How Allergy Drops Can Boost Workplace Productivity

How productive was your last “increasing workplace productivity” meeting? How many new productivity-boosting practices and apps have you spent time and money putting in place? Here’s some advice from your neighborhood otolaryngologist: ditch the fruitless meetings, cancel your wasteful productivity software, and invest in allergy drops.

It may sound silly, but more likely than not, your workplace productivity is stifled by mismanaged and untreated allergies. In 2017, the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology published a study on the impacts of allergic rhinitis, one of the top ten reasons for medical consultations, on productivity in the workplace. The study found an estimated 2.3% of those suffering from allergic rhinitis missed work time, while 32.5% experienced impairment in work performance.

An earlier study published in the American Journal of Rhinology & Allergy in 2012 found allergic rhinitis has a greater negative impact on work productivity than diseases such as hypertension and diabetes, impairing daily activities among those who suffer from the disease by as much as 26.6%.

If you think you’re exempt from all of this, think again – over 50 million Americans suffer from allergies every year. Allergies are the sixth leading cause of chronic illness in the United States, costing the American healthcare system more than $18 billion annually.

This isn’t a problem diphenhydramine alone can fix.

Sublingual immunotherapy (or, allergy drops) is the most efficient and convenient way to treat allergy symptoms on the go. Like allergy shots, allergy drops gradually expose your immune system to small doses of allergens, making you resilient in the face of allergy season over time. Unlike allergy shots, allergy drops don’t require much time, and are less likely to provoke negative side effects. Unlike antihistimines, allergy drops are a long-term solution to life-long sensitivities -- and they aren’t a sedative, which means won’t be sleepy on the job.

Here’s how they work: Once an allergy test is administered by your otolaryngologist, they may recommend allergy drops, or you can request them, in the form of a sublingual (under the tongue) liquid drop or tablet (like a Listerine strip). These drops are personalized and contain small doses of your specific allergens. Your doctor will likely administer your first dose, and you’ll remain in the doctor’s care for about a half-hour in case of any severe reactions. Such reactions are much less likely to occur than if you were to receive an allergy shot.

After your first dose, your doctor will give you drops to administer yourself, whether you’re at home or on the job. With your allergies under control, work should be as easy as breathing – and it only requires one meeting with your otolaryngologist. Book your appointment today and watch your productivity soar!