Monthly Archives: December 2014

Food Allergy and Intolerance – Know the Genetics behind Them

There are a number of theories which revolve around the genetics and their relation to food allergies and intolerance. There are a few questions which are most commonly asked by many and we have tried to answer the same for you here in this article.

Do genetics really explain if you are allergic to any pollens or foods?

To know your risk towards pollen allergies it is always good to know the HLA DR and DQ type of the individual as these are the genes which are associated with the increased risk of dust, latex as well as food allergies.

To explain more in detail about the same, we need to understand that all of the human beings have proteins on the surface of the cells which are determined genetically. These genital patters of the cells can be deducted quite easily by testing the blood cells or also from the mouth with the use of Q tip type swab.

The gluten sensitivity

It is estimated that the HLA DQ2 is seen in more than 90% of those people who have a celiac disease and HLADQ8 is present in the rest.

Many of the experts also suggest one and all that they need to get evaluated by an expert in case they suspect any kind of a food allergy or sensitivity. These can be tested in special labs which are found in every country. More information on such labs can also be found online.

Experts then review the food and pollen connection and conduct the evaluations for Food Allergy, Intolerance and sensitivity too. Food sensitivity is mostly seen as cow milk and gluten sensitivity. In most cases food intolerance is lactose intolerance. One also needs to understand that food sensitivity is different from food allergies.

If you are one of those who suspect you have a food allergy or sensitivity, you can maintain a symptom dairy where you can note down any symptom which might have occurred when a certain food is taken. This also comes handy in case of any evaluations and the allergy medications will be given accordingly.

Skin Allergy and Preventing Allergic Reactions

There are times where one might find weird sudden eruptions in various body parts like neck, face etc. these are allergic reactions to various infectious substances found in day to day materials those have direct contact with your skin, like clothes, watches, jewelry etc. For instance nickel found in jewelry and even few detergents are found allergic to various skin types.

Dermatitis

Dermatitis for instance is the name given for the inflammation of skin which is caused due to irritating substances. One can prefer various tests to find out the actual reason causing the allergy. Once the substance causing the allergy is removed, dermatitis will automatically fade away.

There are two types of Dermatitis based on the cause of them:

The first type of dermatitis is due to direct contact with irritating substances like acid or anything of that sort. This is the very basic form of dermatitis. This form can be easily avoided by the usage of gloves or apron, anything which would prevent direct contact over dangerous substances.
The second type is inflammation caused due to certain allergic reactions. This is named as contact dermatitis. With most of the people having normal affinity over the allergy, only the other unlucky ones tend to get this type of dermatitis.

Any intake of harmful substances tends to cause such inflammation and allergies. These usually happen when these substances go inside various parts of our body and react with the penicillin found there. The red and flat rashes are usually caused when certain elements are exposed directly to our skin. If these are left without proper medical checking, they might even crack up or thicken affecting the blood flow.

Usually the allergies occur 3 weeks after the initial contact or exposure. The second time allergies appear within 4-5 days of contact.

Common Causes

Various factors including nickel, rubber, cosmetics, hair dryers, and even chromates cause contact dermatitis. One very little known fact is that even the fragrances found in out cosmetic products are front runners in causing contact dermatitis.

One is advised to do a proper research on the causes of various dermatitis causing substances and should find a way of preventing himself to contact them. Further, to control the situation, it is advised to consult an allergy doctor.

Everyday Precautions For Asthma Patients

Asthma

Asthma is a very common chronic disease of the respiratory system, which may lead to dangerous consequences. Hence it is very important for all the asthma patients to treat the disease regularly and take proper action to eliminate it. The asthma patients usually get attacks that give them tough time to breathe. The symptoms are many like wheezing, gasping and even suffocation. The attacks they face, can last up to several minutes which may leave them even unconscious at times. The whole body might face lack of oxygen for a small period of time.

Precautions that need to be followed by the asthma patients

Never break all of your regular routines. Any change in the cycle of daily schedule of habits might lead to the rise of respiratory diseases.
Morning walks are always helpful. Even ten minutes of a morning walk everyday can prevent your body system from any sort of respiratory issue. This is the best because the quality of the air is the best and very pure in the mornings.
Daily exercises are really important. That too for asthma patients, morning exercises are a must. They make your body much more disciplined and regulated.
Always follow a simple and nutritious diet. The quality and content of the food you take in matters a lot for the asthma patients. They must mostly avoid foods comprising fats and carbohydrates. Sweets and really spicy items must be avoided.
Smoking is one thing all asthma patients must forget about. It is a deadly habit and equals to one digging his own grave. It fills your lungs and respiratory with toxins and makes it really tough to breathe properly.
Drinking must also be avoided, this is because drinking makes a person lose his daily routine of schedule and even make a well planned person lose his daily schedule and go off track.
The surroundings must be kept really hygienic. The more the dust and pollution around an asthma patient, the more the problems.
One must analyze whether the patient is allergic to any type of allergen in the environment.
Asthma patients must not get mentally excited too much. They should avoid stress and anxiety.

Any patient if found is having asthma, must be mentally stable to accept the disease. Mental acceptance is a must. Always consult a professional asthma doctor for immediate assistance.

Looking for an allergy Relief – Stop Picking Your Nose

The mucus membranes which are present in the nose are known to be one of the most sensitive parts present in the human body. There are many people who suffer from nasal allergy and try to obtain relief. There are several things that can be done to get better relief from the nasal allergy.

Drugs or Medications

While there are many who administer pills to obtain immediate relief, a visit to a physician is also recommended. Drugs or medications for nasal allergy are available in the form of pills which are to be taken orally or are also available in the form of shots which are to be administered through the muscle and are there also nasal sprays.

There are also few nasal cleaning devices which help to wash the cavities inside your nose and these are very similar to the dental irrigation devices which are available in the market.

These devices help free nose from bacteria as well as pollens and any foreign substances as they wash the inside of the nostrils with the use of some water or even by using a mild solution of saline.

Habits to avoid

One of the most common and the worst habits most people do is that they prick their nose quite often. The human hands can be termed to be the filthiest on the planet and whenever one pricks the nose; they end up introducing a good number of bacteria as well as foreign objects into the nostrils.

You can start by washing your hands during the day as this is will stop bacteria from entering your nose. Always make use of a bath towel which is soft or even a tissue can help keep your nose clean. This is also a better habit when compared to picking of the nose. If you still feel irritated with some foreign particle then make sure of the irrigating devices as they help to loosen the matter and also helps to lessen the impact of the nasal allergy.

The Herbal Remedies

One can also try some easy herbal remedies which can be taken in the form of tea as they provide good relief to the nose. If nothing works, consult a nasal allergy doctor immediately.