Allergy Relief Resource and Guide

Have seasonal allergies affected you this year? I was looking at the latest videos posted regarding allergies and found a recording of Robin Roberts from Good Morning America talking about what appear to be pollen allergy statistics for 2006. Though the data is dated it got me thinking about how the last few years have been particularly hard on me and my kids for spring allergies.

We live in the Boston area and in the video it talks about the worst and best cities. Boston was the worst that year. I found a new report for 2008 for the Worst Cities For Allergies provided by Forbes. Boston is down to 59 out of 100 but I found their measurement method interesting. They factor 3 things:

• a pollen score
• a medicine utilization score
• a score based on number of Board Certified Allergists per Patient

Boston scores above average for number of allergists per patient. In the older video it talks about warmer winters being the culprit and we indeed have experienced those in the NorthEast.

I find the Forbes list interesting but as with any study potentially flawed. Though Boston has dropped in standings many seasonal allergy sufferers are treating themselves nowadays with over the counter medicines like Claritin and Zyrtec. Pharmacies even offer cheaper versions with similar ingredients that I have tried and worked for me. Our higher allergist ratio also suggests to me that patients may have identified their allergies with their allergists in years past and are now educated enough to help manage them.

Whether you believe in Global Warming or not it is not hard to see the changes in our weather patterns will continue to affect seasonal allergy sufferers. As the allergists in the older video mention visiting your allergist to pinpoint your exact allergies can help, especially if the over the counter allergy medicines don’t work for you. Also be sure not to confuse cold medicine with allergy medicine. Allergy medicines contain antihistamines which cold medicines do not.

This is just a brief post to announce a new service for our website visitors. We have added a directory of allergy related videos. We feel it is a great addition to the information that we provide in our guide. The full directory of allergy related videos is here. Whereas we will provide periodic picks on on our allergy videos page.

We hope that you enjoy the wide range of videos available on this topic. As with any other information please be sure to check with your doctor. The amount of videos really demonstrate to me how big the problem of allergies is. It also helps to know that we are not alone…

As we start off the new school year I thought it would be helpful to provide an idea list of peanut and nut free snacks. I am sure that many of us are starting to learn the rules and regulations of our schools. We have discussed it many times the challenges and the fears associated with those of us who have children that are either allergic to peanuts or nuts. More and more facilities are going nut free. This year our school has a new nurse. She has been kind enough to share some thoughts regarding snacks. Whether you are the parent of someone with this type of food allergy or not you are expected to make sure you bring in snacks that keep other children safe as well.

Please keep in mind that some of these snacks are brand names which I have no association with and I have not tried them all. You should ALWAYS CHECK LABELS FOR CHANGES IN INGREDIENTS.

all fruits and vegetables
cheese
Thomas, lenders, or Ray’s bagels
pudding
cream cheese(check ingredients of flavored ones for not*)
raisins
yogurt

Graham crackers
Goldfish
Teddy Graham’s
vanilla wafers
plain Ritz crackers
saltine crackers
bread sticks
Cheez-its
pretzels
Smart food popcorn
Nutri-Grain bars
Triscuits
wheat thins
Plain Tostitos tortilla corn chips
Salsa
Nabisco sugar wafers
Jell-O
Tings
Hostess mini muffins
pizza

*Nowadays everything seems to come in a flavor so be sure to check ingredients since listing of peanuts and nuts is the law.

Though a sandwich may not be considered a snack ,depending on who you talk to, no list of peanut and nut free snacks would be complete without a discussion of peanut butter substitutes. Other nut butters like almond, hazelnut and cashew butters offer the closest experience to the comforting pb and j but be sure to check it out with your allergist first since though a peanut is not technically a nut your child may be allergic to the nuts in the substitute butter as well. One peanut butter alternative I recently heard about that has actually been around since 2002 is SunButter which is made from sunflower seeds and is marketed as “Great news for peanut and nut allergy sufferers” again consult with your allergist for their opinion.

Hopefully this list will be a good reference for ideas when your child needs a new snack which is also safe for his allergic classmates.

Food allergies can affect many lives. I have written about a variety of foods and ingredients that can cause allergies. An egg allergy is one of those in the top 4 that are usually mentioned, milk, fish, peanuts and eggs. Until January 2006 manufacturers were not required to identify what products contained eggs which made it very difficult for those with an egg allergy.

Food allergies are found in about one percent of the population in the United States. While this may seem like a small number, this statistic actually translates into millions of people who are dealing with this condition. Egg allergies can include reactions from a mild case of hives and a stomach ache, to severe symptoms that include difficulty breathing and a dangerous drop in blood pressure. These severe cases are known as anaphylaxis, and can be life-threatening in some situations. This is why it is so important to understand and identify any allergies that you might suffer from, and know exactly how to manage them.

Egg allergies are typically found in young children, and the lucky ones outgrow them by the time they are five years old. The most common cause of an egg allergy is the egg white. Some proteins found in egg yolks can also cause an allergic reaction in some folks as well. An egg allergy occurs when the immune system in a person’s body mistakenly identifies the protein in an egg as a harmful substance. The body then produces antibodies like histamines that will cause symptoms like wheezing, runny nose, hives and a stomach ache. These symptoms can affect the skin and a number of the bodies systems including the respiratory, digestive and cardiovascular systems.

Learning More About Your Egg Allergy

If you suspect that you have an egg allergy, you have probably experienced some of these symptoms shortly after eating an egg product. Your doctor can confirm your suspicions with a blood or skin test, although he may refer you to an allergist for testing and expert guidance in managing your allergy.

While the obvious solution to preventing an egg allergy is simply to avoid eating eggs, this can be much easier said than done since eggs are hidden in many of our food products. As mentioned in the beginning of this article manufacturers are required to identify when they use eggs as an ingredient but it isn’t that easy when you go out to restaurants.

I went to dinner with a friend who has an egg allergy and we chose a Chinese restaurant. In the middle of dinner she told me she was starting to get an itchy throat and that she probably had eaten something with eggs. I was really concerned because I know that anaphylaxis is a possible reaction to this type of allergy. Fortunately this wasn’t one of those times.

So the reality is you need to be aware of all the possible ways you can be exposed to eggs. If you have a child you may also have to be more careful since an egg allergy and immunizations can be a lethal mix. Many of the shots given to our children are exposed to eggs in the development process. It is up to you and your doctor to keep up on the latest ways to keep you safe.

Let’s face it, my sister has a hard life. She has been plagued by allergies much longer than I have. Not only does she have the normal airborne type of allergies but she also suffers from dairy allergies. This is a sad diagnosis for a cheese lover but she has found ways to adapt. She carries around cans of soy milk for her coffee just in case they don’t have it. She also does her best at using the substitutes provided by dairy allergy recipes that she has found.

The moment you find out you have dairy allergies, it is life changing. At least it is for those who love their dairy products. Can you imagine being told that you can’t ever have milk, cheese or any other dairy product ever again? Unless of course if you are willing to put up with the suffering. That suffering varies from person to person when it comes to dairy allergies. One person could get major migraines after they drink a glass of milk while another gets very bad intestinal reactions. Don’t despair though because you should be able to enjoy dairy by following a certain dairy allergy diet and having a prevention plan. This of course is determined by how severe your dairy allergies are.

Your Dairy Allergy Gameplan

First of all, you have to determine if you are, in fact, allergic to dairy products. The first thing you should do is schedule an appointment with an allergist. An allergist will test you to determine if you have dairy allergies. They will test you with small amounts of dairy products to see if you have a reaction.

If you do have a reaction, usually your skin will turn red and inflamed, that’s when your allergist will inform you of your specific allergy and should give you a dairy allergy diet and prevention plan.

The most common dairy allergy diet and prevention plan is to refrain from the dairy products that cause you the most discomfort. This is basically an elimination diet. This is different for each person with dairy allergies. For example, some people may have dairy allergies when it comes to milk but they may be fine when they eat ice cream. That would mean that there is something specific in the milk you’re drinking that might not be in the ice cream you’re eating that is causing you to have a dairy allergy reaction. Even further some people can tolerate skim milk better than regular whole milk.

Your allergist may also prescribe certain dairy allergy supplements. Vitamin stores carry such products for those with lactose intolerance. This may help in some cases, but again, it all depends on the severity of the dairy allergies.

The right attitude is the key to dealing with any food allergy. Dairy allergies are no different. As my sister has shown you learn to change your routine and your diet so that you can maintain the quality of life you want. With the help of a dietician and your allergist you can find ways to adapt and every once in while you might want to take the hit for that one little piece of cheese.

Pet allergies can be pretty tough on you but they are even harder when you are actually an animal lover. I’ve mentioned my sister and her cat Topaz before. He recently passed on and even though she is allergic to cats she went out and bought 2 new cats. Pet allergies can be managed which is why she has chosen love over convenience.

Animal lovers worldwide shudder to think of themselves being unable to care for and play with their favorite pets, yet this happens to many people each year. Pet allergies cause many would-be pet owners to turn away from buying that cherished pet because of fear of the uncomfortable allergic reactions they have to pets. While some people are extremely allergic to pets of any kind, most people are only allergic to one variety of pets, and that is most commonly the cat. Still, pet allergies can be debilitating if one hasn’t figured out the cause. They may compound the problem by continuing to keep their animals indoors. There is help for those who want to have pets and who deal with allergies too. Steps can be taken to reduce the allergy symptoms associated with your pet.

Pet Allergies and Reduced Exposure

The first helpful tip for those who have pet allergies but want to own a pet or keep the ones they have is to possibly move the animal from the indoors to the outdoors. Many people have been able to continue owning pets while being allergic to them because they simply don’t keep them in the house where all the dander can build up and cause problems. It is definitely easier to have a dog outdoors than a cat. Carpets are a place where much of the allergens like to hide, so cleaning these carpets is also required in order to reduce one’s exposure to them. Pet allergies can often be helped by keeping the animal confined to one or two rooms of one’s home. Though this can be challenging it can be done with the entire family’s help.

Pet grooming has taken off. It is interesting to see shops popping up everywhere. There no doubt must be an association between a clean pet and less allergies. People are more aware now that having a pet groomed or grooming one’s own pet is another way to reduce exposure to the harmful allergens that can cause reactions. Shampooing and brushing can also be helpful when dealing with these annoying pet allergies. Washing rugs, curtains, and other decorations that can collect dander and fur is important as well in order to keep the allergen from accumulating in the home.

An interesting approach to take for finding out if you have pet allergies is to take care of a friend’s pet for a period of time in your own home. This will confirm what type of allergy symptoms you may experience and also see what it really takes to take care of a pet day in and day out. If you are an animal lover don’t despair. With the proper research and strategies you can find the right pet for you.