Do you know that house mites are the most common trigger of asthma?
These are mites that live in house dust. It is the feces of the them that is the actual allergen that causes breathing problems.
These creatures produce feces about 20 times a day. Aside from being an allergen, the stools of these guys is light enough to float in the air, so it is easily inhaled by those of us who occupy homes and buildings.
Then, when you consider there are about 40,000 mites per speck of dust, you can imagine (even if you'd rather not) just how many of these dust mite stools enter your respiratory tract.
Your indoor environment is especially vulnerable to these creatures if you live in a humid area, or if your home is subject to humid conditions for whatever other reason.
Humid environments create the ideal habitation for them, primarily since they result in a greater food supply for these mites. Staples of their diet include plant materials, molds, and fungi. All of which thrive in humid conditions.
Asian countries are more prone to these microscopic creatures induced asthma attacks. However, there is a solution, it is to have clove near to mites infested areas.
Based on the facts mentioned above, you can see why it is so critical to take action for the specific purpose of minimizing these fellows in your home, particularly if someone in your home suffers from asthma.
In which case, we have compiled a list of 6 ways you can reduce the mites that reside in your home.
6 ways to reduce dust mites:
1. Encasings.
Bedding is the favorite home for them. This being the case, you should encase your bedding and pillows with impermeable rubber or vinyl plastic wrappings.
2. Washing
You should wash clothes and bedding regularly. Washing in 60oF water is effective, but 130 F water will kill all mites. Washing in cold water kills about 90% of them.
3. Dry Cleaning
Dry cleaning kills all of them.
4. Heating
Any type of heating will help minimize their presence. Some examples include steam-cleaning carpets, tumble-drying (drying machine), direct sunlight exposure, and electric blankets.
5. Air Conditioning
Air conditioning will dry out your indoor environment, which will reduce the food supply for mites, resulting in reduced their populations.
6. Air Purifier
Despite your best efforts to remove them from your home or other indoor environment, they are simply too numerous and reproduce too frequently to keep their numbers lowered without the aid of an air purifier.
Keep in mind though, an air filter (e.g. HEPA) will not make much of a difference. First of all, most dust mites are too small to be captured by even the best of filters. In addition, most of them will not even pass through the filter's screen anyway.
Despite manufacturer's claims that their units complete so many air exchanges per hour, or filter so many square feet per hour, these are mostly based on theoretical calculations. The reality is that most pollutants in a given room or home will not pass through a small, stationary filter.
You are better off with a negative ion and ozone generator. Negative ions and ozone are much more effective at purifying air than a filter, due to the fact that they can remove pollatants from the air that are as much as 300 times smaller than the smallest particle a filter can remove.
Plus, they can be emitted throughout your home, so they are more thorough in the area they cover. Negative ions and ozone are also capable of penetrating walls, furnishings, bedding, etc. to destroy these mites and their stools.
About the Author
Eddy has a site which shares how he managed to discover a simple yet hidden way on treating asthma that guarantees to relieve you anytime. Get a free report and articles at http://www.uniqueasthmatreatmentsecrets.com.
6 Ways To Reduce House Dust Mites
News : Mother killed by tomato allergy
Source : BBC NEWS
A mother-of-four died from her reaction to tomatoes in the sauce of 
a tin of spaghetti bolognese when she opened it, a Kent coroner has ruled.
Raya French, 37, collapsed with anaphylactic shock in the kitchen of her Tankerton home last December.
She was taken to hospital, where she remained for four days, but never regained consciousness.
Ian Goldup, deputy coroner for north east Kent, told her family on Tuesday he was sorry for their traumatic loss.
Breathing difficulties
The inquest heard that her daughter Alexandra, 15, had found her wheezing after she opened the tin.
In a statement read out at Broadstairs Coroners Court, the teenager said: "Mum called me down and asked me what I wanted to go with the jacket potato. I replied, 'spaghetti bolognese'."
Mrs French began preparing dinner for Alexandra, and her three other children, aged 10, six and four, but became unwell within 10 minutes.
Alexandra said she found her mother suffering from breathing difficulties and with hives beginning to appear on her arm.
Anaphylactic shock
Doctors treating her in hospital found she had suffered oxygen deprivation and severe brain damage.
Mrs French began developing an allergy to raw tomatoes three years ago.
Pathologist Dr George Vittay told the inquest that Mrs French had suffered swelling to the throat and chest and blood test results were consistent with anaphylactic shock.
He said: "Having heard about her history of tomato allergy, in my view the cause of death was anaphylaxis from the tomato."
Speaking outside the court, Hazel Gowland, of the Anaphylaxis Campaign, said it was the first death from a tomato allergy she had known about.
Dealing With A Cat Allergy
Anyone who suffers from allergies can undoubtedly tell you of the irritation and discomfort associated with its consequences. In order to minimize symptoms, allergy sufferers do well to identify their personal allergy triggers so that they can successfully avoid them. For cat lovers especially, a cat allergy can mean a host of problems when it comes to choosing – or keeping – a pet.
A cat allergy generally stems from a person’s particular sensitivity to cat dander – the skin cells that shed through the cat’s fur. This sensitivity to cat dander can range from minimal – resulting in coughing, watery eyes, sneezing, and itching – to severe – resulting in everything from swelling to shortness of breath.
Clearly, those who have a cat allergy do best to not bring any cats into their home or to enter the homes of those who have cats in residence. But there are some who do not even discover that they have a cat allergy until they’ve brought their new pet into the home.
First and foremost, a severe cat allergy may require you to find an alternative living arrangement for your cat. Work with your doctor to ascertain the severity of your cat allergy. In the likely case of a minimal to moderate cat allergy, however, there are ways to combat the cat allergy so that you and your furry friend can live together harmoniously.
When it comes to your home, be sure that you are providing adequate ventilation with the use of an effective quality air filter. Be sure to vacuum frequently to rid your house of as much dander as possible. Have your animal groomed at the veterinarian or another location outside the home so as not to expose yourself to cat hair shed during the grooming process.
If you are aware of your cat allergy before you purchase a cat, look into the shorter-haired cats. These cats require minimal grooming and shed far less than their long-haired counterparts. In fact, you may find that you are less allergic to the shorter-haired breeds.
As a final and ongoing solution you may want to work with your doctor in terms of allergy shots or medications. This can save you a significant amount of aggravation and discomfort going forward – keeping you comfortable in your own home as well as the homes of other cat owners.
Ultimately, determining if your cat allergy is something that should hinder you from cat ownership is up to you and your doctor to decide. Most importantly, you should not put your health at risk. But if you are able to manage both your allergy care and the care for your pet, then you and your cat can happily co-exist.
For easy to understand, in depth information about cat allergies visit our ezGuide 2 Cats.
Herbal Allergy Treatment
Many medicines common to us today were originally discovered in their natural state and then synthesized in the laboratory. Penicillin is one that we have all heard of and there are so many others. Pharmaceutical research scientists to this day explore places like the Amazon Jungle, still looking for more beneficial substances to take back to the laboratory for study. Their goal is to make discoveries, learn to synthesize and then patent to protect their profits. Their is and always has been medicinal substances in their natural state available for those who choose to use them. Commonly known as herbal medicines.
The Food an Drug Administration has consistently worked with drug companies to enact laws and regulations that make it difficult and sometimes illegal for allergy sufferers to obtain alternatives to the drugs distributed by the corporate drug cartels. It is up to you to educate yourself about herbal allergy relief products. Allergy sufferers have to rely on each other in this area of research and discovery. There are many traditional pharmaceutical products out there on the market that work well. The problem for us is that pharmaceutical companies have share holders who have profits in mind. They don't want us to theirs and only their products.
Herbal allergy relief products have always been here and have always been used. They are nothing new. Long before modern medicine pushed herbal medicines aside, people everywhere relied on herbal medicines. They are in fact are being rediscovered in a way and are now available for anyone who wishes to obtain the benefits they can give. Your allergies are, with the exception of chemical intolerance, caused by natural substances, with a few exceptions. Mold, pollen, dust, and the list goes on and on, are all natural substances. It only stands to reason that if a natural substance is causing the problem then natural herbal allergy relief products can provide relief.
It is not recommended that you start experimenting on yourself. Herbal medicines can and many times do have a high level of potency. Just because something doesn't come in a pill does not mean it cant contain powerful substances. Always consult an expert before you begin using herbal allergy relief products or any other herbal medicine for that matter. What works for someone els may not necessarily work for you. So picking up and trying something that someone has told you has worked for them could only increase your suffering. So do your own research, consult an expert on homeopathy and find out what is best for you before you begin using herbal allergy relief products.
So in the end the choice is your own. You are the one doing the suffering. If you are not entirely satisfied with your treatments in the past. Or if you would just like to see more improvement in your allergy relief. Then look into the option of herbal allergy relief products. It is not recommended that you throw down your prescription medicine and stop using them. Most work very well and are a necessity for many allergy sufferers. But used in conjunction with your other allergy medicines, herbal allergy relief products can provide that extra relief you have been hoping for. Many people have found complete relief with herbal allergy relief products and have been able to say good-bye to chemically synthesized drugs for good.
Article by Sven Ullmann, who runs Deserved Health - information on health for you and your family. Read more about herbal allergy treatment. Get our health newsletter.
Life With A Gluten Allergy
Gluten is a protein that is found in barley, rye, and wheat and is included in everyday foods such as cakes, breads, cereals, pastas and biscuits. Some condiments such as mustard, mayonnaise, malt vinegar, as well as alcoholic beverages such as beer and whiskey, also contain gluten. Gluten may also be found in certain restaurant food or snack foods such as chips, cooking oils, soups or sauces. Living with a gluten allergy can be a difficult journey and requires discipline and knowledge about the ingredients contained in popular food products.
Individuals are usually diagnosed with a gluten allergy during early childhood. On occasion, cases of a gluten allergy can be diagnosed during adulthood or even during the late stages of life. When an individual is diagnosed with a gluten allergy, it is referred to as Coeliac disease; it has been reported that one in 200 to 250 people are diagnosed with Coeliac disease. When gluten is introduced into the body, the small intestine begins to break down, which can cause symptoms such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, fatigue, and weight loss.
In severe cases of gluten allergy, individuals may develop issues with the reproductive system, nervous system and blood. Coeliac disease may also lead to diabetes, liver disease, osteoporosis, or bowel cancer. The best treatment to avoid ongoing symptoms is to eliminate any food products containing gluten from the diet. Once gluten is removed from the diet, the small intestine and the bowel are able to heal, which eliminates symptoms of the gluten allergy.
Ongoing monitoring from a doctor or dietician may also prove to be successful in managing a gluten allergy; these professionals can help recommend substitutions for the foods containing gluten. Also, the doctor may be able to prescribe certain gluten-free food products, or even a steroid prescription to help manage the allergy symptoms if eliminating gluten from the diet is not successful in alleviating them altogether.
Because many fibrous foods are eliminated from the diet of an individual experiencing a gluten allergy, laxatives or fiber supplements may need to be added to the diet in order to avoid constipation. Also, vitamin and mineral supplements may also need to be added to the diet due to the decrease in iron and calcium consumption.
A diet rich in healthy fruits and vegetables and an assortment of gluten-free products can help the individual lead a normal lifestyle, but these products can also be expensive. Those who suffer from a gluten allergy may be able to obtain a doctor's prescription for certain gluten-free products and take a tax deduction at the end of the year.
Although there is no cure for a gluten allergy, a gluten-free diet can help eliminate severe reactions within the body. Shopping at health food stores or grocery stores that offer gluten-free products can help to alleviate the feelings of deprivation associated with missing some favorite foods. Armed with knowledge about food labels and ingredients, sufferers can take control over their gluten allergy and live a healthy life.
For more information on allergies try visiting http://www.theallergyeffect.com/ - a website that specializes in providing allergy related tips, advice and resources to including information on gluten allergy
Undue Trouble: Airborne Allergy
Airborne allergies can affect anyone at any time of the day. There is no specification as to what may cause an outbreak of allergy. Certain people suffer from bouts of sneezing in the garden or countryside. In this case, pollen is the most likely culprit causing airborne allergy. Different types of pollen like that of different flowers or pollen from the grass also cause allergic reactions. Dust mites found in the bedding is another major cause of airborne allergy. Some people are allergic to dust of chemicals found in cement at construction sites while others are allergic to animal fur.
Causes Of Airborne Allergy
You can pinpoint the cause of the airborne allergy by observing the symptoms and places where you visit or the time of the year when you suffer from the allergy. You can instantly know that you are allergic to dog fur if you play with a dog and you start to itch. While visiting a construction site, if you start to sneeze continuously you know that this is an allergic reaction to chemicals or dust.
As many as 20 percent of people suffering from airborne diseases are allergic to mould spores. Most people are allergic to other airborne particles and mould spores are an added problem. Mould easily grows in bathrooms, kitchen, under the wallpaper, on wooden window frames, plant soil, rotted wood, and grass cuttings.
House dust mites, also called dermatophagoides petronyssinus, eat the skin flakes present in house dust. They are extremely tiny and cannot be seen by the naked eye. Made of 80 percent water, these mites thrive on dusty and damp spots. Dust mites and their waste product are the most common cause of airborne allergies. People are also allergic to animal fur or, rather, their saliva that drops as pets move around in the house.
Treatment For Airborne Allergy
People prone to airborne allergy must avoid the causes of allergies. Doctors prescribe certain drugs that help treat airborne allergy. First line treatments like anti-inflammatory nasal sprays, antihistamines- sprays and drops, and decongestant combinations bring relief from airborne allergies. When these fail to provide relief the second line treatment is used. These consist of decongestant sprays and tablets.
Prevention is always better than cure. It not only saves your time and money, but also the trouble of going through pain. Thus, before you learn how to identify the common symptoms of allergy and treat it properly, it is essential to know the allergens that cause allergy. A thorough knowledge on the various harmful allergens will help you to be on your guard and protect yourself from these allergy causing allergens.
About the Author
Jason Uvios writes on the topic of "Undue Trouble:Airborne Allergy" visit it: http://www.allergy-reliefnow.info, http://www.allergystop.info and http://www.allergynow.info
Allergies and Asthma - Differences and Similarities
Allergies are the most common cause of the inflammation which underlies most asthma particularly in younger sufferers.
Allergy rates are on the increase especially in Western countries (compared to people in less affluent rural parts of the world) and there is a growing body of evidence that strongly suggests that asthma is an environmentally induced disease.
This raises the challenging possibility that we may be able to prevent asthma by altering our environment.
Treating asthma by removing the causes, aka triggers, may prove to be successful when the cause is easy to remove, such as a dust or vapors inhaled at the office.
This is also true when the cause is a pet such as a cat or dog, however the reluctance to not have loved pet commonly prevents this.
An allergy to house dust mites is one of the commonest cause of asthma but getting rid of mites sufficiently to make a significant difference requires such a major and expensive change in lifestyle for the sufferer that it is rarely successful..
Research is currently being carried out to develop future treatments which may be able to modify or diminish the allergic process in the body and help all asthmatics.
Asthma and Allergies
?The cause of the inflammation (of the airway) which underlies most asthma in younger sufferers is one or more allergies.
?More people in western countries suffer from allergies, compared to people in less affluent parts of the world, and allergy rates are on the increase.
About the Author
Do you, a spouse or a child, have asthma? Learn more, including the treatments available at www.Asthma-Explained.com
Finding the Right Allergy Relief
For allergy sufferers, finding the right allergy relief can be downright frustrating and, at times, feel quite hopeless. When medication after medication proves unsuccessful, relief can seem like a far-off dream. However, being persistent, monitoring triggers, and keeping open lines of communication with a doctor may prove to be the best possible ways to get one step closer to finding a solution.
Depending on the type of allergy, many options are available for relief. Obviously, the most important treatment is to avoid the irritant as much as possible or to try and completely eliminate any type of contact with the allergen. In order to find the specific irritant, testing may take place to see what specific allergen is causing the allergy symptoms. Once the specific trigger is defined, a plan can be discussed with a doctor or allergist.
For individuals who suffer from pet dander, mold, dust, and mildew allergies, keeping the home as clean as possible can help to achieve some allergy relief. Choosing not to have an animal in the home if there is a pet allergy would eliminate this problem completely. But if the animal must remain in the home, frequent washing of the animal to eliminate excess pet dander can prove to be helpful in minimizing symptoms.
Frequent dusting, vacuuming, and cleaning of bathrooms and kitchens with a bleach and water solution can help keep dust mites and molds at bay. Protecting mattresses and pillows with covers and pads minimizes the possibility of dust mites. And weekly washing of all bedding, including blankets, will also provide allergy relief by reducing allergens within the air. Also, obtaining an air humidifier and an air filtration system can reduce mold spore production within the air.
Certain over-the-counter medications also prove helpful for sufferers of seasonal allergies - those that are induced by the release of pollens into the air - as well as any other type of mild allergy. Nasal decongestants or certain antihistamines such as psuedoephedrine, phenyleprhrine, or oxymetorlzaone can be used alone or in conjunction with each other to achieve relief through the elimination of such symptoms as itchy and watery eyes, stuff and runny nose, and chronic sneezing.
For sufferers of more severe allergies, prescription allergy relief may be found in long term antihistamine use or in nasal corticosteroids. Corticosteroids, taken at low dosages, have proven very successful in eliminating ongoing chest congestion. Immunotherapy is also utilized in severe allergy cases and involves injections of the specific allergen over time in order to build the body's immunity and create tolerance to that allergen in the future.
If all of the treatments have proven unsuccessful, individuals should remain persistent and discuss other alternatives with their doctor to find the relief they need. Monitoring the triggers and tracking any changes will help the doctor understand the individual's specific allergy. New treatments are being discovered on a daily basis and keeping up-to-date with the newest developments could lead to finding the right allergy relief for you.
About the Author
For more information on allergies try visiting http://www.theallergyeffect.com - a website that specializes in providing allergy related tips, advice and resources to including information on allergy relief.
Get To Know The Different Forms Of Skin Allergies
Allergies, in most cases, are manifested through skin allergies. Either skin allergy can happen when the skin is exposed to a substance that it might be allergic to or it can even happen as a reaction to allergens in certain food or medicine.
Causes
Skin allergy can be caused when it is exposed to substances such as latex, perfume, hair dye, dust, flower pollen, make-ups, powders and certain soap. Allergy due to latex is the most common these days, as it is being used in a number of products. The other common cause for skin allergy is poison ivy, which is a form of a plant usually found in most parks and gardens.
Eczema & Hives
Some allergies are genetic in nature and may not be curable. Skin allergy due to eczema is one such decease. It results in the skin being dry and itchy. Hives is another form of skin allergy. This is usually caused due to allergens in food or other external factors, such as, contact with cats, plants or poison oak.
Treatment
Most skin allergies are incurable. Once you have an allergy, then it stays with you for the rest of your life. But it can certainly be treated. But the best way to treat allergy is to avoid coming in contact with the factors that trigger an allergic attack. So it is very important to keep your surroundings clean. It is also advisable to keep your food habits in check. Keep away from the obvious cause of skin allergies such as pollen or dust or animals. Nutrients also help in treating skin allergies. So it is important that you intake adequate amounts of Vitamins and minerals essential for the skin.
Skin allergy can be kept away by taking simple measures. Changing bed sheets, reducing humidity, allergy proof bed covers and keeping away stuffed toys may seem insignificant, but it can protect you from an allergic attack. There may be various types of skin allergies but the good news is that there are different ways to treat them.
Other effective treatments for allergies
Another common treatment for allergies is using a set of medications called antihistamines, which prevent the formation of histamines that are the main cause of allergy. The best example of such antihistamine is Benadryl that will reduce your allergies effectively. The other common over-the-counter drugs that are required for treating allergies include decongestants, bronchilators [for treating asthma related allergies], and allergy shots. The allergy shots are given in the form of vaccines but you should make sure about the amount of medication is needed to produce the desired effect in controlling allergic reactions.
About the Author
Jason Uvios writes on the topic of "Get To Know The Different Forms Of Skin Allergies" visit it: http://www.allergies-canada.info, http://www.allergies-europe.info and http://www.allergyusa.info
Cure Your Allergy
You are in the middle of some daily activation and suddenly it happens: allergy. Soon enough you will enjoy: sneezing, itching, teary eyes, running nose, red rash, needless to go further. Now, I have being in your place and gave a try to all temporary solutions which help for a while but failed to defeat my allergy. In the long run my allergy kept coming back. In this article I will try to help you cure your allergy and not only its symptoms.
What is allergy? Well, allergy is an over reaction response of our immunity system to an innocent food, dust, and other causes. Normally, these things will end up with any reaction, but to some people it is the beginning of another very problematic day. Actually, allergy derives from our immunity system which attacks our body.
There are several types of allergies each one derives from a different source. The main known types of allergies are: hey fever, mite which is tiny insect located in the dust of our carpets and furniture, bronchial asthma, dermatitis, and all sorts of food allergies. Most of them are related to the symptoms we have discussed earlier.
The symptoms are well taking care of by traditional medicine. Every time you suffer from an allergy you will take that medic, which will cure only the symptoms, creating a never ending story of you and your allergy. When ever you eat certain type of food or being exposed to dust or even cats, my wife suffered from that, the allergy is back. The solution is taking care of your body, regain its natural balance and avoid allergies for the rest of your life.
This is the real secret, your body natural balance. If your body was in a perfect physical condition you could have left your allergies behind you. The reason is that an unbalanced body might lead to an unbalanced reaction of the immunity system as we experience with allergies. The solution is balancing your body to gain extra strength.
How can one retain his body balance? It depends totally on you. You must be determined to heal the allergy attacks you suffer from. You must start balancing your diet with healthy food. Please do not try this at once but simply add some healthy supplements to your daily diet. This could be more vegetables seeds, almond, etc.
You should consult a dietitian for a complete new diet which will eventually balance your body and could heal you completely from your allergy.
Karl Ross is a computer engineer, who gained lots of information regarding health and fitness. He likes to share his knowledge, and experience, of a few medical issues he had and the unusual solutions he has found to completely cure them.
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Wheat Allergy And Celiac Disease
Celiac disease affects the small intestine and slows the absorption of nutrients from foods. People who suffer from celiac disease have developed allergies to gluten, a protein that is found in wheat, rye and barley. Gluten is used as a thickener in sauces, soups and ice cream and is the protein that helps bread rise when it is baked.
The main difference between a wheat allergy and Celiac disease is that with a wheat allergy, the afflicted suffers from unpleasant side effects and their energy is drained, but that is the extent of their suffering. A person with Celiac disease ends up having their small intestine lining damaged or destroyed as the body's immune system reacts to gluten being in the person's system. The immune system senses the body is being attacked and proceeds to destroy the villi, small, fingerlike protrusions that line the intestinal wall and allows the body to absorb nutrients.
Without villi, the body has a very difficult time absorbing minerals and nutrients and the person suffering from this disease can become malnourished. This can lead to many different other ailments and if not treated can end up causing liver, kidney, heart failure and chronic weakness. For people with Celiac disease, a gluten free diet is necessary.
Celiac disease is generally thought to be genetic and can be activated after surgery, pregnancy, childbirth, viral infections or stress. It is usually passed along generations although it can skip generations and frequently does. There is no real way of telling if a person has Celiac disease until it manifests itself, although blood tests can identify if one has the disease once they start to exhibit symptoms.
A wheat allergy is different in that the symptoms usually include some sort of physical suffering, but not lasting damage. Symptoms can include excessive gas, nausea, skin ailments, rashes and many other unpleasant conditions. When the person cuts out wheat and wheat based products the symptoms usually disappear with no long term problems.
Doctors and scientists have long investigated the link between wheat allergies and Celiac disease. There are some hypotheses that suggest that wheat intolerance or allergies could be the stress trigger which activates Celiac disease. There are other lines of thought that Celiac disease is caused by eating gluten and it is the Celiac disease that triggers the symptoms of wheat intolerance or allergies.
It is very difficult to know which is true, as both have similar symptoms and Celiac disease literally can cause hundreds of symptoms that may not readily be associated with either condition. The best advice for someone who thinks they might be wheat intolerant is to get tested for Celiac disease after their initial diagnosis. It is important to determine both, however because the longer Celiac disease is left untreated, the greater the risk of malnutrition and/or organ damage. If a person thinks they are wheat intolerant, or are wheat intolerant, they should get a blood test to see if they have Celiac disease, just to make sure.
For more information on a Wheat Allergy and its effects visit http://www.livingwithoutwheat.com/
Allergy Relief - What Can You Do?
Just about everyone around you has suffered from some type of allergy at some time and who wants to be running to the doctor all the time? Wouldn’t you rather deal with it naturally and/or find the underlying cause and de4al with it whenever possible.
Allergy relief does not have to be complex or worrisome because of the harsh chemicals. You also must remember that most modern medicine cures do no more than mask your symptoms.
The reason behind all allergies is the malfunctioning of the immune system so would it not make sense to use natural products to re-start the immune system. That means you would actually fix the problem and not mask it with over the counter or prescription drugs that only dealt with the symptoms providing allergy relief.
Allergy relief certainly makes us feel better on the outside but the trouble is nothing has really changed. That’s why even though you might use the relief it is critical that you dig deeper.
It’s really easy to get allergy relief from popping a pill but did you ever stop to think what the chemicals in those pills do to you. For example anyone with heart disease, heart failure, ore even high blood pressure is not suppose to use them.
That’s because the main ingredient can cause the heart to race and blood pressure to go up making this allergy relief deadly to the user. So even if you are healthy as a horse excluding your allergies you could put yourself in a life or death situation.
Now think about this for a moment. You are going to take a medication that will give you allergy relief but it can be hazardous to your health and in between time it will do nothing to actually resolve the problem with the immune system.
There are many natural supplements that can help boost the immune system and support the adrenal system. There are several of the vitamins, especially the B’s, CoQ10, Grape seed, and Magnesium. You get anti-inflammatory qualities, immune boosters, and reduces stress to the body. Quercitin can actually help neutralize histamine which is an excellent allergy relief.
There are many reasons why the immune system suddenly goes crazy and there are some interesting theories as to why allergies are on the rise. Natural medicine believes much of it has to do with our overly stressful lives and our bodies that are no longer in balance. This means that if we were able to bring our body back into balance we wouldn’t’ be looking for allergy relief because we wouldn’t have the allergies we have right now.
If you take a minute to think about it – it makes more sense than any other explanation we’ve had. Not only are our lives stressed because we are so busy but our body’s systems are stressed because of toxins we ingest through our mouth, respiratory, and skin. That places a great deal of stress on organs and glands. And because our food chain lacks so many nutrients that it once had we are not able to refuel our body the same way we use to. And that’s why before running out and buying some allergy relief you might also consider bring your body back into balance.
So you see allergy relief will only address the symptoms. Why not get to the bottom of the problem instead?
Get all the latest information about Allergies from the only true source at http://www.1allergyinformation.com/
Be sure to check out our Allergy Relief pages.
Allergy Relief
Allergy is a condition in which the body tends to react due to hypersensitivity to some substance such as food, drugs, drinks, pollution, flowers, and others. An allergen could be anything under the sun that might cause a reaction in one’s body if the body disagrees with that substance. Even a common thing such as sunlight and air might cause sever reactions in some if the skin is susceptible to allergies due to the same.
People suffering from food allergies are many. Although most of these individuals do not have very severe reactions, some might find instant severe reaction to some foods. Most common foods that cause allergies in some people are the nuts, peanuts in general. Milk, soy, corn, and even rice etc., are a few other that might cause allergic reaction with no apparent reason. Some people are allergic to processed foods and other processed products. Although in a small percentage, even chocolate causes reaction in a few people. Food allergies mostly affect the immune system, respiratory and digestive systems, depending on the type of food that has been consumed. Seafood such as fish, prawns, shellfish, jellyfish etc., is another common kind that causes allergies in individuals. The best method to encounter the food allergies is to avoid intake of the kind of food that causes reaction in the individual.
Citrus fruits such as strawberries, raspberries, oranges, and others cause allergic reactions in most people. Itchiness, redness or blotchy face, irritation are common symptoms. Peanut allergy can also be very severe as it might even result in death by just a common contact with a peanut. An allergy test would prove to be very helpful in case of peanuts and even other nuts for that matter as they are most deadly of all allergies.
Flowers are one of the most beautiful parts of nature. However, even these can prove to be dangerous for people who are allergic to pollen formed in certain flowers. Pollen and even certain kinds of weeds and grass often affect respiratory system and cause severe damage. Individuals suffering from sinusitis must get the same under check to avoid further damage to the sinus. Periodic allergic checks can bring forward the exact kind of allergy the individual has and proper treatment can help a lot in the long run. Getting rid of plants with flowers around that individual might also help to a great extent. Of course this is only if the flowers have been detected as the actual cause of the allergy.
Certain drugs might cause adverse reaction to the patient resulting in complications. Irritation, swelling of face and body, breaking out into hives etc., are some of the well noticed symptoms but some drugs might cause internal allergies that take some time to detect and cure. Sulfur is used in most of the drugs that causes adverse reactions in people. The physician must get to know initially if the patient is allergic to any of the drugs before administering the same. Getting an allergy test done at regular intervals is a good choice if suspecting any allergies in the body.
Another common allergic reaction is caused due to metal. Most individuals are allergic to nickel. Even gold and silver cause reactions in some individuals although in a very small percentage. Metals lead to skin allergies. Individuals reacting to metals are liable to break into hives or the skin starts itching along with swelling in that area. Turning red or purple in the area coming in contact with the metal is another common reaction. Avoidance of such metals that cause reactions would be the best choice for individuals suffering from such skin allergies.
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Vega Therapy for Allergy
Probably the most exciting development to have evolved in recent years, is an electronic procedure for detecting all allergy conditions. It is of particular use in revealing masked allergies and is safe, fast, simple and efficient. It is called Vega Therapy and uses electronic equipment, manufactured by the VEGA Grieshaber Corporation, of West Germany.
In the early part of this century, Dr Hamish Boyd, of Glasgow, noted that if a substance was brought into series in an electrical circuit, to which the patient was connected, a change in skin impedance was produced. Boyd's discovery was the subject of a government inquiry, but nothing further came of it. Then, in the 1950s, a German doctor, Reinholdt Voll, developed Boyd's idea and, with the help of electronic equipment, evolved a useful, but highly complex, technique to diagnose disease. More recently, Dr Helmut Schimmel, also of West Germany, simplified Dr Voll's technique and improved the cumbersome equipment to that of a small portable, electronic unit, known as the VEGA TEST.
Dr Julian Kenyon, of Britain, has developed a highly efficient technique for diagnosing allergies, using the VEGA TEST equipment. He describes his technique as follows:
The observed fact of changes in skin impedance, provides a useful technique in the field of food and chemical sensitivity. Therefore, the technique can be used for allergy testing. In practice, a point is taken on the fingers or toes, (these are sites where major electrical exchanges happen, between the body and its environment, this being largely due to the geometry of fingers and toes, in that they are relatively pointed and, therefore, charge accumulation occurs at the tips of the digits). A relevant acupuncture point is chosen, although it doesn't appear important to choose any specific point. One by one, the suspected allergens are introduced into the circuit, and each time a new measurement is made. Any substance which causes a drop in measured resistance, is labelled as allergic, or more correctly, in the field of clinical ecology, as 'sensitive', as far as the patient is concerned.
In clinical practice, the techniques give the right answer nine times out of ten, which represents a better success rate, than the most successful method for diagnosis of food and chemical sensitivities, available so far, that of Cytotoxic testing. Immunological tests such as the RAST test, (IgE test) for diagnosis of food and chemical sensitivity; are notoriously inaccurate. Those doctors who adhere to these tests in a stubborn fashion, do not appear to be aware, that the results from such tests are often irrelevant, to the patient. The inaccuracy of skin testing, particularly for foods, has been amply demonstrated, by many studies carried out in America, as early as the 1950s.
The existence of electrical changes around biological structures,and their importance both in health and disease, is slowly becoming recognized, but in order for this important study to develop further, closer co-operation between physicists, electronic engineers and medical scientists will have to come about.
The important work done in this field is described by Dr Ion Dumitrescu, of Rumania, in his book, Electrographic Imaging in Medicine and Biology. To date, Dr Kenyon has trained several hundred doctors, in the United Kingdom, in the use of the VEGATEST for allergy diagnosis.. He has also lectured throughout Europe, America and Asia, to several thousand more doctors who are genuinely interested in helping patients overcome multiple allergy illness.
A great advantage of the VEGA TEST method is that it can detect any allergic substance, whether it be food, chemical, airborne, environmental or whatever. Not only that, but it can also measure the degree of sensitivity - something which no other allergy test can do.
Diagnosis is the key to allergy illness. Once the food/chemical substances have been detected, avoidance will usually enable the patient to recover quickly. It is absolutely impossible to comprehend, when you are staggering through life under the deadly weight of allergy illness, just how wonderful and alert it is possible to feel, within a few short days or weeks, of successful diagnosis and avoidance. Diagnosis is the key and, in Australia, for most people, it is a very elusive key indeed!
The good news for chemical allergy sufferers is that, once diagnosis is achieved, it is possible for clinical ecologists, such as Dr Kenyon, to switch off some allergies, by means of desensitizing drops or injections. However, this method is not very successful for treating food allergies. Avoidance is by far the best.
Some other practical food tests, which can be put to good use by suspected sufferers, are the pulse test, the kinesiology test and the urine test.
Author's Sites: Home Remedies, Home Remedies Blog and Self Help Articles
Rotation Diet for Allergy
After having successfully recognized which foods are making you ill, the next step is to manage your diet so that the allergic effects can be avoided, particularly, that most insidious and dangerous of things - addiction! After complete avoidance for a period of time, the body loses its sensitivity and can be re-exposed to allergenic foods, on a carefully managed basis. This method is known as the diversified rotation diet.
American allergist, Dr F.L. Leeney, was the first to use this approach and another leading allergist, Dr H. Rinkel, further refined it. He demonstrated that a symptom-producing food does not have to be avoided forever but can be returned to the diet, on a limited basis, after a period of time, during which sensitivity diminishes. He says that foods, giving minor reactions, should be avoided for a minimum of six weeks, and those causing major reactions should be avoided for three months. After that time, the offending foods can be reintroduced into the diet every four days. If reactions occur on this programme, then further avoidance, for another two to three months, is necessary.
The reasoning behind the four-day rotation diet is that it normally takes three days for food to pass through the intestine. As Dr Kenyon says, it may be possible to get away with a three-day rotation, but, as a 'rule of the thumb', four days is safer.
There is always the danger that a person, once allergic to a number of foods, will develop new allergies to other foods, if they are eaten too often. This is because the body deteriorates into an allergenic state, with the immune system becoming overtired and incapable of dealing with the toxic residues found, normally, in safe foods. When an allergy sufferer is forced to give up staple foods, he will often try to compensate by the adoption of new daily staples. For example, he will substitute soy products for milk, beans for grains, chicken for pork and so on. In no time at all his flagging immune system will, again, be overloaded by constant repetition and further allergies will result. The ideal answer to this problem is the four-day or seven day rotation diet. This method not only rests the immune system, by preventing it being bombarded with the same toxins day after day, but also gives the individual an eating plan which is more interesting, as well as safe.
Drs Kenyon and Lewith list three advantages of the rotation diet:
1. As a diagnostic tool it can unmask hitherto unrecognized, hidden (masked) food allergies.
2. It makes it less likely that the person will develop new allergies to foods which he is regularly in contact with, having substituted these foods in place of allergic foods.
3. It helps the multiple food allergic person to lead a reasonable lifestyle and to maintain tolerance to the food he is already able to eat.
The diversified rotation diet allows the food allergy sufferer to maintain as balanced a nutritional intake as possible. However, sometimes supplements will be needed. Otherwise, as well as developing new allergies, it can be possible to become malnourished very quickly, leading to further aggravation of existing problems.
Author's Sites: Home Remedies, Home Remedies Blog and Self Help Articles
Children With A Wheat Allergy
A Wheat allergy is a sickness that often manifests itself in children. In many cases, a child will outgrow the allergy, but this possibility does not make immediate situation any more fun or understandable, particularly for the child. Children often do not understand why they feel sick or have skin ailments, but once it is identified and the proper dietary measures are taken, the child (and the adult) can learn lessons that will help them eat healthier for the rest of their life.
The toughest aspect of altering a child's diet is to enforce it when the child is not around their parent. When they are in school, at a friend's house or just hanging around, they will be tempted, like any child, to eat candy, packaged products containing wheat as a main ingredient or bi-product, etc. If they do not adhere to the diet, however, the results will be tainted and thus moot.
Like all children, explaining why it is important to stick with the dietary changes is critical, but getting them to remember why is another question altogether. To accomplish this, it might be necessary to alert the child's teachers, friend's parents and any other person with whom the child associates and alert them of the child's condition, dietary needs and mandates and the consequences of not helping them adhere to the diet. When people understand why someone has to pursue certain behavior, they often will be more supportive and will be willing to take an extra step to help out.
Another way to help the child is to include a lot of fruit in the diet. This is common sense, but even more important when the child is not allowed any sugar during the elimination phases of the diet. Fruit is a great tasting source of natural sugar and sweetness. It also provides nutrients, energy and with time, will become a habit for the child instead of something they have to intentionally think about.
A third way to help your child is to adopt a fun game of keeping a log, which can also be useful for monitoring the intolerance and for doctor visits. Challenge your child to write down how they feel after each meal and if they have any side effects during the elimination phase. For young children, allow them to draw pictures that express how they feel. By making the log process into a game of sorts, the challenge begins to solve the "mystery" of what does not sit well with them, they will be gently forced to forget that they are not getting sugary and processed foods that are too often the staple of most children. This also will help them get through the tougher stage so that when their intolerance is verified they will be used to the new diet.
Finally, altering your own eating habits as a parent, even if it is short-term, is another good way of showing your child that you are willing to make the sacrifice and be disciplined. This tells your child (or spouse or partner) that you care for them and will do anything to help them feel better. That type of support not only helps them get through the process of adapting to a new diet, it also reaffirms your love for them and dedication to their well-being, which is about the best source of support and help a parent can provide.
For more information on a Wheat Allergy and its effects visit http://www.livingwithoutwheat.com/
Allergy Tests Effectiveness
Many people suffer from allergies. The problem that most allergy sufferers face is that it is difficult to pinpoint just what it is that they are allergic to. This is where allergy tests come in. But how effective are they in discovering exactly what it is you're allergic to? Are they accurate? Are there many ways to even perform the tests? We're going to try to answer some of these questions as well as explain how allergy tests work. Hopefully, by the time you're done reading this, you'll have a pretty good understanding of allergy tests are.
The basic premise behind giving allergy tests is very simple. Your allergist will inject you with small portions of each allergen to determine exactly what it is that you are allergic to. However, in reality, it isn't quite that simple. There are several methods to giving these tests and unfortunately all allergists give them differently.
The one method, which takes the longest, is to start with the smallest dose of allergen for each allergy. Since there are about 8 or 9 outdoor and 8 or 9 indoor allergies, this comes out to about 16 to 18 shots for each allergen at each dosage level. There are approximately 6 or 7 dosage levels for giving these tests. So by the time you are done testing, you could effectively have gotten as many 126 shots. While this may sound on the verge of insanity, it actually goes by very fast. Each dosage level is administered simultaneously in these standard kits. So you're getting about 8 shots at a time.
The way the test works is simple. After each dose is given, a period of about 10 minutes is allowed to pass. The allergist then checks to see if there are any signs of a reaction. If not, then they move up to the next dosage. Now, each allergen can react at a different dosage. So each reaction point has to be noted. Obviously, very detailed record keeping is involved here.
Other allergists simply go the direct route and administer the highest test dosage to start with and work their way down. This is not as accurate because an allergen that reacts at dose 6 may not react at dose 3 but will react at dose 4. Why does this matter? Because the ultimate serum created will actually be a little stronger than it needs to be. Granted, the difference is slight but many allergists feel that difference is significant enough.
But how accurate are these tests, even if you go the long route? Truthfully, they aren't as accurate as people want to think. The reason, as explained to me by my allergist, is because the skin, which is where the tests are given, reacts differently to allergens than the actual sinus passages. To get a more accurate result, you would have to inject each sinus passage, one shot at a time, and then what for a reaction. The amount of time it would take to administer these tests under those conditions would make testing virtually impossible. So skin testing is the best we can hope for.
So because the tests themselves are not that accurate, the actual allergy shot created for them is only going to be so accurate. This is why many people who take allergy shots get very little relief from them, if any.
Therefor, the alternative to allergy testing and allergy shots is simply to treat your allergies with natural foods and herbs. You can find such treatments by visiting our website.
To YOUR Health,
Steve Wagner
Steve Wagner used to suffer from allergies terribly, but with proper diet he is now allergy free. Come visit our website at http://www.natures-healing-remedies.com/products.html asthma where you can learn how to be allergy free. Also, pick up your FREE report on how the drug companies are killing us as well as get a FREE 52 week series featuring treatments for a different ailment each week.
Allergies - Allergy Shots
In this article we're going to discuss a common form of battling allergies with the use of allergy shots and how allergy shots work to build up a person's immunity to outside allergens.
A growing number of people who suffer from allergies and not finding the relief that they want from antihistamines are turning towards allergy shots to hopefully put and end to their dreaded sneezing, wheezing, itching and misery.
So exactly what are allergy shots? Allergy shots actually contain a very small amount of whatever it is that you're allergic to. If you have multiple allergies, such as a combination of indoor and outdoor allergies, then two shots are actually given. One for the outdoor allergies and one for the indoor allergies.
How do allergy shots work? Well, in theory it's actually very simple. Allergy shots help your body fight the allergen that is bothering you. When you get shots of the allergen itself your body makes antibodies to the allergen. These antibodies help block the effects of the allergen itself. Your symptoms become less severe because the antibodies block the way your body reacts to the allergens. After taking enough of these shots over a long period of time you might start to get relief from your symptoms. This relief should last for a very long time.
Many kinds of allergies can be battled with allergy shots. They work very well with allergies to pollen, or what is commonly called hay fever. They also work for eye allergies, bee sting allergies, and even some drug allergies. In many people, allergy shots can greatly improve asthma symptoms. Most people will get allergy shots after they have exhausted every other option.
Unfortunately, not everyone can get allergy shots. If you have severe asthma or a heart problem you should not get allergy shots. Also, if you take a beta blocker for a heart condition you shouldn't take allergy shots. Children under five years of age should also not get allergy shots. Also, you shouldn't start allergy shots if you are pregnant.
If you decide, along with your doctor, to get allergy shots, he will first have to give you an allergy test to determine what allergies you have. This test in effect is actual treatment as some of each allergen has to be injected into you in order to do the test. After the results are in, a vaccine can be made which can then be given on a weekly or biweekly basis or for whatever interval the doctor thinks is necessary.
Once you start taking your shots you will at first have to take them every week or every other week. After about 6 months most people can go on what is called maintenance and get shots once each month. This usually continues for about 3 to 5 years until eventually most people no longer need to take shots because their immunity has been built up enough to the allergens.
Allergy shots are normally not harmful but some people do have reactions to them. If you should have a severe reaction the doctor will usually keep you in his office for about 20 minutes each time you get your shot so that if you have a reaction he can give you something to counteract it.
Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Allergies
