6 Reasons Why You Should Take Allergy Shots

The Problem

Whether it’s seasonal or all-year-round, allergies can have a detrimental effect on a person’s quality of life. In some cases, they can even be life-threatening. Medications such as antihistamines, nasal decongestants, and other inflammatory medications may not be enough to relieve the symptoms, especially if they are persistent and severe. It is why you need to get another allergy treatment that is more effective in the long run.

Defining Allergy Shots

According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology, allergy shots, also known as allergen immunotherapy, is the most commonly used and most effective form of allergy immunotherapy. It is a long-term treatment that decreases symptoms of allergies in both adults and children. Allergy shots decrease your sensitivity to allergens, often leading to long-lasting relief of allergy symptoms even after you stop the medication. The treatment involves injecting tiny amounts of the foreign substance that causes an allergic reaction. The constant exposure to the allergen causes the body to stop generating symptoms and stimulates a different immune response against the allergen.

Allergy shots can be an excellent long-term solution, especially if over-the-counter medications don’t work anymore. It is important to note, however, that not all allergies can be treated with allergy shots. For people who respond well to the treatment, allergy shots can make allergy symptoms less severe and cause them to occur less often.

Why You Should Take Allergy Shots

Allergy shots are cost-effective and can bring long-lasting relief to allergy sufferers. However, many people are still having doubts about its effectiveness. It is because of the surrounding misconceptions about the treatment. Today, we’re going to give you six reasons why you should consider allergy shots as treatment.

• Allergy shots are effective in treating allergy symptoms.

  When a person is allergic to a specific substance, his immune system reacts to it. With immunotherapy, the immune system changes its reaction to that allergen; it tolerates it. As mentioned earlier, allergy shots decrease symptoms of allergies and lessen your sensitivity to allergens. It is because you are gradually exposed to that allergen, and your body gets used to its presence. Although it takes a long time to experience the effectiveness of the treatment, it can be a great long-term solution if they work well.

• Allergy shots are cost-effective.

  When your allergies start acting up, you need to relieve your symptoms immediately. And one way of doing that is to take medications. If you’re one of those who continuously have allergies, this might take a toll on your savings. Treatment with allergy shots can reduce your allergy symptoms, which means that your need for medications will also decrease. Some studies have shown that allergy shots may reduce the risk of developing asthma in later life and reduce the risk of developing additional allergies. A study conducted showed that immunotherapy reduces the healthcare cost in children with allergic rhinitis or hay fever by one-third. Allergy shots are not just useful in treating specific allergies, but they have also proven to be cost-effective.

• Allergy shots can treat severe symptoms.

  Allergy shots are highly recommended for people with severe allergy symptoms who don’t typically respond to usual medications. They are also useful if your medications have significant side effects. Allergy shots have also proven to be useful for people whose allergies can become life-threatening. These situations include asthma attacks and severe allergic reactions called anaphylaxis.

• Allergy shots rarely have severe side effects.

  People who chose to have allergy shots do not have any adverse reactions. However, you may have swelling or redness at the injection site. These mild reactions can be treated with over-the-counter medications. In some cases, patients may develop mild to moderate symptoms such as sneezing, nasal congestion, or hives after the injection. That is why you need to stay in the office for a while to monitor your reaction to the treatment. A more severe reaction rarely occurs when getting allergy shots.

• Allergy shots can make asthma and eczema better.

  Many people think that allergy shots are just a treatment for common allergy symptoms such as itchy eyes, runny nose, and wheezing. While allergy shots can prevent all the symptoms mentioned, they can also help with other related conditions. If you have asthma, getting your allergies under control may help reduce flare-ups and improve your breathing. Eczema, a condition that makes your skin red and itchy, often gets worse because of environmental allergies. If you can control your allergies, then you can better manage your eczema.

• Allergy shots improve your mental health.

  It is not just the physical symptoms that can get better with allergy shots. It can also improve your mental health, especially if you have been living with severe allergies. People with allergies who experienced multiple life-threatening situations can sometimes take a toll not just on their health but also their happiness. It is especially true if you have pollen allergies or insect allergies where you don’t get to enjoy many outdoor activities. A study found that people who received immunotherapy did not just lower the risk of anaphylaxis and death but also reduced anxiety and depression.

The Wrap Up

Allergies can affect our quality of life. That is why it is crucial to seek professional help to minimize its symptoms. There are a lot of treatments available for allergies. However, if you want a practical solution, you might want to consider getting allergy shots in the long run.

Brazos Valley Allergy and Asthma Clinics provide professional services to patients with allergies, asthma, and immune system problems. Their clinics utilize both established methods and technological advances to identify and treat many different diseases. If you want to learn more about allergy shots, schedule a meeting with them now.

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REFERENCES:

https://acaai.org/