Allergy Relief Resource and Guide

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.

Food allergies have gotten a lot of attention in the last 10 to 15 years. The rise in those suffering from food allergies has caused the media to focus more attention on the various kinds of food allergies but it seems most of the coverage is going to the children. Of course this isn’t a bad thing. Who wants a child to die from an anaphylactic reaction to peanut butter. We do need to consider though that many adults also still suffer from some form of food allergy or food intolerance.

My older sister still suffers from her egg allergy and she is in her mid-40s. She has been allergic to eggs since she was a child. Her reactions can range from a rash to itching in her throat. I happened to be present when she actually got exposed to eggs at a Chinese food restaurant. I innocently asked her to try my steak and tomatoes dish and somehow the sauce either had eggs or had somehow been cooked somewhere where another dish that included eggs was cooked. It was a little scary as she started complaining about her itchy throat. Would it escalate to an anaphylactic reaction? Thankfully it didn’t but I did learn my lesson about offering her my food.

Food allergies are among the most dangerous types of allergies because of the extreme allergic reactions that they can cause. From vomiting, to swollen faces and throats the person not only is suffering but can also be in a life threatening situation. It is the result of the immune system not reacting properly to certain foods, or certain ingredients in foods. The most common food allergies are nuts, milk, and eggs. Some people just feel ill when they consume something they are allergic to. Others experience swelling in the face, and swelling in the body, closing air paths. Hives and rashes are also very common.

The danger in having a food allergy lies not only in the food itself but in how prevalent some ingredients can be. Peanut allergies are challenging because peanut oil can be an ingredient in other foods. The same can be said for those her suffer from gluten allergies since gluten can be found in many foods including bread. Adults can also have allergies to things like beer yeast and the tanins in wine(a headache trigger as well).

The advantage of having adult food allergies is that by now most suffers have learned to manage their symptoms or to avoid the foods and ingredients that cause them. Some adults though may have been silent sufferers for many years without identifying that some of their health problems were actually the result of adult food allergies.

The key is to keep a food journal if you suspect you are experiencing some sort of allergic reaction to a food. You are probably better off consulting with your doctor to start. There are differences between food allergies and other intolerances like lactose intolerance which is sometimes confused with a milk allergy. Though there are no current cures for food allergies allergists can help devise a plan to either avoid the foods and ingredients involved or even implement food challenge plans to minimize your reaction to the food if you can’t totally avoid them.

Many types of allergies are easy to manage because the key to that is basically avoiding the allergen.  If you have a peanut allergy your plan is to avoid peanuts.  If you react to latex avoid latex.  Dust is not that easy to avoid and a dust mites allergy can make for a lot of regular discomfort.

Dust mites feed off of the dead organic material that is shed by humans like dead skin cells.  These can be found in the particles that accumulate to form dust.  A dust mites allergy is actually caused by an allergy to the feces of the dust mite not the dust mite itself.  A dust mite falls into the arachnid category like spiders versus an insect since it has eight legs.  They are so small they really are not seen.  They can reproduce at a great rate so in order to manage a dust mites allergy you need a regular cleaning routine.

Since organic matter like dead skin cells and sweat can be found on our beds this is usually a spot where many dust mites and their feces can be found.  Hypoallergenic sheets, mattress liners and pillow cases can be used.  They basically hold the dust mite and their deposits on the mattresses and pillows so you don’t breath them in.  Allergy symptoms that you experience at night like congestion and sneezing could very well be a dust mites allergy caused by bedding that is full of the waste from the dust mites.

A dust mites allergy can be further managed by air cleaner and purifiers.  Using special filters in your cooling and heating systems will also help.  Dusting often is advised with a face mask.  Please note though that if your duster is not a good one you basically are just moving the dust from the object you are dusting to the floor and the air.  Following up with vacuuming with an allergy friendly vacuum cleaner is a must.  Dust mites like mattresses, couches and carpets so a good vacuum is a good weapon to have in your allergy fighting arsenal.  One with a good set of attachments to reach areas like blinds and corners is a plus.

Though a dust mites allergy is hard to avoid managing it is doable if you are willing to put in the work.  Many times if will depend on how bad your allergy symptoms are.  Since dust mites also affect asthma the stakes can be higher.  I know that since I have kids with asthma I take dust very seriously.

Cat allergies are not that bad for those without many cat owners in their lives.  Those people can avoid the dander that causes their allergic reactions.  Sadly some cat allergy sufferers are also cat owners and lovers.  Cat allergies don’t always manifest themselves right away so a recent cat owner may not know they are allergic to cats until they have fallen in love with theirs.

The culprit is the cat dander that builds up around the house or apartment over time.  Dander as defined by the dictionary is:  Small scales from animal skin or hair or even bird feathers that can cause an allergic reaction is some people.  The allergic reactions to the dander can cause itchy skin, red eyes, nasal congestion, sneezing and trouble even breathing.  Would these cat allergy symptoms be enough to want to give the cat away?  Some people may have become too attached so they want to explore if they can manage their symptoms enough so that they don’t have to give away their beloved cat.

The best way to decrease your cat allergy symptoms is to control the levels of dander in your environment.  This includes both cleaning parts of your home regularly as well as keeping your cat out of certain areas of your house.  Some people go all out and only keep their cat in one room while others just keep them out of their bedroom and bed.  Letting your cat sleep in your bed when you have cat allergies will undoubtedly make for many miserable nights sleep.  Showering before you go to sleep is also advised since you will clean off the dander before slipping into clean pajamas.

It is always recommended to wash your hands after touching any pet. It is even more important if you have allergies. Your day can be changed for the worst by simply touching your cat and then your face.  Some advise using a micro fiber cloth to stroke your cat. This will eliminate more dander than a bath, and it is easier.

A regular cleaning routine should include changing your bedding weekly, washing your curtains monthly and even vacuuming daily whenever possible.  Your vacuum should be one that has HEPA filters that are best for allergy sufferers.

Drastic measures like “quarantining” your cat may be necessary if you try all the above and still find that you are extremely uncomfortable because of your cat allergies.  Keeping yourself healthy is the most important thing, but you can try hanging on to your cat by managing the levels of dander you get exposed to.  Totally avoiding dander when you have a cat is impossible but managing the levels isn’t.

Consulting with your doctor about your cat allergy is also advised.  They may prescribe an allergy medicine to get you to the point that you can keep your cat.  If you find you can’t keep that particular cat you may want to investigate cat breeds that are better for allergy sufferers.  You would be surprised what a difference that could make and it could help you find the right balance between your cat allergies and your love of cats.

Pet allergies can make humans miserable but did you realize that the very dogs and cats we love can be suffering from allergies too.  Flea allergy dermatitis is an allergy to the saliva of fleas that affects both cats and dogs.  Of course not all cats and dogs are allergic to fleas since flea infestations can be common especially in more humid settings.  If you suspect your pet is suffering from flea allergy dermatitis here is some information to help you manage it and help you to avoid it in the future.

Though dogs also are victims of FAD in this article we will focus on cats since it appears a more common allergy for them.  Fleas in and of themselves are a nuisance and uncomfortable but when a cat develops flea allergy dermatitis it can get to the point where the poor cat is practically scratching its skin raw and making itself almost bald.

A cat is well known for its grooming and self cleaning routine.  This sometimes impedes your ability to confirm that he indeed has fleas since the cat can wipe away the signs.  Also of note is that one flea bite may be enough to trigger a full blown case of flea allergy dermatitis.  This disease can spread well beyond the site of the flea bite.

Signs of flea allergy dermatitis in your cat include aggressive scratching and chewing of it tail and legs.  At a certain point ulcers can be visible on the cat’s skin.  Patches covered in rash may also be seen.  All of these things will be looked for when you take your cat to the vet.

Though the discomfort of your cat is an obvious concern the more important problem will be infections that can develop from all of the scratching and chewing.  Fungal infections may also arise from a case of flea allergy dermatitis.  The vet usually treats those infections with antibiotics.  Steroidal medicines may also be prescribed to stop the flea biting and scratching cycle that is torturing your pet.

The vet will definitely give you the tools to manage your pets case of flea allergy dermatitis but it really is up to you to make sure you avoid another case once this one is gone.  Flea powder is the obvious but controlling your pet’s exposure to fleas is key avoiding flea allergy dermatitis.  The Frontline brand of flea and tick control products used regularly are also recommended online.  These products are supposed to kill the fleas before they even have a chance to bite your pet.

Eye allergies can sometimes seem to take a back seat to many of the nasal and seasonal allergy symptoms that are complained about today.  Television commercials tend to focus on the sneezing and the congestion but many seasonal allergy sufferers also suffer from irritating eye allergies.  Some may debate whether eye allergies are really an allergy all to their own since many times they are basically a symptom of another type of allergy like nasal allergies.  What elevates it to it’s own category is how irritating and debilitating it can be to have your eyes affected by allergens.

Our eyes are such an important part of our everyday functioning that eye allergy symptoms can really make some of us dysfunctional.  Eye allergy symptoms include swollen, red and irritated eyes.  In more severe cases they can cause blurriness too.  Many times sufferers make their symptoms worse by rubbing their eyes.  Our eyes are particularly vulnerable since they are exposed to the elements so to speak.

The most common type of allergen to cause eyes to have an allergic reaction is pollen but any airborne type of particle can irritate the eye, especially those who have a history of allergies.  Dust can also be a culprit.  This can be blown into your environment by forced hot air systems or just blown around in the act of every day cleaning.

Can eye allergies be treated?  It of course depends on the cause of the allergic reaction itself.  The best approach to eye allergy treatment is really the old school method of identifying what your eyes are reacting to and doing your best to avoid those allergens.  In the case of dust and pollen, air cleaners also called air purifiers can decrease the level of those particles in the air.  Dry air also can irritate the eyes so humidifiers can also be useful.

The next phase of eye allergy treatment would be to look at both over the counter and prescription eye allergy medicines.  You do need to note that many allergy medicines for seasonal allergies do not directly address eye allergy symptoms.  Since eye allergies tend to be associated with nasal allergies many people think their nasal symptom medicine will help their eye allergy symptoms.  In general antihistamine type medicines may help but you may have to get dedicated prescription eye drops.  We have actually used Visine allergy drops for short eye allergy flare ups in our house but if these over the counter drops don’t work you really should consult with your doctor.  Prescription allergy eye drops are not that hard to use since you typically use them once or twice a day and can just be implemented in your normal morning and night routines.

It is important to note that eye allergies can be confused with actual eye infections caused by viruses and bacteria.  What most people think of as conjunctivitis can be broken down into viral, bacterial and allergic conjunctivitis so it is important to pay attention to your eye allergy symptoms and to see your doctor when they don’t get better.  Different medicines will be prescribed if it is not allergic conjunctivitis – eye allergies.  Either way managing and treating your eye allergies will improve your daily quality of life.