Page 32 - Florida Sentinel 10-26-20

Health
Skin Creams and Lotions
Injectable Epinephrine
If you're at risk for a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction (your doctor will call it anaphy- laxis), you'll need an epinephrine auto-injector in your kit. Using it can stop or curb a dangerous reac- tion to foods, medications, or in- sect stings that causes your airways to swell, makes it hard for you to breathe, and lowers your blood pressure. This type of reac- tion can be life-threatening if you don't treat it right away.
Decongestants
If stuffiness and congestion are your biggest problems, you may need decongestants. They help shrink your nasal tissues, which swell during an allergic re- action. You can get them over the counter as pills. Some are mixed with an antihistamine. If you have a health problem like high blood pressure, glaucoma, or thyroid disease, talk to your doctor before you take them.
Bronchodilators
Allergies often affect asthma. If you get asthma attacks or bron- chospasms, your doctor will pre- scribe an inhaler. This delivers doses of a short-acting medication called a bronchodilator. If you have a mild attack, a couple of puffs will quickly relax the muscles around your airways. Inhaled steroids, an- other common treatment, won’t ease symptoms right away. In- stead, you take them for long-term control of lung inflammation.
Eyedrops
When allergies leave you red- eyed and itchy, eyedrops can help. They ease inflammation so your eyes don't itch, tear up, or swell. Use antihistamine drops with ke- totifen in them before you go out- side to prevent symptoms. Try artificial tears to flush out aller- gens. Or look into over-the- counter decongestant eyedrops to help curb the redness. Ask your doctor what you need.
Antihistamines
You need them to ease allergy symptoms such as a runny nose, sneezing, and itchy, watery eyes. They block a substance called his- tamine, which your immune sys- tem makes when you come across an allergen. You can get them over the counter and by prescription. Newer ones like cetirizine, deslo- ratadine, fexofenadine, levoceti- rizine, and loratadine are less likely to make you sleepy. Check with your doctor or pharmacist.
Keep small tubes of moisturizer and hydrocortisone cream in your allergy kit. Use them to treat allergic reactions that show up on your skin. Moisturizers can soothe the dry, itchy feeling, and hydro- cortisone cream eases inflammation. Your doctor may suggest or prescribe other medications for more serious reactions or eczema.
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