Food Allergy - Ayurveda Concept

Ayurveda, an ancient Indian medical system, offers a scientific approach to food allergy by determining the correct diet based upon an individual's constitution ( vata, pitta, kapha) & seasonal alterations.

Pitta people are allergic to hot, spicy foods, fermented foods, sour fruits, tomatoes, potatoes. Kaphas develop allergies to dairy products and cold beverages. Vatas are allergic to hard-to-digest foods such as popcorn, beans and raw vegetables.

When foods, (proteins, carbohydrates and fats) having different attributes, tastes, heating or cooling properties, and post-digestive effects are eaten together, agni (gastric fire) will be slowed down. The foods can then remain in the stomach for seven to eight hours. These same foods, if eaten separately might well stimulate agni, be digested more quickly and even help to burn ama (toxins)

Thus, according to Ayurveda, one should eat according to one's constitution and take fruits, starches, proteins and fats separately at different times of the day. Combining foods improperly can produce indigestion, fermentation, putrefaction and gas formation. This condition, if prolonged, can lead to toxemia and disease complex. For example, eating bananas with milk can diminish agni, change the intestinal flora producing toxins and may cause respiratory allergies

Symptoms of food allergy include diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, swelling of lips, tongue, abdominal cramps, cough wheezing, sneezing, runny nose, blocked nose and rashes on skin.

Food allergy can be managed by :
** Avoiding the foods which cause allergic reactions.
** Having a regular routine of life as it stabilizes the immune system
** Practicing yoga and meditation as it balances mind & body thereby reducing allergic symptoms.
** Taking a balanced diet with enough proteins, calories, minerals and vitamins.
** Selecting food with suits the individual constitution and seasons.
** Combining the foods to improve tolerance. Diet should be made wholesome by appropriate combination of different foods.
** Combining the foods to reduce intolerance. The suitability of food is improved by appropriate processing.
** Slowly adapting to the unsuitable food.
**Ayurvedic herbal preparations - Rasayanas are traditionally used in treating food allergies.
http://www.ayurvedaforall.com/

Allergy - Is Your Dachshund Suffering From It?

Allergy may not be included in the list of top diseases that could affect a Dachshund, but that doesn't mean that your Dachshund can't possibly acquire this health problem. Dogs, just like humans can suffer from trouble caused by allergies. As dog owner, it is important that you are well aware of this problem in order for you to identify if your Dachshund is really suffering from it.

Below are the different kinds of allergy.

Atopy - Atopy is also known as allergic inhalant dermatitis or atopic dermatitis. These airborne disease is usually caused by environmental factors such as dust mites, molds, house dust, human dander and feathers or pollen from grasses, trees and weeds. Symptoms of atopy include itching resulting to frequent scratching and biting on the feet, muzzle or face, armpits, groins and ears. Worst cases of atopy may be characterized by redness, hair loss, crusts and scaling, ear problems and skin infection. This disease is diagnosed through physical examination. The vet will need to find out your Dachshund's history of symptoms and have to differentiate it from other skin diseases such as food hypersensitivity, flea allergy dermatitis or contact dermatitis. There is lots of known treatment for this disease. The highly recommended treatment is to avoid the allergens as much as possible. Medication includes antihistamines, corticosteroids and immunotherapy or allergy shots. Medicated shampoo or diet rich in Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are as well recommended.

Flea Allergy - Flea allergy or flea allergy dermatitis is an allergy caused by flea saliva passed into the dog's skin when it bites. Not all dogs can acquire flea allergy with a single bite but dogs with flea allergy will quickly experience the symptoms such as itching, redness and swelling. Symptoms of flea allergy are scratching, loss of hair, crusts and erosions of the skin and pimple-like bumps. In some severe cases, thickened skin with darkened areas will develop. Red, oozing and very painful sores are also present in this kind of allergy. This problem is best prevented through eliminating the fleas in the environment. It is important to keep your surroundings clean to make sure that fleas are completely removed. The market is offering wide selection of commercial products used to kill fleas. Just read the label carefully as to the proper usage of the product, or it is better to ask your vet for suggestions.

Richard Cussons is a writer and a dog expert. Learn more about Dachshund dog at this site dedicated to Dachshund.

Detecting Food Allergy Symptoms

First things first... not every discomfort you feel after eating is a food allergy. It is possible that the discomfort which most people feel is just a kind of intolerance to a particular food. A very good example is an upset stomach or a sick feeling after a meal.

To differentiate intolerance from food allergy is easy if you know the symptoms of food allergy. One of the first ways to know the difference is this - with intolerance, the reactions are mild while with food allergy, the symptoms are severe.

Looking more closely, food allergens (the ones that causes allergic reactions) are proteins that unfortunately withstood the high temperatures of cooking as well as the acidic substances and enzymes of the gastrointestinal system. These allergens consequently live on to pass through the linings of the gastrointestinal tract, disperse into the blood circulatory system, and travel to organs of target, which results to different allergic symptoms all over the body.

Other common food allergy symptoms include, but are not limited to:

- Severe diarrhea or vomiting
- Swelling on the skin, particularly by the side of the mouth
- Rashes on the skin
- Runny nose
- Dizziness
- Rashes

Whenever you feel any of these food allergy symptoms, don't treat them with kid gloves. Get serious and seek help so that the situation doesn't get worse. The truth is that in any health related issue - delay is very dangerous. Didn't the wise ones say "a stitch in time saves nine"?!

Individuals who are highly allergic are advised to put on medical alert necklaces or bracelets which declare your condition. As for the medications, some patients who are very vulnerable are also advised to bring with them at all times a self-injectible epinephrine, which is prescribed by the doctor, that can be of great help during sudden attacks of allergic reactions before seeking out for the assistance of an emergency team.

Don't be like those who always procrastinate about everything, including their health. With such people, they tend to put off everything, until it becomes too late. Don't let this happen to you. Get help as soon as you notice any of the above symptoms of food allergy.

Knowing food allergy symptoms can help you get started in treating the allergy before it becomes worse. When it comes to allergy and other such problems "ignorance is not bliss". The more you know about the various symptoms, the more prepared you will be in not only preventing it but dealing with it as well.

Lastly, don't forget to NOT confuse the symptoms of intolerance with the symptoms of allergy. The symptoms of intolerance are mild and usually go away after a short time, but the symptoms of food allergy are severe and usually long lasting.

Roger Mitchell contributed this article. http://www.allergyfoodsymptom.com/ has other well-written and helpful articles related to Food Allergies like Treating Your Child Allergies and How To Deal With Your Dogs Allergy. This article may be used only in its entirety with all links included.

Allergy Relief Air Purifier Revealed

Many people suffer from some form of allergies. If you don't suffer, I'm sure you know of someone who does; whether it be a family member, neighbor or co-worker. Allergies can be very miserable and in some cases can turn into asthma which can be life threatening. For allergy sufferers, the air they breathe could be a vital cause to their problem. An allergy relief air purifier could be the solution to living a healthier life. With all the contaminants in the air today, is it even possible to breathe clean air anymore? This article will take a look at how and why an allergy relief air purifier could possibly change peoples lives.

Is My Home A Safe Place To Be

Many allergy sufferers think that the source of their problem is outdoors. They will often avoid the smell of freshly mowed lawns, flowers or perfumes. Did you know that most of the allergens people are exposed to, come from right in their own homes? Yes, their own homes. The place they think of as a safe haven. There are all kinds of particles being transported through the air in our homes. Dust and pollen are obvious if you look on a coffee table or end table. Often times you can see these results with the naked eye, but did you know that the bed in which you lay your head each and every night has all kinds of dust mites too? Just because we can't see these bugs, doesn't mean they aren't there. There are many times we confuse allergies with a cold. We often think that just because we are stuffed up and have a runny nose means we have a cold. It could be a sign that you have allergies. Our homes provide a more confined area in which dust and pollen thrive. Could owning an allergy relief air purifier help?

What Am I To Do

Many home owners today are investing in an allergy relief air purifier. These air purifiers, not only aid in relief for allergy sufferers, but can also provide asthma relief as well. They are designed to not only get rid of dust and pollen particles, but also eliminate germs and bacteria as well. Being in a more enclosed environment allows for germs to be passed on to one another much more easily. An air purifier can be installed in an individual room or it may be big enough to purify more than one room at a time. There are also larger models that can clean the air in your entire home.

With the wonderful technology of the internet, it is easy to find information on just about anything you want to know more about. Depending on your finances and needs, there is an allergy relief air purifier designed just for you. All you have to do is a little research, and you could be living in an environment of clean, fresh air, that could change your life.

For more information on Air Cleaners and Purifiers for your home or business try visiting http://air-cleaners-and-purifiers.com, a website that specializes in providing helpful tips, advice and Air Cleaners and Purifiers resources to include Allergy Relief Air Purifier information.

How To Spot Food Allergy Symptoms

Has it ever occurred to you that the discomfort that you have been experiencing for ages are a result of food allergy symptoms? Food allergy symptoms can show up within minutes after eating, making these symptoms easy to spot. However, sometimes, it can take up to a few hours, for their effects to show. Usually, these are then misdiagnosed as other problems or simply lumped into a 'catch all' diagnosis that is not clearly understood.

Food allergy symptoms can be mild or severe. Some are merely uncomfortable, yet others can be debilitating or even life threatening. For example, a mild reaction may give you a skin rash that disperses over a short period of time. Conversely, a severe reaction can cause severe inflammation and the throat can swell up to the point that you cannot breathe.

For severe food allergies, it is important that you address them. The consequence of not addressing your food allergy symptoms can be poor digestion or other bodily functions that reduce your ability to perform normally. Food allergy symptoms need not be confined to digestive complaints. They can show up in almost any part of the body, depending on the irritant and your own chemical system.

They can affect many parts of the digestive system. You may suffer from tingling or burning sensations in the mouth, lips, and tongue. You may experience nausea, abdominal discomfort, diarrhea, or cramping. If a food allergy develops over time, it may be difficult to pin point whether it is an allergic reaction or a different problem. If you suffer from chronic digestive difficulties, you may have a staple of your diet that is aggravating your system.

Food allergy symptoms can also result in skin irritations and more chronic diseases such as eczema. It is not unusual for a person to develop hives from eating irritating foods.

Although many people do not equate respiratory problems with food allergies, but as with other allergens, food can produce symptoms throughout the respiratory system. You may find yourself experiencing congestion, a runny nose, sneezing, or nasal symptoms resembling a cold. There can also be inflammation of the throat and bronchial passages, resulting in wheezing, coughing, and breathing difficulties. Should you feel a tightness of the chest, you should check it out immediately. Asthma attacks are also very serious and you should seek medical attention as they can be life threatening.

Another set of symptoms that are often overlooked as the result of food allergies include musculoskeletal complaints. Joint pain resembling rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, or other conditions with joint problems can actually be a symptom of delayed food allergies.

You can choose to do an elimination diet on your own to check whether specific foods are triggering a reaction for you. In an elimination diet, after cleansing your system, you start with foods least likely to cause a reaction, avoid them for a period and then very gradually add them back to your diet. Carefully observe if there are any food allergy symptoms that arise. The sooner you learn how to spot your food allergies, the greater the chance for a more comfortable and productive life. Many of us have forgotten how that feels as we have lived with our food allergy symptoms for far too long!

A food allergy sufferer, Evelyn Lim is the publisher of an ebook, Allergy treatment Secrets. She has been healing herself through a variety of treatment options. She also provides free research and tips on allergies on her site. Please visit http://www.allergy-attacks.com/ for more information.

House Dust and Allergy

People who are sensitive to house dust suffer from a form of allergic rhinitis which can cause identical symptoms to those of a pollen allergy. Fortunately, the symptoms usually subside within half an hour once the person has removed himself from the house environment. The normal activities of making beds, dusting, vacuuming, beating mats, etc. tend to bring on the running nose, hay fever and other symptoms which indicate that an allergenic dust has been released into the surrounding air. A sensitive person may find that when he wakes in the morning he has a blocked nose and itchy eyes. In a dusty house he may even wake during the night, wheezing and short of breath. Housewives may have symptoms throughout the day because of constant exposure.

House dust is a composition of cotton, wool fibres, kapok fibres, moulds, human and animal hair, danders (skin flakes), food particles, insect fragments and a variety of substances brought in from outside the house. Although all these materials are to varying degrees, allergenic, the main problem is a living mite - a microscopic, tick-like creature whose main diet is human and animal dander. There are a number of different types of mites; some live in mattresses, whilst others prefer old upholstered furniture. Sensitivity to house dust, therefore, is mainly a sensitivity to the house mite. Treatment of house dust allergy involves removal of the mite and tests to ascertain a course of desensitisation therapy.

Obviously, environmental control is the key to resolving house dust/mite allergy and much can be done to minimize its existence by careful and regular cleaning. In the bedroom, particularly, vacuuming should be done daily and the bed vacuumed at least weekly. Regular exposure of both bed and bedding to sunlight will further retard growth and numbers of the mite. Pets should be excluded from the bedroom and if possible from the rest of the house, as their dander will greatly increase house mite population. Throughout the house regular cleaning is essential. In chronic cases carpets should be replaced by a hard surface with scatter rugs that are aired and beaten daily. Curtains should be of cotton or nylon and washed regularly.

Often, irritation of the nasal mucous membranes has been caused by reaction to an inhaled chemical or an ingested food or chemical. This in turn creates the right climate for a more serious reaction to house dust than might otherwise have occurred. Avoidance of other allergenic substances will help considerably in overcoming house dust sensitivity.
Author's Sites: Health Articles, Home Remedies and Natural Remedies.

Do Allergy Shots Work?

The best way to control your allergies is to stay away from what you are allergic to. Sometimes, however, that is almost impossible. At times, your best option may be to try and develop immunity to the allergen. It may sound backwards but being injected with small amounts of what causes your allergies can sometimes help control and reduce your allergic reactions.

The technical term for this procedure is allergen immunotherapy but almost everybody just calls it allergy shots. Sometimes it is also called specific immunotherapy because the injections are designed to target only your specific allergies. The first step, of course, is to clearly understand exactly what it is you are allergic to so that the allergy shots can be targeted for you.

Your doctor will use various skin and blood tests to identify the specific allergies. Once the allergens are identified, the series of allergy shots can be setup. The procedure does not involve just one shot but rather a series of many shots administered over an extended period of time. You will get 1 or 2 shots per week of a very low dose to start with. Usually you are given the shot in your upper arm and the doctor will ask that you stay in the clinic for 20 to 30 minutes to make sure you don't react severely to the dose. This procedure of one shot per week continues for up to 6 or 7 months with ever-increasing doses of the allergen. Once you reach a dose level that allows you to effectively fight off normal environmental levels of the allergen then the doctor will switch you to a maintenance allergy shot that will be given approximately once per month. The monthly maintenance allergy shot in some cases will continue for up to several years. Sometimes this procedure will give you a permanent immunity to the allergen but more often you will need to go through the procedure again at some time in the future.

The idea is to slowly build up your resistance to the allergies without giving you so much at a time that you get severe reactions. It is very similar to a vaccination. Over a period of time your body gets used to fighting off the invading substance and your negative reactions to the allergy are reduced or eliminated. You build up immunity to the allergy substance. The bodies normal reaction to allergens is to generate a substance called IgE which is short for immunoglobulin E. IgE builds up a defensive barrier to the allergen by causing typical allergy responses; runny nose, sore and watery eyes, sneezing, inflammation, congestion and skin redness. The goal of allergy shots is to get the body to make a different molecule called immunoglobulin G (IgG). Unlike IgE, IgG will go on the offensive against the allergen. It binds with and effectively destroys the allergen. This reduces the amount of the allergen that the IgE reacts to which in turn will reduce your allergy symptoms.

Allergy shots can be extremely effective against insect stings and bites and also against allergens that you would inhale. For example, up to 75 percent of hay fever sufferers get reduced or eliminated allergy symptoms by going through allergen immunotherapy.
Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Allergies

Pollens and Allergy

There is no doubt that at certain times of the year, pollens cause many people a distressing array of symptoms. These include hay fever, mucous, red eyes that itch intolerably, overheating and great tiredness. At times, particularly at night, difficulty in breathing may also be experienced.

As far back as 1867, Dr Charles Blackley of Manchester, noted that when pollen was placed on the skin it caused itching and swelling to some people. When pollen is inhaled, it makes contact with the mucous membrane, lining the nose, and absorbs water from the mucous. A substance, not yet identified, dissolves from the pollen and enters the bloodstream through the mucous membrane. It then becomes an antigen which the white cells and antibodies of the immune system would normally destroy.

In the case of an allergic person, the immune system does not destroy the pollen antigen. The presence of the antigen causes the mast cells, which are laden with histamine and other chemicals, to break up and release a flood of histamine to the affected areas. The excessive histamine causes both localised symptoms in the initial areas of contact and general symptoms throughout the body. The former being hay fever, runny nose, etc. and the latter, the accompanying tiredness and lethargy.

Pollens become a problem mainly during spring and also in autumn owing to some plants, chiefly wild grasses, flowering twice a year. As pollens are carried on the wind, it makes little difference whether a sufferer be a country or a city dweller, the allergic reaction will be the same. Fungal spores from plant parasites on grain crops can also trigger allergic reactions in pollen-sensitive people.

Obviously, avoiding exposure to pollens is extremely difficult, apart from staying indoors with the windows closed during the bad times of the year. It is possible, however, for many people to find relief through a programme of desensitization from a medical allergist. This is given, following a series of skin tests, to ascertain the various types of pollens causing the allergy.

Medication, such as antihistamine tablets and decongestant sprays may be used to seek occasional, temporary relief. These preparations do not cure but simply palliate symptoms to make life a little easier for the sufferer. Beware of prolonged use! In the United States, doctors now suspect that thousands of people have become addicted to nasal sprays. If used too often to constrict blood vessels that have become dilated by histamine, natural constriction ceases to happen efficiently and the nose can become permanently blocked.

While it may not be possible to eliminate symptoms completely, a clean diet and avoidance of allergenic foods and chemicals will assist the immune system to cope better with pollen allergies.
Author's Sites: Health Articles, Home Remedies and Self Help.

Help I Am Allergic To Seafood

If you are allergic to seafood then you suffer from Allergies Type 1, also called Contact Allergies. Countries where seafood is a staple part of the diet such as Scandinavian, Spain, and Japan have a higher percentage of individuals allergic to seafood.

This is due to the ability of allergies type 1 reactions to gradually increase in severity over time. If you are susceptible to becoming allergic to seafood, then the more you are exposed to the allergens the more likely it is that you will develop symptoms. Once an allergic reaction has developed the allergy is usually for life.

The good news is that allergies to seafood are usually restricted to only one seafood type or group. Types of seafood groups are, Vertebrates like anchovies, cod, herring, mackerel, salmon, and tuna. Crustaceans like crab, lobster, prawns, and shrimp. Shellfish like clams, mussels, oysters, and scallops. Cephalopods like calamari, cuttlefish, octopus, and squid. Gastropods like garden slugs, sea slugs, and snails.

If you are allergic to something in the vertebrates group then it is 50 to 75 percent that you will be allergic to one of the other vertebrates. The same holds true for the rest of the groups. Complete avoidance to one or more groups of seafood is often recommended. However, just because you are allergic to one of the vertebrates does not mean that you will be allergic to something in the shellfish group.

Whenever something in a new group is tried for the first time you should only eat a small amount and then see if any of the symptoms occur within several hours. Symptom include hives or rash, difficulties in breathing, headache, dizziness, ringing in the ears and an increase or decrease in blood pressure.

Some reactions to shellfish are caused by toxic reaction that mimics an allergic to seafood reaction. Shellfish contaminated by algae-derived neurotoxins interfere with the function of nerve endings in the human body, thus giving the appearance of an allergic reaction. Symptoms occur within a couple of hours and usually last about 24 hours.

The neurotoxin know as saxitoxin is concentrates in the filter-feeding shellfish and the toxin is head-stable and is unaffected by cooking. The toxin can persist in contaminated shellfish for several weeks to several months after exposure to the toxic algae. Never eat shellfish after a red tide has been reported.

A growing awareness about food allergies is becoming well known in the United States. Food manufactures and restaurants are becoming more understanding and willing to accommodate people living with food allergies. Living with any food allergy is no longer a major undertaking; it is now just a minor adjustment to your life-style.

Always consult your doctor before using this information.
This Article is nutritional in nature and is not to be construed as medical advice.
David Cowley has created over 50 articles about the relationship between diseases and vitamins. For other articles on Allergies click on Articles on Allergies and for other articles click on Other Articles

Peanut Allergy Symptoms

A peanut allergy is an illness that is caused by the body's reaction to particular substances. Everytime the body comes into contact with a substance it considers as harmful, it reacts by releasing histamines to fight off these allergens. As the body fights these allergens, the person exhibits the classic symptoms of an allergic reaction. There are many substances that can cause allergy like insect bites, pollen, dust and food. Aside from shellfish, fish and eggs, allergy to peanuts is the most common.

Considered to be one of the deadliest types of food allergy, peanut allergy affects about 3 million Americans. Since this particular allergy can cause death, it is important that you know the facts surrounding this reaction especially if you or someone in your family is allergic to peanuts.

Peanut allergy can be triggered by even the smallest of doses. The allergy is characterized by severe symptoms including anaphylactic shock. The particular symptom causes severe swelling, heart failure, breathing difficulties, circulatory collapse and eventually death. Aside from these, the person also suffers from gastrointestinal discomfort.

Since there is no available treatment for allergies, the same is also true for peanut allergy. Available medications for allergies are only designed to treat the symptoms of the allergic reaction. To prevent any episode of allergic reaction, persons with peanut allergy should avoid peanuts or peanut-ingredients at all cost. In case of an allergic reaction, the individual must be injected by epinephrine or adrenalin. This could prevent or reverse the anaphylactic shock. Adrenalin can increase heart rate, constrict blood vessel, reduce swelling and relax muscles. As soon as the symptom subsides the person must still be taken to the nearest hospital to be checked thoroughly.

Today, people with peanut allergy are given extra consideration. Because of the possible severity of the illness, you should also do your part in making sure that you do not endanger yourself. People with peanut allergies have found themselves having problems when traveling by air.

Peanuts are considered to be a staple in most airlines and if you are not careful, having an allergic reaction while on air will be just a difficult situation. To avoid such situation, you should first check with the airline to find if they do serve peanuts or peanut-ingredient in your flight. For more convenience, you should ask your doctor to give you a document stating your allergy to peanuts.

Before your trip, discuss with your doctor the need for carrying with you extra adrenalin. You should also plan on what food to bring so you are assured of peanut-free food. If you are traveling with your child who has contact sensitivity to peanuts, make sure you wipe the seat, tray table, arm rest and window area. In case an allergic reaction still occur during the flight, you should stay calm and follow all your doctor's instructions in cases like this. Immediately alert the airline crew of the emergency situation so they could contact and request professional medical assistance that would be on standby as soon as you landed.

As you can see, the peanut allergy can be very dangerous. If you have it, it's a good idea to just be aware of it, so you can react in the proper ways to diffuse the allergic reaction. Be alert to especially any peanut allergy symptoms that might arise.
Article by Sven Ullmann, who runs Deserved Health - a site dedicated to different health related articles. Read more about Peanut Allergy Symptoms.

Help I Am Allergic To Gold

Contact allergic dermatitis, also called Allergies Type 1, usually develops with repeated exposure to some substance in the environment. All of a sudden you may develop a hypersensitivity to all of your gold jewelry. Symptoms may include a rash, itching, swelling, blistering, and eczema.

It is very unlikely that you are allergic to gold. You are more likely to have developed an allergy to nickel. More specifically the allergy is not caused by the nickel itself but by the combination of your perspiration and nickel salts. If your jewelry shows any type of corrosion or pitting then coating the piece of jewelry with clear finger nail polish where it comes into contact with the skin may help. If finger nail polish is used then you will need to recoat very often because finger nail polish wares off easily. It would be better to coat the item with some type of long lasting plastic compound. See you jeweler for recommendations.

Allergic to gold cases have been reported by dermatologists since the introduction of cheap fancy jewelry. Nine carat gold and white gold both contain nickel, 12 carat or higher should be ok. Once you have developed an allergy to nickel it will often remain for the rest of your life. 34 to 65 percent of the population that is allergic to nickel is also allergic to platinum.

Nickel is frequently added to gold because it is inexpensive and hard. Gold in itself is soft and will lose its shape under pressure so nickel is added to toughen it up. Better quality products use palladium, which has excellent properties but is also more expensive to use.

Other common every day items that contain nickel and cause you to develop contact dermatitis are metal zippers, hair-pins, buttons, lipstick holders, razors, keys pocket knives, kitchen utensils, scissors, silver coins, paper clips

Your dermatologist or pharmacist can supply you with a nickel-testing kit. The test contains a bottle of dimethylglyoxime and a bottle of ammonium hydroxide. Put a drop from each bottle the jewelry or item in question, the chemicals will not harm your jewelry, and then rub it with a cotton swab. If the swab turns pink then the item being tested contains nickel and may cause problems if worn.

Always consult your doctor before using this information.
This Article is nutritional in nature and is not to be construed as medical advice.
David Cowley has created over 50 articles about the relationship between diseases and vitamins. For other articles on Allergies click on Articles on Allergies and for Other Articles

Fix a Dog Allergy

Aside from needing their basic needs fulfilled, dogs may also need help regarding some health problems. Dogs are actually susceptible to medical conditions like allergies which the owner should quickly take note of and have cured to prevent the condition from worsening.

Making Your Dog Itch: Allergy Possibilities

Allergies cannot be prevented unless the owner is aware of which allergens his dog is allergic to. Here are some helpful tips and hints to fix this problem just in case they come up.

Inhalant Allergy
Most common of these dog allergies is inhalant allergy. The most common symptoms are scratching of the genital areas, abdomen, armpit or face, and prolonged chewing and licking. Upon close inspection, the dog develops a reddish area caused by too much licking.

If you suspect that your dog has this allergy, then you must bring him to your vet. A veterinarian can diagnose this accurately through allergy testing.

Bacteria allergy
Bacteria can be another cause of dog allergy. Bacteria allergy (specifically Staphylococcus allergy) is not a very common condition. Only a few canines react negatively to this bacteria; most other dogs have become accustomed to it.

If your dog is allergic to bacteria, they can easily develop crusts on his skin or even lose some hair on the spot that he normally scratches. You need to bring your dog to a vet before the patches of exposed skin becomes infected.

Flea allergy
Flea, per se, does not cause the dog’s allergic reaction but the flea’s saliva is the main culprit. A vet or even the owner can easily figure this out.

If you see your dog scratching himself frequently, then you should check his coat thoroughly to see if he has fleas. If you see fleas, that’s a pretty good indication that it’s causing your dog’s discomfort. Since there can be other causes aside from fleas, though, it’s better to bring your dog to a vet and have him diagnosed and tested for allergies. If it’s flea allergy after all, then you should ask your vet for his recommended flea shampoo and medication.

Food Allergy
Allergy to food is also possible. Manufactured dog foods are a combination of a variety of ingredients, one or a few of which can be causing your dog’s allergies. Your dog may have this type of allergy if he keeps on scratching or sneezes a lot, vomits, loses control of his bowels, etc.

Diagnosis of food allergy can be quite difficult. You need to fix a different meal for a certain period of time to see which is causing the allergy. Thus, in one period, you can give your dog chicken meat. Then, on another the diet can be restricted to pork and so on and so forth. Should the dog develop an allergy at anytime a certain ingredient was used, you’ll know that it’s causing the allergy so you should avoid serving your dog this food again.

Contact allergy
This is an allergy caused by an object that the dog is in constant contact with. It could be his food bowl, his collar, or another thing entirely that’s causing the allergy. Since this is the least common, you must rule out all other allergy causes. After that is done, start eliminating the things he is in contact with to isolate the main cause.
You can find out more about dog care here or you can share your opinions at the world's best homepage.

Having Perfume Allergy

You know what it is like to have a perfume attack. This is when you are in a room filled with people that are drenched in perfume. There are so many different types of perfumes out there that it is hard to determine who is wearing what. Most women love the smell of perfume and wearing too much of it is a very big problem with them. They will coat their entire body in perfume and this will leave innocent bystanders dying from the stench.

A perfume allergy is not limited to the woman that is wearing the perfume. There are many people that have problems with a certain type of perfume that they put on but there are more and more people out there that are having difficulties with the public that they are surrounded by and all the perfume that they are wearing. There is perfume in most everything that is on the market today. There are cleaners, hair spray and even shampoo that have certain perfumes in them that can cause a person to go into a breathing attack or perfume allergic reaction.

There are so many different products on the market today that can help a person with a perfume allergy. For some people that have asthma, a perfume allergy can send them into a terrible asthma attack and give them terrible side effects. You cannot control who is wearing perfume and what types they wear. For this reason, there are different ways that a person can protect himself or herself with to stop a perfume allergy. This may include complaining to a boss, wearing a mask, or taking certain medication.

If you have the symptoms of itching eyes, runny nose, wheezing, or coughing you may be having a perfume attack. Many people have a perfume allergy but they do not even realize it. They may think that this type of reaction is caused by something else. Sometimes even a doctor will miss a perfume allergy because they are more accustomed to treating seasonal allergies, pet allergies, and other types of allergic reactions.

If you are having an allergic reaction to a perfume or smell, you should get out of the room or away from the culprit anyway that you could. You should get some fresh air to help clear your head and you will notice that you start to feel better right away. Sometimes this is all you need and in some other circumstances, you will need to have the counteracting or medication to make you feel better. A doctor usually recommends these. Having certain perfume allergy can be frustrating but you have to find something that will help you feel better and get through it because there is really nothing that you can do to stop others from wearing the wrong perfumes.

EXPOSED, At Last! 10 Of The Most Shocking, Proven Methods Anyone Can Adopt To Instantly Diagnose, Treat, And Eliminate Seasonal, Food, AND Common Allergies In An Instant,more I am echo,if more about Allergies,please visit my website: http://www.allergiesknowledge.info/

Dust Mite Allergy - How To Minimise Exposure

If you suffer from asthma or similar breathing difficulties you will undoubtedly be very sensitive to the quality of the air around you. Whilst you cannot personally do much to influence the quality of the air outside your home, inside is a very different matter.

Household dust is largely made up of dead skin particles shed by we humans and our pets, all of which make a tasty feast for the dust mite. It is the dust mite’s function in life to chomp his way through this debris and prevent us from drowning in our own filth.

This beastly little chap is too small to be seen with the naked eye – he along with 5,000 of his minute friends could comfortably sit on the head of a pin, and they congregate wherever there is food for them. The most hospitable places in our homes are in our beds, upholstery and carpets as all of these harbour dust.

Whilst we largely live in harmony with dust mites, inevitably, as with all animals, what goes in one end comes out again the other end, albeit in a different form. It is the excretia of the dust mite that creates allergies in some of us.

If you have difficulty breathing at night, or frequently wake up with that ‘bunged up’ feeling, your bedding is undoubtedly in need of a spring clean. So put a fresh filter in your vacuum cleaner and get to work on your mattress and when you’ve thoroughly vacuumed the top, turn it over and do the other side as well. If you have a box spring base you will also need to vacuum that . Do the same with your pillows, but if they are more than a few years old, replace them with new ones. Dry clean blankets and/or duvets or, if they’re washable put them on a minimum of 60oC cycle (anything less and the little blighters will survive!).

For most of us this exercise, carried out approximately twice a year, will make enough of a difference to return us to rested sleep filled nights. However, for those who are hypersensitive, suffering from asthma and/or hay fever, more drastic measures may be necessary to keep household dust to a minimum.

On a regular basis (at least twice a week) it will be necessary to

– damp wipe all surfaces to remove the dust, (rather than push it around to resettle somewhere else), – vacuum, rather than sweep, all floors. – keep your bedroom and bedding well aired - dust mites thrive in high humidity

It’s also a good idea to:

– vacuum upholstery with the same thoroughness you used on your mattress
– use zippered plastic covers for your mattress and pillows to prevent dust penetration
– keep pets out of the bedroom, regularly wash their bedding on a hot cycle and frequently vacuum the areas where they predominantly live
– remove carpets and replace with hard flooring.

Unfortunately it is impossible to eliminate dust mites from our homes, but the above measures should make living with them more comfortable.
The author has for the last 13 years run a domestic cleaning agency http://www.selclene.co.uk/ providing regular cleaners to private homes in the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley. In response to the increasing demand for spring cleans, pre and post house move cleans etc she has started another cleaning business www.rainbowcleaners.co.uk

Baby Food Allergies - How To Identify And Avoid Them

Many parents find the risk of baby food allergies one of the most worrying aspects of introducing new foods to their baby. But there are simple steps you can take to minimise potential problems and make your child's introduction to solid food a safe and happy one.

Allergic reactions take place when your baby's immune system mistakenly treats a harmless substance as a harmful one. Baby food allergy symptoms include diarrhea, eczema, nausea, constipation and watery or red eyes. Very rarely, a serious reaction known as allergic shock can occur. This can cause the throat and tongue to swell dangerously, which could lead to choking. In this situation, professional medical help must be sought immediately.

Baby food allergies should not be confused with food intolerance. A baby with food intolerance would have difficulty in digesting a particular type of food, which can be caused by many other things besides an allergen. In either case, diagnosis should be made by a medical professional.

In order to prevent baby food allergies such as these, or to identify foods to which your baby reacts, it is important to follow these simple guidelines --

1. Try to delay feeding your baby solid food until he is at least 6 months of age. His immune system will be better developed by this stage.

2. Only introduce one new food at a time and wait for a few days to see if a reaction occurs. It will then be easy to spot the "problem" food and eliminate it from your baby's diet.

3. Avoid foods that are known to be more likely to cause allergic reactions. Examples of such foods include eggs (particularly the whites), shellfish, gluten and citrus fruits.

4. Decide whether or not your baby is at a particularly high risk of developing allergies -- for example, do you suffer from an allergy yourself? This can often lead to an increased risk of allergies for your baby, although not necessarily to the same allergen (i.e. the substance responsible for the reaction).

5. Discuss any concerns with a medical professional.

Whilst it is sensible to be cautious, it is still important to remember that baby food allergies only affect around 8% of children. So try to keep things in perspective, introduce new foods individually and stay alert for possible reactions -- these measures will give you the confidence to safely introduce the delights of solid food to your little one.

Christine Albury is the author of http://www.homemade-baby-food-recipes.com, helping you become head chef for a very special little customer.
For more baby food allergy information, visit http://www.homemade-baby-food-recipes.com/babyfoodallergies.html

Danger In Dust Mite

Dust mites are a microscopic relative of spiders that live in our furniture and carpet. They thrive in our bedrooms because of the heat and warmth we give off. Dust mites feed off our dead skin cells. Unfortunately their droppings have a protein that many people are allergic to. Dust Mite does most of their attacking at night while you are asleep.

Studies show that over 45% of homes in the United States have concentrations of dust mites that are considered to be dangerous enough to cause asthmatic conditions. Ten percent of American today have asthma which is the leading cause of children missing school. Dust mites are possible the number one cause of asthma problems in the home.

Dust mite live about six weeks and female dust mites lay between 60 to 80 eggs during their lifetime. Dust mites have no natural predator so they just keep multiplying. A full size mattress has approximately two million dust mites in it. In one gram of dust from a carpet, a little over 10,000 mites were found. Old pillow may have as much as 10% of their weight made up of dead dust mites and droppings. Makes you think, huh?

Walk into a dusty room and one is bound to sneeze. It is probably the mildest form of allergic reaction to dust. People with pre-disposed ailments rhinitis, also known as hay fever, will react more severely to dusty conditions. Sometimes a fairly clean environment can also trigger off allergic reactions. It is simply because there are house mites dead and alive, present in the environment. According to Dr M. Nadchatram, the former head of studying sticks and mites division at the Institute mites are hardly visible to the naked eye. They are white in color and are not parasitic.

Although the existence of mites was discovered centuries ago, the relationship between mites and house dust allergies was only established in 1964 by western and Japanese. They found that mites were responsible for triggering off bronchial asthma allergic rhinitis, allergic dermatitis and other allergic related ailments like sinusitis. "Today, allergies caused by house dust are regarded as the most important after pollen induced allergies. Eighty percent of house dust allergies are said to be mite-induced," says Dr Nadchatram. In Malaysia, the skin clinic of the General Hospital have been conducting joint research on house dust mites and its association with respiratory allergies. Dr Nadchatram himself has been actively involved in research related to house dust mites not only in Malaysia but also in Singapore when he was lecturing at the National University of Singapore and then in Hawaii where he went to do his research fellowship in studying sticks and mites.

Studies have shown that the infestation level of mites is higher in the tropical region. The tropical climate has no sudden temperature changes and is humid - these two factors are favorable for mites, enabling them to live longer and reproduce on a larger scale. Can effective housekeeping reduce the mites' population? One important factor to remember is that both dead and live mites are allergenic.

Regular vacuuming is strongly recommended. Air conditioning the bed room is also important in controlling the mites' population. "Sweeping is not effective in removing fine particles of dust which include mite eggs and faeces." says Dr Nadchatram. "Sweeping actually causes the mites to be air bone and tribute within the house." Therefore, sweeping should be followed by mopping the floor with a detergent or vacuuming. "One other effective way of eliminating house mites is by employing in the age old practice of sunning carpets, bed linen and mattresses followed all dust containing dust mites."

When you have allergies it is important to be very selective when looking for the right pillow. Cotton pillows tend to collect dust mites rapidly - a big no-no for those with allergies. Instead, look for OCA Water Pillow. It can anti dust mites and provides you a healthier life.

By keeping to these methods, housewife would be keeping dust and mites at bay.
OCA Water Pillow 100% Anti Dust Mites And Provide You A Healthier Life provides detailed information about OCA Water Pillows.

No Fun With Latex Allergy

Though latex is a fun fashion material there are people who have acquired some certain sensitivity to it. Latex allergy is not unheard of. Latex, or rubber, is a natural product made from the milky sap of the rubber tree.

A person with latex allergy is someone who is very sensitive to substances found in natural latex and suffers an adverse reaction when in contact with the material. The thin, and stretchy latex rubber found in gloves, balloons and condoms contains high levels of this protein and is more allergic than other products made of rubber.

What causes latex allergy in people is unknown. But frequent exposure to latex for a long period of time could make the symptoms appear. The main source of latex allergy today is rubber gloves. Other products such as adhesive tape, bandages and most medical equipment also use latex.

Latex allergy symptoms

Latex allergy symptoms can start as mild and then progress to a severe allergic reaction. There are three stages of latex allergy reactions:
• Irritant contact dermatitis – this is the mild allergic reaction to a latex sensitivity. The usual symptoms are dryness, burning, scaling, and itching of the skin.

• Allergic contact dermatitis – this is more persistent latex allergy attack. The symptoms of dryness, itching, burning and scaling of the skin also appear but it spreads to other parts of the body and the burning sensation is very severe.

• Immediate allergic reaction or latex hypersensitivity – this is the worst case of latex allergy attacks. The symptoms show up as allergic rhinitis, with frequent sneezing, runny nose, sinusitis and watery eyes. Then conjunctivitis sets in on the eyes, hives and severe itching follows. This stage is quite rare but if left untreated, the latex allergy attack can become a full-blown anaphylactic shock and can lead to death.

Latex Allergy Treatment

Getting a treatment for latex allergy attacks is done by immediately removing the cause of the allergic reaction. There are medicines that can be used to give relief from the itchiness and swelling of the skin, depending on the degree of the symptoms. For anaphylaxis, the only treatment is a dose of epinephrine.

Latex allergy not only extends itself to rubber products but it is also present in food. There are proteins in rubber that are also found in foods, which is why a person with latex allergy can be misdiagnosed as having food allergy. The foods with similar rubber proteins are banana, avocado, kiwi fruit, chestnut and tomato.

Latex Allergy Prevention

Preventing latex allergy attacks can be done by avoiding contact with rubber or natural latex, using powder-free or those non-latex gloves, steering clear of latex-riddled areas (like the hospital) and sticking to an almost no fruit diet.
As of now, there is no known cure of latex allergy symptoms. The only way to defeat this allergic reaction is by following the doctor’s advice and keeping your environment latex-free.

One final reminder to anyone with a latex allergy. If you think you have one or a doctor diagnosed you, make sure you wear a Medic Alert bracelet. This will alert the hospital staff of your condition and will avoid using any latex product when taking care of you.

It’s really no fun when you have an allergy. The best way to deal with such condition is to stay out of contact with any allergen and to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Charlene J. Nuble
For answers to All your frequently asked questions about latex allergy, please go to: Latex Allergy or go to: Allergy Answers or to: All About Allergies

Allergic Rhinitis - Which Nasal Sprays Work Best?

Astelin (azelastine) is a unique drug with a chemical structure unlike any other allergy or asthma medication. It is approved for both seasonal and yearly (chronic) allergic rhinitis and is available only by prescription. Allergic rhinitis is the most common type of allergy and is also known as "hay fever". Basically, an inflammation of mucous membranes that occurs when allergens touch the lining of your nose. Symptoms of allergic rhinitis are characterized by sneezing, congestion, itching and dripping of the nose, and itchy, watery eyes.

Astelin nasal spray is used to alleviate the symptoms associated with allergic rhinitis. These symptoms are often associated with a number of environmental allergies such as pollen, dust, animal dander, and mold. This works quickly, can be used as needed, is steroid-free, and does not contain pseudoephedrine.

Not Your Average Antihistamine

This is known as the only antihistamine nasal spray and has two main advantages over oral antihistamines. The first is that it provides targeted therapy to the areas of the body where its needed most. Oral medication must travel a long way through your digestive system and bloodstream before making its way to your head. When you're miserable, that can take a long time.

The second advantage is that Astelin is the only antihistamine approved for both allergic and vasomotor (nonallergic) rhinitis. Vasomotor rhinitis produces the same symptoms as allergic rhinitis and can be triggered by a variety of factors. These may include environmental irritants such as cigarette smoke or perfume, hormonal changes, temperature changes, and stress.

While it works as an antihistamine to block the effects of histamine on the body, it also contains properties of a bronchodilator and corticosteroid by relaxing constricted bronchial tubes in the lungs. This is unusual for a steroid-free product.

Astelin and the Rebound Effect

Some over-the-counter decongestant nasal sprays contain a topical vasoconstrictor which restricts blood supply to the nose and sinuses, thus reducing swelling, excess secretions, and congestion. However, if these over-the-counter sprays are used for more than a few days a rebound effect can occur. In others words, the more you use, the more you need, until the product becomes ineffective altogether. Then you're back to square one with your allergy problems or even worse off than you were before.

Astelin doesn't cause rebound congestion because it doesn't contain a topical vasoconstrictor. The most common side effects include a bitter taste sensation, headache, nasal inflammation or burning, and drowsiness. It is approved for use in patients 5 years and older. Its generic equivalent, azelastine, is also available as an eye solution for the treatment of allergic conjunctivitis.

If you'd like to learn more about Astelin or its generic equivalent, please contact your doctor or pharmacist for additional information.

Amanda Jones is a licensed veterinary technician and an avid researcher of human allergy relief products including Astelin. She runs a successful website dedicated to debunking various allergy relief products for the benefit of the consumer. Amanda hopes she can decrease the number of pets who need to find new homes by educating pet owners on how they can control their allergies.

To learn how Astelin rates among other allergy relief products and for great free allergy relief tips, discount offers and more, visit Amanda's website at http://www.allergy-product-reviews.com/

Do You Suffer From Allergies?

An 'allergy' is basically when your body reacts in a sensitive way to a substance that most other people do not react to. There are a number of substances in the environment which can cause allergic reactions which may vary from a mild reaction to violent reactions.

Allergies can range from intolerance to certain foods and substances to reactions resulting from pollution. Reactions can occur immediately, within a few minutes or may even be delayed for several hours or even several days. These reactions can occur in any part of the body but most commonly occur in the nose, eyes, ears, skin, chest or intestines.

Symptoms of allergy can be quite varied and may include:

Recurring
headache
Migraine
Dizziness
Irritability
Depression
Neuralgia
Sneezing
Conjunctivitis
Eczema
Heart burn
Hay fever
Indigestion
Constipation
Diarrhoea
Asthma
Stuffy or runny nose
Shortness of breath
Swelling of the face and eyes

The same allergic substance may cause different symptoms in different people.
Causes

Having an allergic reaction may indicate a lower resistance and possible internal disharmony caused by a bad diet and lifestyle. They can be caused in babies by feeding them some foods too early, such as cereal, meat, corn, eggs, honey, whole milk, before they reach the age of 10 to 12 months of age. Babies are yet to develop the proper enzymes needed for their digestion and therefore can become allergic to those foods.

Another possible cause for an increase in allergies is that many foods today contain numerous chemicals, preservatives and additives. It is believed that allergic symptoms are often the body's reaction to stress. If a person suffers from chronic stress they may become sensitive to some common foods or substances and therefore emotional and psychological stress can lead to allergies.

Treatment

The first thing you need to do to treat your allergy is to identify the source. You can treat many mild allergic reactions without knowing the source, but for severe allergic reactions the source must be know so you can avoid the source.

Even with minor allergic reactions it can help in the long term to know what you are reacting to. In some cases you may have an immediate reaction which will make it easy to identify the substance you are allergic to. Often however it may not be immediate and it can be quite difficult to pinpoint exactly what is giving you the reaction. Once you have discovered the source of your allergic reaction, try to avoid the substance if it is possible.

It is also possible in many cases to build up immunity to the substance. To do this it is quite important to build good general health and immune system. A good way to start building your immunity is to fast on fresh fruit juices for four or five days. Repeat this fast from time to time will result in a better tolerance to substances that you previously didn't tolerate.

After the fruit juice fast, have a diet of vegetables or fruits such as carrots, grapes or apples, for one week. After that more food is added to the diet. A week later the third food is added and so on. After four weeks, the protein foods can be introduced, one at a time. If there is an allergic reaction to a newly introduced food, it should be discontinued and a new food tried. In this way all real allergens can be eventually eliminated from the diet.

In Chinese medicine it has been found that five drops of castor oil in a little juice or water taken on an empty stomach in the morning can be highly beneficial for allergies in the skin and nasal passages.

For more information on allergy relief make sure to visit http://www.waystogetridofallergies.com/, a popular website that provides information on relieving symptoms of allergens.

The Main Causes of Skin Allergy

Skin allergy is in fact a reaction that appears soon after making contact with an allergen. Another common name for this condition is dermatitis. In some cases, it has been reported to have very serious symptoms. The area that is affected by the skin allergy differs from one patient to another. While some persons experience an itch all over the body, others say that skin allergy is observable only on a limited area of their body. When this health condition affects the entire body, people become unable to work.

Sometimes, the element that causes the allergic reaction is unknown. This is why people are recommended to look for medical advice as soon as they manifest any of the symptoms. The doctors perform the diagnosis, which usually consists of two tests, and prescribe the treatment that suits best. The diagnosis resumes to a skin prick test and to a blood test. The treatment that is prescribed by the doctor depends very much on the severity of the symptoms.

Skin allergy has been discovered to be caused by more than 70 allergens. However, ten of them, which are described below, represent the cause of the majority of the cases. Nickel, also known as nickel sulfate hexahydrate, which is commonly used in jewelry, is considered to be the main factor to cause skin allergy. This metal is also used in buttons for clothes. Gold, also known as gold sodium thiosulfate, is used by jewelry manufacturers. The third major cause of this health condition is Balsam of Peru.

This chemical substance is extensively used in the composition of many perfumes and cosmetic products. It is obtained from resin. Thimerosal, a substance that is based on mercury, is found in local antiseptics and in some vaccines. Neomycin sulfate is an antibiotic found in the composition of most first aid lotions. In addition, it is used by the cosmetic products makers. Certain insecticides, antiseptics, fragrances and soaps are also known to contain neomycin. Formaldehyde, the next risk factor, is used in many domains. It is typically found in paper, paints, and cosmetics and even in the composition of several medicines. Cobalt chloride, bacitracin and quaternium 15 occupy the last three positions in this top.

When a person is discovered to have a skin allergy, the best way to treat this condition is to minimize the exposure to allergens. If this is not possible, then people are recommended to try antihistamines, decongestants, nasal sprays and in certain cases, even immunotherapy.

Lawrence Shanks is a webmaster who has a series of websites dedicated to niche marketing, In particular the focus is on these annoying things that affect so many of us with blocked noses, runny eyes and constant sneezing and/or scratching. Summer is wonderful, but it brings it's share of problems to those of us who suffer from allergies. For more information go to http://www.bestnaturalallergyrelief.com/ I need to go now as I am about to sneeze again!!!

Allergies - Reducing Bedroom Dust Mites

In this article we're going to discuss simple steps for reducing the dust mite allergens in your bedroom.

Dust mites. You can't see them but they're there. And they do most of their attacking at night while you're asleep. Why? Because dust mites generally live in your bed; on the mattress, the pillows, your blanket, just about anywhere you can think of. Enough of these little creatures can make your life a living nightmare.

But there are simple steps you can take to help reduce the number of dust mites you have to share your bed with and hopefully make your sleeping experience a little more enjoyable.

First, a little bit about what dust mites are. They are actually microscopic spider-like creatures that feed on the flakes of your skin. They reside anywhere that is considered to be a "dust trap" which include the things already mentioned plus your draperies, carpets and upholstery. And since dust is just about anywhere, dust mites are just about anywhere as well. Dust mite exposure is a significant cause of indoor allergies, which are much different from outdoor allergies. These allergies can lead to asthma and hay fever. Studies show that over 45% of homes in the United States have concentrations of dust mites that are considered to be dangerous enough to cause asthmatic conditions.

So just how do we reduce the number of dust mites in our homes?

For starters we can cover our beds with dust proof covers. These are covers that are specially made to go over our mattresses and pillows. These covers are not cheap but the good that they do far outweighs the cost. These covers can be purchased in a department store that sells bedding supplies.

Another thing that can be done is to vacuum regularly, most preferably with a vacuum that has a hepa filter so that the allergens don't end up just going back into the air when the vacuum is emptied. A hepa filter and bagless vacuum is your best bet for keeping the allergens out of your home after you have picked them up off the floor.

Another thing that is very effective for getting rid of the dust mites in your home is to steam clean as many items as possible. Some articles can't be steam cleaned so you have to use caution when doing this so as not to ruin any of your items. The reason steam cleaning works is because dust mites need a dry environment to live in. The moisture from the steaming is what helps kill them.

It should be noted that while these procedures do reduce the level of dust mite concentrations below severe symptom levels, they do not reduce them to the point where people do not still have sensitivity to the allergens, such as sneezing and coughing. Unfortunately it is impossible to completely reduce the level of dust mite allergens to absolute zero unless you are living inside a bubble and the technology for such an environment is not quite yet with us.

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Allergies

Natural Asthma Cure

Do you constantly get upper respiratory infections?

Do you suffer from shortness of breath?

Are you constantly sneezing and coughing?

These maybe symptoms of Asthma.

Asthma is a chronic disease that involves inflammation of the airway superimposed with recurrent episodes of limited airflow (difficulty in breathing), mucus production, cough and wheezing. Live your life to the fullest, without worrying about when the next debilitating asthma attack will occur. Now you can get excited about the idea of finally living without asthma, in just as little as 5 days you can cure your asthma.

Exercise Induced Asthma - Symptoms produced shortly after or during physical activity.Allergic Asthma - The most common form of asthma, caused by allergens mixing with the immune system.Occupational Asthma- Substances at your job can cause or aggravate asthma.Nocturnal Asthma- is choking, coughing, and breathlessness while sleeping. The Asthma And Allergy Cure is the first and final step to curing your asthma for good. It is scientifically proven information, about how to stop asthma at the root of the problem, instead of just masking the symptoms and making it worse.

The step-by-step program will help throughout the entire process. No more wheezing, coughing, sneezing, shortness of breath, and respiratory infections. No more letting life pass you by. This natural asthma cure will stop asthma attacks, without the need for pills, inhalers, steroids or nebulizer treatments. NOTE: THIS PROGRAM IS NOT FOR INFANTS; IT IS FOR INDIVIDUAL'S 8YRS AND UP.

To make sure that your body, will function properly for a long time. Start living healthy as soon as possible. Starting now, will help your body fight off symptoms of many illnesses and diseases. Some factors that can lead to an early onset of asthma include a poor diet. Some diseases are hereditary, and you can still be at risk. By keeping healthy, you are helping your body, to be able to control the symptoms when they onset. Don't wait until your asthma is completely out of control. Break-free from your debilitating asthma and invest in your happiness and well-being.

Yolanda Jones has been in the medical field for over 25 years. She is a writer of many informative and related articles such as; Bronchitis: http://bevsgirl-online.com/bronchitis1.html and Sinus: http://bevsgirl-online.com/sinus1.html Which you can research and learn more about in the privacy of your home. Learn how to cure asthma here! http://bevsgirl-online.com/asthma.html

Milk Allergy Symptoms

Milk allergies are a reality for millions of people. One major problem is that milk products and derivatives of milk are in so many of the food products we consume. It is very difficult to completely avoid milk products and byproducts as we go about or day to day life as food consumers. It is a very real problem for parents of children. Once they are out their sight treats like a caramel apple or milk chocolate can bring on an allergic reaction.

Symptoms can manifest themselves in a variety of maladies. Vomiting, diarrhea, hives are three of the most common. Bloating, gas, watery eyes, skin rashes that can also include acne are among others. An asthmatic who also suffers from milk allergy can have complications with their asthma condition as a result or his or her allergy to milk. Another reaction is ear infections and hyperactivity, particularly in children. Minor milk allergy symptoms can go undiagnosed for years.
As a result of ongoing research more information is being made available for those who suffer from milk allergies. Also more and better alternatives to milk are being made available. Milk allergy sufferers are denied this valuable source of calcium in their diet and more palatable alternatives are important in replacing milk and milk productes for the allergy sufferers.

Soy products that were once ghastly are now quite delicious and soy milk itself is now do to improvements quite delicious and resemble milk quite well. Tofu is a great alternative to cheese. With products like these, milk allergy symptoms can easily be avoided. Take a short trip to your supermarket and you'll find plenty of alternative dairy products. No longer will you have to avoid the common foods that you like the most, easy alternatives can be used.

One ingredient in milk is lactose, or milk sugar. Lactose intolerance is a type of milk allergy where the person experiencing the allergy is intolerant to the lactose in the milk itself An enzyme called lactase is responsible for breaking down lactose in the digestive process. It is estimated that up to seventy percent of the worlds population is lacking in this enzyme and some have none at all. This has caused problems in the past when international care packages of food relief were taken to countries on the African continent to fend off starvation and the milk products in the food was consumed by lactose intolerant people there.

Avoidance is the most common treatment for milk allergies. But as I stated previously that can be difficult. Anything containing the word casein should be avoided. Careful screening of preprocessed food labels is a must. Beyond that there has been some buzz about energy based allergy treatments. Many people have claimed to have been completely cured of all symptoms of milk allergy after undergoing an energy based allergy treatment. Energy based allergy treatments are quick and are not long and ongoing. They are an entire topic in themselves so I can only brief you on the topic here.

Article by Sven Ullmann, who runs Deserved Health - information on health for you and your family. Read more about milk allergy symptoms. Get our health newsletter.

Homeopathy For Allergy Symptoms

You can consider trying homeopathy to help reduce your allergy symptoms. While homeopathy is considered an alternative treatment and often criticised as a medical practice that is not proven, there are many people who have reported good results with this form of natural allergy treatment. So what is homeopathy all about?

Homeopathy is a practice that involves giving you, the patient, minute doses of treatments that produce the same symptoms as the ones that you are trying to relieve. Doing so helps to stimulate your body’s own natural immune system to help fight off the allergy and resulting symptoms. A homeopathy treatment is a gradual process and is not designed to give you instant results. Your homeopathic practitioner needs to monitor your results progressively and may need to adjust your prescription as you go along. This process can take up to weeks or even a few months.

You may question the logic of using even small amounts of substances that can trigger an inflammatory response and over a long term period, if the homeopathic treatment would cause implications. However, it has been said that water-based homeopathy, developed by a few homeopathic companies, is suitable for those with allergies.
Here are a couple of homeopathic remedies that are known to help reduce allergy symptoms:

- Blood Root. Blood root can be helpful in treating allergy symptoms as chronic runny nose, headache, facial pain, coughing, or a dry throat.

- Cevadilla Seed. Cebadilla seed is excellent or sneezing, dry nose, red eyes, pressure, dry coughs, and a sore throat.

- Eyebright. This homeopathic remedy is a great treatment for the symptoms of a watery nasal discharge and watering eyes. Patients who experience their most severe symptoms while lying down, in the morning, or while they are outside in the air will be aided the most by this remedy.

- Selenium. Selenium helps to stimulate the immune system response and protect cellular membranes.

- Green Tea Extract. Green tea is helpful in fighting off the allergy symptoms.

- Histaminum. Histaminum is usually given in small amounts to help the body fight off the allergies and the associated symptoms.

- Arbor Vitae. Arbor vitae is helpful in treating a green nasal discharge, headache, runny nose, and sinusitis that is associated with allergies.

The above list is not exhaustive. You can get more information from a homeopathic practitioner as well.

Some people prefer not to use prescription or over the counter medications simply because they have many side effects. If you are one of these people, then you may want to look into using homeopathy for your allergy symptoms. There is no need to suffer needlessly from your symptoms as there are natural treatments that can possibly help you.

Going into combat, Evelyn Lim, is determined to fight a war against her allergy symptoms in a safe and effective manner. She now researches and publishes information about natural allergy treatments Gain access to free tips here at http://www.allergy-attacks.com/

Mold Allergy- Prevention Tips

A mold is a group of microscopic fungi found on vegetation or animals. The mold spores can be transmitted through air or water. Like pollen, the fragments of the spores created by the molds proliferate through the air causing nasty side effects such as wheezing, eye watering, coughing and asthma. In some instances the effect of mold spores can be life threatening, with toxic mold being on the top of the list.

So what can we do to prevent mold allergies? There are many ways to prevent mold allergies. Here are some helpful tips that could help save you and your family from household and workplace molds.

Humidity is the friend of mold. Without it, molds would not be able to propagate and produce spores. If you're in a damp environment such as the basement or garage, you might find yourself exposed to the allergic residue of molds. Most doctors would recommend that a low humidity, under 40%, would help lessen the effects. In fact dehumidifiers offer a good solution to combat the mold count. In bathrooms, turn on the exhaust fan or open the window. This will help dehumidify the bathroom. If there are water leaks, get them fixed. Doing so will prevent water seepage, which may help cultivate molds. For a damp basement, consider raising the heat and using a dehumidifier.

Another effective way to combat mold is to inhibit the airborne spores. HEPA filters can help lessen the spores in the air. In fact, there are dozens of products that aim to inhibit mold particles. For the rest of the house or building, there are electrostatic filters that reduce and remove airborne contaminants. Some are even 90% effective. A home air filter should have a HEPA label or some indicator that it filters allergens.

Another way to reduce the mold count is to go to the source - the mold. You can easily do so with cleaners that aim to eradicate it. There are plenty of chemical products that seek can destroy molds or even a simple cleaning product can erase the fungi mold that is commonly found in bathrooms. Since mold is easily detectable by the naked eye, you can sweep the area of mold. Sometimes it will smell like mildew. If you can detect the smell, you'll easily locate the source.

There are unconventional methods to treat molds today. Some have argued that massive ultraviolet is an effective means to remove spores. Others have argued that ozone generators are another method to eliminate spores. There may be compelling evidence that these products will work, but it remains to be seen if they will be safe and easy to use for the long run.

Mold allergies can be prevented by a number of weapons available to the common household member or building facilitator. Because of the dangers and allergic side effects of mold, more and more solutions are being created to stem the tide of mold. By knowing what can best prevent, destroy, and inhibit airborne spores, one can improve the quality of life by creating an allergen free environment.
Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Mold

Allergies And Children Health Issues

The thought of children health issues can cause any parent to panic. Any parents' main concern is the health of their child and just the thought of having to deal with an ill child can be very heartbreaking. Most children make it through childhood just fine, but some will come in contact with children health issues.

One of the biggest issues to plague kids is allergies. With so many allergens floating in the air, kids are more and more prone to allergies. If parents are given the right health tools, they can help their child learn to live a happy and normal life with any allergy that may be present.

There are many concerns with children health issues in today's society when it comes to allergies. One is dealing with a child who is too young to tell their parents how they feel about a symptom they may have. Many times a child will develop an allergy and if the parents do not know the signs to look for, the child's symptoms can go unnoticed for quite a while.

In the long run, this can bring discomfort to both the child and the parents. However, if a person does a little research on the internet, they can obtain free health information concerning the issue at hand.

Another way that parents can learn to cope with children health issues is to find a resourceful allergy center that will provide accurate information so they can further learn to deal with issues such as negative reactions and asthma. A ton of allergy information is available at one's finger tips if they just take the time to do a little research.

A good place to start is on a reputable website, such as Web MD. Here, one can find precise information that the web has to offer with regard to dealing with a children health issue. However, if a child has negative reactions symptoms, the best way to cope is to see one's pediatrician. A pediatrician can direct parents and their child on how to muddle through living with an allergy.

Children health issues can be a difficult subject for parents to learn to cope with. However, if the issue at hand is allergies, then parents can put their minds at ease knowing much information and treatment is available. In turn, most kids can go on to enjoy their childhood without having their allergies slow them down and parents can relax and enjoy these precious years.

About the Author
Enrich your knowledge further about children health issues from Mike Selvon portal. We appreciate your feedback at our allergy treatment blog where a free gift awaits you.

Allergies and Sinusitis Infections

Sinusitis infections usually begin with cold or allergy symptoms such as runny nose, cough, and congestion. But it is important to know the difference because it is not taken care of in time, it can lead to more severe symptoms.

A sinusitis infection usually is caused by a cold or an allergy. When a cold or allergy occurs, swelling of the sinus cavity lining happens. When bacteria enter the sinus cavities, they attack the swollen lining which then causes greater inflammation. The cilia is a part of the sinuses which usually flushes out the bacteria and mucus. When a great amount of inflammation occurs, the cilia can no longer function as it should and so the bacteria and mucus become trapped in the cavities which then causes the sinusitis infection to occur.

The symptoms of an acute sinusitis infection generally may include cough, congestion, facial pain and pressure, green nasal discharge, and postnasal drip. When the sinusitis infection becomes chronic and lasts for twelve or more weeks a person may experience additional symptoms such as loss of sense of taste and smell and fatigue may also occur. Other symptoms may also occur depending on which sinus cavity that the infection lies in.

There are several medications and other treatments that are meant to offer relief to the sinusitis infection. One of the most frequently prescribed and purchased treatments are oral medications such as antibiotics, decongestants, and anti-fungals. Oral medications work on infections and other problems by flowing through the blood stream to the infected area. In the sinus cavities there are very small amount of blood vessels. Since the oral medications use the blood stream to travel to the area where they are needed, only a small amount of the medication can be delivered to the sinusitis infection which may lead to little or no relief from the treatment. Also since these medications use the blood stream, it then is distributed through out the rest of the body also which can lead to many side effects such as stomach pain, drowsiness, amongst many others depending on which type of medication is being used.

There are also many treatments which are directly distributed into the sinus cavities. These treatments are generally meant to help moisten the cilia so that it can flush out the trapped mucus and bacteria. Nasal sprays are commonly used and can be prescribed or purchased over the counter. The nasal sprays may offer some relief to the lower part of the sinuses but often times may not help the infection since their particle sizes are too large to make it past the inflammation at the opening of the sinus cavities and up to the sinusitis infection. The same holds true for a treatment called irrigation which distributes saline up to the sinus cavities. Irrigation is also very messy and generally unsuccessful in offering relief.

A newer treatment that is used nasally is aerosolized medications. Aerosolized medications are used very much like nebulized asthma medications. These antibiotics, anti-fungals, and anti-inflammatories are broken down into a small particle size so that it can pass the inflammation and make its way up to the sinusitis infection. Generally a small amount of these medications are used which results in little to no side affects in the rest of the body.

There are many treatment options out there which are meant to offer relief for sinusitis infections. It is important to find the treatment that works best for you and to treat the infection before it becomes chronic and surgery is then left as the only option.

About the Author
More sinusitis infection treatment information like Aerosolized Sinusitis Therapy can be found at Sinus Infection Problem - Sinus Dynamic