Monthly Archives: July 2014

Asthma – Causes And Cure

Asthma is a chronic condition in which a person suffers from inflammation in the inner walls of the airways which carries air in and out of the lungs. This causes the airway to get narrower and it becomes difficult for the person to breathe. The one suffering from Asthma is said to be Asthmatic. Common asthma symptoms that can that can be noticed in Asthmatic person are wheezing (hissing sound while breathing), difficulty in breathing, coughing and tightness in chest.

Causes of Asthma

According to some recent studies almost 300 million people in the world are suffering from problem of Asthma. The causes of Asthma can’t be defined very accurately but most commonly know reason are either due polluted environmental condition or genetic, parents suffering from Asthma are more likely to have this condition in their child also.

Environmental causes

Places that have a high pollen count, high ozone level, traffic pollution, workplaces where there is exposure to chemicals, airborne allergensare factors that can result to allergies which may cause Asthma. Even the environment inside the house can also lead to Asthma or other allergies which may trigger the Asthma; moulds, dust mite, cockroach droppings, animal dander, cigarette smoke are also important reasons for causing Asthma.

Genetic

Family with a medical history of Asthma is at highest risk of having Asthma to their children. In case of identical twins, if one of them is having Asthma then the other one has almost 25% chances to suffer from the same problem.

Cure for Asthma

There is as such no permanent cure for Asthma but with regular medication and guided precautions it can be controlled to a great extent and one can lead a normal life. Before prescribing one medicines for Asthma, doctors have to consider many things, the doctor will have to see if the medicine suits the patient and also the dose to be given. There are anti inflammatory medicines which are either oral or taken through a nebulizer and sometimes it is given through inhalers which help medicine reach directly to the lungs. Instructions to use inhalers should be properly followed.

Coping Emotionally With Spring Allergies

Spring is the season of farewell to winter and time for outdoor activities. It’s time for picnics, gardening or long walks in the park. But it is not the same for all, along with spring comes, congestion, sneezing, running nose and itchy eyes for some people. People who are sensitive and prone to allergies dread of spring season and often feel left out when they see other people enjoying the weather and they are confined in their houses because of the fear of getting allergy from pollens or weeds. For those who suffer allergies in spring season, by keeping few things in mind you can make spring less miserable.

Right time to plan a trip

If you live in a region inhabited by trees and plants which may cause spring allergies than this is the best time to plan a vacation towards north where winters are still in its last stages and lot of time is left for spring to come; to avoid allergies from spring. Or you can visit a friend or relative who lives in a region which is more allergy friendly for a few weeks during the height of the season.

Join others suffering with same issue

In America only there are approximately 10 million people suffering from different kind of allergies. Especially, in places where the pollen count gets too high during the spring, there are hundreds or may be even thousands of people who might be suffering allergies due to pollens just like you. There might be some of your friends or relatives also sailing in the same boat with you, you can talk to them and discuss what do you like to do or you all can even organize a book club or get together inside in a controlled environment.

Join indoor activities

You can join an indoor fitness center where you can do activities like running, swimming and other exercises. Thus, you can utilize your spring building up muscles, shedding some extra weight and increase your metabolism also.

All these activities will not only help to keep you away from spring allergies but will also help to cope up with emotional stress you go through feeling left out in springs when most of the people out there are enjoying the weather.

What causes skin allergy?

Skin when reacts immediately on being in contact with allergens is termed as skin allergy. The scientific name for this cause is the dermatitis. In very rare cases, the symptoms of skin allergy are very serious. Skin allergy symptoms differ from patient to patient due to different types of skins. Some people tend to itch all over the body while there is only a part of the body that is affected in some people. The former condition is much intolerable.

Initial remedy

In most cases, the allergen is unknown. In such cases, it is advised to take medical help as soon as the symptoms become noticeable. The skin allergy doctors usually perform two tests to identify the allergen and prescribe the further treatment accordingly. The diagnosis involves a blood test and a skin prick test. The severity of the symptoms usually determines the type of treatment to be given.

Common allergens

One can fall prey of skin allergy due to any of the 70 types of allergens. Some of the most common allergens are nickel, which is very commonly used in jewelry. This is also used in the buttons. Next is gold, also a very common element of jewelry. The third allergen cause can be the cream of Peru. This chemical is usually contained in perfumes and many cosmetic items. It is a component of the resin.

Thimerosal is another skin allergy allergen found in local antiseptics based on the chemical mercury. One can also have skin allergy from neomycin sulfate. It is antibiotic commonly present in first aid lotions. It can also be found in cosmetic products. Formaldehyde is another such skin allergy allergen. It is used in the composition of medicines, is found in certain cosmetics, paints and in paper. Other harmful allergens are cobalt chloride, quaternium 15 and bacitracin.

Exceptional cases

When one becomes aware that he had become the victim of skin allergy, the first step is to stop the exposure to the allergens. In case one cannot stop consuming the allergens, then they are recommended to have decongestants, antihistamines, nasal sprays and in worst cases, immunotherapy is also recommended.

Qualities to Look For in an Allergy Doctor

Allergy is a common ailment these days because of the changing environment, changes in eating habits and lifestyle. There are different types of allergies which are caused due to different reasons, some are because of environmental changes; like change in climate or due to plantation or even because of certain kind of minerals or chemicals in the water in some places, some people are allergic to certain kinds of food items and some are allergies caused due to genetic reasons.

Different allergy conditions

Different allergies like, skin allergy, pet allergy, food allergy, drug allergy, latex allergy, summer allergy, pollen allergy and many more types of allergies caused with different reasons need right diagnose and treatment at the right time. Conditions like Asthma are also treated by Allergist; the reason behind this is that, though Asthma is respiratory problem but it can get triggered because of other allergies, so Skin Allergist can treat other allergies which will give relief in condition of Asthma patient.

Choosing the Right Doctor

When suffering with any kind of allergy it is very important to consult a right allergy doctor who can diagnose the cause of your allergy correctly and treat it properly. Doctors who specialize in treating allergies are called Allergist.

Diagnose of the reason behind one’s allergy and treatment at the right time is very important, as in some cases allergies can also be fatal. If suffering from some kind of allergy and looking for a specialist for treating Allergy, you can take a referral from your regular doctor, friends, neighbors or Health Maintenance Organization (HMO).

You must also make sure that the doctor you are consulting is specialized in treating the Allergies or the particular type of Allergy that you suffer from. And also the doctor is accredited by the appropriate regulating authority. For a person who is suffering from Allergy, it is very important to have allergy medication from the doctor who can understand their condition. By educating yourself more about your allergy and its causes and consulting right Allergist you can cure your condition.