Allergy Relief Resource and Guide

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)

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.

Many people can go into anaphylactic shock as a reaction to their nut allergies. If you suspect that you or a loved one are allergic to nuts it is very important to know the signs of anaphylaxis and to understand where the threat can come from. Nuts are used in many ways in today’s cooking. They are also hidden in common foods that you may not be aware of.

Contamination of food can happen in the production of foods that though they don’t have nuts in their recipe can have trace amounts due to the equipment used in the production of the food. Many people think they can manage their nut allergies by just avoiding the nuts but in order to really be safe you need to ask questions and be savvy about what foods may or may not contain nuts. Keep in mind that a nut allergy is not just peanut related. You may be allergic to nuts like walnuts or cashews. Tree nuts are sometimes used in shampoos and lotions so it is important to carefully check the labels of all products you use if you suffer from nut allergies.

Here is a short list of some foods you may not have thought of as possibly having some form of nuts:

• grain bread
• certain ice cream flavors
• cookies
• candy
• granola bars
• salad dressing
• marzipan

Many multicultural dishes may have nuts in them. Some possible dishes are oriental foods such as Chinese, Thai and African dishes. products.

It is unknown why some people have nut allergies and why some suffer more severely than others do. Some of the lucky ones can outgrow their allergies. Peanut allergies in infants can actually change over time.

Anaphylactic Shock: The Body’s Response

Anaphylaxis is the body’s allergic response to nuts. Nut allergies can cause swelling, reduced blood pressure and dilated veins and arteries. Typically, a person will go into anaphylactic shock, which if not treated quickly, can cause coma and can sometimes be fatal.

Nut allergies are also very sneaky in that the first episode or reaction to an allergy may just be uncomfortable, while subsequent episodes could be fatal. Immunoglobulin E, is created by the immune system to fight a usually harmless substance, in this case nuts and when it appears the first time, your body may produce antibodies, but will not react. However, if a person with nut allergies is exposed again the antibodies will produce large amounts of histamines causing the symptoms to appear.

Typically, anaphylaxis begins within minutes of exposure by someone with nut allergies with itching in the eyes and face and quickly advance to difficulty breathing and swallowing. It may also be accompanied by stomach cramps, nausea and diarrhea. Angioedema, swelling under the skin can also be present. When the symptoms first appear it is imperative that you seek medical help immediately as it can quickly cause an increase in your heart rate, rapid drop in blood pressure, shock and possibly death if left untreated.

As you can see nut allergies are not something you can take lightly. It is very important to be aware of the severe reaction that can be caused by nuts. It is especially important if you have children or are responsible for the care of children. Typically child care providers should be trained in first aid which includes diagnosing possible anaphylaxis. Though treatments like epinephrine pens and pills can help it is usually the best bet to seek emergency care immediately since nut allergies can be fatal.

Is man’s best friend becoming your worst enemy? People who suffer from dog allergies can feel pretty conflicted. On one hand they love their canine friend but on the other they suffer with a variety of symptoms that can make their lives miserable. If you aren’t sure whether you are allergic to dogs or want to figure out strategies for managing your symptoms so that you can keep your Lassie, then this article is for you.

Pets are pretty common in American households 6 out of 10 homes have one. Unfortunately the numbers also show that 1 out of every 10 people suffers from some sort of animal allergy. When it comes to pets cats tend to be the worst culprit in causing allergies but dogs are right behind them. Since dog allergies are a common problem, the good news is that there is a lot of information available on how to treat and manage an allergic reaction to your pet. If your reaction is not severe, and if you do not have other serious complications such as asthma, you should be able to successfully manage your allergic condition so that you can experience many symptom-free days.

How to Identify Your Dog Allergy

The most recommended strategy for identifying dog allergies is to remove the person you suspect is allergic from the environment. This can be done for a week or two to see whether the person experiences any of the symptoms they were complaining about. You might think it would be easier to remove the dog but pet dander can remain in the environment that the animal lives in for up to six months after the pet is removed. If moving the person away for a couple of weeks is too difficult, you can also ask your doctor to perform an allergy test in his office to see if the person indeed has a dog allergy.

What Treatment Options Do You Have?

Dog allergies are usually associated with dander or saliva of the animal. These allergens tend to cling to many surfaces. They also can hang around for a long time. This quality makes it difficult to completely rid a home of the allergens responsible for dog allergies, even if the animal is removed. It generally will take up to six months for the home to become free of allergens once the pet is removed.

The drastic treatment is to give the dog to another good home. This can be a big problem because family members are usually attached to the dog and consider him a part of the family. This option can be the last resort unless you have someone that just can not live with their symptoms. An example of this would be someone with asthma.

If the symptoms are mild there are other options. First, keep your pet out of the bedroom. This is an area where you spend a significant amount of your time, particularly sleeping. Get rid of old carpet that can harbor the allergens. Go for bare floors, in our house we always start out with hardwood floors and use throw rugs that can be washed in hot water. An air cleaner with a HEPA filter can also be an effective way to keep allergens at bay in certain areas of your house, Oreck has a great line of air purifiers that can help.

Dog allergies may be a common problem but you can learn to manage them. If all else fails and you do have to get rid of your beloved pet you might be able to replace them with a dog breed that is known to cause less dog allergies.

What allergy medicine is best used for the treatment of allergies? The reality is that it all depends on what you are allergic to. Allergy medicine can be confusing because there’s a great variety ranging from over the counter, to prescription and other treatments that are given in doctors offices.

An allergic reaction can be energy sapping. You may find yourself coughing, sneezing, having problems seeing, or worse yet puffing up or having your breathing passages swell up. Some people experience migraines(myself included) because of their allergies. Let’s not forget about the scary and dangerous reaction of anaphylactic shock. Bottom line is that every allergy is different and most medications can’t treat every allergy. The right allergy medicine can be found by talking to your doctor or allergist.

Step 1 is to Test!

When an allergist tests you for allergies, they have to test you for many different substances. There are so many things in our environment nowadays that unless they do this they will have a difficult time pin pointing your specific allergy. They usually inject you down the length of your spine, with several different substances, they can include dairy products,dander, grass and even dust. Your allergist is looking for is a certain type of reaction. A sure sign of allergic reaction is that your skin will become red and raised. Once the allergist sees the reaction they can then prescribe the proper allergy medicine.

Do You Need a Prescription?

The right allergy medicine is crucial to restoring a good quality of life. Some medicines only treat mild allergies and are typically over the counter medications like Benadryl. However if you are severely allergic to something like shell fish or eggs. You can blow up like a balloon or feel your throat starting to constrict every time you eat these. You may even have to be rushed to the emergency room. An over the counter allergy medicine won’t do anything for you then. You need to get a prescription as well as know enough to avoid whatever causes you these severe reactions.

Make sure you pick the right allergy medicine that works for you. You may find that some work better for you than others. Claritin for some reason does not help me but Benadryl does. Unfortunately it also makes me pretty sleepy. Don’t get discouraged from trying different ones and discussing the issue with your allergist. They may even recommend advanced treatments like allergy shots or allergy drops. Time is a precious commodity and if the right allergy medicine can help you enjoy every last minute then you should continue to look for the right one for you and your specific allergy.

Allergies can make life miserable. I know because some of my allergies cause migraines that practically stop me in my tracks. Many others are affected by other terrible symptoms that can severely affect the quality of their lives and their ability to work. Can any allergy treatment help us? The good news is yes but first we need to understand what the different types are and what allergy treatment may make more sense for you.

Not all people have the same allergies. Some are affected by one allergen like pollen but may not be affected by mold. Some may have a terrible reaction to dust mites but have no problem being exposed to the smell of a recently mowed lawn. Airborne allergies are not the same as food allergies. You get the picture, given the many allergens out there today allergy treatments don’t work the same on every allergy and may not work the same from person to person.

The first step is to identify what your allergen is. The best way to find this out is by working with an allergist. They can put you through a battery of tests that may include scratch tests, elimination diets and blood tests. This will help them narrow down the possible allergens. You can be a big help by identify trends and patterns that surround your allergic reactions. Do you start to sneeze or get a stuffy nose when your neighbor mows the lawn? Do you only get your symptoms at night, when you are sleeping(or trying to sleep)? Do you get a headache after you have breakfast every day?

Answering these types of questions and working with an allergist will help you identify the source of your allergy and can therefore lead to recommendations regarding what allergy treatment is right for you.

Allergy Treatment Types

• Basic
• Medications
• Advanced

Basic treatment of your allergy once you identify what it is is to avoid it. If you know your neighbor mows the lawn every Saturday morning close the windows or better yet go grocery shopping or something. Forced hot air exacerbates my allergy to dust mites so my husband and I decided not to buy a house with that type of heating system. These things may seem simple but they help. Unfortunately some things you can’t avoid which leads us to allergy treatments to manage the symptoms that we do get.

Medications are aimed at relieving the allergy symptoms so that you can function day to day. This probably the most common allergy treatment people use today since so many medications are available over the counter. These medications include antihistamines, decongestants, bronchodilators, and corticosteroids. Allergy medications are usually available in a variety of forms, including pills, nasal sprays, eye drops and topical creams. Epinephrine is used to treat the severe allergic reaction called anaphylactic shock. This reaction is life threatening and involves difficulty breathing due to swelling of the breathing passages.

Advanced treatments are also available that not only attempt to relieve the allergic symptoms but to cure them as well. These usually include allergy shots or allergy drops. These are forms of immunotherapy that seek to make you immune to the affects of your allergy but exposing you to that allergy in certain doses over a certain period of time.

An allergist can discuss which allergy treatment is right for you. Now you know that you do have options. You don’t have to live with the discomfort of allergies. Take the step to visit an allergist today.