Tag Archives: allergy and asthma doctors

Food Allergies that are More Common than Others

A lot of foods cause allergies, but others are more common. About 90% of serious food allergies are linked to proteins in certain foods, like eggs, milk, soy, peanuts, wheat, fish, tree nuts, sesame, and shellfish.

Most of the time, these foods are ingredients in other foods, which means avoiding them calls for diligence, including precise labeling and other measures. There might be times when exposures unknowingly happen.

You might have to call an allergy doctor if you notice that you have an allergic reaction to some of these. In case you are unaware of what the most common food allergies are, you should do research and start by reading this article until the end. Read more now.

Cow’s Milk

Allergy to cow’s milk is one of the most common hypersensitivities in young children, most likely because it is the first foreign protein that a lot of infants ingest in huge quantities. If there is an allergy to cow’s milk, even infants who are breastfed may have eczema or colic until dairy foods and milk have been eliminated from their mother’s diet.

A lot of children outgrow milk allergy while their immune systems mature.

Eggs

People who have egg allergies are triggered by egg proteins. You might be allergic to egg white, egg yolk, or even both. Experts recommend staying away from eggs when you are allergic.

About 2.5% of children are allergic to eggs, which makes it the second most common food allergy in young children. Diagnosis normally happens before reaching the age of 2. Half of the children are going to outgrow their allergy when they are 5, and most people will outgrow it when they reach adolescence.

Eggs should be listed on food labels in simple language, like “contains eggs.” It is important to always read the label before consumption.

Peanut

Peanut allergy is one of the most common allergy food allergies. Peanuts are different from cashews, tree nuts, almonds, walnuts, and more. peanuts grow underground and they are from a different plant family, which is legumes. Other legume examples include peas, beans, soybeans, and lentils. Having a peanut allergy does not mean you have a bigger chance of being allergic to a different legume.

Wheat and Gluten

Rice and oats are normally the first cereals that are introduced into your diet because they are less likely compared to other grains to cause allergic reactions. If there are no issues with oats, wheat is next. Wheat grain is usually linked with allergies, but it is still uncommon. This is unfortunate because wheat can be found in a lot of prepared foods.

There are 2 kinds of negative immune reactions to consuming wheat. The first classic reaction is hives and the second one is wheezing which happens right away after the child consumes wheat.

Soy

People who have soy allergies react to the proteins in soy. Normally, allergic reactions are mild, but with all food allergies, it might lead to a severe and life-threatening reaction.

Soy is a common allergy in food for children but it is less for teens and adults. Approximately 0.4% of children have an allergy to soy. It is estimated that 50% of the kids outgrow a soy allergy after one year, and most of them will outgrow it when they are 10.

Fish

Finned fish is among the most common food allergy. This is normally lifelong. About 40% of people who are allergic to fish get their first reaction when they are adults. The most common types of fish that people are allergic to are tuna, halibut, and salmon.

You can go to an allergist Germantown MD anytime.

How to Prevent Food Allergies in Kids

Food allergies are a constant concern for parents. Almost 6 million children become affected by food allergies, and food allergy prevalence of food allergy has a 50% increase since 1997. Having a sibling or parent with allergies increases the risk of a child developing allergies. Therefore, if you or your partner is among the 9 million adults that suffer from food allergies, you could be wondering how you can prevent the same for a child.

You can go to an allergy doctor during your pregnancy to get the best advice on what to do so you can prevent allergies as much as possible. There are always treatments you can get, but it is a lot better if you do not have to at all.

Do Not Restrict the Diet of Your Child

Maternal diet while pregnant or in lactation must not be restricted because it is a way of preventing the development of food allergies.

The main point has been the topic of debate for so many years. Based on the discussion, it is the desire for parents to lessen the chance that their child is going to develop food allergies. An older piece of advice has suggested avoiding allergenic foods while pregnant and during breastfeeding as a way to decrease food allergy risks. Unfortunately, this strategy is not proven to be effective when it comes to reducing food allergies.

Breastfeed Your Baby

Breastfeeding your baby can help prevent the development of food allergies. Since breastfeeding is connected to a lot of health benefits, it is recommended that you breastfeed your baby beyond 2 years old.

Introduce Common Food Allergens When they are Ready for Solid Foods

For most babies, this is about 6 months. Your baby can have solid foods when they can already do the following:

Hold their head up
Tell you when they are already full
Sit and lean forward
Pick up food while bringing it to their mouth

You should not introduce solid foods before 4 months old. Your baby is not going to be ready. It is not going to help reduce the risk of your baby developing a food allergy.

Once you have introduced only a few other solid foods, you can offer food allergens all at one time. There is no research showing that you have to wait a certain number of days between those.

Foods You Can Take to Help Prevent Allergic Disease

When you are an expectant mother and eat foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, you can decrease the risk of allergic diseases in your child. This appears to be true if you have asthma and you have a male child.

Foods high in omega 3 are:

Sardines
Salmon
Tuna
Oysters
Chia seeds
Mackerel
Flaxseeds
Walnuts
Fortified foods like certain brands of yogurt, eggs, milk, and juices

Eating foods rich in vitamin D also reduces the risk of food allergy and asthma in children.

Foods high in vitamin D are:

Fish
Dairy products
Mushrooms
Egg yolks
Vitamin D-enriched foods such as soy milk, cereal, and orange juice

Early Introduction can Help Prevent Peanut Allergy

Studies have shown that giving foods that contain peanuts early to high-risk infants can prevent peanut allergies from developing.

Giving foods that contain peanuts early to an infant can help prevent peanut allergy. Based on the study, a group of infants that are at risk of peanut allergies that were given 2 grams of peanut thrice a week had a lot less peanut allergy when they reached 5 years old.

You can talk to an Allergist Germantown MD if you need more advice about this.

Signs You are Allergic to Alcohol

Alcohol allergy causes a rare toxic reaction to alcohol which can be fatal in some cases. Most of the time, what people consider an alcohol allergy is actually intolerance.

People can have an allergic reaction to certain ingredients in alcoholic beverages instead of the alcohol itself.

Someone who is truly allergic to alcohol should entirely avoid it. People who are intolerant to alcohol can still consume alcohol, but they will most likely encounter side effects. The reaction can come from something in the alcoholic beverage like grains, chemicals, or preservatives.

Aside from consulting with an allergy specialist, you can read this article to know more about what causes alcohol allergies and then review the differences between intolerance and alcohol allergy.

Causes of Alcohol Allergy

People who are allergic to alcohol go through a reaction just by consuming 1 milliliter of pure alcohol or a gulp of beer or wine. It is still a mystery to researchers why some people experience it when the body naturally produces it. However, in other cases, severe alcohol reaction is sometimes mistaken for allergies when it is actually caused by Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

Some foods that could cause alcohol allergy are:

Tomato puree
Food marinades
Cough syrup
Overripe fruit that fermented
Mouthwash

Doctors can diagnose the allergy based on how antibodies are produced. Antibodies called immunoglobin E (IgE) can cause an allergic reaction in the body with common symptoms of an allergic reaction. In addition, blood tests can measure the responses of the immune system to specific substances.

Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of intolerance to alcohol or having a reaction to the ingredients in an alcoholic beverage include:

Red and itchy bumps on the skin
Facial redness
Stuffy or runny nose
Pre-existing asthma worsens
Low blood pressure
Diarrhea
Nausea and vomiting

Treatment

Like there are no real cures for food allergies or pollen, nothing can cure alcohol allergies as well. The truth is, that alcohol allergy treatment focuses mainly on any symptoms that are present like using a topical cream to alleviate rashes. After that, an individual should totally avoid drinking so they will not suffer allergic reaction symptoms and could also die.

Alcohol Allergy vs. Alcohol Intolerance

An alcohol allergy and intolerance are different from each other.

If you have an alcohol allergy, your immune system has an overreaction to alcohol. Intolerance to alcohol is genetic and the digestive system of an individual cannot break down the substance properly.

Alcohol intolerance symptoms make a person feel uncomfortable. In contrast to this, alcohol allergy can sometimes become life-threatening.

Symptoms of Alcohol Intolerance that People Confuse with Alcohol Allergies:

High blood pressure
Low blood pressure
Heart fluttering sensation
Lips or tongue swelling
Chest pain or fainting
Coughing

Who are More Prone?

People who come of Asian descent have a higher chance of experiencing alcohol intolerance symptoms because of a genetic variant that comes from rice domestication in southern China many centuries ago. An enzyme that is called aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH2) turns ethanol into acetic acid in the liver. Those with Asian ancestry might have a less active variant of ALDH2, which makes it harder for them to digest alcohol properly. ALDH2 deficiency commonly causes alcohol intolerance.

Complications

Migraines – This is probably because of the histamines in alcoholic beverages. The immune system releases histamines when there is an allergic reaction.
Severe allergic reaction – On rare occasions, the allergic reaction can become life-threatening and might require emergency treatment. You should know all the symptoms so you will know if it is already severe or not.

You can contact allergy center Germantown MD anytime if you need to consult about your alcohol allergy.

What are the Types of Pollen Allergies

Hay fever comes from discomfort for people of any age. However, you can minimize the effect of pollen allergy with effective allergy treatment. When you develop a treatment plan, among the primary steps an allergist takes is to find out what the exact allergy trigger or triggers are. This process starts with the understanding of different kinds of pollen allergies.

During spring, summer, fall, and winter, plants release tiny pollens to fertilize other plants that come from the same species. The majority of the pollen that causes allergic reaction comes from grasses, trees, and weeds. These plants make light, small, and dry pollen grains that are transported by the wind. These pollens can go inside your nose, ears, and lungs that cause allergy symptoms if you are allergic to pollen.

Grass Pollen

The most common culprit of hay fever is grass pollen, and it normally lasts from late spring until summer. In reality, there are different factors that could see grass pollen being there from March to October. The common signs of grass pollen allergies include watery eyes, runny nose, itchy nose, and other symptoms. The cause of allergies requires that an allergy doctor performs testing if you suffer from grass pollen allergy. Some grass types you should be aware of are timothy, Bermuda, sweet vernal, and orchard.

Ragweed Pollen Allergy

Ragweed plants are popular for being an allergen and they are most active between autumn and late spring.

Aside from ragweed, tumbleweed, and sagebrush, they are also common allergens of weed pollen.

Tree Pollen

Even if it is less common than grass pollen, tree pollen comes in the earlier part of the year. People who have hay fever normally start to experience symptoms in the spring – symptoms can continue the entire summer. Normally, peak periods fall from March to May when maple, oak, birch, and elm tree pollen are most common. When you have a diagnosis of the allergy, you can start to see how the different kinds of tree pollen are going to impact your allergies, and then you can take precautions to limit exposure to tree pollen.

Birch Pollen

Birch trees bloom during spring. Which is the reason why birch pollen is among the major causes of pollen allergies in spring. A single birch tree produces up to 5 million pollen grains that get dispersed into the air.

Aside from birch, allergies from tree pollen are caused by oak and cedar trees as well.

Treatment

Home remedies, medical treatments, and changes in lifestyle help ease pollen allergy symptoms.

Treatment options available:

Antihistamine medications are over-the-counter, like loratadine or cetirizine. A person should begin to take these medications a couple of weeks before the start of allergy season.
Immunotherapy tablets or shots in order to desensitize the body to pollen.
Nasal corticosteroid sprays are effective when it comes to reducing inflammation and its symptoms associated with it.
Nasal sprays are designed to relieve congestion and itching. These cover decongestants, which are just a short-term solution for swelling.

The majority of treatments can only help manage the symptoms or allergy, but will not cure them. immunotherapy can be helpful for managing long-term allergies but it takes a couple of years to complete.

How Long They Last

It will depend on the kind of pollen that triggers your allergies:

Tree pollen – March until mid-May
Grass pollen – Mid-may to mid-July
Weed pollen – Mid-August to November

Your location will impact this. The weather also has an effect on pollen levels, which delays or extends how long the allergies last in a year.

You can visit an allergy clinic Germantown MD to manage your symptoms

Why You Should Consult an Allergist

If you have a stuffy nose and your eyes begin to itch every spring, you can benefit from an allergist-immunologist. However, those symptoms are not the only ones that can send you to an allergist. They are trained to treat and diagnose conditions that affect the immune system. Most of the time, these doctors are only referred to as allergists. What you do not know is that they help you with more than just allergies. They help you care for more conditions involving your immune system.

Your immune system is going to shield your body against illnesses and germs. It will help you fight off infection and prevent harmful viruses and bacteria from invading your body. Sometimes, the immune system will attack healthy cells.

Read on to find out more.

Convenient

The allergists can be the best solution to get access to the healthcare you need right now. You can just walk in anytime if it is an emergency, and you will receive treatment right away without getting exposed for a long time. You can also book an appointment online before going if it can wait. This is going to save you time and energy.

Proper Treatment Plan

You have a lot of DIY options you can dispose of to get rid of allergy symptoms. However, in case they are consistent and important to the quality of your life, you might need medical intervention. They can prescribe the right medication or even undergo surgery so your nasal passages can open up.

In case You Have Asthma

Asthma will cause your airway muscles to tighten or experience spasms, and the linings of your lungs can get inflamed. This will block airflow, which makes it difficult to breathe. Asthma ranges from life-threatening to mild. You might feel tightness in your chest and you will struggle to catch your breath. You might also experience coughing and wheezing.

Talking to an allergist-immunologist helps get your asthma under control, which means your flares will be a lot fewer. The doctor will prescribe medication in order to treat specific symptoms. They can also help you know more about common triggers like mold, smoke, pet dander, and dust mites, as well as how to avoid them.

They Will Test Your Allergy

The top allergy clinic will test you for allergies. After the initial exam and taking your history, you will want to make sure that your allergy problem is given in detail. This confirmation is possible through tests. Some FDA-approved tests will include skin and blood testing.

Medical Service is High-Quality

Allergy clinics provide accurate allergy assessments and the best pharmacists. They have experienced healthcare providers that can deliver a comprehensive program for your treatment that is tailored to individual requirements.

Great for Future Planning

When you know which substances trigger your allergies, they can be avoided in the future. This could mean anything from avoiding air with heavy pollen outdoors to taking an EpiPen if you accidentally eat tree nuts. An allergist is an important addition to your medical team. You can keep the contact number of the allergist in your area so you know who to contact when you have bad symptoms.

Safe Prevention of Allergic Reactions

Knowing your allergy trigger is the primary step of prevention. If you are aware that you have a nut allergy, you will avoid foods with nuts. It is the same case for people who are allergic to dust, mold, spores, and anything else you can stay away from.

You can visit an allergy center Manassas VA to get the best treatment for your allergies.

The Importance of Accurate Pollen Count

If you have sniffles and watery eyes because of seasonal allergies, you might be thinking about the pollen count, the graphics you see on the internet, and how the information helps you. People can see the daily pollen count on the news, in reports, or in the newspaper. These reports give people how much pollen is in the air. The tree pollen level, weed pollen, and grass pollen are often reported as “low”, “medium”, or “high.” On occasions, these are reports that provide more details on the kinds of trees and weed pollens present.

You might have to go see an allergy specialist before the season starts, so you can best manage it this time. Find out more about why the pollen count matters.

What Does Pollen Count Mean?

Pollen count refers to the measure of the number of pollen grains that is present in a cubic meter. It is normally recorded that day, so the pollen count forecasts will most likely reflect the daytime figures as well.

Oftentimes, they use the rotarod technique to measure the pollen grains. This involves the greased silicone rods to collect air particles, which is usually over 24 hours. Some devices can measure pollen counts over several days.

If the pollen count is 50 or less, that is low, while if it is 1,000 or more, that is high.

How Does Pollen Count Work?

It is important to understand the way pollen counts are gathered. Most of the pollen counters are positioned on top of buildings, where air samples are collected through different methods. The pollen present in the air lands on some kind of surface, like a glass microscope slide and they use petroleum jelly to coat it. A person who is trained to identify pollen uses a microscope to examine the slide, and they count the different types of pollen. Calculations will be done, which is estimates the amount of pollen in the air, according to how much pollen is collected on the slide over a certain period. Pollen level (low, medium, or high) reports are based on the pollen averages that were collected through the years.

Seeking Treatment

Even when you are trying to stay away from the outdoors when the pollen count is high, your allergies remain uncontrolled and an antihistamine only gives you temporary relief. If you want to manage your allergies better, you should contact a professional allergist for treatment and diagnosis. Allergy shots and drops are successful ways of treating and managing patients to eliminate their symptoms.

What You Must do if the Pollen Count is High

The best thing is to just stay indoors if your allergies are severe and the pollen count outside is high. If you have to be outside, you must follow these steps:

If you have to be outside, wear an allergy mask
You should keep the windows closed inside your home and car
Run the air conditioning in your car and home
After you come from outdoors, take a shower and change your clothes right away. You should shampoo your hair and wash off all the pollen
Wipe off your pets if they came from outdoors. They might carry pollen on their fur
Wear a hat and sunglasses to make sure pollen stays out of your hair and eyes

Time of Day Matters

Normally, the pollen count in the morning is high and it peaks by early afternoon or midday. After that, the pollen count will gradually fall. That means pollen count is normally low before dawn, late afternoon, or early evening.

Contact allergy center Manassas VA if you need to consult.

Surprising Things that Make Allergies Worse

If you have seasonal allergies, you most likely avoid triggers that cause itchiness, sneezing, and sniffling. However, even if you stay inside even on high-pollen days, there are some everyday habits that you might not think could be allergy triggers. They can wreak havoc on your allergies without being aware of them.

An allergist will tell you that you are not the only one who suffers from this because some of the everyday habits you do cause allergy reactions. There are seasonal allergies like they only come out during summer, spring, winter, or allergy to peanuts or cats is all-year-round. You need to limit exposure to allergens, and the symptoms can be treated by taking medication.

Here are some of the weird or surprising things that make allergies worse.

Clothes

Pollen can easily get stuck to the fabric, and after you spend a day outside, you are bringing those irritants at home. You will spread them to your bed, couch, and other parts of your home. If you want to keep the pollen from proliferating, you must change your clothes right away once you get home. You can also shower before bed to remove pollen from your skin and hair.

Your Shoes

If you have a rash or poison ivy after you wear leather shoes, there is a possibility that you are allergic to chemicals that are used in leather tanning. This kind of allergy is known as “contact dermatitis”, and a patch test can diagnose it. Contact dermatitis is a general term for the usual skin conditions that are caused by contact with allergens or irritants.

Red Wine

A glass of red wine might be good for unwinding, but it will not help with your allergies. Alcohol causes your blood vessels to widen, which causes a runny and/or stuffy nose. That is because alcohol is a vasodilator. Alcohol aggravates allergy and wine has an extra punch because of the sulfites it contains that cause some people to have a reaction. Red wine is high in sulfites, and fermented red grape skins have protein allergens.

Exercise Allergy

This kind of allergy was only reported 1,000 times since it was discovered in the 1970s. Exercise allergy causes urticaria, hives, but it can cause anaphylaxis in more severe cases. Anaphylaxis is a dangerous condition when your blood pressure suddenly drops and you will have a hard time breathing. There are 2 kinds of exercise allergies. One that occurs after you eat food within 2 hours after exercising, and the other one happens if you do not eat food. If you experience either one, you should stop your exercise, but you can prevent the food-related type by not eating anything before exercising.

Not Going to the Gym

It is difficult to find motivation when you feel like your face is about to explode, but working out brings some allergy relief. That is because of the stress hormones you release during exercise, and the blood vessels calm down so you can breathe better. This effect is only temporary, but you will get a break from congestion – together with the other benefits of exercise.

Swimming Pools

Chlorine dries out skin and irritates the airways of people with allergies like coughing, congestion, and itchy skin. Luckily, your allergy doctor can help you manage these symptoms so you can still go swimming whenever you like. Avoiding the pool because of your allergy is not the only solution, so make sure to ask your doctor what you can do.

You should go to an allergy specialist doctor Germantown MD if you want to manage your symptoms that are interfering with your everyday life.

When Should You See a Doctor About Your Allergies?

allergies

Some allergy problems are mild, like hay fever and they do not really need medical attention. Sometimes, your allergies can be managed by over-the-counter medications and there are times when they can disrupt your daily life. Allergies can also be life-threatening and you might need to see an allergy doctor.

They can tell you what you are allergic to and what you need to avoid so that the triggers will not act up. If you want to find out more, you should read on.

If You are Unsure if You Have a Cold or Allergies

Colds and allergies – allergic rhinitis can be easily confusing because both of them have runny noses and sneezing. A doctor helps you determine if the symptoms are because of environmental allergens such as dust, pollen, dander, tobacco smoke, or mites. It could also be a cold or upper respiratory tract inflammation because of a virus. The treatment for colds and allergies are different, so knowing what you are experiencing is crucial in choosing what medicines you must take. If you take cold medicine when you are actually having allergies is ineffective and wastes your money.

If you have an itchy nose or eyes, red/watery eyes, or puffiness/swelling inside your throat, eyelids, or ears, you most likely have allergies.

Who Can Develop Allergies or Asthma?

Allergies and asthma affect anyone, no matter the age, race, gender, or socioeconomic factors. Even if it is true that allergies and asthma are seen in children more, they can come out for the first time anytime in your life. Allergy symptoms sometimes start during childhood, go away for many years, and appear again in your adult life.

Even if exact genetic factors have no further studies yet, asthma and allergies can also be caused by heredity. With people who are susceptible, factors like stress, hormones, perfume, or other irritants may also contribute to this.

When the Symptoms Interfere with Your Life

Aside from having a stuffy nose along with other symptoms, allergies can also other annoying issues like sinus infections, ear infections, and headaches, which make you feel miserable. However, when you have allergies, you will have a hard time working, sleeping, or enjoying the outdoors, and this makes you suffer. A doctor helps you in figuring out what you can be allergic to, and how symptoms are effectively managed. Therefore, you can start to live your life again. Medicines and over-the-counter prescriptions can be bought to treat allergy symptoms. When they do no work, you can go to an allergy expert to get a shot, and they will desensitize your allergens over time.

Serious Allergy Symptoms that Require you to See a doctor:

You have a hard time breathing and need to catch your breath
Most of the time, you wheeze or cough, especially during the night after exercising
You have shortness of breath or tightness in your chest frequently
You had a diagnosis of asthma, and have frequent attacks even if you are taking medication
You suffer from other health problems like thyroid disease, heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, glaucoma, liver disease, enlarged prostate, kidney disease, or liver disease. In case you do, it might not be advisable for you to use over-the-counter drugs without talking to a doctor

You should go to an allergic clinic Manassas VA anytime if your symptoms are interfering with your life.

Benefits of Allergy Testing

When you have allergies that means your immune system is overreacting you have touched or inhaled as you enjoyed an outdoor activity or in your home. Even having a carpet in your bedroom or taking aspirin are allergic reaction triggers that cause you to have symptoms like swelling, itchiness, vomiting, difficulty breathing, and other symptoms.

Going to an allergy clinic to get tested is important and you should know that it is very simple. It is performed by blood or skin testing, and when combined with physical education and medical history, the doctor can pinpoint what you are allergic to.

Read on.

Helpful in Managing Diets

It is hard for parents to handle a child’s diet if they fear allergic reactions. In most cases, the reason is that the food group is taken out from their daily diet. When you remove a lot of food items, it means that nutrients and vitamins are neglected, they can impact the health of a child. This is a prevalent issue when self-diagnosis of allergies are given.

You Will Have an Effective Treatment Plan

There are different medications and treatment options that allergy sufferers experience like allergy shots, immunotherapy, or avoidance. Accurately diagnosing an allergy, together with insights into any medications you are currently taking allows your allergist to prescribe the right treatment program.

Differentiate Intolerance and Allergy

When you can differentiate between food intolerance and food allergy, it gives you assurance that your treatment plan will be the right one. Intolerances happen hours or sometimes even days after you have consumed the food, and that causes digestive problems. In contrast to this, there is an allergic response that quickly occurs and that is triggered by releasing the antibodies. After you come from a consultation, the food allergy doctor will do tests to confirm them.

Lifestyle Changes

If you have severe food allergies, you might have to start alternating your food so you can avoid more food problems. If you suffer from insect allergies, there is an EpiPen you can use to protect yourself. If you are allergic to dust and pollen, you will be able to control everything around you. In case you have nut allergies, you will know that you have to avoid eating foods that might have the kind of nuts and oils that might cause you to have a reaction. If you are allergic to pets, you will stay away from that animal. In case you are allergic to shellfish, you would have to pay attention to any kind of salad or seafood you are about to consume. The allergy test will show what you must do.

Improves Your Everyday Life

It can be difficult to manage a food allergy, but it is a lot worse if you have limited knowledge of the triggers. When you know which foods will cause a reaction, you can be comfortable without having a lot of concerns. Children are able to attend school events, birthday parties, and other functions that do not cause fear. At the same time, teachers and other parties responsible will know about your dietary requirements.

Find Out if You Need to Change Your Eating Habits

When you undergo allergy testing, you will know which foods are causing digestive issues or outbreaks that cause something like a gluten allergy. You might have to avoid foods with gluten.

Go to an allergy center Manassas VA to get tested and find out what you need to avoid.

Managing Asthma During Pregnancy

Pregnancy is one of life’s greatest miracles. Going through the entire process of pregnancy can be full of ups and downs. But it will surely be worth it when you see your bundle of joy for the first time after nine months. Expect to feel all kinds of emotions while tending to your child – the good, the bad, and the ugly. Unfortunately, the “ugly” part may include other things, like having to undergo asthma treatments due to an asthma attack.

Asthma is a common condition that affects people all over the world. It can make your situation more complicated if you are pregnant. For one, asthma can compromise your unborn baby’s safety if not managed properly. To prevent future complications, you should seek an asthma doctor immediately for the sake of you both.

What triggers asthma in pregnancy?

Asthma triggers during pregnancy are mostly similar to the usual asthma symptoms. However, sensitivity to the symptoms may be increased due to hormonal changes while pregnant. For starters, common asthma triggers may include:

Respiratory illnesses including viral and bacterial infections
Allergic rhinitis
GERD (Gastroesophageal reflux disease)
Smoke (ex. cigarette smoke, smoke produced by vehicles, wood, and cooking, etc.)
Perfumes and sprays
Allergies (food, chemicals, cosmetics, pet dander, dust, etc.)
Emotional triggers (hormonal changes, stressful environment, etc.)

For allergy triggers, it is best to consult an allergy specialist doctor for proper medications suitable for your pregnancy.

How asthma can affect your unborn baby

Having asthma can affect a person’s quality of life, and can make your pregnancy complicated. The unborn baby inside your tummy needs enough oxygen to live. However, having an asthma attack can affect the amount of oxygen entering your body which can compromise your baby’s life.

You may have already been given medications by an allergist to help manage your asthma. However, you may have also considered stopping taking asthma medications when you got pregnant. This is understandable, as taking any medications may cause complications on your pregnancy.

For one, uncontrolled asthma may cause premature birth. You may also experience health complications such as hypertension or preeclampsia. In worst cases, your unborn baby may die due to lack of oxygen because of a severe asthma attack. If you have asthma prior to your pregnancy, it is best to consult an allergy physician to help manage the condition.

How to manage asthma attacks during pregnancy

Here are some tips to help you manage asthma attacks throughout your pregnancy:

Let your doctor know you have asthma.

It is said that asthma symptoms may become worse around six to eight months of pregnancy. Medications taken during or after birth are possible, but can cause discomfort and may even worsen the condition.

To prevent further complications, it is important to inform an allergist doctor about your asthma. Your doctor will help you create a plan and managing your asthma symptoms and ensure smooth and uncomplicated delivery.

Watch out for asthma symptoms.

Asthma is generally manageable even during pregnancy. Good asthma control can also ensure a normal and healthy pregnancy and delivery. Unless advised against by an allergy physician, you can still continue taking asthma medications while you’re pregnant.

Since asthma is supposed to be manageable, one of the things you should do is to watch out for its symptoms. Your symptoms may be worse than your pre-pregnancy days, so take note of that. If you are already experiencing breathing difficulties due to your asthma, head to the nearest clinic or hospital immediately. Medical personnel will conduct first aid treatment to ensure you and your unborn child are both safe.

Avoid the triggers as much as possible.

If you don’t want to experience asthma during pregnancy, avoid the triggers. At the end of the day, you and your baby’s safety should matter most. Among things you can skip to prevent asthma triggers include:

Quitting smoking or avoiding secondhand smoke
Avoid overeating and lying down after mealtime (if you have GERD)
Avoid interacting with people with infections (ex. colds and flu). Better yet, wear a protective mask when dealing with sick people
Avoid other allergy triggers (ex. foods, dust, pet dander, sprays, and perfumes)

Finding the best asthma doctors near you

Consult the best allergist in Manassas VA to help you manage asthma while you’re pregnant. Some doctors would recommend taking flu and allergy shots to prevent severe asthma attacks during the duration of your pregnancy. These medications are considered safe, but make sure to seek medical advice first before taking these.