Tips to Prepare for College When You Have Allergies
Going to college is the first time many young adults will be away from their parents and their home . With this newfound freedom comes new responsibilities , especially for those with allergies and asthma .
“ For most teens , going away to college marks their first time living on their own ,” says allergist Bradley Chipps , MD , president of the American College of Allergy , Asthma and Immunology ( ACAAI ). “ In addition to moving to a new place , many teens must learn to manage their own schedule , diet , exercise and health . Young people may find their allergies and asthma neglected due to other , seemingly more important demands for their time .”
If you or someone in your family has allergies or asthma and is headed off to college this fall , here are five tips from ACAAI on how to prepare for the transition .
1 . Make time now to see your allergist - Schedule an appointment with your allergist now to discuss plans for the fall . During this visit you should ask for a referral to an allergist close to where you ’ re going to college , as well as a complete copy of your records , including medications , lab work and allergy test results .
2 . Start practicing good self-management - The best line of defense against allergy and asthma attacks starts with you . Know your triggers and always be aware of risk factors when you go into an unfamiliar environment . Carry
BPT your asthma medications with you in case of a flare-up .
3 . Set up a network - It ’ s easy to leave things to parents , but once you move out , you ’ ll need to take an active role in your health . Whether you ’ re going 100 or 1,000 miles away , you ’ ll need to contact school administrators to discuss necessary arrangements for your dorm room and meals . If you ’ re moving far from home , along with a new allergist , identify new primary care and specialty physicians , as well as a new pharmacy .
4 . Talk to the folks who ’ ll make your food - If you have a food allergy , plan to talk to food handlers and ask about ingredients at every meal or snack . You probably already carefully read labels , but make sure your friends , roommate and resident adviser know about your food allergies . It ’ s your job to educate others about your allergies .
5 . Have an emergency plan - Anyone at risk for a severe , life-threatening allergic reaction , known as anaphylaxis , needs to always have immediate access to epinephrine auto injectors . Almost every fatality from food allergy involves lack of timely use of epinephrine . Even when you ’ re at the gym or out with friends , find a way to keep two doses of epinephrine on hand .
Allergists are the best trained professionals to diagnose and treat allergies and asthma . To make sure you ’ re fully prepared for the fall , contact your allergist or , if you need help finding one , visit the ACAAI allergist locator .
4 | WINTER GARDEN MAGAZINE | AUGUST 2018