Alester Brown

3 Treatments for OAS

Oral allergy syndrome (OAS) is a unique condition that develops in adults and becomes a significant problem during times of the year when pollen levels are high. It's a food-related condition that causes your body to mistake specific proteins in foods with pollen proteins.

Many foods will trigger OAS, but fresh fruits, nuts, and vegetables are the most common. Some of the worst offenders include oranges, strawberries, cucumbers, bananas, sunflower seeds, and even popular herbs.

OAS can cause mild allergic reactions focused around the mouth and throat. However, systemic symptoms and anaphylaxis are possible. So, how do you treat OAS?

Proper Food Preparation

One of the easiest ways to treat OAS is to avoid trigger foods. That can be tough, given the list of foods that often cause reactions. That said, there are a few ways to minimize your risks.

Experts recommend thoroughly cooking or heating foods. That means avoiding raw fruits, nuts, and vegetables. Heat can change the protein composition in the trigger foods, often eliminating reactions altogether.

Another option is to peel fruits and vegetables. The offending proteins are typically in the skin of the food. You can also stick with canned fruits and vegetables.

Over-the-Counter Antihistamines

Many over-the-counter products help with OAS. While there's no evidence that pre-medicating positively impacts the condition, antihistamines can alleviate symptoms.

Antihistamines block the histamines released by your immune system. The histamines are responsible for swelling, itchy eyes and other unwanted effects. These products are readily available and offer a cost-effective way to manage OAS.

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a fantastic treatment option that could help you avoid oral allergy syndrome symptoms for good. The concept is simple. With immunotherapy, you expose your body to small doses of the offending allergen. This process usually occurs through oral drops, putting an end to allergy shots.

The idea is that small-dose exposure familiarizes your immune system with the allergen. Over time, your body gets used to the allergen, changing your immune response and reducing allergic reactions. It can take several months of consistent immunotherapy to see results, but the effects can improve your quality of life moving forward.

Author Resource:-

Alester Brown is a certified immunotherapist. She advises people on personalized home allergy and skin treatment at home. You can find her thoughts at allergy treatments blog.