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.

Is frequent urination tied to food allergies?  Though there are a few articles online advancing this theory, the truth is that no connection has been made in the world of medical studies.  This doesn’t necessarily mean that the connection will not someday be established but it is important to look at all the known causes for frequent urination before assuming there is a cause between your frequent urination and food allergies.

It isn’t hard to see how the jump can be made in associating this problem with food allergies since food allergy symptoms do include stomach related upset like diarrhea and abdominal pain.  The theory is that wheat allergy and gluten allergy are specific suspects in the correlation between food allergies and frequent  urination.

Celiac disease sufferers are of specific interest here since their problems with the digestion of gluten products cause a variety of intestinal issues.  Some people with Celiac Disease have reported frequent urination as a symptom so there may end up being a basis in that regard.

Other culprits that have been tagged as suspects are foods high in acid.  This would also include drinks like sodas, tea and cranberry juice.  Interestingly enough foods can affect people in different ways.  I for one know that if I combine orange juice with peanut butter and jelly I am headed to the  bathroom within 15 minutes.  Is this the acid in the orange juice or the wheat and gluten in the wheat bread for my sandwich?  Keep in mind that some soda and coffee drinkers have many of these drinks a day which in and of itself may cause you to go to the bathroom often.

As with food allergies in general, cataloging what you eat and the allergic symptoms they may cause will allow you to make more progress than just guessing.  Frequent urination is a symptom of a variety of possible illnesses like Diabetes so a doctor should rule all of them out before you just assume your frequent urination is associated with your food allergies.  Another area the doctor may look at are the medicines that you are taking.  Many medicines have what may appear to be benign side effects including frequent urination including some allergy medicines.

Frequent urination though may be more than a nuisance if it is affecting your ability to do the things that you need to do and the things that you want to do.  There a plenty of medicines being marketed for over active bladder so that may be an option for you depending on your doctor’s advice.  If you truly suspect that  your frequent urination is associated with a food allergy or a food intolerance make sure you go into the doctor armed with a catalog that can help them pinpoint the problem.

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.

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.

When I think of soy I don’t think that it is a common type of food ingredient. I typically associate it with Chinese food and soy sauce so I thought a soy allergy shouldn’t be that big a concern. Unfortunately for those that have a soy allergy it is contained in more foods than I thought.

When a person develops a food allergy like a soy allergy the immune system malfunctions and identifies a type of food as a potentially harmful substance to the body. The immune system responds by producing antibodies called immunoglobulin (IgE’s) that create histamines to help protect the body from these “harmful” substances. The result is symptoms like a runny nose, watery eyes, hives and itching, wheezing and gastrointestinal problems. Some people will have an intolerance to certain types of food instead of an actual food allergy. While this condition may include similar symptoms to a food allergy as far as a stomach upset and pain, the immune system is not involved. Food allergies can be a reaction to nearly any type of food, but the most common triggers are milk, eggs, fish, and legumes which can include soy products.

So Where is Soy Found?

Soy can be used as an ingredient in many foods that you would never consider. Some of these are:

• Ice Cream
• Tofu
• Vegetable Broth
• Vegetable Protein
• Salad Dressings
• Vegetable Oil
• Mayonnaise
• Margarine…

Since soybeans are a legume, if you suffer from a soy allergy, you may also have a reaction to related foods like beans, peas and peanuts as well. The symptoms of soy allergies can run the spectrum. Some reactions to these products will be mild and include itching, wheezing or diarrhea. There are many other symptoms that can appear as well, and some can become quite severe.

Can a Soy Allergy be Prevented?

While food allergies affect a small percentage of the population, the number can still translate into millions of people in this country who suffer from some type of food allergies. Statistics show that the percentage of the population who is diagnosed with a soy allergy is at about .5%. Often this type of allergy is found in children, and many times it is not detected until the second or third exposure to the food.

There are some ways to cut down on the chances of developing a soy allergy. Doctors recommend that mothers nurse their babies for at least the first six months of life. It is also a good idea to wait until your child is at least six months old before offering any solid foods. This will not only reduce the risk of an infant soy allergy, but may cut down on the incidence of other food allergies throughout life as well.

A soy allergy is a potentially dangerous condition and should be definitively diagnosed by your doctor and allergist. You should also see a dietician whenever a food allergy is involved. They can help you not only avoid the food involved but also lead you toward choices that can replace some of those cravings a soy allergy can deprive you of.

Sophie-Safe Cooking: A Collection of Family Friendly Recipes that are Free of Milk, Eggs, Wheat, Soy, Peanuts, Tree Nuts, Fish and Shellfish