Allergy Relief Resource and Guide

In the past we have written about how allergies can affect your sleep.  The problem is you may be “Sleeping with the Enemy” to borrow the title from an old Julia Roberts movie.  An anti allergy mattress cover can alleviate nasal allergy symptoms that you experience at night.  Managing your allergies involves more than just allergy medicines.  Many times it involves examining your daily habits for clues and then making the effort to change them.  Dust mite allergies affect many people who sleep on uncovered mattresses and an anti allergy mattress cover is a relatively easy thing to buy to decrease your exposure.

I don’t know of many people who attempt to really clean their mattress though vacuuming it with an allergy friendly vacuum cleaner may be helpful if you do it regularly.  Beds are used daily so the mattresses can get pretty dirty.  Think about wearing the same clothes every day, you definitely wouldn’t want to do that.  Changing and or cleaning the bedding in hot water regularly especially for those that suspect they are allergic to their beds is a must.  An anti allergy mattress cover will add to the level of cleanliness that will help manage your dust.

An anti allergy mattress cover basically covers and encloses your mattress so even if you are not able to clean your mattress you are shielded from exposure to not only the dust but the hair follicles, dead skin and sweat that may be embedded in the mattress.  Some best practices for using an anti allergy mattress is to clean the mattress as we discussed above before enclosing it in the cover.  You can also clean the covers as well.

Hypoallergenic bedding has been around for a while so finding them should not be a problem.  Keep in mind sometimes those that experience allergy symptoms at night like sneezing and congestion may be allergic to something else in their bed.  An example of that is an allergy to down comforters but there are allergy free comforter available as alternatives too.  A blitz approach would definitely include covers for both pillows and your mattress and making sure that you are using alternatives to down pillows and down comforters.

An anti allergy mattress cover not only helps with allergies but asthma sufferers also have a better nights sleep.  The new disturbing trend of bed bugs has also made mattress covers more main stream as some of the newer anti allergy covers are also applying “bed bug shields” to make it harder for your mattress to be infested with bed bugs and dust mites.

Allergies seem to be everywhere nowadays?  From respiratory allergies to food allergies it seems everyone is somehow affected.  Do you think you suffer from allergies?  In order to start to figure that out you need to understand what allergies are in the first place.

Allergies are the reactions to certain things that you either get exposed to or ingest like in the case of food.  These “things” are called allergens.  Since so many of these allergens have been identified allergies are usually broken down into categories based on either the allergen or the allergy symptoms involved.  The one that seems more prevalent nowadays are seasonal allergies or what I would call nasal allergies since the biggest symptom affects your nose and your breathing.  Sneezing and congestion are one of the cornerstones of seasonal allergies.  The main allergen in this case is pollen.

The next most well-known allergy are those classified as food allergies.  These allergic reactions can be life threatening so they are often covered by the media.  Peanut allergies are one of the main ones covered because it affects so many children.  The staple of lunch, the peanut butter and jelly sandwich, has taken on a new meaning.  Affecting both children with the peanut allergy and without since schools and other children’s programs have instituted peanut butter bans and allergy free lunch tables.  Other food allergies like those to milk and seafood are others that can affect both adults and children.

Allergy symptoms can vary by person and by the type of allergy involved.  Seasonal allergies usually involve the the nose and are usually treated with antihistamines.  Interestingly enough there has been a new breed of allergy medicines for seasonal and nasal allergy symptoms that try to address the swelling of the nasal passages not just the blocking of the histamines that are treated by antihistamines.  With all forms of allergies you can run into different levels of severity based on the allergic reactions involved.  Simplistically they can be classified as mild, moderate and severe.  Mild symptoms can include watery eyes, itchy skin, a runny nose, coughing, and hives. A severe reaction would be anaphylactic, where the allergy sufferer can suffocate because of the swelling in the throat.  This is typically more associated with food allergies.

Sadly allergy sufferers can not be cured though their symptoms can be managed with the use of allergy medicines like antihistamines, steroidal medicines and immunotherapy.  Identifying your allergy triggers with an allergist is a major step in managing your allergies since you learn how to avoid the causes.  In the case of food allergies there are a variety of approaches involving food challenges so that your allergic reactions can be reduced.  Allergy shots are also an approach that can be investigated.

Are those the only allergies?  Sadly no.  Pets are also a common cause of nasal allergies.  Pet allergies mainly involve a person’s reaction to cats and dogs.  Moving the dog or cat out of your environment seems like a simple solution but because their dander remains it may take longer than you think to not only be allergy free but also to confirm whether it was your pet in the first place that was giving you allergies.  Other allergens to note are insect allergies like being allergic to a bee sting.  Another is a dust allergy where you react to the dust mites.  Latex and mold allergies are also of note but not as prevalent as some of the others.

If you or someone in your life thinks they are suffering from allergies don’t dismiss it as a media driven “fad”.  Our world has changed and many believe those changes have contributed to the rise in allergy sufferers.  Don’t be a victim and suffer through them without the help of your doctor and an allergist.  In some cases it could be a matter of life or death.

Allergy medicines are so prevalent nowadays one has to wonder what we would do without them.  Sadly whatever factors are contributing to the rise in allergies they don’t seem to be changing for the better.  Allergy medicines are advertised heavily during pollen season because so many of us suffer from seasonal allergies but they can be helpful at many other times as well.  I will confess my go to nasal allergy medicine is Benadryl.  Even though I have been prescribed and use Astelin for my nasal allergy symptoms sometimes I get caught unawares even after all these years.

Being outdoors tends to be a great enjoyment for most people particularly in the nicer weather associated with the spring and summer.  Even after a rain storm you may encounter enough pollen to cause problems and that is when you need to use allergy medicines.  If you are a gardener with allergies you also know that with all of the planting activity in the spring comes the risk of an allergy induced migraine or an unbelievable stuffy head.  By this time you should be in the routine of taking a daily medicine like Claritin to manage your seasonal allergies.

The timing of your use of allergy medicines in the spring usually works out well since spring cleaning tends to be an annual tradition in most houses.  Dust allergies can be triggered by all the cleaning done in the spring.  We also tend to open our windows to air out the house which of course lets the pollen in.  For cleaning in general though even outside the spring it might be wise to use allergy medicines like Benadryl to head it off at the pass since you are not using your seasonal allergy medicines at that point.

The trick to get the most out of the allergy medicines you use is to follow the dosing carefully especially for prescription medications.  You may not be on your allergy prevention regimen and that tends to cause problems with the effectiveness of your allergy medicines.  In my case if you do not take it once at night and once in the morning for a couple of days the effects are not as good so looking forward in terms of the pollen and your activities is key to making sure you are prepared.

Allergies can effect your quality of life so badly that not using your allergy medicines can make the difference between a great day and a bad day.  This also applies for your friends and family too who may be depending on your presence or participation in something important, believe me I know.

Dog allergies can change the wonderful bond shared over the centuries.  Dogs may be man’s best friend but dog allergies are man’s worst enemy.  Dog allergy symptoms can be miserable if they are severe.  Mild symptoms can include watery eyes, itchy skin and even a dry mouth.  The more severe symptoms can include hives, difficulty breathing due to congestions and even asthma attacks.

You may not even know you have dog allergies until after you get a dog and even then the allergic reactions may not start until weeks or even months after you have been living with a dog.  If you know you suffer from allergies in general odds are you may end up being allergic to dogs.  Dog allergies can also run in families so that may be a clue too.  This doesn’t necessarily mean you can never own a dog but you will have to do more homework before you buy one.

Certain dog breeds are better for those allergic to pet dander.  Dander is basically the particles of skin that are shed by pets like dogs and cats.  There are some dogs that shed their skin more slowly than others, they include poodles and schnauzers.  Because of the rise in dog allergies there actually has been a lot of research and cross-breeding to develop dogs that cause less dog allergies.  Those of note to avoid are cocker spaniels and basset hounds that are said to shed their skin faster which leaves more dander all over.

Indoor dogs of course will cause more problems for dog allergy sufferers but if you don’t want an outdoor dog you can try to manage the amount of dander you get exposed to.  You can do this by cleaning your house regularly.  Particularly areas like the bedding in your bedroom, the carpets and even curtains.  An air purifier with a HEPA filter may also help as it removes particles in the air including dander.

Contrary to popular belief you should not wash your dog frequently.  This actually cause more dander as the skin is dried out and then sheds more.  Dog allergy sufferers should be washing their dogs monthly.  Feeding your dog quality dog food can also reduce dander particles because it keeps their coat shiny and healthy.

Depending on the severity of your dog allergies you may be able to manage them with allergy medicines.  Consulting with a doctor to confirm your suspicions and to get advice on whether over the counter medicines will do the trick is highly advised if you want to keep your pet.

If you decide that you have to give away your dog you need to know that you may continue to suffer from your allergies for months.  You need to thoroughly clean and vacuum your house and if you have carpets odds are you need to have them shampooed.  Sadly you will have to get rid of their toys as well.

Being allergic to dogs can by a nuisance but for some it can be more than that.  Whether you get exposed to dogs of your own or through your family and friends getting the help you need can help you manage man’s worst enemy – dog allergies.

As someone who writes about allergies regularly I am sometimes amazed at the different types of allergies that are being categorized.  Sometimes it seems the list is being expanded daily.  Many times those not familiar with seasonal allergy symptoms confuse them with a cold while someone with a food allergy might think they got a case of food poisoning.  The types of allergies dictate your symptoms and how or whether there is an allergy treatment that may help alleviate your allergy symptoms.  This is why it is so important to understand the different kinds of allergies.

Top level types of allergies are categories like seasonal allergies and food allergies but their are so many different allergens that can be the cause in each.  Though one person might be allergic to the growth of grass in the spring another may only be allergic to ragweed.  Some of us may be allergic to many of the pollen types that pop up in the spring and fall.  For food allergies some may experience an egg allergy while another may be allergic to wheat or gluten.

The reality is that having allergy symptoms is just the first step toward identifying the types of allergies you may have followed by many other steps that include consultations with doctors and different methods and attempts to treat your allergy symptoms.  Allergy medicines may work on some while not on others.  Some may even end up trying more natural allergy treatments like acupuncture for allergies.

A myth that I was actually a victim of was that you are born with whatever types of allergies you are going to have.  That is not true.  Some allergies can develop over time like seasonal allergies.  Babies that may be born with a peanut allergy may never be able to eat peanuts while they may actually outgrow a milk allergy.  Exposure is a big component of developing allergies with a good example being people who develop allergies when they move.  This can be to another country or state but even a house.

Some people do not get exposed to the level of dust or pet dander that is sufficient to trigger significant allergy symptoms until they bump into a specific situation or environment that brings those types of allergies to light.  When I moved from a house with steam heat to one with forced hot air my nasal allergy symptoms rose dramatically because not only was the heating system blowing pollen around it also was blowing more dust around as well.  A dust allergy which is actually a dust mite allergy is harder to manage with this type of heating system.  Living with a pet can also cause you to develop pet allergies that you didn’t know you had since pet allergies don’t often show up right away.

One of the key things to understand about all the different types of allergies is that true allergies involve the immune system and it’s reaction to the protein in the specific allergen.  Sometimes things like intolerances and sensitivities seem like they are an allergy but they are not.  Lactose intolerance is not a milk allergy for example and being sensitive to substances in the air like smoke is not an eye allergy.  As the types of allergies continue to expand treatments will evolve that include both allergy medicines and more natural treatments so keeping up with news on the allergy front may get you closer to living a more allergy free life.

Are you allergic to beer?

Do you think you have a beer allergy?  If you don’t know a lot about how beer is made you may think it doesn’t make sense but beer is full of a bunch of different ingredients that can possibly cause an allergic reaction.  If your symptoms have been relatively mild like congestion and a runny nose odds are if you really like beer you can basically just ignore your beer allergy symptoms.  If your symptoms have been more dramatic then it’s time to investigate your options.

There are many kinds of beer nowadays.  No longer are you stuck with Miller, Michelob and Coors.  Beers have gone upscale in many cases with many folks preferring beers like Amstel Light or Sam Adams just to name a couple.  If you are of Irish descent(or not) you may appreciate a good old Guiness now an then.  This doesn’t even cover the breweries that make their own ales.  This makes the job of identifying what causes your beer allergy that much more difficult.

There are a few allergens that can be causing your beer allergy:

• Hops
• Barley
• Yeast
• Gluten
• Wheat
• Sulphates

Keep in mind that a beer allergies are not that common but if you suspect one you need to look at the above ingredients in your diet for clues.  Beer is flavored with hops and sometimes even fruits so it may not be the obvious brewers yeast that is causing your beer allergy.  Wheat allergies and gluten allergies have also increased of late so those may be culprits as well.  Malted barley is also a big candidate since those with pollen allergies may have barley as a trigger.

The symptoms of a beer allergy can be mild like a congested or runny nose but sometimes the allergic reaction can be more severe like those who suffer from Oral Allergy Syndrome.  In that case the beer allergy symptoms can include a swollen tongue and lips, tingling face and hives. Symptoms can include dizziness, coughing, tightness in the chest and even a white coating on their tongue.  Those with a brewers yeast allergy will exhibit symptoms associated with yeast allergies in general.  These could include a sore throat, nausea, sneezing, diarrhea, heartburn, rashes on the skin and possibly stomach pain.

Treating your beer allergy will depend on how severe it is.  Mild symptoms probably don’t require much since the symptoms usually disappear by themselves.  Those with asthma type symptoms really need to consult with their doctor since using antihistamines and adrenaline injections may make symptoms worse.  These types of symptoms can be life threatening since they can lead to anaphylaxis.

As rare as a beer allergy can be it may even require hospitalization with a host of aggressive treatments that could include intravenous fluids, bronchodilators, steroids and adrenaline.  Hopefully if you do experience beer allergy symptoms they will be mild and manageable with over the counter meds like antihistamines(if asthma isn’t present) or nasal sprays for your congestion.  Sadly the simple and straightforward solution might be to pass on that pint of beer completely.