Fall allergies do not wait for a specific season. Sometimes the aftereffects can last even after the season ends. This is because the pollen strains, that are the primary reason for the allergies, can last well into September and October even though the fall season ends much before. The pollen strains can also sometimes travel hundreds of miles, and they are not peculiar to a particular region.
One of the biggest causes of fall allergy is the ragweed. It is roughly estimated that 75% of the population can get affected by it. Care should be taken as people who are susceptible to ragweed can also be allergic to other types of fruits such as bananas, lemon, and zucchini. Mold is another cause, and, even though it doesn’t grow in your house, it can effectively live in a wet, humid condition and the chances of contracting them are far great. Dust and dust mites play the third major role in causing these allergies for the summer. Now let us look at some of the fall allergy signs that we may encounter.
Fall allergy signs:
Running and watery nose
Watery eyes
Sneezing
Coughing
Itchiness in eyes and nose
Redness and soreness in eye
It is always advisable to get yourself checked if you have any specific allergic reaction. Once you know your condition, you can be safe and try avoiding the harmful carcinogens.
Fall allergy treatment:
There are many medications to treat fall allergy symptoms and some of them can include:
Nasal Sprays: These sprays can reduce the inflammation of the nose.
Drugs: Medications, such as Antihistamines, can curb sneezing, itching, and watery nose.
Decongestants: They can reduce the stuffiness and can cause your mucus to dry up. A word of caution, decongestants should not be taken for longer periods.
Immunotherapy: These are nothing but allergy shots taken once again in the form of tablets.
Managing the fall allergy symptoms:
While medications can be advisable once the condition sets in, doctors would prefer us to stay away from these harmful contagions and try to protect ourselves as much as possible. Some of them can include:
Stay indoors during the pollen season and if you are venturing out, especially avoid midday as pollen disburse would be huge.
Clean your heating vents and exhaust before turning them on. They are the places where the dust and the mites can settle and can be dormant for long periods.
Ensure that the areas which are moist around your house are dried and proper plumbing mechanisms are put in place. Remember that the mold can quickly form in wet areas. Hence make sure that your surroundings are always kept dry.
Wear a mask whenever you venture out. This is not only safe against the harmful spores but can also be very effective against the pollution and the air we breathe.
Use a dehumidifier to keep your air levels between 35% and 50% humidity.
Chronic migraine is a condition where the affected person experiences at least 15 headache days a month. It is observed that at least 8 out of these 15 days are migraine headaches with severe symptoms, and this pattern of discomfort remains consistent for 3 months. Initially, it may not be a frequently occurring episode, however, with time, the episodes may get regular with chronic headaches. If left untreated, this condition can affect a person’s life.
Causes
Several factors determine the onset of this kind of migraine. One of them includes a steady increase in the frequency of episodic headaches. Over-the-counter treatment options that are used to treat frequent headaches stop affecting over time, leading to side effects that develop into chronic headaches. Some other factors that can put an individual at a high risk of developing this condition include mood disorders like anxiety or depression, snoring, excessive caffeine intake, ongoing disturbed sleep patterns, and a history of stressful life events causing emotional or physical trauma. An unhealthy lifestyle leading to an increase in the body mass index (BMI) can also be a causal factor.
Symptoms
There is no difference between symptoms of chronic migraines and episodic migraines. However, the only thing to notice is the increased frequency of episodic headaches in a month. Some typical symptoms of this illness can be observed for timely diagnosis and treatment.
Transitioning symptoms (episodic to chronic migraines)
Diagnosis
A health professional will take a look at the affected person’s health history. If needed, the doctor may ask questions that help understand the migraine patterns. The questions include how and when the migraines begin, how long they last, are there any notable physical factors or triggers that worsen the condition, and where the location of the pain is.
The professional may also ask for a detailed history of other health conditions like anxiety, depression, lifestyle choices that may trigger these headaches, any treatment options used, and possible side effects that could be factored into the diagnosis. Based on the results, appropriate treatment methods will be advised and implemented.
Treatment options
Most of the treatment methods focus on managing the symptoms, the migraine attacks, and reducing the episodes and pain.
One of the treatment therapies includes focusing on lifestyle changes.
Some other treatment options for managing migraine attacks include:
Other techniques include:
Also, maintain a headache diary and note down the possible triggers and the number of migraine attacks in a month. If there’s a notable increase in the attacks, consult a doctor at the earliest. Knowing the triggers can help the doctor chalk out an effective treatment plan.
Preventive treatments and methods
Apart from treatment options that help manage the symptoms, there are preventive treatment methods that reduce the episodes of these headaches to a certain extent. These include using beta blockers and other therapies. One such treatment method also includes using an Allergan product named BOTOX®, which doctors recommend for those 18 years and older. The intravenous treatment method is administered around the neck or the head, where the migraine pain usually affects the person. This ten-minute procedure is not painful and can prevent headaches for three months. The procedure takes place in a doctor’s clinic under close supervision.
Chronic migraine can be painful and disrupt everyday life activities, so choosing the right treatment plan is crucial. Get all the information from a licensed health professional and seek the best possible treatment plan according to a detailed diagnosis.
Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that develops in the cells that produce melanin. The pigment melanin is responsible for giving the skin its color. Advanced melanoma can form inside one’s nose, throat, or digestive tract. Studies show that the risk of melanoma increases in people under 40, especially women. Knowing the early signs of the disease is crucial since melanoma can be treated successfully if detected early.
Stages
There are five stages of melanoma. The cancer cells of Stage 0 melanoma are restricted to the epidermis, the top layer of skin. The epidermis and dermis, the deeper layer of the skin, both contain cancer cells in Stage I melanoma. Stage II melanoma is marked by tumor thickness and ulceration, while Stage III is marked by melanoma deposits in the skin and cancer spreading to nearby lymph nodes. The advanced stage of melanoma, also called metastatic skin cancer, shows the further spread of cancer to distant areas of the body.
Causes of advanced melanoma
The exact cause of melanoma is unknown, although exposure to harsh ultraviolet (UV) radiation, tanning beds, or lamps has been shown to increase one’s risk of getting the disease. One can develop skin disease anywhere in one’s body. Those with a family history of the disease or exposure to radiation or vinyl chloride are also vulnerable to metastatic melanoma.
Signs of advanced melanoma
An early sign of melanoma is the development of an unusual mole. Normal moles are minor and uniform in size and color. But melanoma moles have irregular shapes or borders and can be larger than 6 millimeters. If a mole grows in size, color, and shape and causes itchiness, it’s best to get it checked. Advanced melanoma may lead to chronic fatigue, swollen lymph nodes or liver, loss of appetite, jaundice, skin itchiness, headaches, and even seizures. Depending on where the metastatic melanoma has spread, one may experience chest pain, breathing issues, aching bones, paralysis, sleepiness, and swelling in one’s legs or abdomen.
Melanoma treatment options
The American Cancer Society reports that the five-year survival rate for patients with melanoma that has spread to surrounding lymph nodes is 66%. Surgery is a common way to treat it. Targeted therapy is another method to eliminate the tumor and its metastases selectively. Alternatively, immunotherapy aids a person’s immune system in recognizing and shrinking cancer cells. Other treatments for metastatic skin cancer include chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
Conclusion
Opdulag is a standard treatment for advanced melanoma skin cancer. The therapy, given by intravenous (IV) infusions, works with one’s immune system and is used to fight cancer that has spread or cannot be surgically removed. If one experiences any early signs of melanoma skin cancer, it’s recommended to consult a doctor immediately.