Spring has already sprung for those of us living in Florida
and it is happening all around the US.
Everywhere you look flowers are blooming, trees are budding, grass is
greening up and everything is covered in a yellow coat of Pollen! You can also see a lot of red, teary eyed
individuals sniffling and wheezing as the onslaught of allergies attack
reminding us all that Spring sometimes comes with a price!
(Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
Allergies are very unbiased and they affect everyone, young
and old. For most of us, we grab our
favorite allergy drugs including antihistamines, decongestants, combination
drugs, corticosteroids and more to find relief. Your local pharmacy has an abundance of
over-the-counter allergy relief medicines and then there is our faithful doctor
who can prescribe the “good stuff” to help us survive the Allergy Season.
Whether you are a Senior or take care of a Senior, you need
to be cautious when it comes to choosing an Allergy Relief drug. Here are a few things to consider:
- Just because a medication is sold over-the-counter (OTC), they are not all safe to take with other prescription medication. Ask your Pharmacist or better yet, see your physician first!
(Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
- Allergy medications often increase blood pressure which can lead to serious complications if taken for a long period of time.
- Allergy medications will most likely affect a Seniors sleep. Some medications will make you hyper so you can’t sleep and others will make you drowsy so you may sleep more. In either case, you will not get restful sleep.
- Allergy symptoms often mask more serious problems. Bronchitis and Sinus Infections are two common problems that are often mistaken as allergies. Infected ears and throat are two others that are often mistaken as Allergy symptoms. Any of these improperly treated can lead to serious issues and undue suffering.
·
If you feel you are suffering from Allergies, be safe and
get a check up from your physician. If
you are going to self-medicate, then at least discuss with your local
Pharmacist drug interaction of the over-the-counter medication you are
considering. Finally, if the problem
persists without any relief, see your doctor!
Proper diagnosis and medication can have you out safely and painlessly
enjoying Spring!
If would like a list Assisted
Living Facilities, Nursing Homes, Home Care or any other type of Senior
Facility, I hope you will consider www.helpforelderly.org .
If you would like to
contribute your thoughts and ideas, please leave them in our comment section.
We want to hear them. Helping people care for themselves or their loved ones is
what we care about.
We look forward to reading
yours.
Bob Gregory
is an advocate for Seniors and is one of the founders of the non-profit Help For
Elderly. At HelpForElderly.org, we are dedicated to helping families get
the Elder Care help they need without having to provide their personal
information! We are a non profit organization supported by generous public
donations. If you find you need an assisted living facility or other
type of senior service, please consider www.helpforelderly.org.