Why me? It's a beautiful day, the
flowers are in full bloom and while everyone else is smelling the
roses, you're blowing your nose - again and again. If you have
allergies, you may feel alone among all those lucky nature lovers
out there who are breezing while you're sneezing. But, you have a
lot of company. As many as 40 million adults and kids in the
United States suffer from seasonal allergies.
Pollen Problem? Pollens are
natural plant spores. These pollens may drift through the air to
help flower our world. However, these microscopic particles also
can trigger seasonal allergic reactions. And when they're in
season, a breath of fresh air can cause sniffles and sneezes.
Your "pollen police." If you're
allergic to pollen, your immune system identifies it as an
intruder. Your body responds by producing IgE antibodies, which
bind to your "mast cells" (in your tissue) and "basophils" (in
your blood stream). In turn, the mast cells and basophils release
histamines, which spark your allergic reaction - sneezing, runny
nose and red itchy eyes. A doctor may prescribe an antihistamine
to relieve the symptoms caused by histamine.
What's your IgE count? Allergy
sufferers may have higher levels of the antibody IgE in their
system. It may cause your immune system to overreact to what it
perceives as threatening invaders entering your respiratory
system, like pollen.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Side effects with Allegra 180 mg for seasonal allergies are low
and may include headache, cold, or back pain.
Side effects with Allegra 60 mg for seasonal allergies are low;
less than 3% of people experience cold or flu, nausea, menstrual
pain, or drowsiness.
Side effects with Allegra 60 mg for hives are low and may include
back pain, sinusitis, dizziness, or drowsiness.
Side effects with Allegra 30 mg are low and may include headache,
cold, coughing, or accidental injury.
Side effects with Allegra-D were similar to Allegra alone and may
include headache, insomnia, and nausea. Due to the decongestant (pseudoephedrine)
component in Allegra-D, this product must not be used if you: are
taking an MAO inhibitor (a medication for depression) or have
stopped taking an MAO inhibitor within 14 days; retain urine; have
narrow angle glaucoma; have severe high blood pressure or severe
heart disease. You should also tell your doctor if you have high
blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, glaucoma, thyroid
disease, impaired kidney function, or symptoms of an enlarged
prostate such as difficulty urinating.
