introduced to your system via your skin. Once an allergen is identified as a positive for you, doctors will prescribe a course of action for dealing with your allergy.
How Much Does Treatment Cost?
Depending on the type of testing done, allergy tests can cost anywhere from $75-$1000. Make sure you talk to your doctor about which tests are absolutely essential for you, as you will not necessarily want to spend hundreds for a test that you don’t need.
If it is determined that you do have allergies, your course of treatment could be something as simple as an over the counter medication, such as Claritin or Zyrtec. Both of these seasonal allergy medications are quite affordable, with the cost of a bottle being $12 or less.
For prescription allergy medication, you will undoubtedly end up spending a bit more, but the medication is targeted to reduce and eliminate specific symptoms. Prescription allergy medication typically ranges from $30-$70 for a month’s supply. If it is determined by your doctor that this medication is needed for your comfort and safety, most insurance plans will help pay for the cost of the medication.
For the most severe types of allergies, where an epi pen is needed, you will be paying significantly more, and in cases like this it is routine for insurance to at least pay a portion of your cost. Epi-pen medication ranges anywhere from $380-$700 for a set of two auto-injectors. It is best to administer epi-pen medication when it has been determined that it is absolutely necessary.
With management of allergies, it will be necessary to continue seeing your medical practitioner to monitor and update your experience with your allergy treatment. Dr. Summit Shah is a leader in the field of allergy treatment and management. He will work with you and your individual needs to determine what your optimum care plan will look like. Dr. Summit Shah has brought relief to hundreds of patients, and he can do the same for you. Contact him for more information and to set up an appointment today. Better health is in your future!