LOCAL health bosses are encouraging people to take control of their allergies to lessen the impact they have on their lives.
NHS Redditch and Bromsgrove Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is supporting Allergy Awareness Week, which ends on April 30, organised by Allergy UK.
More than one-in-four people in the UK suffer from an allergy at some time in their lives. The numbers are increasing every year and as many as half of those affected are children.
Common allergic disorders include asthma, eczema and hay fever. Symptoms can include sneezing, wheezing, coughing and skin rashes.
Dr Richard Davies, chair and clinical lead for NHS Redditch and Bromsgrove CCG, said: “Medication can’t cure your allergy, but it can be used to treat the common symptoms of an allergy, such as a runny nose, itchy mouth and sneezing.
“It’s important to remember that most allergies are minor and treatments are available over the counter, remember to always seek advice before starting to take any new medication. In some cases people can have a severe reaction, which can impact hugely on their daily lives and needs much closer monitoring.”
If you think you have an allergy or need some support managing an allergy, visit your local pharmacist.
For more information visit http://bit.ly/2oD5wsQ or www.allergyuk.org.
