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Recognizing Allergy Symptoms
June 11th, 2015
Allergy symptoms are not only uncomfortable but they can slow down you during the day and disturb your sleep cycle. Therefore, it is being so important for you to know how to identify allergy symptoms and signs and to know what to do in order to lessen the symptoms you are having.
To Recognize Allergy Symptoms:
As there are so many different types of allergens exist and thus everyone's body responds differently to these allergens, allergy symptoms may differ from one to person. However, there are numerous different symptoms that are normally related with allergies and they may signal that you are allergic.
The common allergy signs and symptoms are:
• Cramps
• Abdominal pain
• Diarrhea
• Congestion
• Itchy skin
• Itchy and watery eyes
• Difficulty swallowing
• Breathing problems
• Mental confusion
• Rash
• Vomiting
Whether you might or not experience these signs and symptoms depend upon the kind of allergy and how you make exposure to the allergen. Physical contact with an allergen may also cause different type of allergy, for an instance, physical exposure to an allergy trigger i.e. allergens to cause rashes and itching, and inhaling the allergen is to cause breathing problems.
Handling the Allergy Symptoms
Depending on the kind of allergy you suffer, you may be able to reduce allergy symptoms by taking certain types of allergy medicine. If you have seasonal allergies, for example, you might want to discuss the issue with your doctor and begin taking a prescription allergy medicine that will help prevent allergy symptoms from developing. If you are allergic to animals, on the other hand, you may want to talk to your doctor about prescribing an allergy medicine that you can take before being exposed to the known allergen.
Obviously, you cannot always reduce an allergic reaction. Sometimes, you may find yourself surprisingly exposed to allergens. In such case, you need to treat the allergy symptoms after they experienced. It is important to remember that you can just treat the allergy symptoms when they occur rather than to cure the allergy. Therefore, you should seek for proper medication that will help to reduce the symptoms you are having.
Symptoms of a Gluten Allergy
May 12th, 2015
The symptoms of gluten allergy are the same as those that occur as a result as other food allergies, these include swelling and itching of the tongue, throat and mouth, diarrhea, hives, fatigue, rash, weight loss, stomach cramps, runny nose and sore itchy eyes and more. The symptoms of gluten allergy can range from mild to life threatening, depending on the individual.
One difficulty with gluten intolerance symptoms is that they often begin in a subtle manner. If you develop gluten intolerance, you may not suddenly experience severe pain or obvious discomfort relating to your diet. They typically begin with gas and bloating accompanied by mild fatigue. Some experience a dull, mild stomach pain.
However there is another condition which is known as gluten intolerance which is often confused with gluten allergy. This is a more serious condition which will not have the symptoms similar to gluten allergy symptoms. In fact there will be no symptoms after eating gluten until much damage has already taken place.
A person's gluten allergy symptoms, or gluten intolerance symptoms, will usually start so subtle that you don't even think of them as symptoms of anything. You'll experience perhaps a little indigestion there, a little bloating here... but if left untreated you can suffer from much more serious effects.
Gluten intolerance, or its clinical name, celiac disease, is an autoimmune disease, not an allergy. This means when you consume gluten, that gluten triggers your body to attack itself. While the results of this autoimmune response can be severe, it can take a long time for those results appear, sometimes even years. So don't mistake a gluten intolerance for a wheat allergy. An allergy is not an autoimmune disease.
Later stages of celiac disease are similar to severe malnutrition, only people don't think they could be experiencing malnutrition because they believe they're eating plenty of healthy food. However, if you are unknowingly gluten intolerant and you are eating foods which contain gluten, no matter how healthy you eat you can become malnourished.
The normal symptoms of gluten allergy are triggered by a histamine reaction, which is caused by white blood cells in the body called basophils and mast cells overreacting to the influx of the Immoglobin E. This results in the characteristic symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as watery eyes, sneezing, hives or a skin rash, and stomach discomfort or pain. If suffering from these symptoms, the use of an antihistamine may be beneficial. The severity of symptoms, and well and the number and type of symptoms can very person to person.
This usually involves a small intestinal mucosal biopsy, whilst this sounds scary the procedure is safe and is usually performed at the time of a gastrointestinal endoscopy. In other words a small camera is inserted down your throat that enables the doctor to look at what's going on down there and perform the biopsy. This will allow the doctor to make a proper diagnosis.
If you suffer with gluten intolerance or sensitivity or Coeliac Disease then you will know the feeling of stomach cramping, pain, gas, constipation or diarrhea. People who have Coeliac Disease cannot eat food products containing gluten because it is a digestive disease that damages the small intestine and interferes with the absorption of nutrients from food, and if a person suffering with Coeliac or gluten intolerance consumes gluten in any form, the immune system responds as if it were toxic by either destroying or damaging the villi which lines the small intestine.
Peanut Allergies
April 13th, 2015
Peanut oil is a common ingredient in food preparation which makes avoiding them very difficult. At the present time there is no known cure for allergies that involve food.
1 percent of the United States population suffers from an allergy reaction to peanuts. Peanut allergies account for over 80 percent of the fatal or near-fatal reaction call anaphylactic shock. An anaphylactic reaction causes the airways to constrict which in turn makes breathing difficult and your blood pressure to drop to life-threatening levels. Symptoms include abdominal pain, nausea, stomach cramps, swelling of the face, itching, wheezing, and hives.
If you have even simply a mild reaction it is crucial you speak to your doctor immediately. Food allergies can gradually get worst over time until a sudden life threatening reaction occurs. The more times you are exposed to the offending allergen the worst the symptom can become.
Peanuts can show up in the most unsuspecting foods. Be sure read the labels of every food that you bring into your home to insure you do not have any intake. Avoiding intake is the best thing for you!
Will Allergy Shots Help my Asthma?
March 23rd, 2015
Strangely enough chlorine is considered one of the most toxic elements found in nature yet only an extremely small amount of people are actually allergic. Common symptoms however include eye irritation, dry skin, coughing, sneezing and stuffy or runny noses.
The chlorine in pools reacts with other chemicals like those found in dirt that them create chloramine compounds. This makes it important to be sure to shower after swimming to stop the reaction from happening directly on your skin and in your pores.
If you notice small white patches develop on your skin after swimming this is not an allergic reaction to chlorine. The white patches are actually caused by a type of yeast infections and needs to be treated with a topical medication. Always shower after swimming and use an anti-chlorine shampoo and an anti-chlorine soap.
Often after people go swimming they will develop swimmer’s sinusitis because of the water getting up into their sinuses. Many people find that when they are finished swimming using a nasal spray can help relieve symptoms. If you begin to notice prolonged and consistence symptoms from chlorine speak to your doctor about proper allergy care.
Chlorine Allergies
February 21st, 2015
Asthma is a very scary condition for both young and old people alike. Often times one may not even know they have asthma until they are exposed to some sort of allergen or high impact sport or exercise. When an asthma attack does come on you could end up in the emergency room so you must take it seriously.
An asthma attack is when the airways to the lungs are constricted making you unable to breath. An attack can range from very serious to a mild reaction. But, no matter what it must be treated properly. Usually this means you will need an inhaler to assist your breathing. Getting through an attack with an inhaler is really the only effective way to bring the airways back to their normal condition.
You must carry an inhaler at all times because you never know when an attack may happen. A visit to a friend's house with a cat, or a really dry cold winter day can bring on a sudden attack. This can be especially scary if the affected person is a child.
One such way to treat asthma, besides carrying an inhaler and taking your allergy medicine, is taking allergy shots. Allergy shots can be a very effective way to treat this condition. Allergy shots are typically a four year program where the patient will undergo testing to find out just what they are allergic to the most. Once this is determined, a shot will be made with that exact allergen. The patient will be given small doses periodically.
The main purpose for undergoing allergy shots is so that the patient will build a tolerance. This makes it so that they will experience less allergic reactions and the severity of the attacks will be weaker. Patients who receive treatment with an allergy shot program will experience a relief in their seasonal allergies as well. Although patients are typically very pleased with their results from the allergy testing it is not wise to consider yourself cured. Patient should still always carry their inhalers with them at all time in case of emergency.
Is Allergy Testing a Good Idea?
February 9th, 2015
Most adults avoid allergy testing because they live busy lives and self-diagnosing yourself always works easiest! Whether you try a traditional approach to treating allergies with over the counter allergy-relief or a more naturopathic solution including the neti pot or throat sprays you’ll most like get temporary results. However, for some people, self-medication simply is not enough.
A large indicator that you need an allergy test is when self-medication stops working for your allergies. In these cases, an allergy test can pinpoint which allergens are causing you to sneeze, cough and hack your way through life. Visiting your doctor will allow you to plan an appropriate course of treatment for your allergies. Better treatment means sustained relief from allergies and allergy attacks.
Food Allergies
Food allergies are dangerous and can simply cause even more health issues. Gluten allergies can cause weight gain, cramps, bloating and diarrhea. Peanut allergies and shellfish allergies can cause anaphylactic shock and even death. The only way to know for sure whether you have a food allergy is with an allergy test.
If you are have symptoms like hives, rashes, eye redness, stomach pain, or vomiting after eating certain foods you highly consider looking into an allergy test. Keep in mind what foods tend to spark these reactions before talking to your doctor so he can narrow down the diagnosis.
Children
Nothing is quite as miserable when you are a child as suffered from allergy problems. Allergy attacks cause missed days from school, loss of friends, and social isolation. Also, allergies tend to be more serious and lead to greater health complications in children than they do in adults. So, if you are the parent, make sure you have your child tested for allergies on a regular basis – especially if you notice warning signs!
When? Why Not Now?
Allergy testing is a relatively inexpensive test that can help define better treatments for your chronic seasonal or food allergies. If you suspect you have allergies, just go out and get tested. Your body will thank you for it!
