Causes of Allergies
When your body has an allergic reaction, the immune system is reacting to foreign substances that it sees as harmful. You may be allergic to food, medications, or things you touch. Commonly, allergens in the air--like mold, dust, pet dander and pollen--are to blame for the sneezing, runny nose, watery eyes and congestion that often characterize allergies.
Avoid Allergy Triggers
One simple way to treat allergies is to stay away from what triggers them, says the Mayo Clinic. Your body won't have that aggravating response if you aren't around those triggers. Keep your home very clean, don't go outdoors when allergens and pollution in the air, and stay away from pets and flying fur.
Medications
There are a number of pills that can be taken orally to treat allergies, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. These can include antihistamines, decongestants and corticosteroids, to dry up mucus and congestion and reduce inflammation that can cause allergy symptoms. Leukotriene inhibitors are another common treatment for allergies, as they prevent symptoms by inhibiting chemicals in the body that cause allergic reactions.
Eye Drops and Nasal Sprays
Those same antihistamine and corticosteroid medications may also be administered in other forms, including eye drops and nasal sprays. These medications can target the symptoms that are bothering you the most and treat them directly. Corticosteroids may also be administered via an inhaler, says the NLM.
Allergy Shots
People with allergy symptoms that can't be controlled with medications are often give allergy shots, or immunotherapy, as treatment, says the NLM. These shots slowly introduce the allergen to your system so that your body stops reacting to it so strongly. An epinephrine shot may be administered in the event of an emergency allergic reaction to bring symptoms under control, according to the Mayo Clinic.
