|
|
NEWS
Treatment of Allergies Prevents Complications and
Asthma
by N. Katzin
A large percentage of seasonal allergy victims suffer from
allergy symptoms such as itching, sneezing, shortness of
breath and runny nose. "The treatment of seasonal allergies
is known to be highly important, not only because it eases
symptoms but also in order to prevent complications and the
development of diseases such as asthma and sinusitis," says
Dr. Shlomo Bar Sela, a top allergist and director of Kupat
Cholim Meuchedet's allergy clinic in Jerusalem.
Seasonal allergies, which result from high sensitivity of the
immune system to allergens such as pollen, are caused by a
combination of two factors: sensitivity to allergens and
exposure to them. Allergy patients suffer from runny nose,
itchy eyes and nose, sneezing and coughing. New studies
demonstrate a direct correlation between allergies and
asthma. The frequency of allergies among young asthma
patients (under 30) can be as high as 80-90 percent.
Dr. Bar Sela says that studies prove that the treatment of
runny nose due to allergies improves the patients' condition
and their quality of life while reducing the need for asthma
medication.
New studies and improved treatments available today--from
medication to ease allergy symptoms to long-term inoculations
against the allergens--are extremely effective in reducing
the suffering of allergy patients. Second-generation
antihistamines designed to treat allergies (e.g. Lorastine,
Telfast and Histazine) do not cause the side effects
associated with the first-generation medications, which
affect the brain by causing drowsiness.
"Unfortunately at some Kupot Cholim the doctors are trained
to write inexpensive prescriptions for medications from the
old-generation, such as Ahiston, drugs that cause dozing,
harm the ability to concentrate and learn, impair driving,
etc. It is important for patients to demand the better
medications that cause almost no side effects or sleepiness,"
says Dr. Bar Sela.
|
