Common Allergies And Symptoms - Preventing Allergies | Relieve And Cure Allergies

• Home
• Allergy Free For Life
• Dramatic Asthma Relief
• The 24 Hour Sinus Breakthrough
• The Sensitive Chef
• Sitemap

It’s Plant Fornication Season – Which Means It’s Allergy Season

August 4th, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

Nearly every person in the world is allergic to something – allergies are caused by your body’s immune system being oversensitized to a common substance or irritant.  For most of us, this can be something like pollen or mold spores.  Common allergies and symptoms include hay fever (with scratchy, runny eyes), or more severe cases where people get so congested from inhaling pollen and the like that they need medical intervention.

Other common allergies and symptoms include an allergy to cat dander; this is the saliva that your cat leaves behind when it licks its fur to clean things.  Some are sensitized to it, and others aren’t.  More serious allergies include allergic reactions to drugs – most notably drugs like cyclosporine and penicillin, both of which will cause a rash.

In General, Allergic Reactions Follow One Of Three Pathologies

The most common pathology is congestion in the sinuses or bronchial tubes.  Common symptoms of this kind of allergy include sniffling, sneezing, congestion, and sinus headaches, and there are plenty of medicines out there designed to combat these symptoms. 

The most common (and for most people, the most effective) are the drugs found in Claritin. 

Claritin is unique in that the drug manufacturer took it to generic over the counter strength almost immediately rather than waiting for the patents to expire, because it was so effective that there was a growing black market in Claritin pills!  Extreme cases of this pathology include people who get chest congestion and bronchial asthma.

The next most common pathology is a skin rash – this can be as mild as breaking out in spots to the painful agony of hives.  Interestingly enough, the same reaction is responsible – your body reacts to histamine compounds, which trigger the immune system to go into full gear to fight off an invader.  In much the same way that, say, carpet bombing can get rid of a fly, your body’s immunoresponse system over-reacts and causes you pain and injury.

The third pathology for common allergies and symptoms is one most people don’t associate with allergens – it’s a trigger on the intestinal tract, which can cause gassiness, bloating, and diarrhea; it can also cause an upset stomach.  Technically, this sort of allergy comes not from an immune system/histamine response, but a part of your intestinal flora that can’t really handle what you just ate.  Extreme cases of this type of allergy are actual syndromes and diseases, like Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Crohn’s Disease.  Examples of this type of allergy include a gluten allergy, or an MSG allergy, or an allergy to shellfish in its minor forms.

So, What Should You Do To Minimize Your Allergic Responses?

First, contact an allergenist if you have severe allergies.  They’ll put you through a battery of tests to find out what triggers your immune responses.  Then, carefully eliminate triggering items.  If you have a house with central air, be sure to get the vents cleaned every year just before spring.

Experiment with what remedies do and do not work for you, and keep a list so that when you’re sneezing and miserable, you’ll be able to call upon what you learned before your brain was full of mucous.

Consider Fluconazole For Mold Allergies

July 30th, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

In case you have ever had chronic sinus problems or allergies that never seem to lessen in severity even when pollen counts are low, then you just might have mold to blame. Mold is everywhere and, though it can be a major problem, mold is one of the last things that doctors consider when they treat sinus problems and allergies. Usually a prescription of fluconazole for mold allergies is what clears many symptoms up and brings relief.

Make certain that your doctor takes a culture of your nose to check that mold is indeed the culprit. A lot of times the lab that analyzes the culture can determine what type of mold is causing the problem and recommend a good anti-fungal medication in addition to fluconazole for mold allergies.

The Many Forms Of Mold

Mold is a mighty fungus and its many forms run into the hundreds of thousands with some just being insignificant irritants while others like the dreaded black or toxic mold can be life threatening. Each home has some mold growing whether it is that lab experiment in the refrigerator or some fuzzy appearances where there was a plumbing leak in the ceiling.

Mold in the home might cause illness, especially in the very young and very old who don’t have strong immune systems. Hence, when you present symptoms of allergies, sinus issues or even asthma, tell your doctor about the possibility of mold. He will probably prescribe fluconazole for mold allergies.

Treatment Of Mold Allergies

Fluconazole for mold allergies is an expected treatment when other medications have been exhausted. You might know this drug as Diflucan, which not only treats mold allergies but also infections caused by different types of yeast, which are in the fungus family, the same family as mold. Thus, you should be able to see the relationship and the reason why fluconazole for mold allergies is a logical move.

Fluconazole comes in both pill form as well as oral suspension and typically adults will receive the pill form while children receive the liquid. If you are on any other medications, you should let your doctor know before you fill the prescription fluconazole for mold allergies.

Some diabetic medications as well as those for insomnia and high blood pressure can cause reactions and there may be some over the counter remedies that can also be a problem.

Of course, fluconazole for mold allergies can also present some side effects in a small percentage of people but most do go away on their own. Diarrhea, nausea and even loss of appetite are temporary effects but anything more serious should be reported to your doctor.

Tying Together Allergies And Frequent Urination

July 25th, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

Frequent urination is a common enough problem for men and women with urinary tract infections, prostate problems, diabetes and other health conditions. Even so, did you know that allergies and frequent urination can go hand in hand, depending on the allergic trigger? That trigger most probably is due to allergies to different types of food depending on your sensitivity.

Celiac Issues

People who have celiac disease have a problem with the digestion of gluten products and any ingestion of such products can cause a variety of intestinal issues. A byproduct of this condition with a few people is frequent urination. Several foods like bread and pasta contain wheat flour that has gluten properties in it and hence trigger a reaction when eaten. These wheat based allergies and frequent urination are tied together in this respect and only a totally gluten free diet can alleviate the symptoms.

High Acid Food And Drink

Your typical diet could have many potential allergic triggers which can cause frequent potty breaks. For the most part food and drink high in acids can cause allergies and frequent urination but many people may not clue into this cause for quite a while. Only through day-after-day food and drink journals, cataloging everything consumed, can the cause of these allergies and frequent urination be pinpointed.

While this food and drink high in acid might not upset the stomach, the way your body digests it could trigger some type of allergic reaction causing the excessive bathroom breaks. Nobody really knows why this occurs however if frequent urination is interrupting your life, you might want to consider banning high acidic foods and drinks like salsa, sodas, teas, coffee and cranberry juice.

Theories Still Guess Work

The tie between allergies and frequent urination is still somewhat nebulous and several people just seem to have atypical allergic reactions to various substances. The basic consensus is that whatever allergic trigger you have creates a chemical chain reaction in your body. A few people may form hives from eating certain foods while others have diarrhea, nausea and abdominal cramping.

The same food that caused the allergies and frequent urination might not do the same thing later when consumed again. Your body is really one big biological, chemical being and your immune system could have simply been malfunctioning at one point.

Allergy Medications

Allergies and frequent urination could as well be tied together due to your reaction to the medication used to treat the allergies. Not all drugs are infallible and many of them go with a laundry list of side effects, one of which could be frequent urination.

If frequent urination is a problem for you, be sure to rule out other health conditions such as an enlarged prostate or urinary tract infection first before considering an allergy.

Dairy Allergies - What Your Doctors Know

July 20th, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

Dairy allergies are becoming among the most common causes of ailments in children and adults. Although some people don’t really experience strong symptoms from dairy allergies, there are several people who react strongly to dairy products that they end up with some incapacitating symptoms and may even have to be hospitalized for a few days.

Whether you are one of those people that have strong allergic reactions to dairy products, here are several things that you should know about dairy allergies.

What Is Dairy Allergies?

Medical professionals define this type of allergy as hypersensitivity to milk or egg protein. The allergic response to these otherwise harmless types of food can be quite crippling for some people. The most common symptoms of this type of allergy are diarrhea, wheezing and vomiting.

Children who are prone to dairy allergies should never be given such types of foods to avoid any medical complications. Milk is known to be mucus forming, therefore, people who are suffering from asthma should limit their intake of milk or just do away with milk.

Shouldn’t children be given milk and eggs to help them grow? Yes, your children need eggs and milk to help them grow however if they are allergic to such food, you simply have to find other types of food for your children. Rather than giving your children milk based products, you might want to give them more fresh fruits and vegetables.

If your children manifest allergic reactions to milk and eggs, avoid giving them such types of foods to reduce the possibility of allergic reactions and medical complications. Always remember that it is best to be safe than sorry.

Lactose Intolerance Versus Allergies

Many parents mistake lactose intolerance for dairy allergies and according to medical professionals, these two are really not the same. While dairy allergies are the negative reaction of the body against the nutritional components of dairy products, lactose intolerance is simply the inability of the body to digest the sugar found in milk.

In nearly all cases, lactose intolerance will cause stomach cramps but it does not really trigger the other symptoms associated with allergic reactions. However, although the symptoms of lactose intolerance are not really serious, the effects of lactose intolerance can be quite uncomfortable.

To avoid discomforts, especially when you are working in the office or traveling, it would still be a good idea to avoid milk based products if you have lactose intolerance.

Causes and Treatments of Eye Allergies

July 15th, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

When most of us think of allergies, an itchy, runny nose comes to mind first. But allergies do not only affect the nasal and sinus cavities. Such conditions can invade the eyes too, leading to symptoms such as itchy, watery eyes that can turn red and swollen. The good news is that just like nasal allergies, eye allergies can be effectively treated with over the counter and prescription medications. It can also be helpful to follow the principles of prevention when it comes to eye allergies. However, before we discuss how to treat them, it is important to understand why they occur.

The Causes Of Eye Allergies

When you consider the cause of eye allergies, it is really not surprising at all to realize how many people might suffer from allergy symptoms in this part of their bodies. Our eyes are exposed to our environment and its allergens daily. And unlike the nasal passages, there is no means to protect the eyes from a lot of of these harmful substances.

While the nose contains cilia, which are tiny hairs that filter out many of the environmental particles, the eyes have no such built in protection system. This leaves our eyes unprotected to the effects of our environment and the allergens in it.

It is thought that of all of the people that suffer from allergies of one type or another, almost half of these folks will as well suffer from eye allergies. This means that if you experience seasonal allergy symptoms, you have a higher chance of having eye allergies too.

You might also have an increased risk of allergies to this area if you have atopic dermatitis or a family history of allergies. The good news is that there are options for treating eye allergies, so that you can find comfort once again.

Treatment Of Eye Allergies

In a lot of cases, the best way to treat eye allergies is through prevention. This means avoidance of known triggers. It also includes not touching or rubbing your eyes, especially if your hands have been in contact with an allergen. Rubbing can also bring on an allergic reaction in several people. If prevention and avoidance of your allergy triggers is not sufficient to bring relief from your itchy, watery eyes, there are medications available too.

Some medications are found over the counter and others are prescribed by your doctor. Almost all of these medicines are allergy eye drops that can be used once or twice a day.

Eye allergies can be difficult to cope with, but there are ways to reduce and even eliminate uncomfortable eye allergy symptoms. Talk to your doctor today about the best choices in allergy treatments for you.

Food Allergies - They Can Greatly Diminish Appetite

July 10th, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

As much as most people like to eat, it can be depressing to determine they have developed food allergies. Despite how delicious a particular food may taste, still it is not worth the potential swelling, itching and the potential for death to consume a food product knowing it can trigger a reaction. While various people may suffer food allergies from different foods, some of the most common are shell fish and peanuts. Many will learn of an allergy the first time they are exposed to it, but allergies develop later in life and may come as a surprise.

When a person consumes a particular food and later has an allergic reaction, their best plan is to eliminate that item from their diet. The symptoms of food allergies are pretty much similar to other type of allergies and may include runny nose, watering eye, skin rash and hives. Other reactions might include a headache due to sinus infections and pain in the ears as well as diminished hearing.

In some people, food allergies can also cause an anaphylactic reaction, that causes a sudden lowering of blood pressure as well as difficulty breathing and in severe cases can lead to death.

Determining The Cause Before It Kills

In almost all cases, the cause of food allergies can be easy to determine by keeping a food diary and recording any adverse reactions associated with specific foods. Once the list has been narrowed down, any food that triggers an allergic reaction should not be eaten. To extract the exact cause of food allergies, the doctor may recommend the skin prick test to determine the cause of allergies before they cause serious health problems.

Many foods carry a multitude of ingredients and it could simply be one of the ingredients causing food allergies and whether the product can be found without that ingredient, it will not continue to be a problem.

Reading labels in the store can help identify any such ingredients, but can be a problem if eating out in restaurants and establishing the identity of all ingredients may not be possible.

The circumstances might be more difficult for children who don’t always remember they have food allergies for certain edibles. If they consume a food that causes a reaction, depending on the level of reaction, they will need to get help quickly to prevent permanent problems.

In cases where a child has severe food allergies a medical alert bracelet may be needed to reduce the accidental consumption of a problem food.

Next Page »