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CNN Live Today

Paging Dr. Gupta: Allergy Agony

Aired April 18, 2002 - 10:42   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Just when you thought it was safe to go outdoors, allergies can become a killjoy for the great spring weather we're all having. So we want to ease the misery with information about what is causing your allergies and what you can do about it. We will have some fun in the process.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta turned poet Gupta for us this morning.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's the season of spring, and all the air through the air, all the creatures are breathing, pollen everywhere. If you suffer from allergies, you're not alone, 35 million Americans, and the number has grown. You may be like me, I thought my allergies came on late, and then I learn allergies are worse in Atlanta and differ state to state. I went outside my symptoms quickly got worse, the first indication I had the allergy curse.

Of course it might be a cold, but it didn't go away. I know colds last just a few days, but allergies, they're here to stay. It was my own body, telling me it was irritated, defense cells reproducing, the immune response hyperinflated.

For most people, allergies are merely annoying, but for those with asthma, the reaction can be life destroying. So an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and hiding from pollen is the only way to be sure.

Staying inside with all the windows closed, is that all we can do? That's a question we posed. The allergist laughed and said with a smile, prevention works best, but staying indoors may not be your style. It's all about options, which is best for you? There are drugs that help, but they may make you snooze. Nose sprays, they're popular, and turn off the allergic store, but some contain steroids, once you start, you'll want more and more. And if drugs do not work, there's something else doctors can do, they can train the body to let pollen pass through. Allergy shots teach the body to see. Pollen's a friend, not the enemy.

So pull out your shorts and break out the bikes, get outdoors for a short walk or a hike. Remember, treatment is available, effective until fall, so enjoy the sunshine, and a happy spring to all.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GUPTA: So there are significant options to try and treat allergies, from over-the-counter medications to prescription medications, even shots may be the answer, but the important thing is to remember, get the allergies treated, don't let them spiral out of control, because they can be a significant problem.

HARRIS: You know, Just when you think you know a guy, he comes up with a poem like this. Nice going.

GUPTA: A little fun.

HARRIS: Let me ask you about one particular line that jumped out at me, about the drugs that you take to help you with your allergy problems and getting through the suffering might actually make your body more receptive to pollens? What's that all about?

GUPTA: Exactly. Basically, you know, these allergy shots that you hear so much about. What we're really talking about is introducing smaller and smaller -- larger and larger amounts of the exact things that you're allergic to, until your body starts to be able to tolerate it.

Leon, I can tell you have allergies, if you have a particular pollen or something, you can get tested, find that your allergic, so you can start introducing small amounts of that, and as your body becomes more tolerant of it, your allergy symptoms will start to decrease.

HARRIS: First cure my allergy of needles before I do that?

GUPTA: You got to get the shots of course.

HARRIS: You know what I'd also like to know since I've been taking these things for so long, why is it that antihistamines make you sleepy?

GUPTA: Well, antihistamines do have an effect on the brain, and that's one of the downsides of antihistamines. All antihistamines, even the ones that people say are non-sleepy antihistamines will probably still make you a little bit sleepy antihistamines will probably still make you a little bit sleepy. That's just one of the consequences of these medications.

So a lot of people try and take them at night, so they can also get sleep as well as taking care of their allergy symptoms. The nose sprays, they're another option as well. They do have a little bit of steroid in them, usually they will take care of your stuffy nose and symptoms like that, so these are a couple of options, but they are going to make you a little sleepy.

HARRIS: Yes. I see you had the same experience that most of us have when we move to Atlanta. As a matter of fact, I read a few years ago, something I don't know if you can confirm this or not, the state of Georgia has more varieties in trees that the entire continent of Europe, and that's one reason why the pollen problem here is so bad. GUPTA: I heard from some of the allergists I spoke to that Atlanta is one of the worst cities and Georgia is one of the worst states for allergies, and I think it's exactly because of that. There are just so many different allergens, things that you'd be allergic to, in the air here. We see some of it right now in April.

HARRIS: Exactly. All right. Now, folks out there who are suffering from the sniffles and sneezes of spring, you can page Dr. Gupta yourself.

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