Each year 50 million people go to war. The enemy? ALLERGENS. The human body is constantly defending itself from these attacks. Dust, mold, and pollen wage war by eliciting very unpleasant reactions within the body. Allergy victims suffer through watery eyes, sneezing, headaches, congestion and much more.
What is an allergy?
One of the marvels of the human body is that it can defend itself against harmful invaders such as viruses or bacteria. In some people, the body reacts to harmless substances such as dust, mold or pollen by producing an antibody called immunoglobulin E (IgE). These patients may experience an exaggerated reaction to an otherwise harmless substance in the environment causing the immune system to go into attack mode.
When patients with an allergy are exposed to these certain substances, the immune system then rallies its defenses, launching a host of complex chemical weapons to attack and destroy the supposed enemy. In the process, some unpleasant and, in extreme cases, life-threatening symptoms may be experienced. (American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology, n.d.) (Dr. Adrian Morris Surgery Allergy Clinic, n.d.)
What are the most common allergy triggers?
Allergies can be triggered by mold, tree, grass, and weed pollen all of which rear their heads during the spring time and continue through the early summer as different plants begin growing and producing pollens. An allergic reaction may occur anywhere in the body, but usually appears in the skin, eyes, lining of the stomach, nose, sinuses, throat and lungs.
Allergy symptoms can include a runny or stuffy nose, headaches, fatigue, rashes, fevers, wheezing, shortness of breath, coughing, sneezing, and nausea.
How can MainStreet Family Urgent Care help?
Many of these symptoms can be treated after being evaluated by a MainStreet Family Urgent Care provider who can then decide the best way to treat those symptoms and get you back to enjoying the warm weather! Treatment options include nasal corticosteroids, injected corticosteroids or extra-strength allergy pills, some of which can be purchases on-site with MainStreet’s Pre-Pak pharmacy which eliminates the need for an extra trip to their pharmacy.
Visit MainStreet Family Urgent Care, open seven days a week with extended hours, to help you Feel Better, FAST!
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About MainStreet Family Urgent Care
MainStreet Family Urgent Care is committed to helping our patients heal better and feel better, FAST! Headquartered in Birmingham, MainStreet Family Urgent Care serves rural communities in Alabama by providing quality healthcare with hometown convenience, compassion, and cost-effectiveness. In addition to a full-range of urgent care services, MainStreet Family Urgent Care also delivers a variety of preventative, wellness and occupational health services. MainStreet currently has sixteen locations throughout Alabama including the state’s first pediatric urgent care clinics. More information about MainStreet Family Urgent Care can be found online.
Contact
Betsy Stewart
Chief Marketing Officer
(205) 767-9633
