Milk Allergy Symptoms - Treatment And Fixes

If your child or someone you know were showing milk allergy symptoms, would you have any idea? Milk is a very important part of our lives because it contains the calcium in nutrients that are good for us and especially young children. Do you know what you would do if your child started developing allergic reactions to milk or if your child was born with milk allergy symptoms? This article you will show you about these symptoms and what to do about it.

Milk is an essential element in any child's diet, and there are serious problems that can occur if a child doesn't get enough milk. The different types of symptoms will show up in a person's body as they react to the protein from the milk. If allergic, the body reacts to the protein as if these were some type of foreign agent and tries to eliminate them. It is possible for adults to be allergic to milk, but most of the symptoms are found in children and younger people. Some children will naturally outgrow their milk allergy symptoms, and others just will not.

There have been three different types of milk allergy symptoms that have been established so far. The first type of reaction is characterized by hives or eczema. The symptoms usually appear immediately after the milk has been ingested. The second type of symptoms will occur several to many hours after the person has taken a drink. These indicators are usually when someone has diarrhea, or vomits. The third and last type of symptom does not show up immediately, and usually takes at least a day or two. This is the one that will almost definitely cause diarrhea.

The most common milk allergy symptoms are hyperactive behavior, diarrhea, vomiting, hives, asthma, ear and nose infections, eye infections, bloating, darkness around the eyes, and skin problems such as rashes and eczema. Knowing the symptoms will not solve the problem, and the only cure is to stop drinking cow's milk. But that isn't the end of it. You also need to check the foods that you are eating, and read the labels at the grocery store to make sure that you are not consuming foods that you are allergic to.

If you've taken milk and specific dairy products out of your diet, it is important that you still get enough calcium. The easiest way to do this is to take a calcium supplement, but there are also foods that you can find lots of calcium in. These type of foods are vegetables with leafy greens, dried fruits, almonds, baked beans, and most seafood. You should still be able to drink most soy milk and rice milk without having milk allergy symptoms.

Food Allergy and Food Intolerance Symptoms

Food allergy and food intolerance may cause certain of the matching symptoms, and as a result are often confused. Food intolerance is generally not as critical as food allergy indicators, and is usually confined in the digestive system. A real food allergy will cause an immune system reaction affecting numerous body organs, and so the problems could be grave and in many cases life-threatening. You will need to recognize the difference if you have a reaction to a particular food, because health danger and also the cure for each are going to be not the same.

A lot of people who believe they've got a food allergy to a particular food are experiencing food intolerance. Examples of this are the shortcoming to completely digest a food, such as instances of lactose intolerance, irritable bowel syndrome, food poison as a result of toxins, stress or psychological aspects, and frequent digestive condition triggered by eating gluten, a protein in wheat and other grains. Staying spot on to our theme of dietary worries, I would like to explore in-depth the region of sensitivity to food additives. Sulfites are sulfur based compounds that could appear naturally or be added to foods acting as an enhancer and preservative. The FDA estimates that one in 100 people is susceptible to this compound, although in my experience the numbers seem superior. This food intolerance can come about at any time, and its cause at this time is unknown.

Although sulfites are banned on fruits and vegetables that may be consumed uncooked, such as apples, they may still be found in various cooked and processed foods, and naturally in the manufacturing process of making beer and wine. The number two defense for those which possess a food intolerance to sulfite is avoiding foods which are prone to include sulfites is to read the labels on all food items, as rules at the moment necessitate manufacturers of their processed goods to register the compounds on their merchandise labels. We feel that the number one protection is avoiding processed foods entirely, and stick to an eating routine of fresh fruits and veggies. When checking labels, the sulfite-containing ingredients to seek will be sulfur dioxide, potassium bisulfate or metabisulfite, or sodium bisulfate, sodium metabisulfite, or sodium sulfite.

A food allergy is a more severe subject. It is definitely an adverse immune reaction to some food protein. In essence, the immune system mistakenly identifies these food proteins as harmful, triggering an allergic response. A food allergy might trigger a reaction which could range from mild to severe. They may affect the skin, frequently in the shape of hives, gastrointestinal, presenting itself in stomach ache and unsettled stomach, and the most crucial, that is cardiopulmonary, plus a food allergy may have an effect on the respiratory tract and blood circulation, which is called anaphylaxis. These conditions entail urgent medical attention. One of the most common sensitivities is to peanuts, a member of the bean group, and sometimes can be very severe. When you've got a recognized food allergy and are dining out, it will be a very good idea to let the waite personnel understand what that food allergy is.

Knowing how to distinguish concerning what are food allergy and food intolerance fare may help circumvent what can develop into a bad condition. Diet, that is being attentive to everything we consume, is not just significant for the way we appear but for our general health, and can have a major bearing not only on how long we exist but our quality of life. You should learn how to interpret labels, as not every food item on the market is truly harmless to consume.

Food Allergy Symptoms

Food allergy is very dangerous to allergic patients, some time leads up to death of the patients. Several people suffer from this allergy and some of them could be life threatening symptoms that occur due to it. If a patient should not consult immediately after symptoms, it can cause death.

Therefore patients should keep in mind a small quantity of food which produces the allergy symptoms. Not all food items cause allergy. Peanuts and pistachios and other different types of nuts can be dangerous to food allergic patients. A small amount of these nuts may produce symptoms of food allergic.

Many people suffer from this allergy and this allergy found forever. Some of get mild trouble and some of get sever trouble while some of people suffer allergic trouble during particular season or some of suffer in particular place.

Patients can have allergies flowers, dust, pet, food and other substances. Different types of allergies are their but symptoms are same like pet allergy symptoms or food allergy symptoms. Some times it is difficult to find type of allergy.

Food Allergy Symptoms Are Similar to Other Allergens

The main problem is to determination of food allergy, because food allergy symptoms are not unique. Its symptoms are similar to other allergens so there is problem at the time of identification. Once you are able to find out which food source cause allergy so you can avoid this source.

People could be eliminated allergy by avoiding this particular food source. People try to find out the source of allergy by doing experiment on them, but this is time consuming and inconclusive. Food allergy symptoms appear quickly after consuming food source.

Patient can think about last meal and possibly can conclude about exact food source which is affected. Sometimes it's not easily to find out the symptoms. For example peanut sauce on another dish is not identifiable. To help to find out exact food source, different tests are available now.

Dust Mites Allergy Symptoms: What One Must Know

Dust mite allergy symptoms usually develop when a person is exposed to allergen. This creatures primary food is dead skin cells, which are bountiful in a home setting. Those skin cells also hold moisture that helps them thrive. So bedding and the carpets and mattresses in the bedrooms are an elite multiplying ground that can go on to generate allergy problems for us. The allergy source does not live in dust mites themselves. There is a protein that is known to dwell in their dead and decaying bodies and in their residue or "feces" that build up in the same places where they thrive. And what sets off most allergic reactions that we commonly call a dust mite allergy come from those dead materials. It is the body's immune system's actual activity to produce allergy symptoms which starts to yield antibodies in humans who are allergic when these are inhaled or touched the skin.

Symptoms of this allergy which can be seen in temporary ill- health effects include stuffy nasal cavities, head or sinus aches, sneezing, facial pressure and pain, irritated, watery and reddish eyes, itchy skin, mental fatigue, wheezing and suffer from frequent awakening. Puffy, swollen or discolored eyelids might also be present. Sinus infections, bronchitis, hay fever, eczema (a skin disease), other skin problems, and asthma can result when the allergies turn out to be really worst especially in months and seasons when the house is closed and the indoor humidity and temperatures are relatively high and ventilations are poor.

Avoidance is the safest and among the most effective way to treat allergies. There are control measures and sanitation that are effective in minimizing the production of dust mites. A few simple environmental measures can dramatically improve symptoms as well as decrease the amount of medication you may require. Recommendation is focused on the reduction of the concentration of dust borne allergens in the living environment by regulating both allergen production and the dust which serves to transport it. Get rid of unnecessary objects from the walls and ceilings where they might lurk. Remove carpets if possible, which are believed to be most helpful in reducing or preventing allergy. If your children are allergic to dust mites, they should be encouraged not to play on carpets. Wash the sheets and blankets at least every two weeks. The bedding should also be breathable and be able to withstand frequent washing. Recommended method is to put an airtight plastic or polyurethane cover over your mattress. See Consumer Reports article here http://www.ehso.com. Maintain low indoor humidity, ideally between 30-50% and make certain that there is good ventilation.

Treatment of dust mite allergy symptoms depends on what type of allergic symptoms a person is having, the body systems that are affected, and the severity of the reaction. See more on this site http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com for appropriate treatments available.

Allergy to Down Comforters

Sneezing And Coughing At Night? You Could Have An Allergy To Down Comforters

Many people have allergies and don't even know that they have them. They may know that they feel uncomfortable and may have attacks from time to time, but they really just aren't sure where their allergies are coming from.

Unless you get tested by your allergist, you could be like many of them. However, if you have a down comforter and you find that your allergy attacks are happening at night, it may be that your comforter is the exact source of your allergy.

Get Tested by a Certified Allergist

At night, when you are lying in your bed, and your coughing, sneezing, and watery eyes worsen, it could be most anything causing your allergy. If your pets are ones that stay indoors, it could be pet hair on your pillows or bed covers.

If you have plants in your bedroom, it may also be cause by those. Having an allergist test you is the only certain way you will learn what your allergy is and if you are really allergic to your down comforter.

If you cannot afford going to the allergist, try taking off the down comforter and switching it with another bed spread. If the ailments subside, and the symptoms seem to disappear, then chances are; you were allergic to your down comforter.

It is actually the feathers in the down comforters that people are allergic to. And it is those feathers that make the comforters so soft and appealing to so many people.

All is Not lost, You Can Still Be Comfortable at Night

If you have now replaced your down comforter with a substitute, and you are no longer experiencing those awful attacks, then you were allergic to your comforter. You don't have to suffer or be uncomfortable, they make imitation down comforters, and they are filled with fiberfill that is non-allergenic. You can get one, and it is comfortable too.

People like down comforters because they are really soft. You may be disappointed at first, that yours is not the down one, but, with time, you will get used to yours. It is far better to live without that allergy that your comforter was creating for you. Keep a positive outlook, you can enjoy the comfort without worry of the affects your other comforter was giving you.

The Danger of the Term Gluten Allergy

While more people than ever before are aware of gluten intolerance and celiac disease, a troubling misunderstanding of the condition persists and even seems to be spreading throughout the Internet. A single term embodies this misunderstanding: gluten allergy. Read on to learn why this term is misleading and relying on it could even be dangerous.

What Happens In A Food Allergy?

When someone experiences an allergic reaction, this reaction involves specific types of antibodies and chemicals in a specific type of reaction. The main antibodies in an allergic reaction are immunoglobulin E (IgE). These antibodies circulate your body with your blood and when triggered by the presence of an antigen create an immediate response.

During this response, chemicals called histamines are released. These histamines create the tangible symptoms we associate with allergic reactions. This entire response to an antigen is immediate and represents a Type 1 Hypersensitivity. A food allergy is a Type 1 Hypersensitivity.

Celiac Disease Is An Autoimmune Disease

Celiac disease is not a Type 1 Hypersensitivity. It does not involve IgE or histamines. It is an autoimmune disease with a delayed autoimmune response. When you have celiac disease, your body modifies the proteins in gluten (gliadin and glutenin) in a way that makes them trigger an over-reaction from your immune system. In this reaction, your body produces the excessive antibodies immunoglobulin A (IgA), anti-transglutaminase antibodies (ATA), and anti-gliadin antibodies (AGA).

These antibodies attack the lining of your small intestine, causing damage and inflammation, in particular resulting in the flattening of the intestinal villi. The villi are tiny finger-like protrusions along the wall of the small intestine that reach out and grab nutrients from the food you're digesting.

By causing an inflammatory response in your body, drawing toxins and undigested proteins into your bloodstream and creating worsening malabsorption, celiac disease wreaks havoc on your entire body over time.

But this entire process can take between hours and months to trigger tangible, identifiable celiac disease symptoms.

How Is the Phrase Gluten Allergy Dangerous?

Think of it this way: left untreated and undiagnosed for long, celiac disease can cause other autoimmune diseases, a litany of troubling symptoms and conditions and even cancer. Yet celiac disease often does not trigger an immediate or obvious reaction.

If you have celiac sprue disease, you may be able to eat a large piece of gluten-dense whole wheat bread and not experience an immediate reaction... or even a reaction within several days. This is counter to how many people (perhaps even most people) understand the disease.

If you use the term gluten allergy, you imply an immediate response to consuming gluten. An allergy is a type 1 hypersensitivity, and most laymen think of an allergy as an immediate reaction to an antigen.

So if you rely on this inaccurate term to encapsulate this concept, you might miss a serious and even deadly case of gluten intolerance simply because you're looking for an immediate and tangible reaction to consuming gluten.

I admit I still use the term gluten allergy because it often conveys the seriousness of the situation to many laymen in casual environments. A waiter might fear an allergic reaction more than "just" an intolerance, and thus he may be more vigilant in addressing your need while taking your order.

The topic of gluten intolerance is complex and evolving. A wheat allergy is a food allergy and you can experience several forms of gluten intolerance without testing positive for celiac disease (like a non-celiac gluten sensitivity). But try to stay clear on the difference between celiac disease and a food allergy and be deliberate and sparing in your use of the term gluten allergy.

Allergy Symptoms and Allergy Relief

Allergy is the body's response to the presence of some aggravating agent called an allergen. Individuals act differently in their responses to allergens; therefore some people are more allergic than others.

It used to be assumed that all allergens were protein substances, and it was common to speak of "protein sensitivity." It is known that some allergens are carbohydrates, and at least a few are chemically related to the fats. All allergens have one thing in common - they stimulate a sensitive person to react by producing antibodies.

The allergic reaction results from intricate chemical processes, such as enzyme reactions, and is related to the processes by which immunity is developed. Becoming immune to a certain germ whose products have served as an allergen is one form of allergic response. When the antibodies which a certain allergen produces are stationary within a group of the body's cells rather than being free in the bloodstream, then these cells in which the antibodies are located may be unfavorably affected when exposed to this specific allergen.

Kinds of Allergen

1. Some allergens enter the body by being inhaled. These include pollens; dusts; vapors, such as tobacco smoke; emanations such as dandruff; and strong odors such as perfumes (dust allergy, nasal allergy).

2. Certain foods provoke as allergic response in sensitive persons. These include wheat, milk, chocolate, eggs, strawberries, nuts, pork, and fish (wheat allergy, strawberry allergy, fish allergy, egg allergy, food allergy).

3. Some persons become sensitive to drugs or biological agents. These, then, can serve as allergens (drug allergy).

4. Certain germs may function as allergens. The symptoms produced when these germs invade a person's tissues are the result of the allergic response.

5. They are allergens which cause the allergic response through a mere contact with the skin or mucous membranes of a sensitive person. These include products from plants such as poison oak and poison ivy, and certain dyes, metals, plastics, furs, leathers, rubber products, cosmetics, and chemicals such as insecticides (skin allergies, cat allergy, dog allergy).

6. Even physical agents such as heat, cold, light, and pressure may cause an allergic response. Many a hay-fever sufferer begins to sneeze when he steps into bright sunlight.

Preventing the Allergic Response

In general, there are four ways to prevent or modify allergic symptoms.

A. Avoiding the allergen. The simplest way to avoid allergic response is to keep offending allergens from entering the body. Hay-fever sufferers can often prevent their attacks by staying indoors during the time of year when certain plants bloom. If these plants are limited to a certain locality, the sufferers can avoid symptoms by staying away from this locality. Allergy to a drug can be avoided by not using the drug. Allergy to some food may be handled by excluding this food from the diet. Persons sensitive to a particular dust may wear a filtering mask. Air-conditioning systems with air filters often bring relief to hay-fever and asthma sufferers.

B. Desensitization.It is possible to build up a person's tolerance to most allergens by administering gradually increasing doses of this allergen. Physicians can obtain preparations of the usual allergens from medical supply houses and can inject these into a sensitive patient, beginning with very small doses and building up until the patient's tolerance has improved to where he no longer develops symptoms when exposed to the allergen. This method has proved quite successful for many patients suffering from hay fever and some types of asthma.

C. Antihistamines.In many cases of allergy, the body's tissues liberate histamine in response to the presence of an allergen. An antihistamine drug may relieve this allergic response. There are many varieties of these medications. One kind will benefit some allergic persons and another kind, others. It may be necessary to use the trial-and-error method to determine which antihistamine will bring the greatest benefit.

There is some hazard involved in the use of antihistamine drugs; many of them have the side effect of making a person drowsy. It is dangerous, therefore, for the person taking such drugs to drive a car.

D. Hormones. In cases of extremely serious allergic reactions, the use of steroid preparations may provide some benefit. These powerful medicinal agents should be used only under the supervision of a physician.

HAY FEVER

The symptoms of this illness depend typically upon an allergic response to an offending protein substance breathed in with the air.

ASTHMA

At least half the causes of asthma seem to be caused or aggravated by allergy.

HIVES (URTICARIA)

This skin manifestation usually results from an allergic response to some offending allergen.

ANGIONEUROTIC EDEMA

This manifestation of the allergic response involves the skin in much the same manner as in hives except that here we have one or more large swollen skin areas. In some forms of the disease, this area of swelling may involve the lining of the larynx so as to interfere with breathing and even endanger the victim's life. In other cases it is the face, hands, feet, and genitalia that become swollen.

SERUM SICKNESS

Serum sickness is an allergic reaction triggered by the injection of a serum of animal origin (usually horse serum). Certain antitoxins, valuable in the treatment of specific infections, are contained in animal serum. This allergic reaction typically occurs in persons who have had a previous injection of this same kind of serum and have become sensitive to it. Because of this possibility physicians prefer to use toxoid preparations, when available, rather than the antiserums.

Symptoms of serum sickness may develop as long as fourteen days after the injection. However, they may occur more promptly in previously sensitized persons. The illness begins with a skin eruption resembling hives. There is fever, enlargement of the lymph nodes, pain in the joints, nausea, and abdominal pain.

Emergency treatment for serum sickness requires the use of carefully graduated small injections of a 1:1000 solution of epinephrine. Usually the beginning injection consists of.5 ml. of this dilute solution. It is followed a few minutes later by an injection of 1 ml. depending upon the patient's condition; the injection may need to be repeated two or three times at intervals of a few minutes.

DRUG ALLERGY

An allergic reaction may occur in sensitive individuals after the taking of certain drugs. There are said to be more than one hundred drugs which provoke an allergic response in sensitive persons. Notable offenders are the sulfonamides and penicillin.

Development of a skin rash is the usual manifestation of a drug allergy. Fever and symptoms of shock may occur in extreme cases. Discontinuance of the offending drug is the obvious treatment, the symptoms usually disappearing soon after the drug is discontinued.

Seasonal Allergies

Has anybody noticed that the days are getting longer, and the sun seems a little stronger than usual? I know it's only March, but could it be that spring is on its way in Canada? For many of us the idea of spring brings thoughts of being outside, enjoying life, and letting go of the old winter doldrums. But wait a minute! Not everybody enjoys the spring - what about those with allergies? I mean allergies to grasses, pollens, trees, ragweed, and other common allergens, that bother us between the melting snow and the frost of October. Allergy season is the season that literally millions of people dread. Actually you can get seasonal allergies at any time of the year -- it just depends to what you are allergic. If it's dust or mold, then you are more likely to first experience symptoms in the Fall when the furnace is turned on and you close the windows, and to find them easing in the Spring, when you do the opposite.

Most people think of allergies as starting in the spring and often going through until the first frost. This is when people who are allergic to grasses and pollens have a really bad time. The symptoms of nasal congestion (rhinitis), and itchy, watery eyes (conjunctivitis), are more than some can bear. Perhaps the worst symptom of all is the extreme fatigue that accompanies these symptoms. Some are luckier than others -- they get a short season of pollen allergy in the first part of spring and then they are free. Others have allergy symptoms all summer long with symptoms of reactivity to grasses in the mid-summer months, and then finally ragweed beginning around August 15th. However long you have symptoms, they are always miserable although never serious, unless you have asthma as well.

Allergies occur when the immune system overreacts to a harmless substance. Your body is trying to defend itself against a foreign invader, much as it would against a bacteria or virus that could cause you an infection. Thus it mounts an immune response - rallying the forces against this intruder. Since you are continually breathing in the substance, your loyal body continually tries to defend against it. What a mistake -- grasses and pollens are actually harmless!

When allergies occur the body releases histamine, causing increased secretions and inflammation which cause the symptoms that make you feel so miserable. Drugs that prevent histamine release are called anti-histamines, and there are many on the market. They can reduce symptoms, but they do not cure the problem. They can also produce nasty side-effects such as drowsiness and more of the fatigue you already have. The newer anti-histamines such as Claritin and Reactine are less apt to cause these side effects, but still seem to in some people. You certainly can't go running through those green fields as the advertisements on television would suggest!

There are more 'natural' approaches you might want to try. Anything that can reduce histamine release may help. Here are some natural supplements that may help, and certainly won't hurt to try:

• Vitamin C -- 1000 mg. 3-5 times daily taken through the day with meals. Do not use the timed release variety for this purpose. Vitamin C is an anti-histamine in large doses


• Pantothenic Acid -- one of the B complex vitamins -- in a dose of 250 mg twice daily with meals. This is often sold as Calcium Pantothenate.


• Citrus Bioflavinoids in a dose of 500 mg. three times a day with meals. All of the above tend to stabilize the mast cells -- those cells that react when the allergen is inhaled and produce histamine. You will need to take all of these through the whole season in which you usually manifest symptoms.

Homeopathic remedies can also be helpful. They are very dilute samples of what you are allergic to, and must be taken beforethe season starts. Pollens 30CH (Borion) are a homeopathic mixture of Canadian pollens and grasses (including Ragweed), obtainable from most health food stores and some pharmacies in Canada. They come in packs of 6 doses, each dose being in one small tube. You place the whole tube of granules under the tongue, and let them dissolve, once a week through the season. Homeopathic remedies should be taken in a clean mouth - between, or one hour before meals, and without the interference of toothpaste or mouthwash, that may inactivate them.
If you know exactly what you are allergic to you can take individual homeopathic remedies such as mixtures of Grasses or Pollens or even Dust Mix. They should be taken in gradually increasing doses following the directions on the bottle -- and often come in liquids, in a glycerin or alcohol base. All homeopathic remedies can be taken in addition to the vitamin supplements mentioned above. Homeopathic remedies have no side effects, and have been shown to be superior to placebo in properly conducted clinical trials. For Ragweed sufferers, there is an antigen called Pollinex R This is a prescription medication of modified ragweed that can be injected once a week by your doctor for four weeks beforethe onset of the Ragweed season which begins like clockwork on or about the 15th August. Ask your family doctor to give this to you. None of the above will cause the nasty side-effects of some of the anti-histamines, and are often as, or even more, effective. Regular allergy shots can also be given by your family doctor, but they often have to be given for many years before they work.

Make sure you have a proper diagnosis before you self-treat any health condition. That is, if you have a dust allergy through the year, but minor or absent symptoms, you have allergies to pollens and grasses, then it helps to reduce the total load of allergies by reducing your exposure to dust as much as possible. So first reduce exposure as much as possible to any allergen; then take the vitamin supplements listed, and then add the homeopathic remedies. The positive effects of all of the above suggestions are, of course, enhanced by a healthy diet and good stress management.

Bichon Frise - Dog Allergy Symptoms

Bichon Frises make wonderful pets and loyal companions. They do have a few health problems to be aware of. One of the most common health issue they often deal with is allergies.Dogs often deal with allergies just like people do. Fortunately, the signs are obvious and there are remedies for most allergies.

Be on the look out for any of the following symptoms:

1. Digestive problems including vomiting, diarrhea and gas are signs of food allergies.

2. Ear infections are common in most breeds with long or floppy ears. Although the Bichon's ears are not obsessively long, they do hang over so the ear canal does not get much air. Add to that, Bichons tend to grow hair in their ears. It makes the perfect environment for an infection to flourish. Cleaning the ears once a week with an ear cleaner or recommended by your vet or vinegar and water; and having your dog's groomer remove the hair when your pup is groomed, will keep these infections to a minimum.

If your dog has chronic ear infections despite your best efforts to keep his ears clean and hair free, he may have allergies that are making him susceptible to ear infections.

Signs of ear infections are red ears, a discharge, foul smelling ears, frequent scratching of the ears and frequent shaking of the head.

3-Skin Issues such as excessive scratching, dry,flaky skin, and redness and swelling of the skin are signs of skin allergies. You may notice foul smelling skin, and hair loss. Sometimes your dog may develop hot spots, which are open, oozing sores.

If you notice your Bichon has any of these issues, consult your veterinarian for a diagnosis and treatment. It is important to do this as soon as possible so the problem does not escalate. You may also want to try some holistic treatments to help your Bichon Frise cope.

Some of these are:

1. Using a mild medicated shampoo, followed by a mixture of one part vinegar and one water.

2. Change your dog's food to a natural food. It is best to prepare your own food if possible. Also your dog may have developed an allergy to the primary ingredient in the commercial food such as beef or lamb. If you switch to a natural food, change the primary ingredient. For example, if the primary ingredient in your dog's food is beef, switch to chicken. Try to keep wheat out of your dog's diet too as that often is an allergen in dogs.

Usually switching your dog to an all natural diet improves your dog's digestion though most experts recommend to switch their food gradually. Check with your vet if you are unsure how you wish to proceed. I can say for my own four dogs, switching immediately to a natural diet that I prepared for them, had no ill effects on my dogs. In fact, the 2 that had gastric problems showed immediate improvement.

Keeping your Bichon healthy is not as daunting as it sounds. For the most part, these spunky little dogs are pretty healthy.

Hay Fever - The Best Treatments for an Allergy Free Life

Hay fever or seasonal allergic rhinitis afflicts sufferers with a variety of symptoms, such as:

繚 Itchy, runny & / or blocked nose

繚 Itchy, watery, red eyes

繚 Sneezing

繚 Itchy throat

繚 Less commonly; headache, face pain, sweats, loss of smell, asthma symptoms (breathless, wheezing)

Hay fever is caused by an allergy to pollen, the commonest coming from grasses and weeds which causes symptoms during spring & summer. Tree pollens can also affect many people, but tend to do so earlier in the year, generally from March till May. If symptoms persist in the winter months then other causes of allergy maybe to blame, such as fungal spores, house dust mites and animal & pet dander from fur.

Symptoms are caused by the body's immune system reacting to pollen, cells in the lining of the nose & on the surface of the eyes release histamine when exposed to an allergen which causes inflammation & irritation. Hay fever affects about 20% of the population and often starts in childhood and re-occurs each year for several years before improving or disappearing completely. People that suffer from hay fever are also often prone to asthma & eczema; these so called "atopic" conditions also tend to run in families.

Simple measures to reduce exposure to pollen can help ease symptoms, but avoiding pollen completely is virtually impossible. The following actions may help when the pollen count is high (50+):

繚 Stay indoors as much as possible with the doors & windows closed

繚 Keep car windows & air vents closed, consider fitting pollen filters.

繚 Wear wrap around sunglasses

繚 Avoid cutting grass & large grassy areas as much as possible

繚 Shower & wash your hair often to remove pollen

Treatment:

Hay fever is treated mainly with anti-histamine tablets, nasal sprays (anti-histamine or steroid) & eye drops. For optimal control, treatment should begin BEFORE the hay fever season starts and continue until the pollen season ends.

Anti-histamine tablets are classified into 1st generation (e.g. Chlorpheniramine - PIRITON?? which commonly cause drowsiness & also need to be taken several times a day.

2nd generation anti-histamines (e.g. Loratidine - CLARITYN??& Cetirizine - ZIRTEK?? generally do not cause drowsiness and are only taken once per day. Loratidine is considered the least likely to make you feel sleepy or to interact with alcohol. Both these drugs can occasionally cause dizziness and should be avoided during pregnancy & breastfeeding. These drugs can ease all symptoms of hay fever with the exception of a blocked nose, if this symptom is troublesome the use of a decongestant, such as pseudoephedrine can be tried or alternative anti-histamines prescribed; Fexofenadine or Desloratidine. Anti-histamines taken orally tend to act in about 30 minutes, but for faster relief Acrivastine - BENEDRYL??can be used which offers relief within 15 minutes, but requires frequent doses every 8 hours.

Steroid nasal sprays (Beclometasone - BECONASE??& Fluticasone - FLIXONASE?? are very effective at relieving nasal & eye symptoms. They are used once or twice daily in each nostril and can take between 5 & 20 days to provide a full effect. Anti-histamine nasal sprays (e.g. Azelastine - RHINOLAST?? offer fast relief of nasal symptoms, but do not help affected eyes and are generally less effective than steroids. Cromoglycate nasal sprays (RYNACROM?? offer another alternative, but these also need to be used regularly and can take up to 2 weeks to reach full effect. They are more often used in children. Ipratropium bromide nasal sprays (ATROVENT?? are particularly effective in stopping very watery nasal discharges, but have no effect on other nasal or eye symptoms.

Eye symptoms can be rapidly relieved by anti-histamine eye drops (e.g. Antazoline - OTRIVINE ANTISTIN?? or alternatively use drops with the anti-allergy ingredient Sodium Cromoglycate (CLARITYN??or OPTREX??allergy drops) however these need to be used regularly and can take several days to reach full effectiveness.

Successful relief of hay fever is often only achieved with the use of several products and may require treatment with anti-histamine tablets, a nasal spray & eye drops combined, starting a few weeks before the season begins.

What Are the 10 Most Common Symptoms of a Gluten Intolerance?

Gluten intolerance is a fairly common condition in our country. In fact, some studies show that it affects approximately 15% of the US population. It is characterized by an inability to handle foods containing gluten.

So what exactly is gluten? Gluten is a composite of the two proteins gliadin and glutenin. The word gluten is derived from the Latin word for "glue." Gluten is a mash up of starch, gliadin and glutenin and is found in grass related grains such as wheat, rye, barley and sometimes oats. Most breads, pasta, crackers and cookies contain gluten since they are typically made with wheat flour.

Gluten intolerance is categorized as an autoimmune disorder, meaning the immune system attacks it's own body's tissues. When a person with a gluten sensitivity eats, say, a plate of spaghetti, cells present in the small intestine misread the molecules in the grain as a foreign invader. There is then an interaction resulting in programmed cell death and an immune response, which results in the typical symptoms of gluten intolerance. It is important to identify a gluten intolerance and act accordingly because over time when someone with a gluten intolerance continues to ingest gluten, damage to the small intestine occurs. In its most severe form, gluten sensitivity can manifest in the form of celiac disease, which can be not only uncomfortable to a person, but indeed dangerous as well.

A dietary sensitivity to gluten can carry with it a variety of symptoms which unfortunately are often misdiagnosed since the symptoms are common to other diseases and disorders as well. Gluten sensitivity or intolerance is usually not the first suspect and people often go years and years without a proper diagnosis. As expected, the initial symptoms of gluten intolerance are mostly gastrointestinal symptoms, although other outside symptoms, do present themselves as well. The good news is that this is easily treatable by simply eliminating gluten from one's diet.

Gluten Sensitivity or Gluten Intolerance Symptoms:

1. Digestive Symptoms- Digestive symptoms are the most common. This includes abdominal pain, bloating, cramping, constipation or diarrhea, constipation and diarrhea (alternating), weight loss or weight gain.

2. Inflammation- Inflammation is an immune response to the gluten.

3. Lactose Intolerance, Dairy Sensitivity or Other Food Sensitivity- This is a secondary condition which results from damage to the small intestine (leaky gut) from the primary problem of gluten sensitivity.

4. Malnutrition and/or Anemia- Since the small intestine may be damaged in cases of gluten intolerance, and since food may be excreted rapidly as waste, the body often has a hard time absorbing nutrients, leading to this symptom developing. Specifically, a low iron level is common.

5. Chronic Fatigue, Exhaustion and Dizziness.

6. Body and Joint Aches.

7. Frequent Infections- The small intestine makes up 70% of the immune system and since gluten sensitivity causes damage to the small intestine, infection is a common symptom of gluten sensitivity.

8. Steatorrhea- This is the presence of excess fat in feces. This can lead to further embarrassing and painful complications, such as anal leakage or incontinence. Fat is present in the stools due to poor digestion.

9. Head aches.

10. Depression, Irritability and Mood Swings.

As stated above, treatment for gluten intolerance is easy. Simply eliminate gluten containing foods. This means that gluten-containing grains such as those found in bread, cereals, and pasta must be completely eliminated, as well as drinks such as beer, since these involve fermenting grains containing gluten.

If you experience any or all of the above symptoms, you may want to get tested for a gluten intolerance. The answer could be life changing.

Understanding Allergic Bronchitis - Simple Prevention Tips

Millions of Americans suffer from one respiratory disorder or the other, which can impact their lives in serious ways. A respiratory disorder can be acute or chronic. Acute disorders can be easily treated and last for a short time. On the other hand, chronic disorders are not only difficult to treat but can also leave a person disabled for life.

What is Allergic Bronchitis?

Allergic bronchitis is a type of respiratory disorder. It is commonly referred to as allergic asthma. The immune system of a person suffering from allergic bronchitis is highly sensitive and so hyperactive that it attacks even harmless foreign substances that enter the body. To put it in other words, the immune system labels a harmless entrant into the body as "dangerous" and produces antibodies to fight against it.

In allergic bronchitis, irritants and allergens inflame the bronchi and lower parts of the respiratory system. The condition lasts as long as the person is exposed to the allergens. In addition, allergic bronchitis is closely associated with asthma and respiratory allergy and can lead to conditions such as hay fever and allergic rhinitis.

In most cases, allergic bronchitis causes mild to moderate suffering. However, it is important to realize that allergic bronchitis can become very dangerous and even cause death. This is because some people are extremely sensitive to allergens. This extreme sensitivity can lead to suffocation caused due to the blocking of airways by inflamed tissues. People in this condition are in great danger. They need immediate hospitalization and medical care.

You know you are a victim of allergic bronchitis when you suffer from breathlessness, runny nose, red or swollen eyes, hyperventilation, tight chest, tickling in throat, persistent sneezing or coughing, headache, nausea, and so on. As soon as you recognise these symptoms, seek the help of a medical practitioner.

Treatment of Allergic Bronchitis

The importance of consulting a physician as soon you notice symptoms of allergic bronchitis cannot be overstressed. The doctor will conduct the required steps to find out which type of allergen is responsible for your particular problem. The test involves injecting an allergen directly under the skin and observing the way your body reacts to it.

Your doctor might even ask you to see an allergist. Allergists perform a series of tests in order to understand the nature of your allergy to a particular allergen. In addition, allergists can also teach you how to prevent the relapse of allergic bronchitis.

Treating mild or moderate allergic bronchitis is fairly simple. You need plenty of knowledge about the disorder, and you also need to know the particular type of allergen responsible for your problem. Once you know, it is easy to just avoid the allergens responsible for your problem. The medical treatment for this condition is anti-histamine medication.

Prevention of Allergic Bronchitis

It is easy to manage and even prevent allergic bronchitis. As mentioned previously, the easiest way is to determine the particular allergen causing your problem and just stay away from it. In addition to this, it pays to know a few things such as the following.

The summer season can aggravate this condition simply because during the summer, there are plenty of allergens in the air.

Remember to bathe your pets regularly and free their fur from any allergens. A lot of allergens are frequently found in the fur of animals.

Take special care of yourself if you are suffering from allergic bronchitis. As already said, the condition can get dangerous.

Keep some antihistamine medication with you while traveling. You never know the type of allergens you might come across in an unfamiliar location. Having some anti-histamine with you will help you easily control any allergic reaction that might come up.

Be assured that it is possible to live a full, happy, and productive life even with allergic bronchitis. It is very important to keep yourself informed about your condition, ways of treating it, and way of preventing it. Be in touch with your allergist and your doctor. They are the best people to give you all the information you require about allergic bronchitis and to teach you how to live with the problem effectively.

Learn the Signs of Nickel Allergy

There are literally hundreds of allergies in the world. Most of us only know a few of the most common ones like hay fever and peanut allergies. It is important for us to know even the most rarest types of allergies. One of these and one that most of us have never heard of is nickel allergy.

Nickel allergy is one of the most common causes of allergic contact dermatitis. Contact dermatitis is an itchy rash that will appear on your skin after touching what is normally a very harmless substance. This allergy is most commonly associated with jewelry - but it can also be found in other everyday items like coins, watchbands, and eyewear frames.

This type of allergy can affect people of all ages. You may develop nickel allergy after only being exposed to it one time or after long periods of exposure to the substances that cause it. There are treatments that are used to help reduce the symptoms of this allergy. However, once you have developed this allergy you will always be very sensitive to this metal and you should do your best to avoid any contact with it.

Nickel Allergy Causes

What causes nickel allergy? When someone has an allergic reaction it means that their bodies immune system are unable to protect the body against the toxic substances, viruses, and bacteria that are associated with it.

People who are allergic to nickel will react to the metal when they come into contact with it. That is because their immune system is telling the body that it is harmful to them. Once someone's body has developed a reaction to an allergen the immune system will forever by sensitive to it. Researchers have not understood exactly what causes the body to react to it this way.

Nickel Allergy Symptoms

Symptoms of nickel allergy will affect someone within 12 to 48 hours after they have been exposed and may last up to two to four weeks. Symptoms of nickel allergy that can cause contact dermatitis include:

Rash and bumps on the surface of the skin
Itching and sometimes severe itching
Redness in skin color
Dry patches of skin that can look like a burn
Blisters and draining fluid in severe cases

All You Need To Know About Allergy Shots

When medications fail to adequately control allergy symptoms and avoidance of the trigger is not easy or possible, an allergist may recommend immunotherapy or "allergy shots". This treatment consists of a series of injections containing small amounts of the substances to which a person is allergic. After a course of allergy shots, 80 to 90 percent of patients have less allergy symptoms, and in many cases their allergies have completely resolved. Allergy shots can be given for allergic rhino-conjunctivitis (nose and eyes), allergic asthma and insect sting allergies.

Are allergy shots experimental therapies?

No. Allergy shots have been given for nearly 100 years and are FDA approved therapies. Numerous well-designed medical studies show the efficacy of allergy shots.

And allergy shots do not contain steroids, which can have adverse long-term side effects.

How do allergy shots work?

Unlike allergy medicines, which act only to "cover up" allergic symptoms or prevent them temporarily, allergy shots fix the underlying problem of allergies. This occurs because the body treats the injection much like a vaccine, resulting in the production of infection-fighting antibodies against the pollen, dust, mold or pet dander. The body then stops producing as much allergic antibodies against the triggers, and therefore won't have as much, or any, allergic response when exposed to the allergens. These changes can last for many years even after stopping allergy shots. Recent studies show that allergy shots can also prevent people from developing new allergies, and reduce the risk of developing asthma in children with nasal allergies.

How are allergy shots given?

The method of immunotherapy consists of starting at a small dose that will not cause an allergic reaction, with slowly advancing the dosage until the person becomes tolerant to large amounts of the extract. These injections are initially given once to twice a week until a maintenance, or constant dose, is achieved. This usually takes approximately 3 to 6 months. Once the maintenance dosage is reached, the allergic symptoms are largely resolved in most patients. Thereafter, the injections are given every two to four weeks.

How long must I take allergy shots?

Therapy is continued for 3 to 5 years total, after which the patient continues to get benefit for another 5 to 10 years or longer, even after the shots are stopped. If the shots are stopped prior to a total of 3 years, the allergic symptoms typically return more quickly.

What are the risks of allergy shots?

The risks of immunotherapy consist of the possibility of experiencing an allergic reaction to the allergy shot. Most allergic reactions consist of mild to moderate swelling and itching at the site of the injection. These reactions occur frequently, but rarely require any change in treatment. A large swelling may require an adjustment of the immunotherapy dosage or a change in the frequency and amount of the shots.

Less commonly patients experience whole-body allergic reactions, sometimes called "anaphylaxis". Most of these reactions are mild and consist of itching of the skin, hives, or runny nose. Others are more severe and can present as cough, chest tightness, wheezing, throat tightness, shock and rarely can be life-threatening.

For this reason, it is normally required that patients remain in the physician's office for 20 to 30 minutes after the injection since most reactions occur during this time. These reactions are typically easily reversed with medicines such as injectable epinephrine and anti-histamines.

Should I take allergy shots?

Obviously, this is a question that only you and your doctor can answer. There are many reasons to consider allergy shots:

- Medicines don't work: Many patients go to the allergist because they still have symptoms despite having tried numerous allergy medications, with little to no relief of their symptoms. Sometimes allergy shots are the only therapy left for these patients.

- Go for the cure: Other patients like the idea of a "cure", and opt for allergy shots for that reason. Remember, immunotherapy is the only treatment for allergies that fixes the underlying problem of the immune system, much like a vaccine.

- Don't like medicines: Some patients experience severe side effects from medications, or don't like taking medications on a daily basis - the idea of a "once a month shot" is a better option for them.

- Cost of medicines: Medications can be expensive, and since allergy symptoms typically return soon after medications are stopped, patients may require medications for many, many years. Allergy shots can alleviate much of the need for medications and can be a significant cost savings measure in the long run.

Ten Ways to Treat Seasonal Allergies Naturally

When hay fever season rolls around, many allergy sufferers first think of making an appointment with the doctor to get expensive, sedating drugs that may or may not actually work. Or maybe this year the treatment will be a painful and even more expensive series of testing and shots.

You should always take the medicines your doctor prescribes, but there are lots of things you can do on your own to get symptoms under control with or without medication. Here are the top ten.

1. Get to pollen before it gets to you

Buy a HEPA filter for every room in your house. Close your windows during peak pollination time for trees and grasses, which in most parts of the world is 4 to 6 in the morning. Don't dry your clothes on a line outside, dry them in the dryer.

2. Get your antishistamines from food, not the drugstore

The plant compound quercetin is a natural antihistamine, stopping the reaction that causes tiny packets of histamine in the cells lining your nose to burst when you come in contact with an allergenic substance. You can get quercetin in fruit, especially grapefruit, fruit juices, especially grapefruit juices, and most crunchy vegetables. If you take an over-the-counter or prescription medication for allergies, however, you may not be able to eat fruit or drink fruit juice because quercetin also can slow down the liver's detoxification process that clears out the drug.

3. Use nasal sprays sparingly

Chances are, if you just use a nasal spray for a day or two, it won't cause you any harm. But if you use a nasal spray throughout your pollen season, you can wind up with a symptom you are trying to treat, stuffy nose. Even worse, you can have rebound symptoms when you quit using a nasal spray that are worse than your symptoms when you start. If you have to use a nose spray at all, don't use it for more than 5 days.

4. Be careful about outdoor burning

It can be tempting to burn the leaves you forgot to rake last fall, but if you happen to get poison oak, poison sumac, or poison ivy into the mix, the smoke can give you allergies that are very, very difficult to treat.

5. Be careful about indoor burning

Never burn firewood that has been treated with preservatives or creosote. If it's green (treated with arsenic) or sticky (treated with creosote), the chemicals released from burning can aggravate allergies and have other toxic effects.

6. Keep your basement dry

Damp basements are usually moldy basements, and molds can cause severe upper respiratory symptoms. And if you have to dry out your basement, try to ventilate it without spreading mold and mildew spores through the rest of your house.

7. Take vitamin C

You don't need the high (2,000 mg) doses of vitamin C often used to treat colds if you are trying to prevent allergies. Just 100 to 500 mg a day is enough to reduce your immune system's reactions to substances to which you may be sensitive.

8. Make sure your vacuum cleaner is fitted with a HEPA filter

Otherwise, you may be spreading dust and dust mites around your home as quickly as you vacuum them up.

9. Wash bedding in hot water at least once a week

Wash bedding to remove dust mites, which cause not just allergic reactions but which sometimes contribute to the form of acne known as rosacea. Plastic covers on mattresses keep dust mites out of the air.

10. Do acupressure facial massage at least once a day

An analysis of 92 medical studies sponsored by the World Health Organization found that acupressure was as effective as antihistamines in controlling short-term symptoms, and more effective than any other method for preventing recurrent allergy attacks.

Yeast Allergy Symptoms

Yeast is required for several life processes such as digestion and the creation of various food items, including bread and beer. The bacteria is present in the body because of these functions and generally, it does not cause much harm. However, there are individuals who are highly sensitive to yeast and have severe reactions, so understanding these reactions is a key element in determining whether or not you or a family member have a yeast allergy.

The Most Common Yeast Allergy Symptoms

Yeast allergy symptoms are widely varied and for this reason it can be difficult to ascertain the true cause of some of the symptoms. Mild reaction symptoms include sore throat, sneezing, headache, and congestion, while more severe symptoms include skin rash, diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, and abdominal pain. It can be difficult to pinpoint most, if not all of these symptoms because they are expressed by so many other conditions, but discovering gluten intolerance in your family member can be done by a doctor relatively easily.

Dealing With A Yeast Allergy

Because yeast is used in a wide variety of food sources, cutting it entirely from your diet can be a difficult task to accomplish. Most bread is made with yeast, but there are special varieties available that are created gluten-free for people with yeast allergies. Cutting yeast out of your diet entirely is recommended for even mild cases of yeast allergy, as continually aggravating your condition can cause it to advance.

When shopping, look for items that are specifically labeled as being "gluten-free". This means they were created with no yeast, making them safe for you to consume. In addition, you can substitute foods where you might have eaten a yeast product. Instead of having a sandwich for lunch, make pasta instead. Pasta contains no yeast or gluten, making it a viable alternative to bread in many cases.

How to Cure Allergy Naturally?

When the immune system in our body finds or realizes anything as foreign to the body, it immediately releases antibodies like histamines to fight against the foreign substance. This causes inflammation which is called allergy in our body.

There are many natural remedies for allergies available. Although natural remedies are easily available without prescription, it is better to consult a doctor before to take up any medicine as a remedy for allergies.

When a person is taking natural remedies or any other medicines for allergies, it is better to concentrate on the environment in which they live. Avoid moist environments. Moist environments aid the growth of molds that are one of the causes of allergies. Cleanliness of the beds and the carpet plays an important role in treating allergies. Food restrictions also help in treating the allergies well. Certain types of foods should be avoided and certain foods can be taken. A proper nutritional supplement to aid the treatment is also recommended.

Foods like wheat and chocolates cause allergy symptoms like headaches which can also be migraine in nature. Hay fever, hives, childhood allergies, asthma, and eczema are also caused by such foods. Garlic and Onion can be taken daily to treat allergies. It is found that these herbs contain Quercitin which is effective in curing allergies. This is found to reduce the production of histamine that causes allergies in us. Green tea extract which is rich in phytonutrients is used to ward off cellular attacks. It is an excellent anti bacterial and is used to cut down the cholesterol level and to regulate the blood sugar.

Bromelain is used to assist in digestion of vegetable protein. Papain contains an enzyme that breaks down protein is effective in curing allergies. The acidic stage of the allergic reactions can be controlled effectively with Magnesium (Citrate). This is also used in treating asthma which has strong bonding with allergies. Calcium (Citrate) which balances the acid and the alkaline levels in our body is good in curing allergies. Calcium also reduces the production of histamine in our body.

Air filters and dehumidifiers can be used to prevent mold that is present in the humid environments. It is known that onions, garlic, and citrus fruits contain natural antihistamines. Having these would help you prevent and cure allergies. Natural nasal rinses are also available for treating allergies. Allergy can be controlled with the help for a proper diet. You have to note down the food items that are taken by you. Avoiding certain foods and taking some foods would help you in controlling the allergies.

Certain food supplements would also help in treating allergies positively. Natural antihistamines are taken to control allergy. You should know that the histamine released by our immune system is responsible for the allergic reaction. It is also better to know what leads to allergies. It is found that in babies the eating habits during the first year play an important role in a baby's sensitivity to allergy. Lack of breast feeding and feeding babies with solid food too early may lead to such conditions.

Is There An Allergy Arthritis Connection?

Arthritis is one of the most debilitating conditions in the United States and a major cause of missed work. Unfortunately, traditional treatments are limited and almost solely focused on anti-inflammatory medications, not on eliminating the original trigger of that inflammation.

What Does "Arthritis" Mean?

The word "arthritis" simply means "joint inflammation." There are basically two types: osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

• Osteoarthritis is inflammation caused by degeneration of the joint and is due to chronic wear and tear. Osteoarthritis is most commonly found in the knees.


• Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a more common term for inflammation, pain, and swelling of the joints. Rheumatoid arthritis is often seen in the hands, although it can affect just about any part in the body.

The Traditional Approach to Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is considered by an autoimmune condition of unknown cause. This belief ignores a large volume of scientific evidence pointing to food allergies as a major cause of arthritis. The correlation between arthritis and allergies is found to be quite significant.

Dr. Theron G. Randolph of Illinois was the founder of environmental medicine. Over the course of his research, he tested over 1000 arthritis patients with commonly eaten foods and chemical substances. He tested substances ranging from natural gas, auto exhaust, paints, perfume, hair spray, insecticides, tobacco and smoke to find out which of these substances caused their symptoms.

Various other studies have shown that numerous foods, food additives, as well as foreign invaders like protozoa, bacteria, yeast,and fungus can trigger or aggravate arthritic symptoms. In the case of food allergies, eating too much of a certain food too often is another problem. "Most people eat the same few foods over and over again, sometimes quite literally 'ad nauseam', wrote Doctor Randolph.

In addition, Dr. Marshall Mandell, the author of, Dr. Mandell's Allergy-Free Cookbook, tested over 6000 patients. He found that foods, chemicals, grasses, pollen, molds, and other airborne substances caused allergic reactions in the joints of nearly 85% of arthritics he tested.

The medical community has focused almost solely on treating arthritis with anti-inflammatory medications, either prescription or over-the-counter. These medications only offer temporary relief of the pain and swelling, but they never cure arthritis. Over the long term this type of treatment also comes with a host of side-effects.

Is It Possible to Eliminate the Inflammation Without Drugs?

Very often it is actually possible to eliminate the cause of the inflammation without resorting to drugs to suppress it. Inflammation is actually caused by the immune system. The important question is, "Why is the immune system creating inflammation?"

What Triggers the Immune System to Create Inflammation?璽?玲?/p>

Anything that triggers an immune response also triggers inflammation. This includes allergies, foods that are incorrectly identified by the immune system as not belonging in the body. Therefore an allergic reaction to a food can result in inflammation of the joints and pain.

What Foods Cause Arthritis?

The body can be allergic to any food, therefore any food allergy is capable of causing inflammation and arthritis. This includes RA, juvenile arthritis, and undefined joint pains.

This is why it can be so difficult for one to recognize the relationship between their diet and their symptoms. Many times, there is a delay between eating the suspect food and the associated pain.

What can be done?

If we can erase the faulty programming and replace it with a program that doesn't create inflammation, the pain will reduce and in many cases go away completely.

Programs like NAET have been very effective in treating joint pain and allergies. And if you don't have the time or money to investigate this very successful allergy elimination treatment.

The Allergy Kit is another and I think your best option to eliminate the pain of RA. It's a home treatment, similar to NAET and eliminates the allergic response permanently. It's easy to do and much less expensive than seeing a practitioner.

Anaphylactic Shock - My Allergic Reaction To A Yellow Jacket Bee Sting

Most yellow jacket bee stings are a bit painful, but they can be treated at home without any lasting problem. Home treatment usually consists of an ice pack or baking soda to the site of the sting. However, some people have a very severe allergy reaction to these kinds of stings which require immediate emergency treatment. In fact, insect stings can cause a life-threatening allergic reaction known as anaphylactic shock.

What Is Anaphylactic Shock

Anaphylactic shock, also known as anaphylactic reaction, is an immediate, severe allergic reaction that occurs within minutes of exposure to a substance that produces the allergy, such as a bee sting, and involves the entire body. The body's immune system responds to allergens in the system by sending protection in the form of histamines. Normally the cells of the body send just the right amount of histamine necessary to combat the allergen. However, in some cases, as in anaphylactic shock reactions, the released histamine causes the effects commonly associated with severe allergic responses, such as dilated blood capillaries, red skin, swelling, itching and rapidly appearing hives, known as urticaria.

More than 10,000 people in North America are afflicted each year by anaphylaxis. Of these, more than 750 episodes end in death. Because symptoms of anaphylaxis resemble those seen in other diseases, the true numbers are not known.

Symptoms of Anaphylactic Shock

The symptoms are many, and they are progressive. They can include skin redness, cough, nasal congestion, itching, hives, swelling, anxiety, sensation of feeling the heart beat (palpitations), rapid or weak pulse, fainting, light-headedness, dizziness, confusion, extreme anxiety, blueness of the skin, and difficulty breathing. If not treated, death results.

Emergency Treatment of Severe Allergic Reactions

Prompt emergency treatment should be immediate to reduce the likelihood of death. Treatment includes the injection of adrenaline, also known as epinephrine, to constrict the blood vessels and counteract the effects of the histamine. Further measures might includes the administration of oxygen or even the performance of a tracheotomy may be needed

A Personal Experience - My Near Fatal Encounter With A Yellow Jacket

Living in exurbia, I have had many red ant bites and have been stung once or twice by a regular wasp. These bites have always caused a mild to moderate reaction, such as swelling and blistering. But nothing prepared me for the experience of being stung by a yellow jacket.

On a beautiful morning, I was walking through the woods in the back of my house when I disturbed a yellow jacket nest which was under a small branch. Although I slowly backed away, I was suddenly stung on my right elbow. The site of the sting immediately caused a blister about the size of a quarter. I quickly made it back to the house, and put an ice pack on the site.

I began to feel very warm all over, my ears and earlobes became swollen and rubbery, my heart began to race, and I felt very, very anxious. When I looked into the mirror, my face was as red as a beet. Luckily my husband was home and rushed me to the emergency room.

When I looked at my right hand, I could not even recognize it as a hand. It was so swollen and full of hives. It was just one big, terrible looking lump.

By the time we got to the hospital, my nose and lips were numb, my heart was beating even faster, anxiety was overcoming me and my blood pressure was falling. I felt vague and confused, unable to even tell the nurse my birth date. All of this had happened within 20 to 30 minutes of being stung.

I was rushed into a treatment room and given epinephrine and benadryl, which are anti-histamines, as well as a form of prednisone (a steroid) intravenously. I was monitored closely and kept there for about two and a half to three hours. I was discharged with prescriptions for benadryl and prednisone to take daily for a week. I was also given a prescription for Epipen.

Epipen is a pressure activated syringe device that delivers the correct dose of epinephrine to combat anaphylaxis in the event I ever have an episode such as this again. This should be kept within reach at all times, and replaced yearly.

When I got home, I slept for several hours, but otherwise everything was alright. Needless to say, I felt very grateful.

Some Precautions To Avoid Attracting Flying Insects If You Have Allergy

1. Avoid fragrances, scented, soaps, lotions and oils

2. Avoid wearing bright colors

3. Wear shoes

4. Wear long pants, long sleeve shirts, and a hat

An Eagle's Eye View of Chicken Allergy

Lisa was at a birthday party of one of her dear officemates. She has not been fond of attending parties at her age, which is 23. As a child, she was not really into attending parties even of her friends, neighbors and relatives.

No, don't get it wrong. It is not that Lisa is virtually and practically not sociable. She is very friendly and very outgoing. Lisa admits that she has been afraid of attending parties, especially children's parties when she was still a kid.

Lisa has a deep dark secret. Don't get it wrong again. This girl is not a character to judge. Lisa has chicken allergy. It means she can never take in chicken meat because adverse reactions occur in her body whenever she does that.

So that explains why she was not fond of parties, especially when she was just a kid. Most children parties cater or serve fast foods and one of the most popular food served is chicken meat.

It is because more people prefer chicken meat than any other because it is considered to have less fat.. Besides, it is one of the more flexible edible meat around.

Chicken allergy

If you have the symptoms that would be described later, then, you are positive to have chicken allergy. Take note that allergy to chicken is somehow similar to allergy to other meat.

Just like there are people allergic to pork and beef, there are also people allergic to chicken meat. Some people, however, are allergic to chicken but are not allergic to chicken eggs. There are those, on the other hand, that are allergic to both.

In the United States, statistics have it that about 0.6% to 5% of overall reported food allergies annually are chicken meat allergy.

Manifestations of chicken meat allergy

Among the most common and prevalent manifestation or symptom of chicken allergy are frequent infections like ear infections and bladder infections; asthma attack; bed-wetting; eczema; skin rashes; acne; unusual fatigue; insomnia; migraine; depression and chronic disturbance in the gastrointestinal system.

Some people with chicken allergy even develop sinusitis which is somehow unusual if they don't really have the history. Hives and joint pains are also prevalent to them.

Symptoms of chicken meat allergy occur or show up after several minutes of in take. To some people, the reaction could surface in as fast as at least ten minutes, while in others it can be as slow and prolonged to take up to 24 to 48 hours.

Treatment and prevention of chicken allergy

Chicken meat contains allergens or allergy-producing substances that are called purines. These substances are mainly cited for the onset of several other diseases like gout. Gouts are characterized by the formation or onset of kidney stones.

Purines in chicken meat may lead to excessive uric acid accumulation in the body that can possibly lead to what is called kidney stones.

Thus, if chicken allergy symptoms show up, it is important to immediately consult or seek your doctor's help. That would prevent further ailments or disease from coming out.

The doctor will have to prescribe several medications to treat or help curtail chicken allergy.

The best prevention would be to avoid eating chicken meat. Allergies to substances, you should remember, is not curable but only treatable.

There are a lot of other meat that could taste better than chicken meat, right?

How To Deal With Eye Allergies

Just like your body can over react to different allergens, so do your eyes. If the eye perceives a threat it will try to defend against it. Unfortunately sometimes it is wrong and the result can be itchy, swollen, dry red eyes. This is do to a failure in the immune response. Sometimes eye allergy symptoms will be part of a bigger allergy problem like asthma, They can also occur on their own. If you suffer from eye allergies you have to try and avoid your triggers.

Eye allergies can be caused by both indoor and outdoor allergens. Inside allergens like dust mites, pet dander and smoke can all be problems for the eyes. Air purifiers and allergy free bedding can help reduce your exposure to these indoor allergens. Its also important to keep a clean clutter free house. Outside some people get allergies from sun exposure, of course a good pair of sunglasses can help. Other outdoor allergens like mold spores and pollen can cause your eye allergy symptoms. Try and look at the daily allergen count and avoid going out on days when levels are high.

Once your symptoms start try and treat them as soon as possible. If your eyes are red and swollen you can try putting a clean wet sterile cloth over them to act as a cold compress. This might reduce the swelling and some of the irritation of minor allergies. Eye drops can also help with the redness. You should have your symptoms diagnosed by a doctor to make sure allergies are causing your symptoms not some other eye related problem. Once you find out what your allergic to it makes it a lot easier to avoid.

Natural Antihistamines - A Better Solution For Allergies

Zantac is an antihistamine that is used to treat seasonal allergies. Also known as Ranitidine, it was originally used as an over-the-counter acid reflux medication. However studies have shown, that it's also a great way of treating airborne allergies from pollen, to mold to hay fever.

How it works

Since it's an antihistamine, it doesn't treat the root cause of the allergies. Rather it treats the common allergy symptoms which include runny nose, itchy, watery eyes, headache, sneezing and stuffy head. When the body encounters something that it's allergic to it attacks it which causes these symptoms. An antihistamine blocks the histamine the body produces, making the symptoms much more bearable.

Minor side effects

There are several common side effects that Zantac is known for. These include headaches, insomnia, vomiting, muscle pain, constipation and diarrhea. These can range from mild to severe. Beware of the severe ones.

Major side effects

In addition there are some major side effects that need to be taken into consideration. Among these are hallucinations, hair loss, confusion, irregular heartbeat, visual changes and brain bruising. While these are uncommon, you should stop taking Zantac if you experience any of these.

Is it right for you?

It's important to consult your doctor before taking any medication. If you suffer from liver or kidney disease or have Porphyria you should not take Zantac at all.

While it's not for everyone, Zantac is an effective treatment for all airborne seasonal allergies. Check with your doctor, who knows? Maybe it's right for you.

Allergy Relief and Deviated Nasal Septum

Do you have nasal allergy, allergic rhinitis or asthma? Would fixing a deviated septum help?

This is an especially bad pollen season; with the floods, add mold sensitivity to the allergy woes. After the New Orleans Katrina flood, and the Joplin tornado, mold overgrowth became a significant problem, including mold sinusitis. You can expect mold sinusitis in the Mississippi flood areas.

If you have a deviated nasal septum, will getting it fixed cure your allergy? Usually, the answer is no, but there are exceptions.

What is a deviated septum? In the perfect nose, the septum is what divides your two nasal chambers. It lies in the middle of your nose. If you place your fingers into each nostril, it is the firm divider between your fingers.

The nasal turbinates are the shelves on the outer parts of the nasal chamber. In allergic rhinitis, they swell up and add to nasal blockage. If your nasal septum is precisely midline, you are a rare bird. Kids fall, nose gets hit during athletics, and even the baby's head will strike the mother's nose. In 90% of people the septum is deviated. But usually it is not enough to cause symptoms.

In a deviated septum, the site that bows to the side of the nose is called the convex side; the side that bows away from the side to the opposite side is termed the concave side. To visualize, hold a sheet of paper straight up. Now push is down, one side will be convex, sticking out and the other side concave, curved like a cup.

Since 90% of people have a deviated septum, obviously it doesn't cause a serious problem to all persons. When it does, correction is usually indicated.

A convex septum may impact into the side of the nose, causing a narrowing of the airway. Here breathing is impaired. This can significantly affect sleep and sleep apnea, headaches and sinus infections. The deviation may care the sinus openings to be blocked; once a sinus is blocked with no outlet for bacteria, a sinus infection develops.
The opposite side, the concave side may be wide open so that the patient gets plenty of air through that side. But, often that side may be blocked too, sort of an S shaped deformity. I have had situations where both sinus drainage systems were severely obstructed by a bad septum.

A deviated nasal septum can have an effect on allergy. Ideally the pollen enters the nose and is whisked away by air currents. However even in the straight septum, some of the pollen is trapped in the mucus. In some situations, the convex septum is like a hill, and the pollen, dust and toxic chemicals get deposited "behind" the hill. Once deposited there, unmoved by air currents, they invade the body. This can be a significant factor in industrial situations: chemicals that normally move out of the nose, get deposited and cause problems.

On the concave (pushed in) side, air currents are slow because of the width of that area. Think of a garden hose with the opening wide open: the water dribbles at your feet. Here too pollen and dust may get deposited.

Nasal headaches may arise when a deviated septum directs airflow against a nerve ending. When this is suspected, the doctor can make the diagnosis by anesthetizing that spot to see if the headache vanishes.

In cases where there is already blockage of breathing due to septal deviation, the patient may get along before allergy season. Before the pollen starts, he breathes satisfactorily. But the slightest pollen inflammatory response will now completely block the nose. In my field of Ear Nose and Throat, we are routinely referred allergy patients who, despite the best allergy treatment still have poor breathing because of the septal blockage, and then get relief when the septum is straightened. With a straight septum, otherwise mild allergic rhinitis may not cause significant symptoms.

Despite all kinds of fancy measuring devices, the decision whether correcting a deviated septum will aid the allergic patient, is still a subjective call. This is because we daily see a patient with a clearly deviated septum who insists he has no nasal symptoms whatsoever. Most of these patients have good nasal cilia function that removes pollen and dust. In addition, patients may be fully relieved with non-surgical therapy. Because of the possibility of Empty Nose Syndrome or ENS after septal and turbinate surgery, it is important to seek relief without surgery.

For example: Jane has a deviated septum but is relatively free of symptoms. But she gets clogged up during the six weeks of the allergy season. She is symptom free if she takes her allergy pill for those six weeks. For Jane, fixing her septum would not be indicated.

One useful action is to have the patient use pulse wave irrigation. This is saline irrigation that pulses at a rate to restore good cilia function. When the cilia are restored, many of the allergic symptoms may be relieved and then surgery is not necessary. The cilia function to remove unwanted material from the nose. In the example of Jane above, some of my patients get relief this way- using pulse wave to restore the cilia, and can skip the pills.

Because this is going to be a bad season, remember to:
Avoid getting chilled. Avoid iced drinks.
Avoid hot spicy foods.
Use unscented lipstick.
Change clothes when you get home.
Close windows at 5 AM and 5 PM when plants pollinate
Keep moisture in bedroom at 50% to prevent dust mites
Make sure lawn sprinklers don't spray under the house to avoid mold.
Drive with windows closed.
Avoid driving behind diesel trucks.
Dust proof the bedroom.

If you own a yacht, stay on it during high pollen season. Seriously, you can use the pollen calendar information to locate best places to vacation that are low in pollen.

In summary, most persons do not have a deviated septum that is severe enough to significantly effect allergy symptoms. Those that do, however, should be tried first on pulse wave irrigation. However, in the final analysis it is up to the doctor to use his/her best judgment to decide if surgical correction is the best course.

It is important to understand that fixing a deviated septum will not cure an allergy. After the septum is made perfectly straight, the patient will still be allergic to pollen and cats. But the serious complications of allergy will be reduced. One of the complications we wish to avoid is poor sleep. In these situations, fixing a nasal septum that is blocking the breathing and aggravating the allergy, can give significant relief.

Symptoms of Sun Allergy

Allergic reactions to the sun can be quite uncommon. However they can be prevented if you know what symptoms to look for. Sun allergies come in 4 common types, each with their own set of symptoms. Because of this it's best to discuss the symptoms with their respective type.

1) Polymorphous Light Eruption (PMLE) is the most common and effects 10-15% or the population. It affects women more than men in all races. Symptoms begin showing themselves in early adulthood and include the following: an itchy rash appears on the neck, upper chest, arms and legs within the first 2 hours of exposure and can last up to 2-3 days. Chills, headache and nausea may also be experienced. Treatments include using cool water over the affected area. You can control the itching by using an over-the-counter antihistamine.

2) Actinic Prurigo (hereditary PMLE) is very similar to PMLE however the symptoms are confined to the face, especially the lips. It starts to appear in childhood or during the teenage years. Symptoms are the same as PMLE.

3) Photoallergic eruptions is an effect to a chemical that has been applied to the skin. Examples of things that can trigger it are sunscreen, cosmetic, fragrance or ointment. Symptoms are very similar to PMLE as well; however they tend to show up latter. Rashes may not show themselves for several days after exposure to the sun. It's also possible for the rash to spread to parts of the skin that are covered my clothing and don't get direct sunlight. This may make it difficult to identify exactly which products are triggering the allergy. The treatment is simple. Determine which products are causing the allergy and stop using it.

4) Solar urticaria, which mostly affect women, is the most rare of all the sun allergies. It will produce large, itchy hives on the areas that are exposed to the sun, which appear within minutes of exposure. The last 30 to 120 minutes. You should use the same treatment at PMLE.

The good news is that most sun allergies are preventable. By using sunscreen and limiting the amount of time spend outdoors you should be safe from sun allergies forever.

Sinus and Allergy Tinnitus

Sinus and allergy tinnitus is one of several types of tinnitus that exists. Many sinus sufferers also have symptoms of tinnitus that can vary from the mild to the severe. Often this happens because of a thickening of the mucus in the middle ear area. With sinus infections and allergies, this mucus builds up and tinnitus symptoms can occur.

Excess mucus buildup with sinus and allergies is normal but usually the excess with drain out of the middle ear through the Eustachian tubes and into the throat. When this mucus does drain out and accumulates in the middle ear, problems can occur.

This build up of mucus leads to pressure in the middle ear which can cause infection as well as symptoms of tinnitus, or ringing in the ear. This type of tinnitus can happen to people of all ages who suffer from:

• Sinus infections
• Sinusitis
• Allergies
• Rhinitis

So what does this mean to you?

If you have any of these conditions above and the signs of tinnitus, what can you do?

First, you need to understand what causes sinus-induced tinnitus. Most often this is caused by an adverse reaction to drugs such as antihistamines or antibiotics that are prescribed for this condition. This is often referred to as Tinnitus Type 3.

These medications cause the mucus to thicken in the middle ear which lead to the problems of tinnitus and possible hearing loss.

Is there hope for this condition?

It's not always possible to stop your medications but if you can, this is a great option. If you can cut back on the medications or limit their use, this will also help the symptoms of sinus and allergy tinnitus.

There are also sinus tinnitus remedies that help you by thinning the mucus and cleansing the middle ear of this build up to release the pressure in the ear canal. When this happens, you should notice the symptoms of tinnitus start to subside.

Depending on how severe your case was and how long you had it, it may take some time for the symptoms to go away completely.

Identify Gluten Allergy Symptoms and Develop Your Gluten - Free Diet

Celiac disease, the disease behind gluten allergy symptoms, is a growing phenomenon and the more we learn about it the more disturbing we understand the consequences of leaving it untreated to be. First you need to know how to identify gluten allergy symptoms. Then you need to understand how to approach starting your new gluten-free life.

Identify Gluten Allergy Symptoms

A person's gluten allergy symptoms, or gluten intolerance symptoms, will usually start so subtle that you don't even think of them as symptoms of anything. You'll experience perhaps a little indigestion there, a little bloating here... If left untreated for any period of time, however, celiac disease symptoms grow more numerous and more severe.

First, you develop headaches and fatigue while the disease weakens your immune system and you get sick more frequently.

Then you become malnourished and begin suffering all the symptoms of malnutrition. You may develop anemia, osteoperosis... some evidences suggests children can develop autism and some evidence even links untreated celiac disease to cancer.

If someone thinks they might be suffering from celiac disease symptoms, I urge him or her to visit his or her doctor right away. A blood test can help identify if you have celiac disease and an allergy test can check to see if you have a wheat allergy separate from celiac disease. However, only a strict gluten-free diet can help you identify if you have any gluten intolerances at all.

Develop A Gluten-Free Diet Plan

An obvious place to start is to determine how to replace all those wheat-based products in your diet. Such a diet requires developing gluten and flour substitutions for your new gluten-free life.

Flour substitutes include these options: tapioca flour, bean flour, potato starch flour and brown rice flour.

Gluten must be replaced separately. The gluten in wheat products provide the elasticity and stickiness in a many recipes. Two primary ingredients we use to replaces this function are guar gum and xanthum gum. They are both totally natural and safe ingredients. In some cases you might use them together along with one of the flours I identified earlier.

Guar gum, for example, will help your cookies have a familiar texture and be less crumbly. Xanthum gum, for example, will help your breads rise and functions as a good substitute for yeast.

I hope this helps you get started in identifying your gluten allergy symptoms and developing your new gluten-free diet plan. Cheer up: better health and better vitality are ahead!

Reactions and Allergies

The word allergy comes from two Greek words: "allos" meaning other and "ergon" meaning work. Allergic reactions are abnormal over-reactions by the immune system to harmless, protein substances called allergens, which are contacted through the skin, inhaled or injected. An allergen is a substance that causes an allergy.

Common Allergens:

• Animal dander. This is material shed from the body such as feathers, dried skin, hair and feathers)


• Bee stings


• Foods, especially nuts, fish, shellfish


• Insect bites


• Medications


• Plants


• Pollen.

Causes:

Allergic reactions can be caused by two main factors: host factors or environmental factors.

Host factors:

• Hereditary; the likelihood of developing an allergy is inherited but the specific allergen to which you are allergic is not inherited.


• Sex: boys are at a higher risk of sensitivity than girls (except in the case of asthma).


• Race, although this may be as much to do with to environmental factors as race itself.


• Age: younger children are at greater risk of sensitivity.

Environmental factors:

• Exposure to infectious diseases in early childhood


• Pollution


• Allergen levels


• Dietary changes

Symptoms:

• Skin:




• Redness


• Itching


• Inflammation


• Blistering


• Weeping


• Crusting


• Rash


• Eruptions


• Hives (which are itchy bumps or welts)


• Lungs:


• Wheezing


• Tightness


• Chest discomfort


• Difficulty breathing


• Difficulty swallowing


• Coughing


• Shortness of breath




• Head:


• Swelling of face, eyelids, tongue, lips and throat


• Redness


• Headaches


• Dizziness or light-headedness


• Weakness


• Anxiety, apprehension or fear


• Nose:


• Blocked or stuffy nose


• Nasal congestion


• Runny nose


• Sneezing


• Eyes:


• Red and bloodshot


• Itchy


• Swollen


• Watery


• Stomach:


• Pain


• Cramps


• Nausea


• Vomiting


• Diarrhoea


• Bloody Diarrhoea


• Severe reactions:


• Unconsciousness


• Anaphylaxis


• Shock

In severe cases anaphylaxis can occur and this requires immediate medical attention. It is a combination of other allergic symptoms that appear rapidly and are potentially life-threatening. It can induce shock; one sign of shock is that organs don't get enough blood, and therefore oxygen and nutrients, due to very low blood pressure. The person may appear red or pale, sweaty or dry, confused, anxious or they may be unconscious. The person also has difficulty breathing. Anaphylactic shock is caused by sudden dilation or widening of many, or several large, blood vessels brought on by the action of chemical mediators. A sudden drop in blood pressure can lead to unconsciousness, cardiac arrest or death.

At the moment there is a theory called the hygiene hypothesis which has been "extensively investigated by immunologists and epidemiologists". It involves the idea that people who live in too sterile environments are not exposed to enough pathogens to keep their immune system busy so it over-reacts to normally harmless substances. There is some evidence to show that allergic diseases are more common in industrialised countries or urban areas rather than more traditional agricultural countries or rural areas. Also, using antibiotics to treat babies under 1 year old has been linked to an increase in asthma and other allergies, as has the use of antibacterial cleaning products.

The Immune Response:

In an allergic reaction the immune system recognises the particles (such as dust or pollen) as foreign and initiates a two-phase immune response. The first phase is called the acute response and occurs immediately after exposure to the allergen. T-lymphocyte cells, which are white blood cells involved in immune response, recognise the allergen as foreign and produce cytokines (these are similar to hormones and are involved in cellular communication). Cytokines stimulate another type of white blood cell, called B-lymphocytes, to produce specific antibodies (antibodies are proteins with a variable region that has a complementary shape to a specific antigen). In allergic reactions the specific antibody is called immunoglobulin E or IgE. IgE binds to special IgE receptors on mast cells and basophiles. Mast cells are found in connective tissues while basophiles circulate in the blood; both are involved in inflammatory responses. This first stage is known as sensitisation because the body is now sensitive to a particular, normally harmless, particle. Therefore when the body encounters the substance again, the allergen (substance) binds to the IgE which is on the surface of mast cells and basophiles. This activates the mast cells and basophiles to release histamine, from stores known as granules, into surrounding tissues. Histamine causes:

• Blood vessels to dilate so blood pressure drops.


• Stimulates glands in the nose and respiratory passages to produce mucous, also known as phlegm.


• Mucous membranes, which line the nose and respiratory passages, to swell because fluid leaks out of the blood vessels.


• It stimulates nerves.


• Smooth muscle contraction. (In asthma the muscles surrounding the windpipe contract narrowing the airways and increasing the resistance to air flow so breathing is difficult.)

The second phase in the immune response is called the late-phase response. This normally occurs 2-24 hours after the acute response, once the chemical mediators such as the cytokines, have subsided. The chemicals released earlier by the mast cells attract other types of inflammatory immune cells including neutrophils, lymphocytes and macrophages, to the site. These produce chemicals and other, generally toxic, substances that irritate the body. Neutrophils also release chemicals and enzymes which break down proteins causing further tissue damage.

Treatment:

For mild cases:

First aid can be administered before further medical help arrives. This includes:

- Calming and reassuring the person: anxiety can often worsen symptoms.
- Identifying the allergen and if possible removing it and avoiding further contact.
- Applying calamine lotion, a cool compress or cortisone cream to rashes.

Oral antihistamines can be taken but these have adverse side effects including making you drowsy and affecting your concentration so you aren't allowed to drive or operate machinery if you are on them. They should only be taken for a few days. For rashes anti-inflammatory steroid cream or cold wet cloths can be applied to cool the area.

For severe cases:

Emergency medical help should be sought, don't wait to see if the symptoms worsen, because they can worsen very rapidly so it is better to get medical attention as quickly as possible. Again first aid can be administered while you wait for further help to arrive:

- If they are unconscious use DR. ABC. This stands for danger, response, airways, breathing, and circulation.
- Danger: First check that you aren't endangering yourself or the other person. Remove any dangerous objects that may be around.
- Response: Call their name and introduce yourself (even if the person knows you well) watch for any response either verbal or movement.
- Airways: Check that their airway is clear, removing any objects that may be obstructing the airways (such as chewing gum), tilt the head back slightly to open the airways.
- Breathing: Check that the person is breathing by placing your head close to their mouth and nose, listening and feeling for breath or moisture. If they aren't breathing then you should begin mouth to mouth resuscitation by pinching their nose and placing you own mouth over theirs creating a seal, then breathe hard into their mouth.
- Circulation: To check that the person's heart is still beating, find the pulse in their neck which should be just to the side of the windpipe. If there is no pulse begin Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) by doing chest compressions to try to pump the heart. (If they aren't breathing either include breaths as well)
- If the person is awake calm them and reassure them.
- Identify and remove the allergen where possible.
- Administer emergency medication if the person has it, for example an auto-injector with a pre-measured dose of the drug epinephrine (Epipen)
- To treat shock lie them flat (unless it causes discomfort or makes breathing difficult) and raise the person's feet, keep them warm.

Medical treatment for severe allergic reactions may include providing oxygen support or even artificial ventilation. Also fluids may be injected in to veins (intravenously-IV) to help raise the blood pressure.

For more long-term treatments antihistamines can be prescribed such as cetirizine (Zyrtec), fexofenadine (Allegra) and loratadine (Claritin). Nasal corticosteroids can be prescribed for persistent nasal symptoms; these include fluticasone (flonase), mometasone (Nasonex) and triamcinolone (Nasacort). For more severe cases Epinephrine can be injected as this acts as a bronchodilator (it widens the bronchus and bronchioles which are part of the windpipe). Epinephrine also constricts blood vessels so blood pressure increases. Inhalers can also be prescribed and antihistamines can be given intravenously or intra-muscularly to counter the histamine that the body has produced. Corticosteroids can be given intravenously for a rapid reversal of the effects of the chemical mediators produced by the body.

For people with persistent or disruptive allergy symptoms immunotherapy can be given. Immunotherapy reduces the severity of the reaction or eliminates hypersensitivity altogether. There are several different methods of immunotherapy:

1. Allergy shots. These alter the immune response which prevents future reactions. They are administered as a series of shots containing increasing amounts of the specific antigen to which the person is allergic. The person should then become desensitised.


2. Another method is to progressively distort the production of another antibody called Immunoglobulin G which blocks the excessive Immunoglobulin E production. This means that the person builds up increasing immunity to increasing amounts of the allergen.


3. Intravenous injections can be given, containing monoclonal anti-IgE antibodies. Monoclonal antibodies are antibodies against one specific antigen produced by a cloned hybridoma cell. (Hybridoma cells are B lymphocyte cells fused with myeloma cells) These monoclonal anti-IgE antibodies bind to free and B-lymphocyte-associated IgE, which signals their destruction. They don't bind to IgE that is already on mast cells as this would stimulate an allergic reaction.


4. Sublingual immunotherapy. This can be administered orally and it takes advantage of oral immune tolerance to non-pathogenic antigens such as food and bacteria. In other words the immune system doesn't attack these antigens.

Prevention:

One of the best ways to prevent allergic reactions is to identify what triggers them and then avoid or remove the triggers as much as possible.

Tests:

Skin tests: These tests are more sensitive, simpler and cheaper than blood testing. It involves exposing the skin to small amounts of various substances, or suspected allergens and assesses the presence of IgE antibodies. The substance can be injected intradermally (into the skin). If you are allergic to that substance then a visible inflammatory reaction occurs within 30 minutes. There is a scale of severity where +/- means borderline reactivity and +4 means a large reaction. These tests are usually carried out on the forearm or the back.

Blood tests:
Blood tests measure the total IgE level by estimating the amount of IgE in the serum.

Allergic Reactions due to body piercings:

People can get allergic reactions from body piercings for two reasons: they are allergic to the metal or they are allergic to a product used as part of aftercare treatment.

Metal allergy due to inferior jewellery:
Symptoms include:

• Redness


• Itchy


• Burning


• Tender


• Highly inflamed around the piercing


• Localised dermatitis


• Granulation tissue where visible


• Opening of the piercing appears significantly larger then the jewellery


• The tissue around the piercing appears to retreat from the piercing.

This can be treated by using biocompatible jewellery such as Titanium or a low-porosity plastic like Tygon or PTFE.

Often the jewellery can cause problems because it is poor quality or you are sensitive to it and have allergic reactions. If you catch an infection then you must eliminate the reservoir which is often the jewellery. Cheap nickel or brass commonly triggers allergic reactions and in some cases antibiotics may be needed. Alloys of gold, copper, silver and trace metals can also be irritating and prevent complete healing, therefore it may be better opting for more expensive but good quality jewellery such as titanium which is inert and used in internal surgery although it must be highly polished to reduce its porosity. Implant grade stainless steel is good as well because it is least likely to produce an allergic reaction or an infection. The implant grade stainless steel must be approved by ASTM and meet standard 316L and 316LM.

The American Society for Testing Materials or ASTM was originally set up 100years ago by engineers to standardise steel used in railways. Now it is used for standardising many other things as well. A standard is a document which is developed and established within consensus principles of an organisation which meets the requirements of ASTM procedures and regulations. It is usually developed by the people who have a stake in the standard's development or use. The International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) is the European equivalent of ASTM. "Isos" is also the Greek word for equal which is also why it is called ISO as the actual words translate differently in different languages. Standards ensure desirable characteristics of products and services such as quality, environmental friendliness, safety, reliability and efficiency. It is recommended that titanium used in jewellery should meet ASTM standard F67, F136 or better, whereas steel should meet ASTM F138, F1537 or better and it should only be worn temporarily and only in healed piercings. 24 karat gold and platinum alloyed with Iridium or Ruthenium are biologically inert but they are heavy, soft and easily scratched and damaged. 18 Karat gold (75% gold) can be used in new piercings and 14 karat gold in healed ones, but gold-filled or plated jewellery should be avoided as the metal is thin and wears away or is chipped easily. Silver is bad as it tarnishes and can be deposited so that it permanently darkens and stains the skin. However, sterling silver is OK in most piercings but not in places where the skin is moist such as the mouth or genitals.

Product allergy:

Symptoms:

• Delayed healing


• Localised irritation


• Redness


• Localised dermatitis


• Seeping


• Expansion of piercing channel

To treat this you should stop using the aftercare or your current care regime and use a milder product with less aftercare.