Allergies which effect 17% to 20% of adults are being recognized as increasing with age. Some older adults who did not previously have allergies develop them later in life.
Allergy Triggers in Older Adults
The chances for developing allergies later in life may depend on whether whether parents have suffered allergies, 40% in one parent who was allergic, 60% if both parents were allergic. There are "triggers" that set off the reactions that cause flareup.
In interviews conducted by Kelly Green for the Wall Street Journal (10/18/08) allergy and geriatric specialists pointed out that triggers can include:
- Relocating to a mild climate---where pollen is prevalent nearly year round. It can take a few years for the body to build up reactive cells to an irritant which cause flareups.
- Books and furniture where dust and mold can accumulate can aggravate allergies. With what some call a "lifetime load", the duration and breath of these in an older person's environment over a lifetime have a cumulative effect. That winds up eventually sensitizing the body's immune system and creating an allergy that was not apparent before.
- Physiological changes in the body can unmask symptoms. The amount of water in the body decreases with age, which in turn decreases the action of tiny hairs, called cilia, in the nose that help wash it out. The passage ways become dry, producing inflammation and causing stuffiness.
- The impact of menopause and hormone replacement therapy may be another culprit. Hormone therapy has been associated with asthma-like symptoms in some women.
- Medications can trigger side effects that may include nasal symptoms, breathing problems or a cough. Ace inhibitors can lead to a dry cough and beta blockers tend to constrict the airways in the lungs which affects breathing.
- Dog and cat dander can cause allergy and asthma attacks.
Remedies for Allergy Symptoms
There are a number of remedies that can alleviate the discomfort of allergies:
- The "neti pot" uses saline solution which is poured into one side of the nose and comes out the other side. This mechanically washes out the mucus inside the nose and removes the irritant.
- Humidifiers, particularly during the winter when heat in the house dries out the air, can bring relief.
- Nasal inhalers targeting seasonal allergies sometimes work.
Over-the-counter medications to relieve allergy symptoms should be used with caution because of sometime hazardous side effects. A pharmacist can explain how these drugs and prescribed medications can interact with other other.
No remedy for alleviating the symptoms of allergies should be used without first consulting a doctor who is familiar with other medical problems or living arrangement being experienced by the older person.
