That's Fit

My allergist finally won me over, and this month I started allergy shots to control my asthma. It wasn't an easy decision. Allergy shots are a huge commitment -- once or twice a week for three months, once a month for up to five years. It wasn't a decision I took lightly and I spent weeks on the web looking for research to help me understand the issue. I found that early research that studied the link between immunotherapy and allergic asthma wasn't always conclusive, but that more recently the AAAAI has determined that allergy shots can reduce symptoms and the need for medication. Relief of symptoms isn't a sure thing, but I'm hopeful that they'll help me.

Not everyone who has allergies or allergic asthma needs allergy shots, but if you have trouble controlling your symptoms even with proper dosage of medication, have year-round allergies to things that are hard to avoid, or have a child with allergic rhinitis, it's worth discussing immunotherapy with your doctor.

Despite being a pet owner (including cats) since childhood, a recent allergy test revealed that I am now allergic to cats. Wonderful. Surprisingly, my allergist didn't recommend that I get rid of any pets (not that I would have anyway), but he did recommend allergy shots, which I'm taking under consideration.

Cat allergies are especially hard to deal with because cat dander is small and sticky, and getting rid of a pet doesn't address allergic symptoms that may happen outside of the home. New research suggests, however, that an immunity to cat dander can be built up through a new procedure called sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT). Like allergy shots, SLIT gradually builds up a person's immunity to an allergen until the immune system learns to handle allergy triggers. The procedure involves putting small amounts of the allergen under the tongue, where it is absorbed by the body. In trials, the procedure reduced allergy symptoms by 67%.

The study was carried out in children, and as a parent I can see why this procedure would be preferred over shots, which can be painful. If you have a cat allergy, check out this website to learn more about natural ways to reduce your allergy symptoms at home.