Do I have a cold or allergies?

Runny nose.......
Cough......
Congestion.......

Which is it........a cold?  Or is it Allergies?

It's difficult to tell. 

Colds are caused by a virus:  When one of these viruses gets into your body, your immune system attacks it. Some of the effects of this immune response are the classic symptoms of a cold, such as congestion and coughing.

Allergies are caused by an over active immune system.:  For some reason, your body mistakes harmless substances -- such as dust or pollen -- for germs and attacks them. Your body releases chemicals such as histamine, just as it does when fighting a cold. This can cause swelling in your nasal passages, a runny nose, coughing, and sneezing. Allergies are not contagious, although some people may inherit a tendency to develop them.

information provided by WebMD

Here's the problem.....they pretty much have the same symptoms but the treatment is not the same.  You cannot take cold medicine to relieve allergy symptoms and vice versa.

So what can you do for Allergies?  There is a treatment, Subcutaneous Immunotherapy, that requires you to get weekly shots for THREE years.  Maybe this is why only about 40% of patients ever complete this treatment.  (Dr. Sutton Premier Back Rehabilitation Center)

Luckily there is an alternative to WEEKLY shots:  Sublingual Immunotherapy:  Immunotherapy treats the cause of allergies by giving small doses of what a person is allergic to, which increases “immunity” or tolerance to the allergen and reduces the allergic symptoms. Unlike SCIT – Subcutaneous Immunotherapy, which is given as shots, sublingual immunotherapy is given as drops under the tongue.

How it works:  The first step is to confirm allergies through allergy testing. Then a vial of drops is prepared for the patient. The patient takes drops under the tongue daily. During the first two months, called the “escalation phase,” the dosage is gradually increased. After that, in the “maintenance phase,” the patient takes the same dose of drops each day.

Here is the best part of Sublingual Immunotherapy (drops) vs. Subcutaneous Immunotherapy (shots) and that is the drops cost about $1600.00 LESS per year!!!

Premier Back Rehabilitation Center, PC located in Pueblo Colorado has these shots available.  Like them on Facebook.

Comment on how you treat your allergies.

Allergy Season AllergyTreatment

ACHOOOOOOO!

I don’t know about you but Allergies are among the same list as mosquitoes….what exactly is the purpose.  All they do is make your life miserable.  The solution….A SHOT!  Not just one shot, not just an occasional shot…..a shot every two weeks….oh and did I mention

FOR THREE YEARS!

According to WebMD

Mild allergy symptoms are rash, localized itching, congestion.
Moderate symptoms are widespread itching and difficult breathing
Severe:  “Anaphylaxis is a rare, life-threatening emergency in which the body's response to the allergen is sudden and affects the whole body. Allergy symptoms may within minutes progress to more serious symptoms, including:”
·         Itching of eyes or face
·         Varying degrees of swellings that can make breathing and swallowing difficult
·         Abdominal pain
·         Cramps
·         Vomiting
·         Diarrhea
·         Mental confusion or dizziness

Okay, comparing the symptoms against the shot…..the shot is needed but still hated!!!

According to Dr. Sutton, Premier Back Rehabilitation Center,  PC those who start their three-year series of weekly shots, ONLY 40% finish their treatment.  I can understand that as I would have a very difficult time getting WEEKLY shots.

So suffer or shot?

 Now you don’t have to do either……Gotta Love Modern Medicine!!!  You can get your SHOT, in the form of a drop, under your tongue.  WOW, no needles?  Relieve Allergy Symptoms! 

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