Allergies and Your Life
Allergies and their symptoms can play a huge role in how you live your life. Allergy sufferers can feel fatigued and irritable. They may constantly sneeze, or go through the day feeling generally unwell. They may have difficulty concentrating or performing at peak levels at work or at school.
Many allergy sufferers may need to dramatically adjust their lifestyles to accommodate their allergies. They may have to limit their activities in order to avoid the pollen and weeds that cause hay fever, avoid foods that cause their allergy symptoms, and even give away dogs or cats.
+ What Is An Allergy
So what exactly is an allergy? It's a physical disorder caused by an unusual sensitivity to substances that normally don't bother other people. These can include certain foods, dust, dust mites, pollens, ragweed, trees, grass, molds and dog or cat dander.
This hypersensitivity results when the immune system – the body's defense against invading organisms – overreacts. The antibodies that form combat the usually harmless substances (called allergens) that we swallow, inhale, inject or touch.
During an allergic reaction, the cells of the immune system release irritant chemicals such as histamine, creating changes in tissue that cause inflammation and allergy symptoms.
+ A Brief History of Antihistamines
Oral antihistamines are effective in reducing the symptoms caused by your body's reaction to allergens. They work by blocking the action of histamine, a substance produced by the body in response to allergens like dust and dust mites, pollen from ragweed, grass, or trees, or dander from dogs and cats.
The earliest antihistamines, like chlorpheniramine and diphenhydramine, only brought up to six hours of relief and often caused undesirable side effects like sleepiness. Newer antihistamines are usually easier to tolerate and can help relieve allergy symptoms for up to 24 hours, and most don't cause drowsiness.
AERIUS® effectively relieves allergy symptoms including congestion, providing sufferers with freedom from allergies symptoms for up to 24 hours. And now, for those where nasal congestion is the most bothersome of all their allergy symptoms, there’s AERIUS® Dual Action 12 Hour, a special formulation designed to relieve their worst nasal allergy congestion for up to 12 hours. AERIUS® Dual Action 12 Hour combines the power of an added decongestant called pseudoephedrine† sulphate with the multi-symptom allergy relief provided by desloratadine. With AERIUS® Dual Action 12 Hour, it’s all in one tablet.
Do you have an Allergy or a Cold? Compare symptoms.
