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Are you or a caregiver providing elder care in Harwood Heights, IL for your aging family member?

(ARA) ? For many people, spring means the budding of flowers and longer days filled with warm sunshine. But for one in five people, spring also signifies allergies are in full scope.

Seasonal allergies, also known as allergic rhinitis, cause cold-like indicators which include itchiness in the nose, roof of the mouth, throat, eyes and ears, along with watery eyes, runny nose, congestion and sneezing. But in contrast to a cold, allergies are note precipitated by a virus; they are generated by an allergic response to outdoor or indoor allergens, such as mold, trees, pollen and pet dander.

Allergies, which affect an estimated 60 million people in the United States both young and old, can genuinely take a toll on your daily regimen, and they are a hassle both in daily life and professionally. Regardless of whether you?re affected year-round or during a specific season, mastering how to take care of allergy symptoms can be important to restoring your ease and comfort and quality of life.

This ailment can also be expensive to cope with . From 2000 to 2005, the expense of treating allergic rhinitis nearly doubled from $6.1 billion to $11.2 billion, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. over fifty percent of that was expended on prescription and over-the-counter medications. Experts propose patients obtain store-brand, over-the-counter medicines as an effective means of handling both the allergy issue and its related expenses.

?There are a number of very effective over-the-counter treatments to address the symptoms of seasonal allergies,? says Dr. William Berger, professor of allergy and immunology at the University of California, Irvine. ?In fact, to help patients save money, I would recommend many of the store-brand, non-sedating antihistamines sold at leading retailers and pharmacies, such as Cetirizine or Loratadine. These products are approved by the FDA, but cost significantly less than the brand names.?

According to Berger, numerous allergy sufferers might find higher relief of their symptoms by trying one of these newer, more potent treatments now obtainable in the aisle, like Fexofenadine, which just switched from prescription to over-the-counter in 2011.

?Effective management with medicines, ideally before the allergy symptoms start, is key,? he says.

When an aging loved one requires elder care, be aware of the interactions between over-the-counter medications and the elderly person?s prescription drugs.

You may think that over-the-counter (OTC) medications are always safe and sound. But if you are a senior and additionally taking prescription medications, this kind of thinking can get you into some problems.

?The average number of prescription medications taken by people over 65 is five or six,? says Michael H. Perskin, MD, an assistant professor of medicine and an internist at the New York University Langone Medical Center. ?As you get older, it increases and so does the potential for drug interactions.?

So how can you find effective and safe relief from arthritis and other pain, and cold or allergy symptoms? ?When in doubt, ask your pharmacist,? Perskin says. ?If you have taken the medication before, it?s probably OK. But if it?s new or your other medication regimen has changed, check it out.?

You can find more information about the signs and symptoms and treatments for allergic rhinitis at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (www.aaaai.org), or the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (www.acaai.org).

At A Abiding CARE, we are available to talk with you and your family about all of your elder care needs. A Abiding CARE is an elder care agency providing quality and affordable elder care in Harwood Heights IL, and the surrounding areas. Call 847-698-1400 for more information.

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