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Finding the Right Allergy Medicine for Your Dog
Your dog can suffer just as much as you do from allergies. One look at your puppy's runny eyes, red ears and flaky skin can let you know there's a problem it's important to have a veterinarian examine your dog to rule out thyroid disease or other types of problems; but often allergens are the culprit.
Allergy medicine for your dog is available. There are to two major types: corticosteroids and antihistamines. A look at each of the types will give an overview of the benefits and drawbacks of these treatments. There also are other, non-medicinal ways to reduce your pet's allergy suffering.
Corticosteroids
Prednisone is one commonly used corticosteroid for dogs. This type of allergy medicine for your dog works well and fast. However, there are a number of side effects, some of which are mild but others that are potentially lethal. Corticosteroids can possibly suppress your dog's immune system. Short-term use of this allergy medicine for your dog is okay but long-term use should be avoided. Give these drugs in as low of a dose as possible.
Antihistamines
Antihistamines are a much safer allergy medicine for your dog than corticosteroids. But it may take a while to find the most effective type for your dog. Also, antihistamines will probably have to be administered to your dog several times a day. Giving pills to your dog is not fun, and doing it three times a day can become a real chore. Antihistamines can also make your dog drowsy and may not work for all dogs, and some experts say antihistamines only work in 20-30% of dogs.
Non-medicinal treatments
Supplementing the allergy medicine for your dog that you decide on with non-medicinal treatment has shown benefits. Often, changing your dog's diet can help as your dog could have a food allergy but this is hard for veterinarians to diagnose. The best way to figure out what's irritating your dog is by process of elimination. Switching to a high-quality, all-natural dog food could be what is needed.
Bathing you dog frequently can also help supplement an allergy medicine for your dog. Use a shampoo with all-natural ingredients, like oatmeal and aloe vera. A bath can help soothe your pet's irritated skin and cut down on the amount of medicine your dog needs.
Helping your dog fight his allergies can improve his quality of life. Finding the right allergy medicine for your dog, whether it's antihistamines or corticosteroids, is important. The right medicine along with non-medicinal supplemental treatment can aid your dog tremendously.
Which Allergy Product is Right for Me?
An allergy product is something produced to minimize or stop the effects of an allergy sufferer. Depending on the extent and type of the allergy, there are many products on the market. Because allergens can be anything from dust to pharmaceutics, the probably of finding an allergy product for a particular sufferer is not difficult, however, the effectiveness of such a product is the key to controlling an allergy attack.
Anaphylactic Shock Prevention
The severest form of allergy, which can cause death, is anaphylactic shock. For those who are so allergic to something that the mere exposure to a substance can result in a fatal reaction, there is an allergy product line that includes an injection kit. The only drug that will work against all the dangerous substances released in this type of reaction is adrenaline, otherwise known as epinephrine. For serious attacks, it must be injected, because inhaling may take too long to work.
Air Quality Control and Filtration
A newer addition to the allergy product line is the HEPA vacuum; these vacuums are said to remove 97 percent of the allergens that pass through the filters. In addition, air purifiers, mildew preventatives, and air cleaners filter offending triggers from the air and have been found to be very helpful in many instances.
Asthma
For asthmatics, the allergy product line includes nebulizers, inhalers, and different breathing systems. Some also take steroids or other oral medications to help with breathing difficulties. Many are not suggested for severe asthma attacks.
Bedding
An allergy to dust mites or materials found in some mattresses or bedding is the basis of an allergy product line of linens mattress encasings. There are also protective coverings for mattresses and pillows, treated pillows and pillowcases, and mattress toppers.
Fragrances and Aromas and Personal Care
Items included as a personal care allergy product could be non-allergenic soap, laundry detergent, fragrance-free sunscreen and deodorant, pain relief, and over-the-counter remedies for anything from hives to dry, peeling, or flaking skin irritations. People allergic to latex, for instance, can find latex free gloves and condoms.
Medication
The sinus and allergy product line of prescription and over-the-counter medications is endless, with some causing disturbing side effects. People react differently to medication, and it is important to find one that works without causing undue drowsiness or agitation. Most physicians have advice regarding the different types of medication and want to know if someone has negative reactions.
ALLERGY SINUS RELIEF
What you should know about allergy sinus relief
Getting allergy sinus relief begins with understanding sinus problems. A lot of sinus victims confuse its symptoms with cold and for a good reason, they are quiet similar - runny nose, itchy watery eyes - this may translate into a serious sinus infection, sinus allergies or even worse a combination of both.
What are sinuses?
Sinuses are four hollow spaces also known as para-nasal sinuses. Their individual names and location is:
* Frontal - Over the eyes next to the brow area
* Ethmoids - Behind the bridge of the nose
* Maxillary - Inside each check bone
* Sphenoids - Upper region of the nose
The tissue lining in the sinuses secrets a fluid called mucus. The mucus keeps the sinuses moist and helps clean away dirt when you inhale and exhale. When this tissue gets inflamed increases mucus discharge. They swell up with time and air cannot circulate as normal. This in turn creates pressure in the head giving you headache known as sinus headache.
Common Symptoms of sinus allergy
Sinus allergy may produce a range of symptoms, some of which are:
* Pain in the forehead (caused by the frontal sinus)
* Pain in the upper jaw and teeth (caused by maxillary sinus)
* Pain around the eyes with swelling (caused by ethmoid sinus)
* Pain in the ear, neck and the top of the head ( caused by sphenoid sinus)
You may also experience fever, fatigue, and body ache. Sinuses draining at the back of the throat can give you a sore throat also cough may be present which will worsen during the night. At this point, one will do anything for allergy sinus relief.
Allergy sinus relief
To get allergy sinus relief you have to first and foremost unblock your sinuses or nasal passages. Over the counter decongestants are usually very efficient. If you have chronic sinus allergies the doctor may prescribe something more specific, such as a steroid nasal spray; using the spray daily will help get you allergy sinus relief.
Another very important factor in dealing with allergy sinus relief is to keep your doctor informed so he can recognize your condition and treat you with the right medication. This will not only get you allergy sinus relief but your doctor will work with you to prevent any outbreaks.
One should also get informed on everything there is to know about allergy sinus relief and prevention. Preventing is better then a cure; it will save you a lot of pain and suffering that is for sure.
Man's Best Friend: Dealing with a Dog Allergy
Having a dog allergy can be tough on both yourself and man's best friend as the battle to keep the dog can intensify your symptoms and cause living with Fido to be quite uncomfortable. Still, many people face the decision of getting rid of the family pet over a child or parent's allergic reaction to the pet every day and it never gets easier. There is, however, an assortment of other tactics and cures you can employ to help with a dog allergy that can save both you and your best friend an awful lot of grief.
A dog allergy can strike anyone at any age, period. There is no age requirement or limit to suffering from a pet allergy, it just happens and that's really all there is to it. Most people that suffer from different pet allergies also suffer from allergies to pollens or to molds as well. It is also highly common for there to be a genetic trait in dealing with allergies to pets, so chances are if it is in the family line it could happen to you as well as anyone in your immediate family.
It should also be noted that no dog is considered non-allergenic because the same allergens are present in all types of pet hair and dander. All dogs produce dander, all dogs urinate and shed skin, and all dogs lick themselves. This makes all dogs an allergenic possibility regardless of their individual hair type. There are dogs that produce less dander but this does not eliminate the presence of dander completely and still makes all dogs a possibility for an allergic reaction.
Dog allergies produce symptoms that are a lot like hay fever or seasonal allergy symptoms.
If you suffer from a dog allergy you might experience runny nose, sniffling, sneezing, coughing, scratchy skin and throat, watery eyes, and other such symptoms that are akin to airborne allergies. This is because a dog allergy affects the same allergenic systems in the body much the same way hay fever and other seasonal allergies do because of the smallness of the allergen, or pet dander in this case.
There are a few tips, though, that can save you a lot of problems with your dog and your family that may be allergic to dogs. For starters, always wash your hands after playing with your dog. This ensures removal of the dander. You might also want to consider changing your clothing or taking a shower or bath for a more thorough treatment. Also, keep dogs out of certain rooms of the home like bathrooms and bedrooms to reduce the areas that the dog's dander will affect. Limiting exposure to allergens is always a good way to limit the actual symptoms of a dog allergy.
ALLERGY RASH
Living with Allergy Rash
The skin condition which manifests as an outbreak of red bumps on the skin surface of the body is known commonly as an allergy rash.
The most common symptoms of rash are:
- Scaly patches of skin not caused by infection.
- Scaly patches of skin produced by fungal or bacterial infection.
- Red, itchy bumps or patches all over the body.
Red, itchy bumps or patches spread all over the body is the way allergy rash manifests. Even if you may find what is written here corresponds with the symptoms you have, do not self-medicate; it is very important to consult a doctor in order to treat an allergy rash correctly.
Things to do when you have an allergy rash:
Most rashes are not dangerous and usually will last only a few days. While some get better on their own, some do need treatment. Some possibilities for treatment include:
- Use an anti-itch cream.
- Use a moisturizing lotion over the affected area.
- Take some antihistamine drugs.
Do not self medicate in any case of allergy rash. Get specialized help in order to treat the allergy. It can be very hard to diagnose, leading to some confusion with medical professionals as to how to prescribe the proper treatment.
An Allergy rash can turn further into the skin conditions called eczema or dermatitis.
Who is prone to allergy rash?
There are 3 main factors that cause allergy rash:
* Genetic predisposition - genetic background play a huge role, a number of genes have been liked to allergy and have been identified on chromosomes 5 to 11; males are more prone to inheriting this genetic predisposition then females.
* Environmental triggers - first year of life is vital. Cigarette smoke, infant diet, air pollution, early use of day care facilities, birth just before the spring pollen are some of the factors that proved in the past to have been the main factor of an allergy rash.
* Locally found protein allergens - early exposure to aeroallergens and allergenic foods seems to have contributed in developing allergy rash as well. Infants are prone to allergies, especially in the first year of life.
If you suspect that you are getting an allergy rash, seek your doctor's advice and treat it as soon as possible. Even if most allergy rashes are not dangerous they can turn very uncomfortable and you should seek help.
Build a Useful Allergy Relief Store of Supplies
Allergy sufferers have to learn, sometimes through trial and error, what methods of control and treatment work for them. This can be especially difficult if you are susceptible to allergens from a variety of sources. It's important to build up a good allergy relief store of supplies to help you deal with and prevent emergencies.
Although you might not need every type of allergy control product on the market, having the following things on hand will be useful, especially if you have guests or family members in your home who are prone to allergies. While some items needed for a good allergy relief store of supplies can be costly, they are worth it in the long run if suffering is prevented or relieved.
HEPA Filters
HEPA stands for High Efficiency Particulate Air filters. These devices are able to filter all air particles down to .3 microns. The filters can remove 99.97% of contaminants of this size or larger. This is ideal for filtering pollen and dust out of the air, with pollen particles being 10-100 microns and dust being around .5-5 microns.
HEPA filters are essential for a good allergy relief store of supplies. Some even have ultraviolet light, which helps kill mold spores, bacteria and some viruses. These filters can be costly and must be replaced often.
Chemical-Free Cleaning Supplies
Chemical irritants in many common household cleaners can quickly bring on severe allergy attacks. It's important that your allergy relief store of supplies has chemical-free detergents, soaps, dusting supplies and floor cleaners. These products must not have perfumes, dyes and irritating additives. No cleaning product should have ammonia.
Medicines
Always have your prescribed medicines on hand. They are essential for your allergy relief store of supplies, so don't be afraid to ask your doctor for a few extra refills so you don't run out. Be sure to check expiration dates and throw out anything that is outdated. Do not store medicines in places with high humidity, like the bathroom or above the stove. Finally, keep all medicines in the original bottles with the correct label and instructions.
Dust Mite Allergy Bedding
Dust mite allergy is the No. 1 indoor allergy -- about 10% of population suffers from it. Encasing your mattress, box springs and pillows in allergy-proof covers will deprive dust mites of the dead skin cells that are their primary food. Specially-made pillows can provide a dust mite barrier. These types of covers and bedding are important to a comprehensive allergy relief store of supplies.
This list is just a start to developing what you need in your home to have a useful allergy relief store of products on hand. It's important to have medicine on hand but it's even better to use these items to help prevent an attack before it happens.
Information about Eye Allergies
Eye allergies are common among Americans. Allergic reactions involving eyes are a common complaint among Americans. Severe eye allergies can be an extremely irritating experience requiring consultations with a qualified medical practitioner. If not taken care of in time, it may even pose a serious threat to the victim's eyesight.
The most common reaction in eye allergies involve the conjunctiva, a clear layer of skin overlying the eyes, and is known as allergic conjunctivitis. Allergic conjunctivitis is divided into several major subtypes, the most common among them being seasonal allergic conjunctivitis (SAC) and perennial allergic conjunctivitis (PAC). Both arise out of an immune reaction involving a sensitized individual and an allergen. Put simply, if you are allergic to a particular substance and then come into contact with it, you experience an allergic reaction such as itching or sneezing.
Common allergens, i.e., substances that trigger eye allergies include pollen, grass, weeds, dust, and pet dander. As their names suggest, problems do not last long in SAC, but lasts throughout the year in PAC.
Apart from the all-too-familiar symptom of itching, other symptoms of eye allergies include redness, tearing, burning sensation, blurred vision, and mattering and/or mucus production
If you have eye allergies but can identify and avoid whatever you are allergic to, your allergy should improve markedly. If you fail to identify or avoid the allergens, it is wise to consult an allergist or ophthalmologist to get it treated. In the case of SAC, you may consult your allergist or ophthalmologist before the season in which you suffer from eye allergies so that treatment can start before the symptoms appear. However, if you have PAC, routine appointments with your allergist or ophthalmologist may be helpful to monitor your eye allergies.
In most cases, your allergist or ophthalmologist can diagnose eye allergies from your complaints alone.
As part of the examination, your eyes are examined to help rule out other problems. The front of your eyes is examined using a special microscope. Using the microscope, called a slit lamp, the ophthalmologist checks your eyes for dilated blood vessels, conjunctival swelling, and eyelid swelling, all of which indicate an allergic reaction. In rare and most severe cases, scraping of the conjunctiva is performed to check for eosinophils.
For treatment of eye allergies, avoidance of the allergens is the best method. When you can identify and avoid the particular allergy-causing substance, your symptoms are likely to improve dramatically. But if the problem remains even after avoidance and other forms of self-care, medical treatment is called for. Numerous over-the-counter medications, such as allergy eye drops and oral antihistamines can be used as directed for mild eye allergies. In addition, many prescription eye drops are also available to help reduce your eye allergies.
Can you recognize allergy in your dog?
Animals are in many ways just like humans. Like humans they to can suffer from allergies. Unlike humans, however, they cannot express their suffering and we need to be able to recognize the signs of illness in the dog. Recognizing allergy in your dog may be a daunting task for the inexperienced but with a little practice it can be done quite well.
What are the signs of allergy in your dog?
You will find that the symptoms of allergy in your dog are very similar to those you have when you have an allergy, i.e. heavy itchy skin, sneezing, heavy breathing with wheezing sound, lethargy, vomiting and diarrhea, runny nose, etc. Observe your dog well when it develops any of these symptoms for seemingly no apparent reason. In case you have a feeling that your dog might be suffering from allergy, then rush it to the vet who will prescribe the required medicines.
There are certain tests which will be able to confirm the existence of allergy in your dog. Hence, the best thing to do if you have any doubt regarding allergy in your pet is to immediately rush it to the vet. Do not wait for the allergy to abate by itself. Sometimes, what seems to be an allergy in your dog could be something much more serious.
A word of advice here: do not attempt to self medicate your dog with over the counter medicines. You will not know the right dosage, even if you stumble upon the right medicine and thereby you will further endanger your dog by making adding complications to its already existing woes. Sometimes, even allergy can be very damaging in their reaction, as well.
What types of allergy are known to affect dogs?
The determination of what causes the allergy, if there in an allergy in your dog, is imperative and most important to the cure. Whether it is caused by fleas, or by certain foods, or any other element in its environment, unless it is identified, the allergy cannot be treated. As in humans, dog can be allergic to certain food items as well as insects such as ticks, fleas and even lice.
If and when the dog has been identified to have an allergy the vet will be able to prescribe a regimen of medicines complemented by the removal of the allergen so the dog can live comfortably in spite of the allergy. It is always good to take the advice of the vet and not attempt to medicate the pet yourself, lest you will add to its woes rather than help it.
SEASON ALLERGY
Make The Best of Your Season Allergy
Dealing with season allergy symptoms has become a fact of life for many of us. This year has been officially called the worst allergy season ever. People who have never suffered of any type of allergies have reported season allergy symptoms such as itchy eyes, runny noses, sneezing etc.
Fact is more then 20% of American population suffers with some sort of allergies; 14 million visiting their doctor and it was estimated 4 million sick days will be taken due to the season allergy. Hartford, Connecticut took the number one position in seasonal allergies this year due to high pollen count.
Here are some myths and facts to treat the season allergy:
* Myth - cold medications. These medications are only efficient for colds and will not help in any way your allergy symptoms. Do not have them even if friends and family tell you they are effective. Only allergy medications will help you get relief.
* Myth - air purifiers. It is true that this will help to a certain degree, because keeping the air clean, which the air purifier achieves, is part of keeping the allergies at bay, however, they cannot clean out pollen.
* Fact - Over the counter medications do work. Those that are available in pharmacies are great provided you already know that you are suffering from season allergy. Do not self medicate.
* Fact - Know your condition and be aware of the foods and places that trigger the allergies. Avoid the following (to name a few): carrots, apples and pears.
* Fact - Have a shower before you get to bed. Cleaning off all the dust and pollen is very effective. You can even take a shower when you get back home for fast relief.
* Fact - sunglasses block pollen from getting into your eyes preventing you effectively from season allergy.
Treating season allergy symptoms is not as simple as some new set of laws do restrict over the counter sale of some decongestants. That is any medication containing pseudoephedrine will be sold only by prescription and that too limited amount a month.
The good news that is many of the over the counter drugs are very effective and can cure you of the season allergy.
Surviving season allergy is not an easy task, it's something you have to constantly be conscious about and in control of; with constant surveillance and organization, care and a lot of love and understanding from your family you should get through even the worst of the seasons.
Allergy Free Air Filter - a Wonderful Tool Against Allergy in Your Home
It has been said that most allergies come from inhaling some type of allergen, be it pollen, mold spores, animal dander, dust mites, and the list will go on and on. A disturbing fact is that more than 80 percent of the air that we breathe in every day actually contains dead skin particles.
What is an allergy?
An allergy is a reaction, some of the times a pretty violent reaction, to a trigger which make the body uncomfortable. Reports have shown that the most common type of allergy is a dust allergy. Dust is made of a million-and-one ingredient, the majority of which as it is mentioned earlier is dead skin. The rest contains dust mites (an active allergy ingredient), germs, possible mold spores (if the area is humid) and so on.
It is always better to prevent a disease rather than look for its cure once it has attacked you. Hence having an allergy free air filter makes a great deal of sense if you are known to be prone to any type of allergy. An allergy free air filter will ensure that the air you breathe in is free of any pollutants that can cause you an allergic reaction. It is a simple yet extremely effective device that everyone should actually have installed, if you are allergy prone.
How does an allergy air filter work for you?
Considering that the most common allergy is indeed the dust allergy, it is okay to surmise that if the dust is removed from the air, the chance of allergy will be minimized. The allergy free air filter does exactly that. It removes from the air all types of particles however small that may cause you or even your pets' allergy. This is why these air filters are placed in the air conditioner, or where the fans are installed; so that when the air is circulated it will go through the air filter which will remove all the harmful particles leaving you to inhale clean and allergy free air.
This is why an allergy free air filter can be an invaluable asset to your home. The presence of such a filter can make a great difference to the way you feel, especially if you live in an area which has exposure to pollen or mold spores. It is worth the minor investment.
What Is an Allergy Symptom?
In this brief article, we will define an allergy symptom and discuss some specific systems and what they mean to you as an allergy sufferer. An allergy symptom is any symptom associated with allergies such as a running nose, itchy eyes, watery eyes, sneezing, itchy skin, and more. We will go into some detail about where a symptom comes from and why they appear as well as a brief discussion about how to cure those symptoms if time permits.
What are some of the symptoms?
Some of the most common allergy symptoms occur for the seasonal allergies such as hay fever and include the itchy watery eyes, runny nose, and sneezing aspects of allergenic symptoms. Other cases of allergies feature more serious symptoms that can be more harmful and troublesome such as absentmindedness, dizziness, trouble swallowing, nausea, constipation, diarrhea, skin rashes, vertigo, vomiting, and other serious cases of health issues that may spring from how the body deals with the allergen itself.
Airborne allergies are, however, the most common form of allergies and tend to feature the most common form of an allergy symptom as well. Most of these symptoms are related to the sinuses as the hay fever and other allergies like hay fever tend to affect those systems of the body. Sneezing, a clogged and runny nose, itchiness in the eyes and throat, coughing, postnasal drip, and swollen eyes (a symptom called "conjunctivitis") are all parts of the airborne allergy symptom repertoire.
Why do these symptoms occur?
Most times, the allergic reaction is coupled with a portion of the allergen. In other words, if the allergen is known for entering the lungs it will likely attack portions of the body related to the lungs and to breathing. An airborne allergy, thus, will likely attach itself to the breathing apparatus and my cause coughing or the nose to run because of the way it affects the system directly. There are other reasons for this that scientists studying allergy immunology are aware of, but the basics of most allergies are that they are "system attackers" in general.
How are the symptoms cured?
An allergy symptom can be cured in a number of ways depending on the actual system it affects and how drastically the body is affected. Many people can simply take, for example, an antihistamine for a hay fever type allergy and go about their day while others simply will not respond to the antihistamine. It is essentially a matter of the biological makeup of the allergy sufferer in terms of how they react to certain medications and how much medication is needed to cure the allergy symptom.
Where is The Best Place to Live if I Have a Pollen Allergy?
The National Allergy Bureau has a network of pollen counters across the country that uses air sampling equipment to capture airborne (pollen) allergens. The number of pollen grains are collected, counted, and recorded. Counting stations generally open in March and April, when pollen counts begin to grow. For people with a pollen allergy, the pollen count is a very important measure in their life.
In warmer climates, the stations remain open all year. A definition of pollen count is the number of ragweed pollen grains in a volume of air over a 24-hour time span, in a particular place. A pollen allergy can be adversely affected by high local pollen counts. Pollen allergy counts are generally based on a count of 1 to 12. A low count is four and under; moderate is 4-8; high is 8 or higher.
Since a pollen allergy is seasonal, there are places within the United States that might be better for some people to live where the count is lower. Many have considered Arizona and Nevada ideal because of the lack of plants that would spread wind-borne allergens. However, some cities have become more popular and residents bring plants and flowers with them; there has been an increase in pollen and, hence, pollen allergy sufferers.
Some people move to avoid certain plants or allergens, and sometimes this is helpful. Mountains and forests generally have a low degree of weed pollen but may have quite a bit of tree pollen. Mountains, however, if bare, would not have the same result. Areas with a lot of human population including homes and farms generally have a high amount of grass pollens. The Pacific Northwest has a lower degree of weed pollen but has standard amounts of all other types. These are indicators that someone with a pollen allergy must consider on a daily basis.
The Importance of Being Aware
No matter where one lives or vacations, it is important to heed the local pollen count and stay indoors and/or away from allergens as much as possible to keep a pollen allergy from interfering in the pursuit of a healthy and happy life. There are various prescription and over-the-counter medications that can prove helpful in dealing with annoying symptoms.
Avoiding a pollen allergy does not ensure that one will not have allergic reactions to other substances; for instance, smog, air pollution, and cigarette smoke are often more bothersome than pollen. An allergist or family practitioner can advise about relocation efforts or simple steps to take to make life more pleasant.
ALLERGY FOOD TREATMENT
The Facts of Allergy Food Treatment
Allergy food treatment is a very serious affliction with very serious consequences.
Many food allergy victims suffer the most common symptom: swelling of the mouth and throat obstruction with difficulty in breathing normally.
Testing can be extremely difficult without a full knowledge of the food ingested by the afflicted. Treatment can only be implemented when fully convinced of the type of allergy.
There are four food reactions one should be aware of:
* The classic food allergy - let us take the classic fish/peanut allergy where the immediate effect can be seen with the swelling of the throat. Here the allergy food treatment requires adrenaline injections and oral resuscitation. Another such allergy is triggered by fruit and vegetables, such as apple, tomato, peach and celery; here almost the same phenomenon occurs with the allergy located in the mouth and throat.
* Food intolerance - this is caused due to enzyme deficiencies and other mechanisms that copy allergic reactions but do not involve the immune system. Here malabsorption may occur or adverse reaction to natural chemicals that food contains as well as allergy to food containing preservatives and colorants.
* Food toxicity - this is caused by contaminated (bacterial endotoxins) or poisoned food. These toxins may naturally exist in foods such as alkaloids in potatoes. A reaction takes place and the skin starts itching, rapid pulse as well as skin flushing occurs.
* Food aversion - where the person self induces the allergy, believing that a particular food gives him/her the allergy.
Food allergy treatment can only begin once you have determined what type of allergy you are suffering from. In order to get the right treatment in time, you must consult your doctor as soon to explain your reaction. Food allergy treatment can be crucial; the situation can quickly turn fatal with dire consequences.
Some potentially allergic foods in adults
* Tree nuts - Brazil nut, hazelnut, almonds, walnuts, pistachio, cashew etc.
* Fruit such as - peach, apple, strawberry etc.
* Vegetables such as - tomato, parsley, celery, potatoes etc.
Up to 15% of the general population has reported some sort of adverse food reaction. The general feeling amongst the common individuals is that doctors under diagnose and of course the doctors feel that they over diagnose. Some individuals just note having developed an adverse reaction with a particular food item and instead of seeking food allergy treatment they simply avoid the food without ever consulting a doctor.
Fight your allergy with an allergy relief product
Allergies have been identified as one of the most common ailment that plagued humans. Just as cold and flu, humans learned to live with the inconvenience created by allergies because it is very common, and because many times it was not possible to identify the actual reason for the allergy.
What types of allergies are there?
There are millions of allergies that can afflict both human and animals alike. However, only a handful of allergies are really common. One is dust allergy - which actually is allergy to the dead skin molecules that are flying around and are inhaled when the house is dusted. This is the common allergy known to man. Other types will include, food allergy (tomato, egg plant, cheese, meat, prawn, egg, etc), allergy to additives and food preservatives (tomato sauce, fruit juice, pickles, etc), allergy to pollen, and so on.
Prevention is easier than cure
It is indeed possible to cure an allergy completely. However, one must endure a number of tests, medications, and removal of the allergen from the surroundings, the best way to fight an allergy is to prevent it. For this purpose you can take the help of any allergy relief product available in the market.
Since the dust related allergy is the most common allergy you will find in homes, you will discover that the market is flooded with many an allergy relief product that helps you attack this menace. There are allergy beddings (which encase your beddings totally so the dust cannot become accumulated in it), pillow encasings, allergenic bed-sheets and pillow cases and so on. These products have a special magnet for these dust particles which binds them to them, so that they do not fly around (and be inhaled) when you sleep.
Of course, there are more products to help you fight allergies, such as air purifiers/ cleansers and air-conditioner air filters which try to ensure that you breathe in clean air bereft of any skin particles and other matter that can cause allergy while inhaled. A very popular allergy relief product is the humidifier in dry climates. This ensures that you have enough humidity during the dry season to prevent dust particles from flying around your home.
On the other hand you can also have de-humidifier where the humidity is high enough to promote the promotion of mold in the air. As an allergy relief product a humidifier or de-humidifier will be most useful when it comes with germ free air filters so it can eliminate dust mites, spores of mold and pollen and other such allergens.
Find an Effective Natural Allergy Treatment
Sometimes over-the-counter allergy medicines just don't do the trick. If you don't have a health plan with prescription coverage, medicine for relief of allergy symptoms can make a major dent in your wallet. This allergy season think about supplementing your usual medicines with a natural allergy treatment.
Some research has been done in this field that has led to some experts recommending a variety of supplements for allergy sufferers. Keep in mind, though, that this research is still in its infancy so what might work for some people might not work for you. As anyone who suffers from allergies knows, a little relief can be a big deal.
Flavonoid Supplements
Flavonoids are naturally occurring compounds found in vegetables, berries and fruits. One flavonoid, Quercetin, found in onions and apples, has been shown to inhibit histamine release. Histamines cause allergy symptoms like swollen nasal passages, congestion, sneezing and watery eyes. More research needs to be done on this natural allergy treatment. Flavonoids also reduce risk of heart disease, stroke and cataracts.
Butterbur
Some medical studies have shown that an extract from the butterbur plant is an effective natural allergy treatment. This shrub is found in Europe and parts of Asia and North America. The extract seems to have anti-inflammatory and anti-allergy properties but does not block antihistamines. Most studies seem to support the claim that butterbur will help allergy sufferers, but not all studies have come to this conclusion. Talk to your health care professional about the correct dosage of butterbur to use.
Stinging Nettle
Stinging nettle has a long history as being used a natural health remedy. The plant is found in the United States, in mountainous regions and roadsides. A preliminary medical trial has shown that capsules made from freeze-dried nettle leaves did reduce sneezing and itching in people with hay fever. This natural allergy treatment may cause minor gastrointestinal upset in some people. Certain medicines may interact with nettle supplements.
The use of one or more natural allergy treatment has become more and more popular over the years. They can be used alone or in combination with more traditional allergy medicines. The most important thing to do is discuss these alternative supplements with your physician. They will help you determine the best dosages and whether or not there are special circumstances, like pregnancy or drug interactions, that would make taking a natural allergy treatment risky.
What is an Allergy Test?
An allergy test is used to determine an allergen when the cause is unknown. Unlike people who know they have reactions to certain things, there are hundreds of allergens that are far harder to determine; this includes medicine, insect bites, environmental factors, and even food allergies.
The quickest allergy test is a skin test. This allergy test can be a simple as putting something on the skin (such as soap) and scratching or pricking the skin so the suspected cause of the problem is introduced under the skin. The person is watched for 15 or 20 minutes to determine if the site becomes red, inflamed, or itchy. In fact, when patients have allergy shots, they are asked to wait around to make sure the area doesn't show a negative reaction.
Patients who don't react to the simple allergy test but are still thought to have allergies are subjected to an allergy test that involves injecting a small amount of the allergen under the skin. A thorough test involves as many as 100 or more injections and is used more often for allergens that are found in the air, insect bites, medicine allergies, and some foods.
A food allergy test is sometimes much easier to determine, at least in terms of medical issues.
Foods are slowly eliminated from a person's diet over a period of several weeks, noting any changes in behavior or health. Then, slowly, these foods are introduced back into the diet, one at a time over the same period of several weeks and any changes are noted. This is sometimes very easy to accomplish, unless the food allergy is a nitrate or other chemical enhancement in many products.
For someone with an allergy to red dye, for instance, a food diet may only be the tip of the allergy test iceberg. For instance, red dye can be found in several edible and inedible products within the household, including soup, sausage, laundry detergent, toothpaste, popsicles, etc. Determining that a person is allergic to wheat, red dye, nitrates, or other chemicals can take quite a while, but is often easy to avoid, once the offending allergen has been isolated.
Anyone whose child has severe behavioral issues should read a wonderful book by Doris Rapp called, "The Impossible Child" The book relates the need for an allergy test to determine the relationship between offending foods and the behavior of those who are reacting to it.
ALLERGY INFORMATION
Although about two out of every ten Americans have allergies of one kind or the other, most of them are ill equipped as far as allergy information is concerned. As a first step to acquiring a bit of allergy information, you should know what allergies are really all about.
Allergies are an overreaction of the immune system to substances in the environment called "allergens." Exposure to an apparently harmless substance, such as pollen causes the immune system of an allergy sufferer to react as if the substance is harmful. Allergies can be of various types: indoor and outdoor allergies (also known as "hay fever," "seasonal," "perennial" or "nasal" allergies), food and drug allergies, latex allergies, insect allergies, skin allergies and eye allergies. Here is a vital, reassuring piece of allergy information: people that have allergies can live healthy and active lives like everyone else.
The next lesson in allergy information is to understand what happens when an allergic reaction takes place. If a person with a hyper-alert immune system is exposed to an allergen, his/her body starts producing an antibody, called IgE, to fight the allergen.
The antibodies attach to a form of blood cell called a mast cell.
There are numerous mast cells in the airways and in the GI tract where allergens tend to enter the body. The mast cells explode and release a variety of chemicals including histamine, causing most of the symptoms of an allergy.
If the allergens are airborne, the reaction is likely to occur in the eyes, nose and lungs.
If the allergens are ingested, the reaction mostly occurs in the mouth, stomach and intestines. Sometimes the mast cells release sufficient chemicals causing a reaction throughout the body, such as hives, decreased blood pressure, shock, or loss of consciousness.
Next lesson in allergy information is to be familiar with the nature and categories of the symptoms. Allergy symptoms can be classified into mild, moderate, or severe (anaphylactic) categories. Mild symptoms are those that affect a specific area of the body such as rash, itchy, watery eyes, and some congestion.
They do not spread to other parts of the body. Moderate symptoms that spread to other parts of the body may include itchiness or difficulty in breathing. A severe reaction, called anaphylaxis, is a rare but life-threatening emergency in which the response to the allergen is intense and affects the whole body.
From a sudden onset of itching of the eyes or face, it may take the form of abdominal pain, cramps, vomiting, and diarrhea, as well as varying degrees of swellings that can make breathing and swallowing difficult.
As an important part of allergy information, you should be aware of different allergy-causing substances, the most common among them being pollen, dust mites, mold, animal dander, insect stings, latex and certain foods and medications.
Your allergy information will remain incomplete if don't have any idea of how to tackle allergies. Once the allergen causing the allergy is identified through tests, you can choose self-care treatment or use medications depending on the nature of the problem. Remember, the best remedy is avoidance, which means avoiding the substance causing your allergic reaction.
SPRING ALLERGY
Spring Allergy Affects Millions Every Year
What triggers spring allergy?
Allergens such as pollens; which many plants, trees or weeds have are carried in the wind during spring time may cause a spring allergy.
Some plants and trees you may want to watch out for this spring are: oak, ash, elm, birch, hickory, poplar, maple, cypress, walnut, sycamore and western red cedar are some of the trees; grass such as timothy, orchard, red top and sweet vernal will activate your spring allergy. During summer and fall you may want to watch out for sagebrush, pigweed, ragweed and cocklebur among other plants and trees that can also aggravate your symptoms.
Symptoms of spring allergy
Those suffering of these type of allergies will experience symptoms such as watery eyes, sneezing, runny nose, drowsiness or/and headaches.
Spring allergy can lead to serious conditions and should never be taken lightly. If you suspect you are having spring allergy you should immediately see a doctor or allergist who will determine your condition through tests which will pinpoint the cause of your allergy more specifically.
What to avoid when suffering from spring allergy
Items very important to avoid include pollen and mold, particularly, as these are the main cause of provoking sneezing and wheezing. Keeping windows closed as much as possible during spring will prevent such components to drift into your house. The same applies for your car windows when traveling.
Consider using an air conditioner or air humidifier which will constantly clean the air and keep it cool and spring allergy free.
You may need to consider cutting down on your outdoor activities during spring when there is high humidity or the pollen count is reported to be high. Take vacations in pollen free areas those such as beach resorts (which are not bad at all) or most sea side destinations.
Try using paper mask when cleaning the house or drying clothes out where pollen can be present. Also taking showers after being outdoors can help spring allergy to subside.
More helpful information
The largest professional medical organization in the U.S.A. representing allergies and illness associated with it is AAAAI, which stands for the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.
Recognizing your allergy and acting in time is essential as most allergies can be fatal if not treated in time.
Don't let a spring allergy ruin your spring; get help and prevent it in time.
The Cure: The effects of an allergy remedy
If you suspect you have allergies, your family physician may refer you to an allergist to find out what triggers your allergic reactions. The allergist will perform a number of tests and ask you several questions about your symptoms. Once the allergy-causing substance or allergen is identified, your allergy remedy may be a self-care treatment or use of medications depending on the nature of the problem.
The best allergy remedy is avoidance, which means avoiding the substance causing your allergic reaction. By avoiding the allergen you may not have a need for medication. Be careful to keep in mind that avoiding foods such as peanuts means avoiding all products containing peanuts or peanut oils.
As an effective allergy remedy against airborne allergens, these simple steps can be taken: bathe your pets regularly and keep them away from your furniture, avoid using carpets as they collect too much dust, cover pillows and mattresses to avoid dust mites, wash bedding in hot water, refrain from hanging heavy drapes that allow dust to gather,
keep the windows shut during pollen season, avoid mowing the lawn if you are allergic to grass, and wash shower curtains and bathroom tiles often to eliminate mold.
Apart from such self-care methods, the other type of allergy remedy is use of medications. This treatment may come in the form of pills, nasal sprays, or shots. There are some over the counter medications as well that can effectively treat allergies. You will have to consult your allergist to know which medications are right for you.
Even if the very thought of receiving shots may not attract you, they can be very effective in treating your allergies.
Shots may not cure your allergy but can help raise your body's tolerance to the allergen. The tiny amount of the allergen injected into your body changes your immunity to these allergens. Later, this allergy remedy helps to check the reaction triggered by these substances.
Drug treatments as allergy remedy include antihistamines, decongestants, anti-inflammatory medications, such as steroid nasal sprays, cromolyn nasal sprays, systemic steroids, and leukotriene inhibitors, and anticholingergics. Your allergist may recommend for you, either one, or a combination of these medications.
If you are looking for a natural allergy remedy, there are many which have also proved to be highly effective: nettles, marshmallow, acerola cherry, cayenne, and ginger. Some foods like leeks, green onions, dark green leaves, radish, beans, seaweeds, potatoes, and sweet potatoes are good for treating or preventing allergies. What you should avoid include junk foods, instant foods (frozen foods), soda, and alcohol.
Keep Your Cool: The Milk Allergy Story
Having a milk allergy can be an annoying allergy to have, especially if milk is one of your favorite beverages. Downing a huge glass of moo juice now becomes an enormous problem laced with a fit of rashes and swelling that no glass of milk can possibly be worth. Still, there are ways to overcome a milk allergy so that you can enjoy your favorite white beverage again and this article will briefly outline a lot of what you need to know in terms of what a milk allergy is and how to get around it to enjoy your milk once again.
What is it?
A milk allergy is the body's reaction, via the immune system, to the product of milk or dairy. More specifically, it is how the body reacts to a specific protein in milk or dairy or in the cow's milk product. Many people are allergic to cow's milk and it is likely the most common food allergy in the world. Two proteins called casein and whey are the common allergens in cow's milk. Casein, in fact, accounts for about 80 percent of the milk's protein, making cow's milk a huge problem for allergy sufferers.
Interestingly, several studies have come to show us that some infants (about two to three percent) are allergic to milk at birth but eventually grow out of it. An allergy to cow's milk can, however, come into play later in life and affect lots of grown adults. There is no known common reason as to why or how this occurs later in life but it is quite common that people develop allergies of all sorts of different kinds in their adult and senior years of life.
Symptoms
Symptoms of allergies to cow's milk include, but are not limited to, manifestations that affect the skin, respiratory system, and other systems of the body. The most common skin reactions include reddening of certain areas like the lips or eyes, itchy red rashes, hives, black eyes, and swelling of facial areas. Some digestive reactions also can occur including diarrhea, cramping, bloating, and nausea. Basic respiratory symptoms also occur like sneezing and watery eyes, runny noses and itchy throats.
The Answer?
The only real common answer to milk allergy is to avoid the milk. Stay away from what causes you the allergic reactions and you will be fine. Look for alternative products like soy milk and lactose free milks and enjoy those instead. Milk and cookies is still possible, but it'll have to be without our friendly cow's contribution.
CORN ALLERGY
Living with Corn Allergy
Corn allergy is generally a hard to identify allergy. The symptoms from corn allergy can be similar to other food allergens even if reactions will vary significantly from person to person. Once you identify that you have this problem, you need to remove all corn from your diet. While some people are allergic to corn directly some react to corn protein as well.
Some Foods With Corn Content
All snacks like corn chips, corn tortillas, corn flakes and most importantly foods that are made with corn syrup, cornstarch or cornmeal can activate your allergy. While some of these food products are obvious of corn content, some are not which leaves one no option but to read the fine print in order to avoid a reaction.
Corn allergy also will get activated by corn flour, corn alcohol, corn gluten, corn sweetener, corn oil or corn popcorn. While processing corn oil, the corn protein is removed. If you know you only react to corn protein you will be safe to have corn oil.
Reading the labels can be tricky at times. Terms like "dextrose" (which is nothing but corn sugar) or glucose, dextrin, malt dextrin, caramel or malt syrup are also sources of corn that can introduce a corn allergy.
Yet another area to watch out for is soft drinks as many contain corn syrup as sweetener or coloring. Iodized salt and white vinegar may contain corn that can activate the corn allergy.
Other Products That Can Cause Corn Allergy
You need to watch out for a lot more then just food products if you are a victim of corn allergy. Some toothpaste is made with corn oil in enough quantities to set a corn allergy in motion. Also a large number of cream companies use corn oil as a texturizer agent and that too can and will set on an allergy.
You will be surprised to learn that corn is frequently used in adhesives for stamps and envelopes; plastic wrap, paper plates and cups too are coated with corn oil which can at times effect the very sensitive to have a severe corn allergy reaction.
Drugs
The corn allergy victims have to be careful and read every label. The very commonly used aspirin, suppositories, ointments, lozenges, laxatives, some vitamins contain corn starch or corn syrup.
It may look like the whole world is out to get the corn allergy victims but, if you read the labels carefully and always take your medications there is no reason not to avoid setting on a corn allergy reaction.
FOOD ALLERGY TEST
Where is a food allergy test done and how long does it take?
A food allergy test is only conducted by a doctor in his or her office. It usually takes between 5 and 7 minutes and is generally painless.
How is the food allergy test conducted?
To conduct this test, gelatin capsules are used which contain an extract of a particular food product that you are being tested for. Sometimes capsules contain a neutral substance that is also used for testing purposes. The result can be ready in as little as 5 minutes or as long as 7 days, depending on the complexity of the case.
Risks and complications involved
There is always a risk of very serious reactions that can be life threatening. These tests are not recommended without the supervision of a doctor. Other reactions such as nausea, diarrhea, runny nose and eyes are common as well in these tests. For the most part, however, the test is generally safe when performed correctly.
Other food allergy tests
* Food provocation test
* Food challenge test
* Indigestion test
The purpose of the above tests is to confirm an allergy connected to a particular food or food additive. These tests are used as a last resort should the above mentioned test not be enough.
Preparing for the food allergy test
* Avoid eating any food products that are the cause of the allergy.
* Do not consume antihistamines or any allergy drugs prior to the test.
This test is conducted by giving one an injection or asked to swallow a test capsule which contains the food ingredients that are being tested. One will then be under observation for symptoms which may appear within minutes or may take days.
To ensure the right results sometimes the test is conducted with neutral capsules thus, inducing the placebo effect; in this case neither the doctor nor the patient knows.
A food allergy test is most effective and reliable when performed with intake of the foods products as it follows the same course as usual. After the test you will wait for 20-30 minutes and test will be made for several reactions; in the case that symptoms appear, they will persist for several days. Depending on the results of the food allergy test you will be put on the needed medication and/or avoid the consumption of the food product. With the doctor's help, you should be able to get your food allergies under control.
Symptoms of Sun Allergy
Many people suffer from some sort of sun allergy. Symptoms can be relatively minor, usually presenting as a minor rash that can be itchy-some people call it "prickly heat." However, others suffer different symptoms, which can affect the way they live their lives. Some people develop hives that can blister and spread, even to areas that weren't directly exposed to the sun.
It is unclear what causes sun allergy and why some people react differently than others. Young children and babies are particularly vulnerable; welts can occur that seem to cover an entire area forming a ring around the arms or legs. What starts out looking like an irritated mosquito or insect bite can quickly swell to alarming proportions.
In addition, there is a syndrome known as "sun drunk" which affects some children who suffer from a sun allergy. In some cases, a child may come in from playing outside and stumble, lose balance, or otherwise display suggestions that something is just not right; hence, causing the term "drunk." Many come in with glazed eyes and sometimes fall asleep quickly. Once out of the sun, given time to "recover," (sometimes as soon as 30 minutes), there may not be any other lasting effects.
There are various types of conditions under the title of sun allergy.
These include polymorphous light eruption (PMLE), actinic prurigo (hereditary PMLE), and photo allergic eruption. Solar urticaria is a rarer sun allergy that generally affects women; it produces large, itchy, red bumps or hives. While it is a rarer form of sun allergy, it is far more common than may be thought.
PMLE is a sun allergy that produces an itchy rash and is quite common, and hereditary PMLE occurs in people with an American Indian background. Photo allergic eruption is a sun allergy that sometimes takes a while to diagnose and occurs when sunlight has a reaction with a chemical on or in the body, such as sunscreen, lipstick, medication, etc. It is important to know whether any medication you are taking can have an adverse reaction to the sun. If in question, ask your pharmacist.
To prevent or lessen possible sun allergy symptoms, it is imperative to use a sunscreen of SPF 15 or greater. For children or others with solar urticaria, it is more advisable to use SPF 45+. In addition, sunscreen must be applied liberally and often. Whether or not someone has a known sun allergy, sunscreen should be applied all over including the lips.
Finding the Usual Suspects: Allergy Immunology
Allergy immunology is the study of the biomedical aspects of allergies and what causes them, what types of things people are allergic to, and what cures there are for those allergies. Many people benefit from allergy immunology because many people suffer from allergies or allergy symptoms, so we have a lot to be thankful for in terms of scientific discoveries when we are able to take a pill that stops hay fever or when we take a shot that lets us enjoy milk again. All of those cures are courtesy of the study of allergy immunology.
There are a variety of tests that scientists do to discover what people are allergic to and then a variety more that they perform to discover how to create an immunotherapeutic system to help cure us. In short, scientists find out what causes allergies and then, sometimes, flood our immune systems with exactly the thing we are allergic to in order to drive our immune system into resistance mode which naturally fights the cause of the allergy symptoms. This, of course, is only one part of the science behind finding the cures for various allergies but it is a popular method.
Immunotherapy is designed for those allergy sufferers that are not reacting to conventional medical cures. If the natural medications for symptoms do not work, many people turn to immunotherapy instead. This is a type of therapy that actually moderates and fixes the cause and direction of the allergic reaction and fixes the allergy itself, not just the symptoms. Immunotherapy does not work in everyone, however, and it generally recommended as a "last resort" by most medical professionals because of the expense and complication.
Immunotherapy
Basically, immunotherapy requires taking injections for three to five years that may or may not result in long term benefits for the allergy sufferer. This therapy is only recommended for those that have no choice but to be near their allergens or for those that are experiencing "extreme" allergic reactions. This therapy is commonly used on people with asthma as well and those that suffer from hay fever allergies as the allergens in that type of allergy are hard to avoid.
Allergy immunology makes it possible for those types of allergies to be cured because of the way science has dedicated itself to finding a cure for common allergies. To date, there are many cures for allergies and many more on the way.
Causes of an Allergy in Your Child
It can be quite scary when your child first shows signs of having an allergy. It's difficult to figure out what the irritant is, especially if there is more than one. That is why it's important to have the allergy in your child diagnosed by a knowledgeable doctor, as then treatment can begin.
An allergy in your child can come from a variety of sources. The most common culprits are food, inhalants, and contact irritants. These three categories are known to cover a variety of symptoms and causes.
Food Allergies
Children and adult allergies follow different patterns. A food allergy in your child is most likely to come from milk, eggs and peanuts. Children will often outgrow these allergies, but in the meantime, children and adults are more likely to react to foods they eat the most often.
A food allergy in your child may be prevented by avoiding high-risk foods. Breastfeeding exclusively for the first six months of life has also been shown to be effective in avoiding allergies. If supplementing is necessary, use a hypoallergenic formula. Experts also say to avoid giving dairy products to your child before he is 12 months old, eggs until he's 2 years old and nuts and fish until he is 3 years old.
Inhalant Allergies
Many things in an indoor environment can cause an allergy in your child. Cats, dogs and dust mites are common culprits, and the allergy to pets actually comes from a reaction to their dander. There are ways to minimize pet dander - brushing and bathing the animal and vacuuming regularly with a HEPA filter can help.
A dust mite allergy in your child can be reduced by covering pillows, mattresses and box springs in special slip covers. This will deprive the dust mites of the dead skins cells they need to survive. Reducing the amount of carpeting in the home can also give dust mites less places to live.
Contact Allergies
An allergy in your child can be caused by contact with insects or irritating substances to the skin. An allergy to a stinging insect can be alarming, and a child with this problem must be educated about his allergy at an early age. A person or child with a stinging insect allergy must carry epinephrine with him at all times. One sting can cause anaphylaxis shock, which can be life-threatening.
Certain substances can be the culprit behind a skin allergy in your child. Many fragrance chemicals are made up of volatile organic compounds, which can be respiratory irritants. Skins reactions to fragrances in laundry detergents can show up as hives, rashes, dermatitis and eczema. The most common causes of skin irritation, or allergic contact dermatitis, are caused by nickel, gold, thimersol, neomycin sulfate, formaldehyde and bacitracin.
There are several more causes of an allergy in your child, but food, inhalant and contact irritants are the most common. While the symptoms might be frightening, most childhood allergies can be managed with proper medical care.
You can always count on an allergy home remedy when in doubt
There are many symptoms that may look like an allergy. There is incessant sneezing, watery eyes, running eyes, skin eczema, diarrhea, shortness of breath, urticaria, etc. The symptoms will differ widely from person to person and from substance to substance. In most of the cases an allergy is evident. However, what allergy is actually affecting you is not easy to identify. Hence, it is always to know a good allergy home remedy to get fast relief with the least side effects.
What is an allergy?
Allergy is an illness that shows that your body disagrees with a certain substance be it from the air, food or environment. Allergy can also be psychological; in this case they are triggered by acute stress. Whichever way it starts, unless the allergen (the substance that causes it) is removed the symptoms that are caused by the allergy usually do not abate. In certain cases, certain chemicals and/or foods have been found to short circuit the on-setting of the symptoms.
Allergy home remedy - something you can rely upon anytime
It has been found that consumption of Vitamin B5 is particularly beneficial. This is actually pantothenic acid, and is extremely helpful even in acute cases. It however, takes 4-8 weeks to really control all the symptoms, so you will have to be patient.
There are many fruits and vegetables which can help as an allergy home remedy. Lime, for example, is an exceptional anti-allergenic substance. If you have an allergy that you cannot identify or treat, you can try having a glass of lime water with a spoon of honey. This helps in flushing out all toxins from the body as well as soothes any allergic symptoms.
You can also use banana especially for skin rashes and eczemas. Banana is an exceptional allergy home remedy for asthma as well. Before using this fruit, you should ensure that you are not allergic to the banana itself.
Another superb anti-allergen that is made out of vegetables is the mixture of carrot juice with cucumber and beet to make a composite juice which is highly beneficial for fighting any type of allergy if taken every morning.
These are just a few of the many potent medicines that you can get without any effort right from your kitchen. Herbal remedies are the best when you are in doubt of what type of allergy you are suffering from; they do not have any side effects like the chemical medicines.
Solving your allergy mystery with allergy testing
Different persons are allergic to different substances. Allergy testing is necessary to determine the substances to which a person is allergic. There are a number of methods of allergy testing. The methods generally used are the skin tests, elimination-type tests, and the radioallergosorbent tests (RAST).
There are several types of skin tests. In the scratch test, a tiny amount of suspected allergy-causing substances is placed on the skin. The skin is then scratched or pierced so that the allergen is introduced under the skin surface. The skin is then observed closely for signs of a reaction, usually in the form of swelling and redness of the site. Results are available within about 20 minutes, and several suspected allergens can be simultaneously tested by this method of allergy testing.
Falling into the category of skin tests, another method of allergy testing involves injection of a small amount of allergen under the surface of the skin and watching for a reaction at the site. Skin tests are suitable for respiratory allergies, a penicillin allergy, insect bite allergies, and food testing.
Elimination-type tests are useful for testing food allergies.
In this method of allergy testing, the suspected allergy-causing foods are eliminated from the diet for several weeks and then gradually re-introduced one at a time. At the same time, the person is continuously observed for signs of an allergic reaction. If a person is under the impression that he/she is allergic to a certain food, it is better to take a double-blind test to determine if this is true.
In a double-blind test, suspected foods and placebos (harmless substances) are provided in a disguised form and the person being tested and the provider are both unaware of whether the substance tested in that session is the placebo or the food substance. Only a third party knows the identity of the substances and identifies them with some sort of code. This test may need several sessions if more than one substance is under investigation.
The RAST is a laboratory test performed on blood. This method of allergy testing looks for the amount of specific IgE antibodies in the blood, which are present if there is a true allergic reaction.
Among other types of allergy testing are immunoglobulin measurements and the blood cell differential or absolute eosinophil count, in which rise in eosinophils can indicate allergy presence. Provocation or challenge allergy testing involves exposure to the suspected allergen under controlled circumstances. As it may provoke severe allergic reactions, it should only be performed by a doctor.
Before you are subjected to any type of allergy testing, the doctor will inquire about your illnesses, social and emotional conditions, work, entertainment, lifestyle, foods, and eating habits.
Knowing Your Milk Allergy Symptoms
Milk is made up of water, protein, carbohydrates (a milk sugar called lactose), minerals, fats and other substances. Milk allergies occur when our bodies react to the proteins in cow's milk, casein and whey, treating them as a foreign substance. Milk allergy symptoms may appear immediately or several hours after the intake of moderate to large amounts of cow's milk.
Mostly children suffer from milk allergies, but most of them get rid of it by the time they are six. Although whey proteins can be broken down by heat, casein proteins are heat-stable and that is why those who are allergic to the latter cannot tolerate any cow's milk, even when it is boiled.
The most common milk allergy symptoms are similar to those of other food allergies: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal cramps, or symptoms involving the skin, such as urticaria, and eczema. Milk allergy symptoms include chronic runny nose, coughing, ear infections, excessive colic, excoriated buttocks, failure to thrive, fluid behind ears, irritability, nasal stuffiness, rash, hives and eczema, recurrent "colds," sinusitis, recurrent bronchitis, recurrent diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and wet and wheezy chest.
Three patterns of milk allergy symptoms have been recognized. In Type 1, milk allergy symptoms appear within minutes after the intake of small volumes of cow's milk. The reactions are visible mainly on the skin: eczema or urticaria, with or without respiratory or gastro-intestinal symptoms.
In Type 2, milk allergy symptoms start several hours after intake of modest volumes of cow's milk. The symptoms in such cases are usually vomiting and diarrhea.
In Type 3, milk allergy symptoms begin to appear after more than 20 hours, or even days after intake of large volumes of cow's milk. The principal symptom here is diarrhea, with or without respiratory or skin reactions.
These milk allergy symptoms are not restricted to those people experiencing a milk allergy.
One, who is familiar with food allergy symptoms, can notice that numerous foods share a variety of common symptoms, such as bloating, rash, and runny nose.
The diagnosis of milk allergy in infants may become easier if the milk energy symptoms started soon after the child began on milk formula. The diagnosis may also be easy if a person shows the same symptoms repeatedly after eating milk-containing food. In older children and adults, the diagnosis is often difficult because milk is usually consumed with other food. Only the milk allergy symptoms that develop after a few minutes are likely to give a positive blood or skin test, as these detect IgE that is involved in the immediate-type reaction.
Allergy Headache May Not Actually Be The Result of An Allergy
There are cases in which people get headaches without any apparent reason. During this time, people tend to blame allergies for this symptom. However, how much of this is true? Headaches are caused by a myriad of reasons, i.e. it could be poor eye sight, it could be sinus, it could be a tumor (in extreme cases) or it could be due to any infection in the nose, throat or ear areas. Lastly, it could be due to an allergy; however, allergy headaches are one of the least common afflictions.
What type of allergy cause the allergy headache?
Generally speaking, an allergy rarely causes headaches. The most common symptoms of allergies are runny eyes and nose, continuous sneezing, itchy skin, eczema and so on. Most commonly, headaches are the result of some allergy symptoms, rather than directly be the symptom of an allergy. For example, a runny nose and watery eyes will in the end give result to a headache. Continuous sneezing also may give into a headache, and so on.
Since most of the times the treatment of allergies actually cures the headaches, it is thought that the headache was actually an allergy headache. However this is not true. The allergies that can cause headaches could be triggered by food or by things we breathe in the air. In case you get a headache soon after consuming certain food, then you can easily identify this as a trigger.
Identify what triggers your allergy headache
You can identify what causes an allergy headache for you. For this you will have to monitor what you eat and how you feel after you consume such food items. There are certain foods that are more potent than others, such as chocolate, tomato, egg plant, pizza, etc.
You will also need to keep track of what pets are around you, such as cats, dogs, birds, etc. Is your headache worse when you are around your cat, or around a dog, or any other animal?
With the help of the chart that you work out this way over a few months you can easily identify the triggers of your allergy headache and can once you know it, you could go for herbal or chemical treatment. With a bit of luck you will be able to totally remove this problem from your life for good.
Scratching the Surface: The Story of Eye Allergy
Nearly 27 million Americans are reported to have some kind of eye allergy. Symptoms of eye allergy, if severe, can be extremely distressing requiring consultations with an allergist or ophthalmologist. If not treated in time, it can even threaten eyesight.
Eye allergy in most cases is linked to other allergic conditions, including hay fever or allergic rhinitis and a topic eczema or dermatitis. Those having personal or family history of allergy are more likely to have eye allergy, its symptoms mostly appearing before the age of 30. Its causes are identical with those of allergic asthma and hay fever. Medications and cosmetics are often major causes of the eye allergy.
To understand the eye allergy, a look at the outer anatomy of the eye is essential. The tissue lining (mucus membrane) that covers the white surface of the eyeball and the inner folds of the eyelids is called conjunctiva. The conjunctiva is rich in blood vessels and contains more mast cells than the lungs. Located in the upper and outer portions of the eye, the lachrymal (tear) glands produce the watery component of tears. The cornea is the transparent sheath in front of the lens of the eye.
Unlike the hairs in the nose (cilia), the conjunctiva has no filtering system and it gets directly exposed to the environment when we open our eyes. Influenced by allergens, the allergy antibody, IGE, coats numerous mast cells in the conjunctiva. When exposed to the allergen again, the mast cell tends to release histamine and other mediators. It causes eye allergy resulting in itching, burning, and runny eyes. Although both eyes are usually affected, sometimes only one eye is involved, especially when only one eye is rubbed with an allergen.
Eye allergy can be of various types.
The most common among them is allergic conjunctivitis, also known as "allergic rhino conjunctivitis." In this condition, which is usually seasonal, the inflammation of the conjunctiva enlarges its blood vessels leading to redness, itching, and tearing of the eyes.
"Atopic keratoconjunctivitis" is another kind of eye allergy that mostly affects adolescent boys, especially those who had atopic dermatitis in early childhood. Its symptoms are intensely itchy red areas on the eyelids, heavy discharge from the eyes, and scales and crusts on the skin of the eyelid.
Although not very common, vernal keratoconjunctivitis is another form of eye allergy that usually affects preadolescent boys. It appears mostly in rural areas during late spring, in which the eyes become extremely itchy, sensitive to light, and the lids feel uncomfortable and droopy.
Irritation from a foreign body, such as contact lenses result in another type of eye allergy called giant papillary conjunctivitis. In this condition, large bumps are formed on the conjunctiva under the upper eyelid.
Contact eye allergy is in essence contact dermatitis of the eyelids.
It is commonly found among women as a result of allergic reactions to preservatives in eye products and cosmetics. In this condition, the eyelids may develop blisters, itching, and redness.
Most people having an eye allergy treat themselves and do so quite effectively with OTC products. However, if the problem refuses to go away, it is better to seek medical advice because, if left unattended or treated poorly, some of these conditions may even threaten their eyesight.
Do I Need to Take Allergy Medicine?
For many people, allergy symptoms are merely annoying and their choice to take allergy medicine is purely personal. Symptoms can include watery or itchy eyes, runny nose, sneezing, coughing, feeling drained. Sometimes something as simple as a tablet every 12 hours is enough allergy medicine to completely stop the symptoms for a short period of time.
Many people visit their allergists once a week or once a month for injections of a small amount of the substance to which they are allergic. By injecting the allergen into the patient's system, the patient will hopefully develop antibodies to make a system immune to the allergens. This type of treatment works for some people and other people shy away from it. There are specific treatments for bee sting and wasp bite allergies.
If a person is fatally allergic to something such as corn, peanuts, bee stings, etc., they run the risk of having what is called an anaphylactic reaction; their entire system reaction with incredible speed and can have potentially dangerous results.
These people need to carry a special allergy medicine
An adrenaline (epinephrine) injection kit is something that must be administered immediately after contact with the allergen in order to stop (or lessen) the reactions. In the best cases, this medicine works perfectly. In bad cases, a person's life may be saved, but they may suffer severe consequences that cannot be reversed. In the worst case, the person will die.
For example, a person who eats fried chicken made with corn flakes may not associate chicken with corn. If the person has an anaphylactic reaction to corn and eats the chicken, his entire body could shut down, leaving him unable to breathe without a respirator, unable to move due to neurological damage, and unable to live without constant care. A person can go from being perfectly healthy to being completely disabled in a matter of minutes.
Whether or not a person needs to take allergy medicine depends on the degree of the allergy, the inconvenience of symptoms, and personal considerations. For instance, a person who is allergic to pet dander may consider the itchy, watery eyes a small price to pay for living with a beloved pet. However, a visitor to the home may require allergy medicine to handle his own allergies or symptoms to the same pet. Another friend may choose to simply stay away, avoiding the pet completely.
Sneeze Your Way to Victory: Allergy Relief
Allergy relief is a welcome cure to the effects of the all-too-common allergy symptoms that many people all around the world suffer from day after day. Many of us spend the day sneezing or sniffling with little to no signs of recovery without a proper medication or type of allergy relief. It is often hard to go on with our daily lives with this affliction and regardless of what exactly we are allergic too, having full-fledged allergies can make a decent day a whole lot worse.
Aaaaaa-choo!
Having allergy symptoms isn't just limited to sneezing. They can also range from stuffy noses, watery eyes, runny noses, itching, sweating, hives, and any other combination or number of undesirable occurrences that affect the human body in annoying and often embarrassing ways. Nothing throws off your date more than a steady stream running from your nose due to allergies, so finding a good allergy relief can be a lifeline to those of us that suffer from constant allergies.
Several allergies affect millions of people each day. From people being allergic to pet hair, dust mites, airborne pollen, mold, or food allergies many of us are suffering from various symptoms that can either cause us to sneeze all the time or break out into hives and have our heads swell up to the size of watermelons. Allergy symptoms are not pretty and they can be highly painful and sometimes even fatal if left untreated. Certain food allergies, for example, can lead to death if not monitored closely.
Finding that Relief
Finding effective allergy relief depends highly on your symptoms and where they are taking you. It can be either a consistent level of medication you take to fend off those evil allergies or it can be a simple change in lifestyle such as changing your diet or changing the fabric of your clothes. Regardless of where you find relief, it is important that you actually do find it and deal with your allergies in the best way.
There are multiple specifics in terms of allergy relief that you can find by consulting your physician. He or she will help you with getting beneficial treatment for your allergy symptoms that will help you continue on with your daily life without the pressures and worries of runny noses or watery eyes clouding up your vision. Allergy symptoms are often annoying and can even be life-threatening but like most things they do not have to be that way.
DOG ALLERGY SYMPTOM
Recognizing a dog allergy symptom
Recognizing a dog allergy symptom and treating it is an option we have today; we do not need to part with our best friend anymore due to allergies.
Fact
As hard as it may be for some to admit that their dearest friend (dog or cat), it is a fact that approximately 10% of the U.S. population suffer from pet allergy.
Dog allergies are caused by a protein present in dog's dander and saliva. All dogs have dander despite the common myth that dogs with shorter hair do not cause allergies.
Dog allergy symptom
A dog allergy symptom is the same the regular allergy symptom - runny nose, itchy eyes, sneezing etc. some even experience itchy patches on the skin.
A few steps to preventing dog allergies
* Keep your dog out door or limit him/her to a room which does not have carpeting or furniture. Clean the room daily.
* Usage of a good air filter helps clean the airborne allergens.
* Clean your dog once a week this will get rid of at least some of the allergens in the fur.
* Do not put the clothing used around your dog in the closet - put it straight in the washer.
* Take a shower or clean hands and face after playing/touching the dog.
* There is also available allergen free bedding which can be of great use for your dog allergy symptom.
Treating dog allergy symptom
Since the dog allergy is basically the common allergy but triggered by your dog; the medications used are the same used to cure regular allergies.
* Antihistamines - they help reduce the sneezing, runny nose, itchy and watery eyes. A helpful tip - antihistamines work best when used before exposed to an allergy.
* Decongestants - These temporarily help to clear the stuffy nose. These are best used for short time or else you risk irritating your nose and provoking the whole cycle again.
* Nasal steroid sprays - this reduces the reaction of the nasal tissue to inhaled allergens, helping to reduce swelling in the nose. This is only available by prescription.
* Cromolyn sodium - this is a great nasal spray which helps the body to react to allergens. This is available over the counter and is best used before you are exposed to the allergens.
Dog allergy symptom is as painful as any other allergy. Some dog allergies can be controlled and some cannot, that is for your doctor to decide. I am sure no dog lover will give up their dog because of any dog allergy symptom without trying everything possible to keep him/her.
Cleaning Up with an Allergy Relief Air Purifier
The deteriorating quality of indoor air is now a matter of growing health concern. Pollutant levels are 2 to 5 times higher inside the home than out, according to the EPA. Apart from gases and chemicals, these pollutants include airborne particles and particulate matter, which can be allergens causing different types of allergies. An allergy relief air purifier can improve indoor air quality, thereby reducing the chances of people having allergies. Apart from controlling the source and improving ventilation, an allergy relief air purifier is the best way to tackle this problem.
A good allergy relief air purifier is capable of greatly improving the quality of indoor air. But you must carefully choose from the numerous types and brands of purifiers that are now available in the market. It is because some of the air purifiers can cause some of the very problems they are meant to get rid of.
An allergy relief air purifier may be of various types. HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) Purifier is one of them. These air purifiers filter a minimum of 99.97% of particles 0.3 microns and larger, which include allergens and contaminants like dust mites, dust mite feces, mold spores, pollen and animal dander. They offer cleaner air to help you breathe better. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security recommends HEPA air purifiers, and it's the highest current standard in air filtration. When you purchase a HEPA purifier, you should take into account the size and quality of the filter medium.
Activated carbon filter is another type of purifier that helps removal of gases, odors and toxins. In such purifiers, chemicals, gases, and odors stick to the carbon and are "adsorbed" onto its huge surface area, bonding to the surface through chemical attraction.
An electrostatic precipitator can also be called an allergy relief air purifier which ionizes particles as they are passed over an electronic cell, after which they are attracted and trapped by oppositely charged collector plates. Although you don't need to replace filters with this product, you have to wash the collector plate regularly to keep the purifier effective. Many ionization air cleaners generate ozone, which is a documented health hazard and lung irritant. The EPA has strongly discouraged the use of ozone generators as air purifiers.
As different homes have different air contaminant sources to deal with, including both airborne particulates and allergens, and household chemicals and odors, it is always better to find an air purifier which combines a HEPA filter with some amount of carbon. This combination, apart from acting as an allergy relief air purifier, will remove the widest variety of indoor pollutants.
Another allergy filter
Another type is the activated carbon filter that helps to remove gases, odors and toxins from indoor air.
In such a filter, chemicals, gases, and odors stick to the carbon and are "adsorbed" onto its huge surface area, bonding to the surface through chemical attraction. An electrostatic filter ionizes particles as they are passed over an electronic cell, after which they are attracted and trapped by oppositely charged collector plates.
A number of ionization air filters have been found to generate ozone, which is a proven health hazard and lung irritant. The Environment Protection Agency (EPA) has come out strongly against the use of ozone generators as air filters.
Best way for Allergy Filter
An allergy filter acts as a cleaning mechanism by trapping large particles of dust, lint, mold spores and even hair, and in the process produces cleaner, healthier air. This leads to reduction in allergens that thrive in polluted air.
The most widely recommended allergy filter is the HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filter. Designed originally to keep radioactive particles out of the air, it is considered the most efficient today as it can filter just under 100% (99.97% to be exact) of all 0.3 micron particles, which are smaller than the size of most bacteria. That is why a HEPA filter is an excellent allergy filter rendering the indoor air free of allergens. If you are keen to purchase a HEPA filter, look for the genuine brand as many cheaper imitations are now available in the market.
Finding the Right Allergy Filter
The quality of indoor air, or the lack of it, plays a key role in the well being of people who suffer from allergies. Pollutants within indoor air include among other things different types of allergen and particulate matters causing allergies and other problems. The quality of air can be improved by using an allergy filter, thereby reducing the risk of being struck by allergies.
Standard remedies besides eye allergy drops are:
* Cold compresses on the eye – this will soothe any irritation and wash away irritants.
* Visit an eye specialist who can determine the type of your allergy and prescribe you oral medications or allergy shots depending on the case.
Key to keeping an eye allergy free thus not needing the use of allergy eye drop is maintaining a healthy tear film. We all are prone to tear film dehydration due to many factors around us; hare are couple of ways to prevent this from happening:
* Get couple of bowls of water around your house to humidify the air especially when you have an air conditioner running.
* Take frequent baths or showers.
* Wash face and eyes frequently.
Taking in consideration all of the above tips, I hope you will not need the allergy eye drop this season or the next. Recognizing your allergies and working with your doctor will help you prevent any further outbreaks.
Allergy eye drop
Sometimes this too may not work if the eye gets too irritated and dry an allergy eye drop contains chemicals which in turn irritate the eye further. The best remedy in this case is change of environment to cool and dry place.
Helpful tips to avoid eye allergies
* Stay in doors if possible when the pollen count is predicted to be high especially, in the morning or early evening.
* Try to keep windows shut and use an air-conditioner and air filter. These will help keep the air clean.
* Wear glasses as often as possible – this will keep allergens out of your eyes.
Is an allergy eye drop effective?
Today you can find all kinds of eye drops, however, is an allergy eye drop effective?
Due to over-usage of computers, contact lenses or just regular allergies; one can develop an eye allergy.
Eye allergy symptoms
Common symptoms are eyes that are red, itchy or watery. If you are wearing lenses you will experience dryness of eyes with severe itching and sometimes even swelling. Remember when having an eye allergy and your eyes are itching, one thing you do not do is itch them.
An eye allergy is at its worse in hot, humid weather and better in the cool, dry weather; that is because eye allergies result due to the dehydration of the eye’s tear film thus irritating the eye. Reflex tears will try and clean/wash out irritants however, the tears themselves may be contaminated with histamines.
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