"I wondered lonely as a cloud, that floats on high o'er dales and hills,
when all at once I saw a crowd-a host of golden daffodils." William
Wordsworth I hope he was taking an antihistamine. If he were not, he would
develop signs and symptoms of allergies. These include, but are not limited to a
sore throat; red, itchy, watery eyes; nasal congestion and drainage; coughing
and sneezing. There are many remedies, from grandma's kitchen to the allergy
research center. The allergy season is usually from late February to mid-May.
Grass is the biggest offender during the latter part of the season. Pollens from
trees and plants are released each year during early spring. There are cells
floating around in your body and when the allergen is inhaled, it attaches
itself to a specific cell. Then, it produces histamines (which stimulates
gastric secretion and dilates blood vessels.) Your body reacts to this invasion
with the signs of allergies. There are many over-the-counter medications to help
reduce the symptoms. Benadryl, Tavist and Cholortrimeton are called
antihistamines, which reduce the symptoms of allergies. Antihistamines make it
difficult for the histamines to be released in the bloodstream. However, there
is a drawback to this, and that is it will produce drowsiness. Prescription
medication can be given to combat symptoms also. Allegra, is the newest of these
medications. Claritin and Hismanal are non-sedating. There is, by prescription,
a nasal spray that can be given to reduce sneezing. Of course, the last resort
is by injection. A tiny amount of the same allergen that you are allergic to is
injected under your skin. This, hopefully, will slowly desensitize you. The
combination of these drugs should fit into many lifestyles. Briggite Mars, a
well-known herbalist states, "I generally view allergies as an indication
of a weakened immune system." She also believes that stress is a major
factor and should be reduced. This, in turn, will boost your immune system. A
diet rich in beta-carotene, lamb, and even violets can improve the sufferer's
allergic response. Every year around the same time, Michelle Robertson, who
worked for a doctor as a medical assistant thought she had developed a cold and
would then miss work. She would go in with the red eyes, nasal congestion, and
cough. It was really her allergy. There are many kinds of pollen from trees,
plants, weeds, flowers, mold, and ragweed being the worsts of all. Pollen, which
looks like a sphere with spikes can travel hundreds of miles away. It has been
found as far as Antarctica. There is no getting away from it. However, there is
a meter that reads the pollen count. It has been read from zero to as high as
four hundred in mid-September. In comparing the articles, the treatments were
the same, with the Cooper article, "More treatments available for those
with hay fever, allergies." The Wood article, "Ragweed hits hard at
pollen suffers," gives just over-the-counter medications. It also talks on
avoidance being the best policy of allergies. Cooper, talks more about diet and
homeopathic remedies. There is a difference on the allergy season between the
articles. The first being the February to March season. Wood made a statement of
the pollen count meter reading as a high as 400 in mid-September. This could be
due to the meter's geographic location. Overall, the Cooper article was much
more informative. It had a pleasant even flow to it starting with the poetry,
what allergies are, the treatment, and the diet. It had high points that helped
keep the article in perspective that the Wood's did not.
Bibliography
Cooper, Cynthia. "More treatments available for those with hay fever,
allergies." Knight- Ridder/Tribune News Service 16 May 1997, p516k8337
Wood, R. Anthony. "Ragweed hits hard at pollen suffers." Knight-ridder/Tribune
News Service 29 Aug. 1997, p829k4377 "