Monthly Archives: June 2015

Symptoms Of Food Allergies You Must Not Avoid!

Food allergies or intolerance to food is seen on babies or growing children. But it is not necessarily found in babies it can occur at any age. A person who was consuming certain food without problem can become allergic to it at any stage of life.

The problem occurs when the immune system considers any food article as danger to the body, reacting to it and triggering a response to protect the body. These symptoms to food allergy can be mild or severe in the body. It does not mean that for a time if a reaction causes fewer symptoms it cannot move to more harmful symptoms which may be life threatening.

These allergies tend to run hierarchal in a family. Although it is an impossible task to predict that whether the child, or the siblings will be allergic to a certain food or not. The most severe of these food allergies is “anaphylaxis” which is a life threatening whole body reaction. This body reaction affects the heart rate, lowers the blood pressure and reduces breathing.

While any of the food can cause the immune system to trigger the reaction but among them all there are a few foods which count for around 80- 90% of all reactions. They are eggs, soy, nuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, and milk. Also mustard and sesame seeds are a major trigger to allergens.

The symptoms of a food allergy always are seen a few minutes after eating the food. These food allergies are most commonly known as “IgE meditated food allergy.

The symptoms include-

Itching or tingling sensation in the mouth.
Swelling of mouth, face or any other body part.
Problem in swallowing the food.
Turning of skin to be red or rashes with itching on them.
Falling or shortness of breath.
Feeling low, vomiting or sick.
Pain in abdominal area or diarrhea.
Sneezing
Pain or itchiness in the eyes.

If the allergy is much severe and sudden then it could be anaphylaxis.

The initial symptoms of anaphylaxis are:

Rapid increase in the heart rate.
Feeling of unconsciousness.
Feeling light headed and confused which due to the fall in the heart –rate.
Sudden feeling of anxiety or fear.
Cough or sneezing

Symptoms of non IgE meditated food allergy are redness and itchiness of skin and itchy red rashes on skin, constipation or indigestion.

You must take consultation from a allergy doctor if you see any of the above listed symptoms for food allergy. These food allergies can sometimes be very dangerous to health, hence must be taken care of. So next time you notice any of these symptoms do not neglect them if they are not harmful at first place they can create an effect after sometime.

Your Guide to Seasonal Allergies

What are seasonal allergies?

On average allergens from pollen of various plants spread around. This pollen then enter the human body through various external sources such as throat, eyes and nose and react with the body system to cause reactions. These allergic reactions cost annually around $1 billion for Americans for their treatment.

Though they are not dangerous to life but can cause uncomfortable feeling and can hamper our day-to- day activities. The visible actions are sneezing, headache, watery eyes, running nose, swollen sinus, and throat rashes. This pollen do not cause much inference to the immune system In any individual but for people with sensitive body these pollens trigger the immune system to protect body. Once the body’s individual recognize the ‘invader’ it causes a defense action and hence causes the body to response against it. This seasonal allergy is most of the times also referred as “Hay Fever”.

How to avoid seasonal allergies at first place?

As it is said that”Precaution is better than cure”, for individual with seasonal allergies it is advisable to try staying indoors as much as possible. For people who cannot stay indoors all time due to any reasons must take medications such as acupunctures, injections or tongue tablets to avoid any further symptoms. One must always close the external sources of air such as windows or doors to avoid the entrance of such pollens inside the house or workplace. Other medications such as Antihistamines such as Allegra and Claritin or the nasal spray must be used as they are easily available without any prescription.

There are various recommendations for seasonal allergies for their symptoms and treatment:

Over-the- counter(OTC) medications:

Antihistamines: Histamine which is an element of body and is responsible for cough, cold, and sneezing. These antihistamines as their name work anti or against the histamines. The traditional medication is recognized with drowsiness from medicine such as Benadryl. But now-a-days various new ones such as the Alavert, Allegra and Claritin; they cause less- drowsiness.

Cromolyn sodium: It is a nasal spray which also works similar to the antihistamines but they do have a less- side effect. They are proven to be much effective to the human body if used before the symptom prevails. Example- Nasal Crome.

Decongestants: They help in shrinking the blood- vessels and create passage for the oxygen. It is advised not to be used by the people with high blood pressure. They must be used only for three- four days of medication. Example of Nasal Decongestants is pseudoephedrine.

Other treatments include, Immunotherapy, Saline nasal spray and irrigation and many more.

One must always consult a specialist Allergy Clinic or take a medicine prescription before using any of above mentioned medications. Saline nasal spray and irrigation.

Sunburns Skin Allergy – Here are some natural remedies

You can’t go completely covered, well summer is the time to flaunt, try on those dresses and shorts. But as time goes by, sun rays are getting more harmful. People who get skin allergies due to sun burn are increasing. They start with reddening of the skin and leads to irritation throughout the body. Though most people will suggest you to stay inside and covered but that is not always helpful. Today, we discuss some natural remedies that you can follow to save yourself from sunburn skin and skin allergies.

Natural Remedies for Sunburn Skin

The two most widely advised natural resources to give relief from sunburn skin are cucumber and aloe vera.

Aloe Vera

It is always best to use pure aloe vera juice or gel. Applying pure aloe vera extract on sunburned areas will give a cool effect relieving you from the irritation. Don’t use aloe vera gel products as they contain anaesthetic ingredients which might not suite your skin. Using packaged gels that are available in the market could lead to skin allergies and rashes.

Cucumber

Chill the cucumber and then make a paste of it in your grinder. Then apply it on the sunburned skin. Due to its properties, it will give you a soothing effect relieving you from the irritation caused by the sun burn. Cucumbers have natural cooling benefits because of which they are widely used to give rest to eyes and skin problems.

Tips to Prevent Sun burn

Depending on your skin type and your allergens, select the right sunscreen that protects from getting sun burnt. There are various natural and other sunscreen and beauty products that you can choose from. If you are not sure which one is the best for you, consult a skin doctor to know more about them.
It’s chic and it’s never out of fashion. Do consider using a hat whenever you are going out. Hats can be used by men and women both. They are never out of fashion and always give a sense of style and pride to the wearer.
Try not to stand at one place for long. If you have to wait for someone, try to look for a place in the shade. Though constant movement in the sun might not be as harmful as being stagnant.

If you get sun burnt or if your skin is getting effected due to sun and you experience skin allergies, then it is always helpful to consult allergy doctor who can guide properly.

Seek Potential Advice from an Allergy Clinic For Food Allergy

It is only at the clinic a patient learns to listen to sound advice. If you need counsel for your self or someone in the family then take appointment in allergy clinic where you will get the best treatment. We can merely present the potential advice that one can get from the healthcare professionals. Do run through this primer to understand triggers of food allergy and it will help you to reach the right expert.

What exactly is food allergy?

There are chances that you may be confusing some allergens and mistaking them for food based allergies. But, if you are sure that the allergy manifests after eating food then it is the immune system reacting and triggers some symptoms. These include digestive problems, swelling or hives. In severe cases it may result in anaphylaxis which is life threatening. If this occurs then going to an allergy clinic is a must. Often little children are affected by various food allergens. Their bodies are sensitive. If they are provided treatment they may even outgrow the sensitivity to certain foods. As for adults who find some foods intolerant, they may not be really allergic! There is a difference between intolerance and allergy. A healthcare expert is a better person to advice on this issue.

What help does one get at clinics?

When you have enough symptoms to prove that the condition is bad then it is best to request for an appointment with a doctor. If the skin is red, has some swelling or is itchy then some tests will be conducted to ascertain the cause. There are plenty of diagnostic tools that a doctor may have in the clinic. The test may be about 20 minutes or less. Some offer delayed reactions and may take some days to ascertain what is wrong. A skin prick test may also be done. Children are tested on the upper back. The other tests included are via injections and patch test.

Often food allergies start in early childhood. They develop over a period of time in some cases. At the clinic the main advice given is to avoid foods that trigger adverse reactions. The immune system that is affected may declare a state of emergency needing clinical assistance. It is best not to ignore a reaction that you may develop while having meals. Reach out to an allergy clinic near your and attain peace of mind and relaxation from allergies.

When to Take an Appointment with An Allergist For Children

It is common knowledge that children are more susceptible to asthma and get affected by different allergens floating in the environment. When does a parent need to decide to see an allergist if the child may have some trouble with the environment or food? A few symptoms are clear-cut and may be a precursor to seeing a specialist before the condition gets chronic.

Possible clues that are troublesome

Allergies often manifest first in the nose and affects breathing patterns. If they are blocked then it is a sign of problem. They could result into headaches if they are swollen and openings are obstructed. When normal drainage is interrupted then pressure builds up for them to perform. The pain is localized and can be dull or intense depending on the rate of difficulty in breathing. There are many reasons that may trigger the problem in children. A few may be related to the following:

Exposure to an outdoor environment that is polluted. In an industrial area it is natural that children and adults will find it difficult to breathe.
In gardens and parks certain pollens may trigger problems.
Moldy areas where children may play.
Indoor environment also has areas like window fans that collect dust, ACs are also responsible for sinus to flare.
Bedrooms have mites, bugs in sheets, pillows duvets, spring boxes and comforters.
Bathrooms and kitchens have humid environment that may be bad for the sinus.
Exposure to domesticated animals and also strays.

What an allergist may recommend?

When you seek an appointment with the allergist for the child, he/she may ask questions that may be connected to the issues mentioned above. Other than that the child and parents will need to take precautions to ensure that the condition is not aggravated. Some allergens cannot be avoided but one can also be careful, for example:

Ask the child to wash hands after cuddling the pet.
The kitchen and bathroom areas should be clean.
Bedroom sheets and linen should be changed frequently.
ACs and ducts should be cleaned regularly to avoid others also from getting allergic.

Depending on the condition, there are several treatments and precautions that an allergist can suggest. It would be good to get a consultation from your nearest allergy clinic about any symptoms of allergy in kids.