Allergies and the Elderly

NEW AGE ELDER CARE

2019 2nd Quarter In-Service

Friday – June 21, 2019Saturday – June 22, 2019Sunday – June 23, 2019

0.5 Hour

It’s allergy season.

•Say hello to congestion, itchy eyes, running nose and headaches. For adults, these symptoms are annoying. For many, they may be severe resulting in the need for prescription medication. For aging adults though, they can be serious.

• While itchy, watery eyes may not seem like a serious problem, in the elderly, the symptoms that come with seasonal allergies can cause serious complications.

• If you’re a caregiver to an aging loved one, you shouldn’t overlook allergies as a potentially serious condition. As the pollen flies, here are some things to consider when it comes to allergies and the elderly.

Don’t Ignore Them

• When allergy season rolls around, those who suffer from seasonal allergies start to moan and complain, roll their eyes and stock up on tissue. Many need prescription medication to find relief, but others can simply ignore them. For aging adults, ignoring the signs and symptoms of seasonal allergies can be dangerous.

• While a stuffed up nose is inconvenient for the average adults, for seniors suffering from chronic issues such as a heart condition or respiratory problems, any disruptions in breathing can cause larger problems. So while a simple over the counter remedy may suffice for a middle-aged sufferer, for many aging adults, allergies should be treated aggressively.

They are Often Overlooked

Because older adults often have a myriad of conditions ranging from moderate to severe, allergies are typically not a concern and doctors may often overlook them as they work to diagnose more serious problems. As a caregiver to your loved one, make sure to tell their doctor if you’ve noticed symptoms of allergies. Even if they are mild enough to avoid treatment, it’s important for their doctor to be aware of any symptoms that might complicate current conditions.

Typical Medications May Not WorkWhile many people reach for an antihistamine when their allergies act up, for an aging adult, this may not be the right choice. This medication can raise blood pressure, interact with other medications and cause severe side effects like a change in mood, urinary retention, dizziness and more. In the elderly, these side effects can have serious consequences. To avoid these issues, doctors may treat their allergies with a nasal steroid or topical medication.

Tips To Avoid Them

While there is no cure for allergies once they set in, there are things we can do to avoid the allergens that cause the sneezing and congestion we love so much. Since allergy symptoms can be so dangerous for older adults, avoiding them altogether is the best route, if possible. To avoid exposure to allergens, try:

Monitor pollen and mold counts. Weather reports in newspapers and on radio and television often include this information during allergy seasons.

Keep windows and doors shut at home and in your car during allergy season.

To avoid pollen, know which pollens you are sensitive to and then check pollen counts. In spring and summer, during tree and grass pollen season, levels are highest in the evening. In late summer and early fall, during ragweed pollen season, levels are highest in the morning.

Take a shower, wash your hair and change your clothes after you’ve been working or playing outdoors.

Wear a NIOSH-rated 95 filter mask when mowing the lawn or doing other chores outdoors, and take appropriate medication beforehand.

Use an air purifier

Try foods that fight inflammation like apples, walnuts, ginger, leafy greens and vitamin C.

Be on the lookout for new treatments like antihistamine inhalers

Seasonally Related TriggersSeasonally Related TriggersWhile the term “seasonal allergies” generally refers to grass, pollen and mold, there is a different group of triggers that are closely tied to particular seasons. Among them:Smoke (campfires in summer, fireplaces in winter)Insect bites and stings (usually in spring and summer)Chlorine in indoor and outdoor swimming poolsCandy ingredients (Halloween, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Easter)Pine trees and wreaths (Thanksgiving to Christmas))

Common Seasonal Allergy Triggers• If you sneeze and cough during certain times of the year, you may have

seasonal allergies. However, occasional allergies aren’t something you just have to live with. An allergist can pinpoint the cause and help you find relief.

• GET RELIEF

• Find an allergist

• In many areas of the United States, spring allergies begin in February and last until the early summer. Tree pollination begins earliest in the year followed by grass pollination later in the spring and summer and ragweed in the late summer and fall. In tropical climates, however, grass may pollinate throughout a good portion of the year. Mild winter temperatures can cause plants to pollinate early. A rainy spring can also promote rapid plant growth and lead to an increase in mold, causing symptoms to last well into the fall.

Common Seasonal Allergy Triggers• The most common culprit for fall allergies is ragweed, a plant that grows wild almost

everywhere, but especially on the East Coast and in the Midwest. Ragweed blooms and releases pollen from August to November. In many areas of the country, ragweed pollen levels are highest in early to mid-September.

• Other plants that trigger fall allergies include:

• Burning bush

• Cocklebur

• Lamb’s-quarters

• Pigweed

• Sagebrush and mugwort

• Tumbleweed and Russian thistle

Common Seasonal Allergy Triggers• While the timing and severity of an allergy season vary across the country, the following climate factors

also can influence how bad your symptoms might be:

• Tree, grass and ragweed pollens thrive during cool nights and warm days.

• Molds grow quickly in heat and high humidity.

• Pollen levels tend to peak in the morning hours.

• Rain washes pollen away, but pollen counts can soar after rainfall.

• On a day with no wind, airborne allergens are grounded.

• When the day is windy and warm, pollen counts surge.

• Moving to another climate to avoid allergies is usually not successful — allergens are virtually everywhere.

• Allergy shots, or immunotherapy, allergen immunotherapy, is a useful thing to do. It’s useful not only because it helps with your symptoms, but it’s truly disease-modifying. It actually makes you less allergic.

• References: https://www.aafa.org/

Question 1

• Seasonal allergies for a senior are more serious than allergies for people of other age groups.

A. True

B. False

Question 2

• For seniors, antihistamines are usually the best remedy for seasonal allergies.

A. True

B. False

Question 3

• Seasonal allergies refers ONLY to those allergies triggered by pollen during the Spring and Summer months.

A. True

B. False