Fighting the foe: Explore methods to overcome allergies

By Margaret Murray

Throughout middle school and highschool, my pet peeve was being awakened in the mornings by my father's Brobdingnagian sneezes. Beginning at the ungodly hour of 6 a.m. and often earlier, his thunderous nasal projections would resonate through our household while my mother attempted to "Shhhsh" him and demand that he cover his nose, all the while threatening divorce if he did not quiet down.

Eventually I began to feel bad for my poor dad, whose misery was, and is, a result of my insistence that I adopt every feral kitten in the universe. Over the years, in addition to the felines, a high-strung black Labrador and depressed Basset have also mysteriously become members of our household. To be honest, I'm surprised my father has not set up camp in our backyard or moved to Antarctica where he would forever rid himself of the pesky allergens that plague him.

For those of you who have not experienced allergies (me!), we carry on an insouciant existence while our family, friends and neighbors who fall victim to these year-round irritants, must struggle to lead runny-nose-free lives. Contrary to popular belief, there really is no allergy season. Most individuals who have inherited a predisposition towards allergies will tell you that there is neither rhyme nor reason for the onset. Different people are affected by different allergens during the spring, summer or fall and some even suffer from perennial allergies as well.

While seasonal allergies are more prominent during the warmer months when pollen is more prevalent, perennial allergies are caused by such nuisances as dust mites, mold, house dust, your pet's dander, saliva and urine, and group projects. These all sound very pleasant and I'm sure we are thrilled they exist, lurking in every off and on-campus dwelling.

Please feel free to discuss microscopic mites and pet dander in your next pick-up line, I would expect brilliant feedback. Nothing says "kiss me" like a urine-induced runny nose and mite-instigated watery eyes.

Aside from wandering around with a full box of Kleenex at all times, there are other more drastic measures you can take to combat your allergies.

First, antihistamines. As the name indicates, an antihistamine counters the effects of histamine (hence, "anti") which is released by mast cells in the body's tissues causing allergy symptoms. Antihistamines have proven useful in relieving sneezing and itching in the nose, throat, and eyes, and in reducing nasal swelling and drainage.

Second, topical nasal steroids. These are not to be confused with their dangerous cousin, you know, the ones used by Sammy Sosa and Mark McGuire. They are in fact quite helpful in halting the allergic reaction. In addition, they reduce the number of mast cells in the nose and reduce mucus secretion and nasal swelling.

Third, immunotherapy. Patients receive injections under the skin of increasing concentrations of the allergen to which they are sensitive. Injections reduce the amount of IgE antibodies in the blood and cause the body to make a protective antibody called IgG. But, you all already knew that. Patients who benefit from immunotherapy may continue it for three years and then consider stopping, and although many patients are able to stop the injections with good, long-term results, some do get worse after immunotherapy is stopped.

There really is no one way to cure your allergies, unless of course you move to Antarctica. Gesundheit. À tes souhaits. Salud.