If you, like 50 million Americans, suffer from this
perennial pest, you probably think you've tried it all. You've taken the
do-nothing approach, optimistic your hay fever would vanish on its own. You've
tested out-there "cures" that worked for your aunt's best friend's
brother. And from an RX or two, you've gotten relief — plus pesky side effects.
To find solutions that actually work, Women's Health magazine scoured the
latest research.
Women's Health, published by Rodale of Emmaus, reveals three
ways to cope with allergies:
1 Going for a jog is the last thing you feel like doing when
you're stuffed up. But here's why it might be worth it: A moderate-intensity
workout significantly reduced allergy symptoms in one study from Thailand.
Exercise may decrease the body's release of irritating histamines and other
biological mediators, the same way some medications do, says Dr. Sindhura
Bandi, assistant professor at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago.
2 Seasonal snifflers who got needled by an acupuncturist 12
times over the course of eight weeks showed more improvement in their symptoms
and used medication less frequently than people who didn't get acupuncture or
got a sham treatment, according to one clinical trial published in the journal
Annals of Internal Medicine. Traditional Chinese medicine teaches that
acupuncture treatments can help bring the body into balance. Preliminary
Western research, meanwhile, suggests that these strategically placed needles
may help control inflammation by reining in chemicals that contribute to an
allergic reaction.
3 Most treatments relieve symptoms; immunotherapy, or
allergy shots, offers an actual cure — and it's usually covered by insurance. A
small dose of the allergen is delivered with each jab to train your body to
tolerate it. Of course, it's somewhat inconvenient — immunotherapy entails
getting weekly injections for about six months, followed by monthly boosters
for three to five years. "We typically go to that step when patients fail
with other therapies or are at risk of asthma, or per patient preference,"
Dr. Bandi says.
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