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Common Food Allergies

June 15th, 2010 Dan Hicks No comments

It is not uncommon for many people to realize that particular kind of foods causes awful reactions to their bodies. Usually, it’s because they are allergic to certain foods. Being allergic to certain snacks is akin to having seasonal reactions, but there are other different things too. Here’s an attempt to make you understand what it is being sensitive to foods and the symptoms thereof.

food allergies strawberry

These disorders are multifaceted and may crop up if the body reacts abnormally to some items. As the reaction takes place allergens are released in human body. In turn, the allergens make the body release a material known as histamines which cause swelling and or itchiness on the body. Food vulnerabilities too follow a similar routine, but symptoms in their case could be different.

The most often experienced symptoms include sneezing, swelling and itching. It becomes very uncomfortable on coming in touch with something to which you are vulnerable. Being susceptible also makes one uncomfortable, but in a somewhat different manner. Swelling of body or itchiness in mouth or throat is among very common symptoms of such reactions. That’s because when you eat something it goes straight in your body thru mouth and throat. On eating a snack to which you may be hypersensitive can cause the feeling of being weak or dizzy. The symptoms with other kinds of reactions are usually different as nothing enters the body directly.
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One very common food product that causes allergies to lot many is nuts. And, nuts need not be peanuts all the time. It includes almonds, cashews and walnuts too. Peanuts may prove to be very dangerous if you develop an allergy to them. Even the use of a spoon that had been in contact with peanuts, can trigger the reaction. One should watch and understand what kind of nuts cause allergic reaction to you.

The other equally common food item that is known to be allergic to many is the consumption of eggs. In case of eggs, a majority of people would come to know of their being allergic to eggs at quite an early age. That’s because eggs form a part of many dishes that we take, thus better chances of knowing one’s being allergic at an early age.

food allergies

It’s indeed very difficult to count all the food products that have proven to cause allergies to people. You may find it difficult to believe that people are allergic to even milk and wheat. There are others who are unable to consume sea foods for the same reason. At time the reaction may not be so severe, but having realized you’re susceptible to any food, one must practice restrain and avoid having the same.
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Quite often people may not be aware that they are vulnerable to quite a few things and continue eating all kinds of foods and nuts. But one should not overlook even if the allergies are very mild, especially in the case of growing children. Parents should act responsible and keep a watch on what the kids are eating and if the kids demonstrate any signs of susceptibility to some food items, and thus to have some kind of control on the situation if anything averse happens.

Categories: Allergies Tags: ,

Seasonal Allergies

May 5th, 2010 Dan Hicks No comments

Loratadine is for those who suffer from seasonal allergies and sometimes by those who suffer from skin allergies by diminishing symptoms like watery eyes, sneezing, runny nose, and itchy nose and throat without the drowsiness that comes with traditional antihistamines. The most common dosage is one Claritin 10mg pills per 24 hour period.

When you start taking this drug, you should start noticing your allergy symptoms clearing up in approximately three days, while it takes up to six weeks for any positive effects to be observed for hives. If you note no relief, chat to your physician before proceeding to consume the pills. It can take one to three hours for a 10mg tablet to be felt and its optimal relief achieved at 8 to 12 hours, the pill’s benefits have completed by twenty four hours and another dose needs to be taken in order to experience the benefits again.

Claritin causes specific histamine receptors to be blocked in a person’s body. Histamine is a person’s immune system’s answer to chasing away assumed foreign invaders. Although many people profit from the defense histamines grant, those who suffer from allergies have histamine that falsely assumes that some allergens are in fact invaders while a person’s body is really simply being exposed to dust or pollen. So drugs like claritin block some of the receptors on histamines, permitting people with seasonal allergies to be able to manage the pollutant when the body is going into overdrive to fight it off.

Side effects of claritin 10mg pills can include headache, drowsiness, slurred speak, dry mouth, blurred vision and digestive issues. It is important to know that a loratadine 10mg tablet merely suppresses allergy symptoms, it cannot cure allergies or make you more immune to your allergies. If you have a major allergy attack, taking loratadine will not help decrease the attack to any extent. Individuals who are pregnant or may become pregnant, and those taking other prescription drugs should be seen by a medical doctor before taking daily claritin pills.
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Standard alternatives to antihistamines include leukotriene modifiers, cromolyn sodium, nasal corticosteroids and decongestants. The nasal sprays and decongestants work to lessen allergy symptoms once they have started. While decongestants can give impressive relief, they are for short term use only and cannot be used for more than a few days at a time allergies. Cromolyn sodium and leukotrinene modifiers are similar to antihistamines because they stop allergy symptoms from occurring. Cromolyn inhibits the emission of histamine and leukotrinene modifiers inhibit the immune system’s leukotrinenes from leading to allergy symptoms like watery eyes and runny nose.

Even though claritin 10mg tablets will not cure or build up your immunity to your allergies, they allow you to control your allergy symptoms so that you can return to living your life. Loratadine helps millions of allergy sufferers around the world each day, and taken properly, it can provide you with relief.

How the Weather Can Cause Allergies

April 9th, 2010 Dan Hicks No comments

You may not know this but the weather can produce allergies too. The weather can cause allergies if it is usually humid outside and it can also affect an individual’s immune system. The immune system may become sensitive and weak because of the allergies in the environment. During rainy days, your home will probably acquire mold, pollen and dust mites which can add to the weakening of your immune system.

Pollen and mold are usually the allergens that have the greatest potential of affecting the immune system. As a result, these kinds of allergens cause major allergies in people.

Pollens ordinarily come from ordinary elements like trees, weeds, and grass. At spring time, people usually get their allergies from pollen. However, if you acquire an allergy during the summer, then it is probably because of the grasses that growing. During summer, the most common source of allergies is the ragweed.

Molds usually survive in moist and dark areas. Outdoor environments that contain moisture will be sure places where molds will live and thrive. Such places will be around hay, leafs, rotten logs, mulch and trees. At home, you can mostly find them in showers, around kitchen sinks, in window frames and on shower curtains and in the basement just to name a few.

Allergies that are usually caused by pollen may somehow be relieved with the help of a shower or bath before bedtime. Being clean helps you in reducing the amount of skin cells you lose through shredding. Bathing at night could also help you to breathe easier.

When it is usually windy and dry outdoors, you have to prevent yourself from going outside. During such days pollens are all over the place. This is the best time to make good use of the air conditioner inside of your home and car. Always keep the windows of your home and car closed when the air conditioner is on, to prevent the pollen from coming in. This will help you to avoid a possible allergy attack.

Molds just like pollen is all over the place. They can survive inside the home and can even survive outside the home. However, there are still some things that you can do to relieve yourself from the allergy. Avoid having houseplants inside your home or placing them outside your home. If you already have some at your home, get rid of them at once, this can do a great deal to prevent you from any kind of allergies. Plants give off oxygen that could spread pollen around faster causing allergies.

After every shower, you have to keep your tub dry by wiping it with a dry cloth or towel. You also have to do the same on your shower curtain so as not to make molds multiply. Alternatively, you could always spray the inside of your shower and curtain with a cleaner that helps to slow the growth of mold.

If you think that these are too much or find it difficult to do regularly, you can just change your shower curtain every three to six months. The walls of your bathroom should be wiped out using a mixture of bleach and water. Bleach can kill the molds so use them in cleaning your bathroom and your basement.

If you are thinking of redoing your bathroom, avoid the idea of placing carpet in your bathroom. Mold loves the carpet and will usually attach to it. Plus any carpet in your bathroom will be an ideal place for molds to thrive and it will most likely stay damp longer than you would like.

Paints can do a great thing to your walls. Be sure to use paints that stay dry and prevent walls from producing moisture. Molds usually feed on the moisture that walls give off.

Once you experience an allergy attack, taking antihistamines can provide you relief. Antihistamines can help you a lot even though they may have some side effects that are usually just mild ones. Such side effects include dryness of the mouth and tiredness. Some decongestants that come in the form of pills and in nasal spray can also provide relief.

Avoid getting over-the-counter medicines as it is much better to seek medical help from your doctor. Over-the-counter medicines sometimes produce harmful side effects. The doctor may prescribe you some nasal spray that can eliminate the tissue inflammation inside the nose so that you can breathe more easily. Always remember to go and talk to your doctor whenever you feel that there is something wrong in your body.

Natural Ways to Control Allergies

April 6th, 2010 Dan Hicks No comments

For most of us, spring fever means a hammock and a lazy “I’ll worry about it tomorrow” attitude. For millions of people with pollen allergies, however, spring fever means just one thing: Kleenex. Pollen allergies are more common in fall but often last longer in spring. In fact, what you may think of as a spring cold may be an allergy. Other allergic symptoms include headache, fatigue, irritability and sore throat.

An allergy is a hypersensitivity to substances that don’t bother many people. Substances that cause allergic reactions are called allergens. When you come into contact with an allergen – by touching, tasting or inhaling it – your body’s natural defenses spring into action.

The immune system releases a flush of histamine to ward off the intruder. The immune system doesn’t break down often. But if it goes haywire and mistakenly targets a harmless substance such as strawberries or dust, the body releases too much histamine. And it’s too much histamine that causes those annoying allergic symptoms.

Generally, allergies develop over time, although you could have an immediate reaction. Often, your body resists the first few encounters with an allergen and then “gives in” to it. Many people reach their 50’s or 60’s and wonder why they’ve suddenly developed an allergy to something they’ve eaten all their lives.

Knowing that you have a pollen allergy doesn’t make it much easier to control. Although drugs can help relieve annoying symptoms, specialists agree the best way to control a pollen allergy is to prevent an outbreak in the first place. Here are some tips on how to control your allergy the natural way.

1. Pollen levels are highest between 5am and 10am; so stay indoors during those hours.

2. Keep windows in your home and car closed.

3. Keep your home 10 degrees cooler than the outside temperature. A too-cold house can aggravate allergies. Keep your air conditioners and vents clean to prevent dust particles from circulating.

4. Keep your lawn mowed short to prevent grass from blooming. Blooming releases pollen to the air.

5. Wear sunglasses outdoors to protect your eyes from pollen.

6. Don’t dry clothes on a clothesline outdoors.

7. If you think you’ve been exposed to pollen, shower as soon as you return home.

8. And finally, if you can, take a break from pollen season in your area of the country. A cruise is the ideal choice!

Now those are the natural ways to control your allergies. Keep in mind these essential measures to keep allergies from occurring over and over again especially during fall and spring seasons.

Grass Pollen Allergy Treatment

January 26th, 2010 Dan Hicks No comments

Grass allergy is one of the more usual type of allergies which affects persons having its histories during the spring and summer seasons. The grass allergies are related to hay fever as indications and causes are the same.

If you have a grass allergy, you should learn and understand how to live with this allergy so that you could enjoy being outdoors or sitting in your garden. It’s about quality of life.

Symptoms of the allergic reaction
Allergy take place when your body’s immune system over reacts to a substance that it condiders as a potential health danger.

The most typical indication of a grass allergy is sneezing, itchy eyes, and runny nose, what is also called rhinitis. Rhinitis is a condition in which the lining of the nose, back of the mouth and throat is inflamed. The allergic rhinitis is a very common illness that many individuals suffer as a consequence of pollen, dust or other airborne particles.

This rhinitis is caused by an increase in histamine, and this is normally caused by airborne allergens.

Further, many people with a grass allergy also suffer from other types of allergies.

Grass – an allergen
Grass pollen was detected for the first time as probable trigger of periodic hay fever in late 19th century. There are more than one thousand varieties of grass but only a few causes an allergic reaction which could make it difficult to diagnos a grass sensitivity without proper examination.

Grass-like plants are among the most flexible life forms on our planet. Plants having grass-like structures have existed for millions of years. Unluckily, for some of us this makes it pretty hard to avoid exposure to this type of pollen.

Treatments
Essentially there are three kinds of treatments available. The first one is pretty obvious – if you have an airborne allergy to grass, you might try staying away from the grasses that promote your rhinitis. This is often much easier said than done, but you should at least go inside when your neighbor cuts the lawn

The second kind of treatment include medication taken on a regular basis, and among the most effective treatments for hay fever are nasal sprays (antihistaminic and/or cortisone) and antihistaminic tablets. If taken regularly, these medications help you to relieve the allergic reactions caused by the hay fever. This treatment can improve your quality of life considerably.

The third treatment is immunotherapy, a remedy which treats the underlying cause of the allergic reaction. Immunotherapy starts with subcutaneous injections of a small amount of grass allergen, slowly increasing the dose until your body starts to tolerate exposure without producing an allergic response. This is a treatment that can take years to conclude, but the benefits are long lasting.

Anaphylaxis symptoms and sings

January 11th, 2010 Dan Hicks No comments

Although I have a daughter with severe food allergies, I am not a doctor and this article is not medical advice.

The definition of anaphylaxis in the simplest form is some kind of harmful reaction to a food, an insect sting, or exposure to other types of allergens. Anaphylactic reactions often “sneak up” without notice, but understanding the signs and symptoms can teach you to recognize the “red flags” before they become a bigger problem.

Anaphylaxis is a whole body reaction, where after being exposed to an allergen, the body becomes sensitized to that allergen. When that allergen is re-introduced into the body, the body produces histamines to fight it. It is during this reaction that the bodies’ outside signals show what is happening on the inside.

An anaphylactic reaction could begin with tingling sensations, itching anywhere on the body, hives, wheezing, difficulty breathing, vomiting, swelling of the throat, coughing with increased intensity, diarrhea, a drop in blood pressure, nausea, swelling of the mouth and lips, watery or puffy eyes, or difficulty swallowing. It could also include skin redness and irritation, splotchy skin, confusion, anxiety, light-headedness, nasal congestion, and slurred speech.

Anaphylactic symptoms may be mild with only itching, or severe in combination with difficulty breathing, hives, and other symptoms. The symptoms can begin within seconds of a food being ingested, or show up two hours later. They can appear and disappear quickly, then come back several hours after the incident.

In some circumstances, anaphylaxis can be fatal if not treated properly and with quick action.

Children may not be able to tell adults what the specific allergy or reaction may be, and precious time can be wasted if adults do not immediately understand that the child is having a reaction to something.

Children may describe these allergic reactions as the food being spicy (when it is not), the tongue being hot, their mouth feeling funny, or like something is poking or itching their tongue. They could also say it feels like a frog is in their throat, their lips feel tight, like there are bugs in there, or complain that their throat feels thick. Or, simple observations of other signs will tell you.

If at any point you notice any of these signs or symptoms of anaphylaxis or see your child having an anaphylactic reaction, follow your doctor’s instructions on handling the situation. When in doubt, call 911 and take your child to the Emergency Room.

Pollen Allergy

November 6th, 2009 Dan Hicks No comments

Allergies are something that affects millions of people on a daily basis. Pollen allergies in particular affect nearly 1 in 7 people. Pollens are the small male cells that are produced in flowering plants. These plants product pollens are a part of their reproductive system. Many different kinds of plants and trees use pollination for reproduction. Most of the pollen that is released travel through the air. This can often land in people’s eyes or mouth causing a pollen allergy.

Different symptoms that some pollen creates are stuffy noses, itchy watery eyes, sore throats, and often headaches. The time of year will usually dictate exactly how much pollen is released into the air. Also the amount of wind and temperature also has an effect on pollen production and release. The amount of pollen that is in the air on any given day is called a pollen count.

Usually the worst months for pollen in the air are between October through the end of March. This will depend on the region and climate that the different trees and plants are located. Someone living in the tropics will have a different experience that someone who lives in the north. There are a variety of different plants and grasses that release pollen at various time of the year.

Some of the ways to reduce pollen allergies are to ensure that you shower after you come inside. Because pollen can stick to your clothes and skin, it is important that you wash it off after you have gone outside. Avoiding being outside when it is dry and windy is also another great idea for reducing your pollen allergy outbreaks.

If you suffer from Pollen Allergies you should ensure that you find the right treatment. Doing a comprehensive search for the right Allergy Treatment is important to ensure that you get the relief you need.

Categories: Allergies Tags: ,

The Most Common Gluten Intolerance Symptoms

November 3rd, 2009 Dan Hicks No comments

Gluten intolerance symptoms, be they mild or severe, affect just under a sixth of the US population. Gluten, found in wheat, rye and barley, is a type of protein which some individuals cannot tolerate in their system. In extreme cases, people may suffer from what is known as celiac disease, where body’s immune system undergoes a severe allergic reaction to the presence of gluten. Most people with an intolerance of gluten suffer from much milder symptoms. Either way, whenever the body reacts negatively to a particular food, especially one which can make up a significant part of one’s diet, there is always the possibility of a degree of malnutrition coming into the picture.

Gluten intolerance symptoms are not always easy to pinpoint. They cover a fairly broad range, and the symptoms themselves can often come from other causes. Gluten intolerance therefore, can at times be quite difficult to correctly diagnose. A person suffering from a chronic iron deficiency, chronic fatigue, or a gastrointestinal infection will exhibit many of the same symptoms experienced by the person allergic to foods containing gluten. One way to test for this intolerance, is to test for certain antibodies which will be present if a patient ingests food containing gluten, and does not have a tolerance for the protein. The presence of the antibodies help to isolate gluten intolerance as the cause of whatever symptoms are being experienced.

To the extent the immune system is involved, common symptoms include unexplained changes in weight over time. This can either be weight loss or weight gain. The patient may suffer from gastrointestinal problems, including fat in the stools. This is due to the fact that the body is not processing foods containing gluten properly. As food is not being processed efficiently, chronic fatigue, periods of exhaustion, headaches, and bouts of depression may occur. These symptoms can in turn lead to behavioral changes, such as irritability. Some symptoms are the direct result of gluten intolerance, while others are secondary, with other gluten intolerance symptoms being a root cause. More severe symptoms are aching joints, skin disorders, such as outbreaks of eczema, and cramping. Effects on women can include irregularity in the menstrual cycle and infertility. This intolerance symptoms even include incidences of miscarriage.

It’s important to have tests taken for gluten intolerance if any of these symptoms are present, even when they are mild in nature. Even a mild case of gluten intolerance is an indicator that the body is not properly processing all the food being eaten, and nutritional problems can therefore arise. Food intolerance can lead to other problems over a period of time, including cancer and diabetes. If gluten intolerance symptoms are diagnosed early on, many potentially more serious health problems may be avoided, or at least more effectively treated. You should be able to make a transition to a gluten free diet or a diet better fitted to your individual needs without too much of a problem.