H E A LT H
• Sleep – breathing through mouth, frequent awakening,
steroid nasal spray. Antihistamines relieve the
daytime fatigue, night time
itching, sneezing and runny nose,
or early morning coughing.
but they do not relieve nasal
Children will often snore and
congestion. Keep in mind that older
can especially struggle with
generation sedating antihistamines
attention and concentration.
are best avoided before driving and should not be used in children.
MANAGING THE CONDITION
Antihistamine eye drops can
“In the first place, one can work
relieve itching or irritation of the
to avoid one’s specific allergic
eyes.
triggers. Fortunately The Allergy
Decongestants in oral or nasal
and Immunology Research Unit is
spray form should not be used for
now providing accurate national
more than a few days at a time,
pollen and mould monitoring
because of the risk of rebound nasal
within various South African cities.
congestion, and are discouraged in
This can enable one to take the
the treatment of hay fever.
necessary proactive precautions,
Leukotriene modifiers are
OTIS MEDICAL ASSIST CHAIR
D
o you or someone close to you suffer from arthritis or some other affliction related
to the musculoskeletal system? Do
such as limiting outdoor activities
drugs that block the actions of
at times of high pollen count and
leukotrienes, or molecules that
you or someone you love struggle to
using medications.”
cause inflammation, and can be
walk, or to stand up? These illnesses
very useful in people with both
are extremely painful and thousands
asthma and allergic rhinitis.
of people can’t afford the necessary
Your doctor may suggest allergy testing if your symptoms are not well controlled with medications,
“Allergen immunotherapy,
equipment and treatment that can
or if it is not clear what is causing
which can be very successfully
help alleviate their pain or improve
your symptoms. This may include a
used to resolve allergic problems
their condition. Most people have no
skin prick or blood test.
such as hay fever in some
choice but to live with this pain, which
Dr Coetzee says the following
individuals, involves trying to alter
only gets worse over time.
treatments are available to assist in
the way a person’s immune system
the management of hay fever:
reacts to allergens. The most
helplessly stand by and watch a loved
For family members that have to
common form of immunotherapy
one go through this, the experience
are the first line of treatment.
is regular injections. Whether you
is heart-breaking, especially if
They have few side effects and
are a candidate for immunotherapy
the patient is a parent or another
dramatically relieve symptoms in
depends on your history, as well as
immediate family member who
most people. If your nose is crusted
what you are allergic to,” concludes
suffers for years before they pass
or contains mucus, you can first
Dr Coetzee. •
away. But now, there is an affordable
Steroid (cortisone) nasal sprays
solution that can help alleviate the
clean it with saline (salt water) nasal irrigation before using the
This article first appeared on www.medicalacademic.co.za on 15 October 2019
pain, promote exercise and aid rehabilitation of these patients – the OTIS Medical Assist Chair. The chair helps lift a patient from a seated to a standing position, thus allowing for freedom of mobility and independence. OTIS Medical Assist Chair, the best gift you can give a struggling loved one. •
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SILVER DIGEST // SPRING 2020
