Allergies are undesirable chemical reactions produced by the natural protection system of the body, the immune system. These reactions occur in people with allergies when environmental substances called allergens enter the body.
The immune system releases antibodies like IgE to tackle the allergens as part of the protection mechanism. They, in turn, activate the white blood cells excessively, resulting in the external manifestations of the symptoms of allergies.
What it is Living with Allergies?
Hives, hay fever, eczema, food allergies, side effects of medications, asthma attacks, and reactions caused by bee stings are some common types of this disorder. While mild allergies are quite prevalent, in some people, the severe form of this disorder can lead to life-threatening conditions like anaphylaxis.
Allergies are characterized to be acquired, rapid, and predictable. The good and bad of this disorder are related to these features. As these disorders are predictable, the good part is that the patients can forearm themselves.
The bad part is that allergies can be acquired from parents’ genes and can be hereditary. Their onset can be rapid, giving less time between diagnosis and commencement of treatment.
How to Learn Living with Allergies?
Awareness is vital in dealing with allergies. As there are several forms of this disorder, a person should learn about the allergy possessed first. The identification of the allergen and its sources should follow.
The third step should be to devise means of prevention by avoiding the sources of allergies. For instance, people suffering from food allergies can maintain a list of foods that cause allergic reactions based on their experience.
Several tests are available to determine the severity of this disorder. The treatment is prescribed accordingly.
Are Allergies Costly to Manage
Managing chronic problems such as heart disease or diabetes may be expensive compared to managing allergies. However, factors such as lack of Insurance to pay bills and buying over-the-counter medications regularly can make allergies very costly to operate.
How Managing Allergies became Costlier?
After 2001, powerful allergy medications such as Claritin, Allegra, and Zyrtec were given over-the-counter status. This meant that these drugs could be bought without a prescription, and the cost of these drugs was also lower. However, as these drugs were given over-the-counter status, insurance companies were not obliged to pay for these drugs. This made allergy management costlier for people with health insurance.
Here is a detailed breakdown of why managing allergy is costly –
| Factor | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Increased Prevalence | Rising number of allergy cases increases demand and costs. |
| Diagnostic Procedures | Advanced tests are more accurate but costlier. |
| Specialized Treatments | Personalized treatments and biologics are expensive. |
| Emergency Care | Severe reactions require costly emergency treatments. |
| Regular Monitoring | Chronic allergies need ongoing, costly medical visits. |
| High-Priced Medications | The Price of allergy medications, especially from a brand, has risen. |
| Environmental Changes | Climate changes extend allergy seasons, increasing treatment needs. |
| Specialized Products | Hypoallergenic products and air purifiers are costly too. |
| Increased Awareness & Diagnosis | As more people are going for diagnosis, it increases demand and costs. |
| Insurance Limitations | Some treatments aren’t fully covered by Insurance, thus leading to out-of-pocket expenses. |
How to Effectively Manage the Cost of Allergies?
Getting diagnosed with allergies and preventing the allergens is very effective in managing the cost of allergies. If you are uncertain about the kind of allergy you have, it can cost you more. For example, it can cost you a visit to the Emergency Room if you have a severe allergic reaction. Productivity losses at the office due to undiagnosed allergies can also make you spend more money. Knowing and preventing your allergies will make you spend less money on allergy management.
Immunotherapy is another option to manage the cost of allergies. In immunotherapy, injections containing the allergens are injected for about 2 to 5 years. This will make the immune system used to the allergen and decrease your sensitivity. According to studies, taking immunotherapy would save you 15% of money in the second year and about 50% in the third year. The net savings would be about $800 a year.
Managing allergies can be costly, but proper diagnosis and prevention of allergens can be helpful. Also, taking allergy shots or immunotherapy can help you to manage the cost of allergies.
Conclusion: There is no way to prevent the immune system’s natural response or its mistaken identification of allergens. In other words, this disorder has no cure, and living with allergies is a lifelong condition.
1 Comment
I have a friend losing about 50 pounds of weight and his allergies are gone. Is this related or just coincidence? However, I do heard about natural prescription for relieving allergies. Much better than the drugs.