Allergies and Older Folks Trivia Quiz

Answer: allergic rhinitis

A sudden high exposure to allergens can set off the symptoms. That's something that might happen if you moved to another part of the country with a particularly higher count of some specific allergen. Hay fever produces symptoms similar to the common cold: congestion, itchy eyes, runny nose, sneezing and pressure on the sinuses. Hay fever, however, is not the result of a virus, which the common cold is.

Answer: cold air, noxious smells, respiratory infections

Part of the danger of getting allergies when you're older is that they often go undiagnosed. Older folks often have other more serious issues like high blood pressure or diabetes, or heart issues, so allergies get relegated to lower priority. Typically, nonallergenic triggers are related to the weather or irritants in the environment or at your job. Nonallergic Rhinitis usually is contracted in adulthood.

Answer: oral corticosteroids

Treatment of an allergy can be tricky for older folks because some of the medications that might normally be prescribed, might cause problems for other conditions. Antihistamines can cause sedated reaction times, and dry mouth and dry eyes. Decongestants can increase blood pressure. Corticosteroids can lead to what's called steroid diabetes. People on steroids at a high risk for type 2 diabetes are susceptible to developing steroid induced diabetes. Steroids can spike blood sugar levels by causing insulin resistance.

Answer: antihistamines

Antihistamines, taken orally in pill form, are a common prescription for mild allergy symptoms. Diphenhydramine is the medical term for a common type like the Benadryl brand. Some people also find that saline nasal rinses are effective for treating allergy symptoms related to congestion. I've tried using a saline rinse and have found them to be a little uncomfortable but perhaps other folks won't mind the process, but that's why I think I find the pill form easier to handle.

Answer: Neti pot

One typical saline solution used in Neti pots calls for 3 teaspoons of non-iodide salt salt and 1 teaspoon of baking soda in 8 ounces of distilled water that was boiled and then cooled. Then you are to lean your head over a sink and to the side. Placing the spout of the Neti pot into the opposite nostril, slowly pour the solution into that nostril and it will flow through the nasal cavity and out the bottom nostril. If it runs into your throat, then spit it out.

Answer: Denver, Colorado

If you're weighing the pluses and minuses of where to retire and want to know what places are allergy-friendly or allergy-enemy, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America analyzed 100 cities and ranked them according to which were the most bothersome in terms of allergies. Denver, Colorado, Fresno, California, and Portland, Oregon were the three best cities and amongst the worst were McAllen, Texas, Wichita, Kansas, and Richmond, Virginia.

The cities were studied for their tree pollen counts in the Spring, and ragweed pollen counts from September through November.

It also looked at over-the-counter allergy medicine use.

Answer: Scranton, Pennsylvania

Scranton, Pennsylvania is ranked so poorly year after year as one of the worst cities to those suffering from allergies. In the Spring, people are eager to get back outside to experience the warming weather which exposes them to the problem of tree pollen. Grass pollen follows later in Spring into Summer. Then in the late Summer and early Fall, weed pollen, especially ragweed pollen can make sufferers feel worse. Scranton ranked so poorly because of its higher than average Spring and Fall pollen. The city also had higher than average allergy over-the-counter allergy medicine use, as well as the problem of fewer board-certified allergists available.

Many other cities that also ranked poorly were ranked so low due to factors like humidity and low-elevation.

Answer: Stroke

Allergy attacks trigger an inflammatory response, which can possibly increase the risk of stroke. In a 2008 study by doctors to examine "the association of a reported history of hay fever to the development of stroke" they looked at 9272 participants meeting their criteria.

In that group, 125 had strokes. "Of those with a history of hay fever, 2.2% had a stroke. Of those without a history of hay fever, 1.25% had a stroke." Using other controls for age, sex, race, whether they smoked, BMI, diabetes, hypertension, using alcohol, and hyperlipidemia, the doctors concluded that a history of hay fever appeared to be a risk factor for stroke, "and this association may be an area for future research and intervention."

Answer: Albuterol

Allergies can lead to asthma in older adults and, if that develops, it can be particularly dangerous if the adult gets influenza. Vaccinations against flu are therefore important, and possibly also getting a rescue inhaler.
Cyclosporine and Neoral are used to prevent organ rejection in people who haver received organ transplants. Valcyte is used in adults to prevent cytomegalovirus (CMV) in patients who have received organ transplants.

Answer: Open the windows instead of using the air-conditioner.

Although one doesn't want to minimize the importance of getting fresh air to breathe, or how exercise and some sunshine is important for seniors, exposure to the outdoors during during allergy season can very possibly leave them feeling worse afterwards.

As soon as you return indoors, washing your hands, showering and changing into fresh dry clothes from a dryer (clothes dried outside on a line may pick up allergens) is advisable.