When hay fever season comes around, those with severe allergies struggle to think of anything but their symptoms. If allergies keep interfering with your sleep, outdoor plans or ability to get through the day comfortably, allergy immunotherapy offers more than temporary symptom control. Unlike medications that mainly manage symptoms while you take them, immunotherapy is designed to gradually change how your immune system responds to specific allergens.
The Research
One study on the long-term efficacy of allergy immunotherapy found that, “evidence suggests that 3 years of either subcutaneous or sublingual immunotherapy result in clinical benefit and immunological changes consistent with allergen-specific tolerance sustained for at least 2–3 years after treatment cessation.”[1]
The potential benefit of immunotherapy isn’t limited to getting through the next allergy season. The results can persist beyond active treatment, potentially setting you up for years of relief.
Three Ways Lasting Symptom Relief Can Affect Daily Life
When allergy symptoms become less disruptive, the benefits can show up in ordinary parts of your routine:
- Better sleep. Less congestion, itching, coughing and sneezing can make it easier to rest.
- Less reliance on medications. Some patients can take fewer medications as their allergy symptoms improve.
- More freedom during allergy season. Activities such as walking through Huntington Park or gardening will feel more enjoyable when you’re not constantly bogged down by unpleasant symptoms.
Allergy immunotherapy is a long-term commitment, but it’s a commitment worth making. If medications and allergen avoidance aren’t giving you the quality of life you want, it’s time to seek new solutions.
At Hampton Roads ENT ~ Allergy, we’ll conduct an allergy test to help you understand what is triggering your symptoms, what treatment options are available and whether immunotherapy may make sense for your goals. Make an appointment with one of our trusted allergy experts to start your journey towards clearer breathing, fewer hives and a higher quality of life.
[1] Penagos, M., Eifan, A. O., Durham, S. R., & Scadding, G. W. (2018). Duration of Allergen Immunotherapy for Long-Term Efficacy in Allergic Rhinoconjunctivitis. Current treatment options in allergy, 5(3), 275–290. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40521-018-0176-2