Allergy Videos Resource Launched
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…
Peanut and Nut Free Snacks
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.
World Full Of Allergies
When I was younger I was often confused by the topic of allergies. Though my sister had many it was a foreign concept to me since I really wasn’t affected by them in my youth. As I got older and seasonal allergies started to get the best of me I started learning more about allergies and was surprised to find a world full of allergies.
Allergies are the the reaction of the body to certain substances called allergens. The allergic reaction occurs when the immune system reacts to that particular object. Allergies are a worldwide issue. There are a variety of allergy types. The most common are seasonal allergies that are the result from exposure to specific trees, plants, or pollen. They typically happen at certain times of the year. The other types of allergies that are typical are food allergies and pet allergies.
Symptoms of allergies can range from mild to severe depending on the person. There are many allergy remedies that you may be directed toward by your allergist. Allergy remedies mostly focus on treatment because there are no known “cures” for allergies. Allergy shots and drops are a form of immunotherapy that aims at desensitizing you to the allergen gradually over time so that your reaction is more manageable.
Most people experience only mild symptoms. They may include watery eyes, itchy skin, a runny nose, coughing, and hives. This type of allergy can be controlled by using an antihistamine such as in Benadryl. There are several over the counter available, as well as those you can only get with a prescription. How you manage your allergy truly depends on the type of allergy you have. This website offers tips based on what type of allergy you have.
A severe reaction like anaphylaxis is rare. Generally these result from food allergies. Peanuts, milk, and eggs are the most common food allergies. Symptoms of an anaphylactic reaction include swelling of the face, abdominal pain, cramps, hives, and angioedema which are hives inside the throat. It is extremely important to seek immediate medical attention for symptoms of a severe allergic reaction. Epinephrine shots shot can help offset the reaction. Hives and rashes can be reduced by the use of a cortisone cream but they may take a while to go away.
Pet allergies are very difficult to manage since these allergies can take some time to develop. It can also be problematic to diagnose since most pet owners don’t allow for sufficient time without a pet in their environment to truly see if they were causing the problem. Animal dander from pets hangs around for a while so you need to clean and give your environment time to be free of what the pet has left behind.
Allergies are also found in everyday things in your environment that you may never suspect. Many allergies are experienced at night to things like your pillow. Allergies to pillows and down comforters are something you may not suspect but may make life miserable at night. Managing your allergies is the key to living with them. Buying an air purifier for allergies may seem like a luxury but when you take quality of life into consideration it is a no brainer. Alternative allergy remedies also are available. One I recently tried is the neti pot which really had a dramatic effect.
Sharper Image TABLETOP Silent Air Purifier with Ionic Breeze Silent Electronic Propulsion (SI719)
An Allergy Research Group Can Help Find Alternatives
When you are at your wits end you may want to look into finding an allergy research group near you. Similar to the studies that can produce the latest drugs an allergy research group may help you identify your allergy and possible remedies.
If you have allergies they can often make life unbearable. This is especially true if you are allergic to something that you come in contact with every day, such as the pollen in the air, or a certain plant in your yard. You might even be at the point where you don’t want to go outside for fear of the allergic symptoms and reactions that will find you.
Some people are allergic to certain foods and some are allergic to certain products. However, no matter what you are allergic to, you should have at least some comfort in knowing that there is an allergy research group that specializes in identifying and possibly treating your allergies. Your life can be made more comfortable through this research.
An allergy research group takes different approaches with all sorts of allergies. They ascertain what causes a person to have a bad reaction to whatever substance they are allergic to, and then they try to find ways to help that person live their lives normally. Their goal is to eliminate or minimize the painful or uncomfortable allergic reactions.
The allergy research group will test people who have allergies. They will determine the severity of their reactions, they will test them to see if they can further pin point exactly what they are allergic to, and then they will test certain medications, supplements or any other products that may help to alleviate, or eliminate, the allergic symptoms altogether.
Be sure to research the allergy research group beforehand. Consult with your doctor as well so that they are kept abreast of what you are doing. Though they may not always agree with out of the main stream methods they definitely will want to know anything that can affect your health.
It should make you feel good that there is an allergy research group in place to help you out, the allergy sufferer. If you want further information ask your doctor about an allergy research group in your area. Sometimes, if you have allergies, you can volunteer to be a part of their studies. It can be a good last resort when you have tried everything else in vain. You can find out more about your allergy and maybe even walk out with the relief you so desperately need.
An Egg Allergy : Your Responsibility
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.
Allergy Products : From Management to Prevention
You will find many places both online and off that recommend allergy products. Allergies come in so many different forms that not one thing works for every person but when you are struggling with allergies you are usually willing to try just about anything. Before you dive in let’s break down what the typical list of allergy products is and then you can decide with the help of a doctor preferably what strategies you want to take.
First Have an Allergy Test
Trying to manage and prevent your allergies can be like finding a needle in a haystack particularly if you have not been tested. Your allergist will test you for allergies by making small injections of various substances, just under the surface of the skin, around the your spine. What your allergist is looking for is some kind of reaction that confirms your allergy to a specific substance.
Once your allergist determines what you’re allergic to, then they can give you some tips as far as allergy products go. Sometimes, your allergist will know of certain allergy products that you may not have known about or used for your particular allergy. After all, that’s what allergists do, they spend all day dealing with people with allergies, so they should have no problem recommending allergy products for you and your allergy.
As an example you may find that allergists may recommend allergy supplements to help to manage your symptoms. If you have dust allergies they may recommend vacuum cleaners with a hypo allergenic focus. Airborne allergies like pollen and mold spores might be prevented or minimized by the use of air purifiers. The easy choice is some form of allergy drug but most allergies need a comprehensive strategy that just doesn’t treat the symptoms but tries to prevent or minimize them. An allergy product can be something as simple as a recipe book for people with a nut allergy or a milk allergy.
All allergy products don’t work the same for everyone so even if you find information on the internet that recommends a certain product it is best to consult with your doctor before trying it. If you don’t have the money to be tested the internet can be a good source of information for trying to identify your allergy but be wary of straight medical advice unless it’s from your doctor.
Allergy products are being invented and developed regularly so if you haven’t had success in the past don’t be afraid to take another shot. The key to managing and possibly preventing allergies usually is in your hands since you know your day to day symptoms and your day to day habits and routines.
