Allergy: How to Diagnose and Treat Symptoms
Allergies affect a large population of adults and children in the United States. They are considered the sixth leading cause of chronic illness in our country. The symptoms of this condition lead to increased sick leave and loss of productivity.
Suffering from an allergy can get in the way of our daily lives. The symptoms are sometimes unbearable to live with. These make our daily lives harder to enjoy and get in the way of doing what we like best.
There is good news! More options are available in treatments today and can be prescribed by your physician. These allow for more symptom-free days and a higher quality of life.
Allergies occur when the immune system malfunctions. It perceives a normally harmless substance as one that is harmful. Thus, when this occurs; the body produces a large number of immunoglobulin E. These antibodies cause a release of chemicals that result in itching, swelling, and tightening of the airways.
The symptoms that occur due to this process include: watery eyes, runny nose, hives, and coughing. In more severe cases, the symptoms can produce difficulty breathing and dizziness. If allergic reactions become severe, it is called anaphylaxis. Although rare, it is life-threatening. Emergency medical care is needed in many cases.
Many things may cause a person to have an allergic reaction. Hay fever is a result of pollen and can either be seasonal or year-round. Another common allergy is dust mites, which survive in dust and other fibers common to the household. Animal dander is another cause of allergy symptoms, so are mold, latex and some foods.
Most people will have a reaction to one or two allergens, while yet others will suffer many symptoms from a variety of culprits. If your one or both parents have had an allergy, you may develop one as well. If you suffer with another chronic condition such as eczema or asthma, you are more likely to develop an allergy. If your immunity is down, you are more likely to develop an allergy while you are in a weakened condition.
Sufferers of allergies, there is hope for you. There are many treatment plans available for you. Among the remedies for relief of allergy symptoms are: antihistamines, decongestants, and nasal sprays. You might also have to consider immunotherapy, known as allergy shots; if your condition is not made better with other methods. By using the prescribed shots, you will have more symptom-free days, with less medication. Speaking to your doctor, you will find the best form of treatment for your individual symptoms.
Thanks for stopping by and reading about Relief Of Allergy Symptoms, as well as Allergies. To learn more, visit BESTALLERGYINFO.COM where some very informative articles are being featured.
Allergy: How to Diagnose and Treat Symptoms
Common Allergy Symptoms and Treatment Options
Common Allergy Symptoms and Treatment Options
Allergies affect a huge percentage of adults and children in the United States. They are considered the sixth leading cause of chronic illness in this country. The symptoms can lead to productivity loss and extended sick time taken from work or school.
If you struggle from an allergy, you may find symptoms getting in the way of your daily schedule. This causes you to miss doing things you enjoy.
Fear not! There is some good news. Many options are now available for you and with your doctor's help; your life can become more symptom-free.
Allergies occur when the body's immune system perceives a harmless substance as one that is harmful. When the body contacts with this substance, it will produce a large number of immunoglobulin E. These antibodies make the body release chemicals such as histamine that result in itching, swelling, and tightening of airways.
Symptoms that you encounter due to this biological process can include: watery eyes, runny nose, hives, and coughing. In severe cases, the symptoms can produce difficulty breathing and dizziness. In some cases, if the symptoms can be life-threatening and this rare reaction is called anaphylaxis, which requires immediate emergency medical care.
There are various items that a person can have an allergic reaction to. Hay fever is caused by a reaction to pollen, and can be either seasonal or year-round. This will depend on what you are allergic to. Another common source is dust mites, which live in household dust and other fibers in common household objects.
Mold, latex, and food are some other sources of allergies. Most people suffer form one or two allergens, while yet others have many symptoms from a number of culprits.
An individual has a greater chance of having an allergy, if either parent or both suffered from allergies. If you have another chronic condition such as eczema or asthma, the greater your chances. When your immune system is weakened you also stand a greater chance of develop an allergy.
Although many complain of allergies, there are various numbers of treatments readily available. Among the treatments available to sufferers, antihistamines, decongestants, or nasal sprays may be just the thing to relieve your symptoms. However, sometimes, these are not quite the thing you may need. Oftentimes, you may need something stronger to help you. Your doctor may have to place you on a regime of immunotherapy, also known as allergy shots. With this treatment, you may experience more symptom-free days. Speak to your doctor about the course of treatment right for you.
Visit us for more information on how to diagnose allergy symptoms, allergies and children and understanding allergies.
Unrelieved allergy symptoms may signal underlying problem
Unrelieved allergy symptoms may signal underlying problem
Post-Bulletin, MN -
I've had a chest X-ray, blood tests, allergy pills and nasal sprays. Is there something else my doctor should be looking for? Your itchy throat, nasal drip ...
Readmore...
[Source : Google News]
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.
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
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.
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/
7 Common Food Allergy Symptoms
Food allergies are becoming more common in people, especially in children. It is difficult with children to find out what they are allergic to and to know if they are having an allergic reaction to having eaten something. Children especially young children may not immediately tell you that something is wrong, that is why as a parent you need to be aware of the seven common food allergy symptoms.
Common food allergy symptoms
The seven symptoms are breathing and swallowing difficulties, stomach pain or cramping, diarrhea, vomiting and nausea as well as hives and possible asthmas attacks. These symptoms can occur hours after eating or within minutes depending on the allergy severity. People who suffer from food allergies and have such knowledge avoid foods that can cause the allergic reaction. This is not helpful to someone who has no idea they are allergic to a food.
Of the 7 common food allergy symptoms, the number one on the list is difficulty breathing or swallowing. When this occurs, you grasp for air and if you have no medication or medical help immediately, you can suffocate and die. Many people, who have experienced an allergic reaction to say peanuts, carry medication to reverse the reaction in a matter of seconds. This is vital for people aware of their food allergy. If you do not know you have the allergy, you need medical attention right away.
Diarrhea, vomiting, nausea and stomach cramps can subside after some time, although severe symptoms require medical attention. Continued vomiting can cause dehydration, which in turn can also lead to death if proper liquid intake is not maintained. The nausea feeling subsides after rest, but can continue as long as the food is still being digested.
Food allergies are easily misdiagnosed
Food allergies are often confused with gastrointestinal disorders, which results in people not knowing that they have a health problem other than a food allergy. Children and adults alike are prone to food allergies and cannot consume certain foods or beverages. Babies are sometime allergic to the formula they drink and often are given a soy product instead.
The common food allergy symptoms also include hives and asthma. Hives appear if someone eats foods that they are allergic too. Some people are allergic to strawberries and after indulging with break out in hives. An anti-itching cream can be applied, but for severe cases, you may need medical treatment. The food allergy that causes hives can become severe and affect the lungs, which in turn may trigger an asthma attack. These attacks can be severe and can result in death if treatment is not received immediately.
People who experience food allergy symptoms should seek medical advice to see if there is any cause for concern.
Enjoy a more allergy free life by visiting AllergyAnswersGuide.com where you will find allergy related information, advice, tips and resources including allergy eye drops, allergy shots and yeast allergies.
