Spring Allergies - Are You Afraid to Smell the Roses?

If you answered "yes" to the title question, believe me, I sympathize with your discomfort. I buy extra Kleenex for myself every spring, too. When patients come in looking for relief from allergy symptoms, we always start with the basics. Here are the questions we most often address. I know something in this will help you, too.

Is it an allergy or a cold? For some people, the first bud in spring (or falling leaves in autumn) regularly triggers a cascade of allergic symptoms. Do you start to sneeze and sniffle? Do your eyes and throat itch? Do you wake up with sinus congestion or pressure? Do you have a tired, heavy feeling that seems to characterize this allergy season? If that sounds like you for more than a week (and that's a BIG hint), then most likely you have seasonal allergies. If you have a fever, or if congestion and other symptoms last for only about a week, then chances are that you've had a cold. If you're not sure, check with your doctor.

So, what are allergies anyway? I call it a case of a misguided but well-meaning immune system, whose mission is to protect you from foreign invaders. Generally, allergies are caused by your body's immune reaction to substances that aren't inherently harmful to you. Specifically, seasonal allergies are caused by pollen released into the air by trees, grass, and flowers. Tree pollen, the most predominant, causes the worst of our reactions.

What are the most common symptoms? Itchy throat and eyes are often combined with congestion, runny nose, sneezing, and coughing. If not handled diligently and right away, these symptoms can turn into more involved conditions, such as sinus infections, asthma, or other respiratory ailments, so it's important to take action at once. Also, check with your doctor to be sure you aren't at risk for serious conditions and don't need monitoring.

Can you get help from the natural, holistic world? You bet! There are many steps you can take as well as things you can avoid during this period that will help you be comfortable despite all the signs of spring in the air.

Spring is a time of new potential, growth, and vibrancy. In Chinese medicine, spring is also the season of the liver and gallbladder and their meridians. One great way to recognize and celebrate this season and all it symbolizes is acupuncture and a 10-day liver cleanse diet. It's a safe, easy, effective way to eliminate toxins, recalibrate your body after the winter, and lay the foundation for the active months ahead.

Another way you can mobilize your resources is to use my highly effective 3R System--Recognize, Reframe, Reclaim--to identify the sources of your symptoms and improve your health and well-being during allergy season.

Don't feel like you have to suffer. Allergies are a challenge but not an insurmountable obstacle. First, take charge: Commit yourself to finding out more about what irritants make your immune system go into hyperdrive. Then, take action: Find ways to eliminate or avoid those substances from your environment.

Knowing Dust Mite Allergies Symptoms and Causes

Dust mite allergies are fairly common, mainly because there is dust everywhere. It is very difficult to avoid coming into contact with dust. In most cases dust mite allergy symptoms are fairly mild, usually just a runny nose. However in a very few cases a much more serious reaction can occur. Since the symptoms of a dust mite allergy are basically the same as any other allergy it can be very difficult to determine if you are allergic to dust. Especially since it is so hard to tell when you have been exposed.

The most common dust mite allergy symptom is itchy eyes and a runny nose. This is usually caused by the dust getting up into the nasal passage and causing irritation. A dust mite allergy is caused by the dead mites that are floating around. This is what dust is, it is constantly floating around and there is a good chance that you will inhale some. The proteins in the dust mites are viewed by our bodies as a threat and they release histamine to fight it off. If too much histamine is released we will end up having an allergic reaction. The most common of these is a runny nose and itchy eyes.

The other most common allergy symptom is eczema. This would be a red, very itchy rash. There is a good chance that it will be accompanied by flaking or oozing of the skin. Eczema isn't actually caused by the dust mites, it is a skin condition that usually affects people as children and lasts the remainder of their lives. The outbreaks come and go but they can be triggered in a number of ways, one of which is an allergic reaction.

One of the more serious dust mite allergy symptoms which you might suffer from is asthma. Asthma is an allergic reaction that causes your airway to become inflamed. This makes it difficult to breathe and in some cases it can completely block your airway and make it impossible to breathe. You often hear of people having asthma as if it were an illness. It isn't, it's an allergic reaction. Some people are more prone to attacks than others but anybody can have an asthma attack if they are exposed to an allergen. If you are prone to asthma attacks your doctor will likely have you carry around medication in case you have an attack.

The most serious allergy symptom would be anaphylaxis. This is fairly rare, especially for dust mite allergies but it could happen. Anaphylaxis occurs because the histamine that your body releases causes your blood vessels to dilate. This causes swelling, which can also cause difficulty breathing. There will also likely be a drop in your blood pressure. Anaphylaxis is a serious emergency that will require you to seek medical help immediately. If you are prone to anaphylaxis your doctor will likely have you carry an epinephrine pen around with you so you can inject yourself if you have a reaction.

Allergy Symptoms - Common Allergic Reactions

At one time or another almost everyone on the planet has experienced some type of allergic reaction. The most common allergy symptoms occur when confronted with seasonal allergens such as pollen or ragweed, and may cause itchiness, a runny nose and sneezing. Although annoying these symptoms can be fairly easy to control and cause no real serious health affects.

Those suffering more severe allergic reactions (often in the case of food allergies), may experience congestion or even difficulty breathing. In rare instances, a constriction of the airways can even cause death. That's why understanding your allergies and treating them properly is so important to staying healthy and symptom free.

Most allergies are categorized by three types of reactions; mild, moderate and severe.

Mild allergic reactions remain in the affected area, not spreading to other parts of the body and may include:

-A Rash.

-Itchy, or watery eyes.

-Congestion.

These are usually caused by airborne allergens such as pollen, pet dander or even dust mites and can often be treated with over-the-counter medications as well as prescription drugs.

Moderate allergic reactions can spread to other parts of the body and may include such symptoms as:

-Itchiness.

-Difficulty breathing.

These are often treated by prescription medications. Sudden reactions can often be eased with common antimissiles, until the patient can get to a doctor for emergency help.

A Severe Allergic Reaction also known as Anaphylaxis, can actually be life threatening.
Anaphylaxis is rare, but serious. It is a life-threatening emergency in which the body's response to the allergen comes on suddenly (without much if any warning),and can affect the entire body and how it works. Anaphylaxis often begins with sudden itching of the eyes or face. Within minutes it may progress to more serious symptoms, which may include:

-Varying degrees of swellings that can make breathing and swallowing difficult.

-Abdominal pain.

-Cramps.

-Vomiting.

-Diarrhea.

-Mental confusion or dizziness.

In the event you or someone you know experiences any of these symptoms, prompt medical care is required. Should the reactions begin to constrict the patient's airways or ability to breathe properly, death may occur within minutes. Even when an epi-pen is administered (given to allergy patients in the form of a one-dose shot of epinephrine to ease breathing), and the symptoms begin to subside, medical attention is necessary to ensure that the patient is safe and ok. The most common culprits of severe allergic reactions are a variety of foods including a variety of nuts, seeds, eggs, and even some dairy products.

Those with severe food allergies should refrain from eating or touching foods containing these ingredients in order to prevent life-threatening symptoms from occurring.

Gluten Allergy - What Does Gluten Do to Your Body?

You can't go to your local allergy/asthma specialist and have them mix up a cocktail to inject you with, repeatedly, so eventually become desensitized.

This is not like your classic ragweed, or food allergy. Symptoms/reactions are so vast; it's very hard to an exact symptom list together. The symptoms, like people, are not very homogenous. Some people experience just stomach problems, while others experience neurological difficulties, such as being always dizzy and confused.

Here is a very short list of possible symptoms:

- Tired, exhausted, lethargic

- Bloated and gas troubles-Feeling of, 'trapped gas,' or excess gas

- Abdominal Pain

- Gastric reflux/heartburn

- Diarrhea and constipation -Symptoms of IBS/IBD

- Weight problems (under or overweight) - General weakness

- Catching One Flu After Another

- Chronic Illnesses-Bronchitis, Sinusitis

- Infertility-Miscarriage, delayed puberty in girls, irregular menstruation

- Joint Pain

- Clumsiness

Some find they have to completely and strictly eliminate all dairy and soy, as well as gluten. Some people are reactive to the similar protein makeup of these three foods that the body rejects.

While removing additives can make you feel better, it's not until some went gluten/dairy/soy free that some feel normal again.

I suggest the elimination approach. Eliminate ALL gluten, dairy and soy from your diet for at least two weeks. Gradually, re-introduce one at a time, over a course of several weeks and see how you feel.

Also, try keeping a strict food diary - what you ate and, what your subsequent symptoms are and the TIME. The TIME is so important, because for some, it takes a few hours, for some it takes a few days to feel a result.

A lot of people have trouble getting an, 'official' diagnosis of intolerance, or celiac, because it's not always accurate and is often debated which testing is the most accurate. The only way to really tell if you have celiac disease, is to get a biopsy of the small intestines.

If you feel better excluding gluten from your diet, you could consider yourself intolerant anyway-you just won't be formally diagnosed with celiac.

For many people this is fine: they just understand that they need to be 100% gluten free and don't feel a need to get a formal diagnosis. Sadly, some people need a firm diagnosis for their family to be able to support them, or children need one to get school accommodations.

You have to become a champion label reader. Most gluten free diets consist of meat, vegetables, fruits, corn, rice and potatoes, homemade dressings, etc., but you may not be as sensitive as others, or your triggers may be different.

Also, you have to be on the look out for, 'hidden gluten,' and for cross contamination.

So, in summary, if you are contented just knowing gluten makes you sick, just don't eat it!

I congratulate you for having found a piece in the puzzle of getting your health together!

Dog Allergy Symptoms - Commercial Dog Food

Dogs may have allergy problems which affect their eyes, ears, skin, and other organs. Unfortunately, our pets cannot tell us what is wrong; however, we can observe the miseries our dogs are experiencing such as scratching, rashes, hot spots, dry skin, loss of hair, ear infections, bad breath, smelly stools, sneezing and so on. These are very typical dog allergy symptoms.

Have you noticed your dog having any reactions to the chemicals or the preservatives which are found in commercial dog foods? These companies may claim that their food is the healthiest and the best, but truthfully, this may not be the case.

Our canines like humans need a variety of foods appropriate for them. Commercial dog food may taste good; however, this is not the test for wholesome food which our dog needs. If the food ingredients are causing the problems, you can be sure the chemicals and preservatives are the culprits.

Dog food is treated like many of our human foods. At one time in our past history a prisoner would be restricted to bread and water for three days. In those days there was real nutrition in the bread and a prisoner could survive on its ingredients. The bread of today would not have you see three days. It does not have whole health nutrition. We would get sick.

Likewise, dog food has been shortchanged. We are blindly trusting the dog food companies to do our pets right, however, this is not always the case. And so you and I take our pets to the vet trying to restore their health with medication which in truth is more chemicals and preservatives. It is a vicious cycle.

Chemicals and preservatives are our friends. I am only referring that some of our pets like us may be sensitive or allergic to certain chemicals and preservatives and it affects their health and behavior. We need to be alert and try to solve what is ailing our pet.

Other more severe dog allergy symptoms:

• Different types of cancers


• Liver dysfunction and other organ failures


• Immune system interruptions


• Blindness


• Chronic diarrhea

Packages labeled as food containing natural ingredients or are preservative free may not be completely true. These companies may not weigh:

• The health and condition of meats and vegetables from the original source


• Names of chemicals, medications and antibiotics that were used in the animals


• Fertilizers, insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides used for growing plants


• Storage conditions and shipping methods upon arrival


• Sanitary handling by employees


• Cleanliness and sanitation of machinery and building

No matter how many precautions you take we live in a world of chemicals. You breathe oxygen which is a chemical for human survival and you exhale carbon dioxide which plants need for their survival.

We just need to identify the harmful chemicals and preservatives and keep them out of our food and water supplies.

As you think about your dog allergy symptoms and the costs of medical care; do visit the pet category on the home page of Tricia Deed at http://www.Infotrish.vpweb.com/ and review Dog Food Secrets.

3 Signs of Chlorine Allergy

When summer comes around the corner, it is never complete until swimming is included in the itinerary. There are numerous bodies of water wherein adults and children alike go swimming, including lakes, rivers, ponds and beaches. However, public and private swimming pools have become a good option for those warm and sunny days when you're just in the mood for frolicking in the water, mostly because they are easily accessible and considerably safer. However, your summer enjoyment can be cut short once you experience the symptoms associated chlorine allergy.

There is still no plausible cause as to why people become allergic to chlorine. However, it is considered to be a harsh chemical because it is known to indirectly contribute to allergies simply by irritating the respiratory system. In fact, studies have shown that people who are exposed to chlorine for long periods of time are more at risk to develop respiratory allergies and asthma. Fortunately, people who are not constantly exposed to chlorine are also least likely to become allergic to it. Nevertheless, pools with high concentration of chlorine may still cause chlorine sensitivity.

The important thing to remember is not to assume immediately. It is important to differentiate the allergy itself from other possible underlying conditions. Here are some of the symptoms of chlorine allergy, most of which manifest a few minutes after you go out of the pool:

1. Respiratory problems- This is considered to be one of the hallmark symptoms of being allergic to chlorine. If you suffered from asthma as a child then the feeling that you get will be more or less the same. In fact, it may even be more serious in stark comparison to asthma, especially if you are still exposed to chlorinated water. You may feel constriction in your chest or feel like you're clamoring for air to breathe or just not being able to breathe in general. You may also begin coughing or sneezing as the difficulty in breathing progresses. When this occurs, try to stay calm and ask someone to call the doctor for you. If you're still in the pool, move out.

2. Eye irritation- This symptom is not found in people fond of swimming pools alone. It also manifests on people who are exposed to chlorine through fumes and household products. If you notice your eyes becoming constantly red and itchy after being exposed to chlorine then you need to consider the possibility of an allergy. The eyes may also be dry or watery, depending on the body's reaction. It is important that you don't rub your eyes no matter how itchy it may feel.

3. Dry Skin- The dry skin associated with being allergic to chlorine does not constitute those white patches also typically seen in swimmers. In this case, the skin may start to feel tight, itchy or become extremely flaky after exposure to chlorine through household products or swimming. This is a good indicator of being allergic to chlorine.

Now that you know the significant signs and symptoms of chlorine allergy, you need to be vigilant of these manifestations in order to stop them in their tracks and prevent any complications in the future.

Mold Allergy Symptoms and Solutions

If you are reading this article, you probably have mold allergy and are looking for symptoms and solutions to rid yourself of this annoying health condition. Those who have mold allergy know very well the cascading reactions related to being exposed to mold spores. Sneezing, runny nose, plugged up sinuses, itchy, red and runny eyes are all well known symptoms of having mold allergies. Regular unencumbered breathing is difficult and plugged up sinuses can even cause regular headaches.

Over time, if you are exposed to mold spores regularly, your head will constantly feel inflamed and could create asthma and other breathing problems. If you are allergic to mould, the ideal solution is to minimize your contact with mold and to avoid any time spent in a mouldy environment. have a mould allergy, the best defence is to reduce your exposure to the types of mold that cause your reaction.

If your home is contaminated with mould, you will need to rectify the situation by cleaning up your mold situation, either by yourself or with the help of mould removal professionals.To make sure your home is free from mold and mildew, there are many precautions you can take.

Since mold and mildew are prone to growing in moist and damp areas, the rooms in the house that are most susceptible to mould are the bathrooms, basement and laundry area. To prevent mold build up in the house, install an exhaust fan and make sure that everyone in the home turns it on when taking a shower. In summer, opening a window in the bathroom will also help diminish the risk of mould creation.

Other things you can do to prevent mold infestation in your home are to first of all, keep an eye out for drippy faucets or plumbing leaks and get them repaired as soon as you spot them. If you have any carpets in any room where there is a water source, make sure to remove them as soon as possible. Carpets breed mold very quickly when exposed to dampness.

When doing your weekly or monthly house clean up, scrub your sinks and tubs with bleach or even better, with fungicides. If you spot any small patches of mold, remove it immediately with a quality cleaner designed to treat mould.

As a preventative measure, buy and run a dehumidifier in the basement or other areas of your home that are prone to moisture. Keep the heat on in the basement as well to lower the humidity down there. If you have a damp closet or other enclosed area in your home, you may want to use damp rid moisture absorbers, like the type used in campers. Another idea is to have a light or mini heater on a timer in the closed off area. This will help lower the level of humidity in the closet. Additionally, if you have any cloth item or paper item that shows signs of mold or that smells mildew, throw them out as soon as possible.

Spotting a Sinus Infection Symptom Right Away

Information is the best way to be prepared for illness, especially sinusitis. Sinusitis is an advanced form of sinus infection, and it can most easily be prevented by knowing what to look for. Can you spot a sinus infection symptom right away? Do you know what to look for?

This informational article provides a brief description of a sinus infection symptom and what to do when you spot it. In reviewing each sinus infection symptom, remember that they are commonly mistaken for symptoms of a common cold or allergies. Though they hold symptoms in common with sinusitis and sinus infection, a sinus infection symptom may arise when allergies aren't normally sparked and when the cold is out of season. But, to be thorough, cold and allergy symptoms can easily turn into a sinus infection if left untreated. In fact, more than one sinus problem could result from not knowing what the sinus infection symptoms are. At worst, sinusitis or sinus infection could result in sinus surgery.

Which Sinus Infection Symptom Have You Spotted?

Sinus Headache-People tend to let this one go by or just treat it with Aspirin. Don't let it slide so easily. A sinus headache is different from a normal headache in that the aching is located behind the nose or eyes, where the sinuses are. This could be caused by congestion or even infection in the nasal passages. You'd be surprised how far nasal spray can go in preventing this symptom.

Nasal Congestions-Nasal congestions may begin as a cold or an allergy, but if congestions in the nasal cavities stick around, that is a red flag. Congestions may arise from fluids which drain into the Eustachian tubes from the ear or the nose. Since the tube is not as slanted in children, there is more of a tendency for water from bathing or swimming to rest in the Eustachian tube and become infected with bacteria.

Post Nasal Drip-Post nasal drip is a sensation of liquid or mucous build up in the back of the throat. We are constantly sniffing and, of course, breathing. This means that when we sniff, mucous is drawn to the back of the throat, and when we breathe condensed air moisture is also drawn to the back of the throat. Post nasal drip may actually be blown back upward into the sinuses, or even into the ears and the Eustachian tube with coughing or sneezing. When this occurs, a sinus infection symptom may quickly become an ear infection symptom.

These are only a few examples of a sinus infection symptom. When a symptom does occur, it's best to be prepared. The best preparation is prevention. I have already mentioned nasal spray, and a lot of people don't understand why that would help. Think of what washing your hands does to prevent bacteria from entering the nose and mouth when you touch them. Using nasal spray has the same cleansing effect on the nasal passages. It is best to use a nasal spray with Xylitol as the leading ingredient, as it is a natural enemy to bacteria, and is proven to help prevent sinus infection. As Xylitol rinses out the nasal passages, it helps to keep bacteria from settling and festering into infection in the moisture and warmth of the nasal passages.

Got Mountain Cedar Allergies - 7 Things You Should Know

If you didn't know better you'd think Mountain Cedar allergies occur in the mountains. Surprisingly, this allergen often occurs in central Texas (where the cedars grow in huge numbers) in the winter months, lasting often from December through April. If your allergies are triggered by these trees, here are 7 answers to know.

Why is it sometimes called Cedar Fever? That's a good question. Like hay fever the term is a misnomer. There is generally no fever involved. The term simply refers to allergic rhinitis, or swelling of the nasal linings and passages because of the body's overreaction to the pollen produced by these trees.

When is the peak season? New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Texas are the most affected areas, and the trees can begin pollination as early as October, peak during December, January, and February and have significant levels continue through March and sometimes into April.

What does the tree look like? It is an evergreen tree that can grow to an impressive 30 feet in height. And unlike the pine, it has more of a leaf than a needle.

Is cedar pollen toxic? If you are sensitive to this potent allergen it can cause you to feel like death warmed over, but the pollen is not toxic. It does, however, create vicious symptoms including watering eyes, congestion, sneezing, coughing, and feeling tired because of the body's constant struggle to ward off what it feels is a threat.

Even though the following statement may not be an emotional help, you should be aware that you share those symptoms with millions of other who suffer from hay fever triggered tree, grass, or weed pollen other than the cedar.

Will cutting down cedars stop cedar fever? The tiny granules called pollen can and do travel for miles. So it is unrealistic to believe that cutting down the cedars close to you will eliminate or even minimize your contact with the irritant.

On a windy day, the pollen you're breathing can have been blown in for the town next to where you live! And unless you are absolutely certain that the tree you are cutting is a male, it will have all been for naught.

What can be done for relief outdoors? Planning outdoor time is key. Levels are generally highest between in the mornings between 5 and 10 a.m. Windy days are good days to stay indoors. And keeping abreast of the daily pollen count in your area will keep you as comfortable as possible.

There are over-the-counter and prescription drugs that can control symptoms for the short-term. There are also prescription drugs that can help desensitize your body's reaction to the allergen. Allergy shots are a more gradual and hopefully more permanent solution to desensitizing the body's reaction.

What can help with indoor relief? Minimize air exchange by keeping windows and doors closed. Take off clothes that have been worn outside immediately and put them in a container so any pollen cannot escape into the air. When possible, shower to remove pollen from hair and skin.

Use a HEPA or high efficiency particle arresting vacuum to clean surfaces and a HEPA air cleaner to airborne pollen and other allergens from the air.

The Common Causes of Shih Tzu Allergies

Shih Tzu allergies are as common as other diseases that effect both dogs and humans. In fact, both Shih Tzu and Shih Tzu owners may suffer from some common diseases such as diabetes, cardiac problems, obesity and many others. And Shih Tzu allergies may occur more or less in the same way as with human. Although diseases like diabetes, cardiac problems or obesity may stem from unhealthy dietary and physical activity management, allergies may occur from many different types of allergens.

As asserted by veterinarians, Shih Tzu allergies may show the most common symptom of itching sensation all over the skin area. Shih Tzu allergies may occur in the respiratory system as well. When the allergies occur in the respiratory system most commonly the symptoms like coughing, sneezing and wheezing become apparent. In fact, there is a great similarity between the symptoms occurring in both humans and Shih Tzu dogs. Nose and eyes discharge frequently just like with a cold or the flu. Allergies may affect the digestive system also. If so, Shih Tzu may exhibit symptoms like vomiting, watery stools or diarrhea.

There are different forms of Shih Tzu allergies. In other words, Shih Tzu may suffer from various forms of allergies. For example, Shih Tzu may have allergies from flea's saliva. In order to conclude whether a particular Shih Tzu is susceptible to flea saliva, it is essential to take the dog in for a skin allergy examination. If it is discovered that the Shih Tzu is allergic to the flea saliva it is best to implement a flea control program, however the owner should take care about using the safest products possible.

Some individuals are allergic to certain types of foods. The same is true for few Shih Tzu dogs. There are certain food products such as beef, soy products, fish, eggs, chemical preservatives, milk, wheat and artificial sweeteners that may cause allergic reactions in Shih Tzu dogs. Additionally, food allergies may also occur due to the consumption of non-verified foods. Providing only commercially manufactured dog foods to the Shih Tzu can minimize the possibility of developing food allergies.

Atopic dermatitis is another significant type of Shih Tzu allergies. This occurs mainly because of the hypersensitivity towards the immune system caused by different environmental substances such as molds or dust mites. The common symptoms of atopic dermatitis are excessively licking and chewing of the paws, abdomen and rear feet. This allergic reaction affects the armpit region, in-between the toes of the paws, and in the groin.

Shih Tzus may become allergic due to a bacterial infection. This can seriously affect the health of a Shih Tzu. Typically, the Shih Tzu has certain types of bacteria over their skin, while most of them are harmless to them. These bacteria belong to Staphylococcus family. However, there are certain other types that cause allergies to them. The most common symptoms of bacterial allergy are hair loss and the formation of marks resembling ringworm in the affected skin area. Statistically, it is estimated that over twenty percent of the dog population in the United States are affected by allergic reactions.

Food Allergies Itching Skin Humans

You will find that food allergies will give rise to many symptoms and these symptoms will vary depending on the person. One of the most common food allergies symptoms is the itching skin humans tend to feel. Generally the itching skin humans feel with food allergies is related to hives. In this article we are going to look at what a food allergy can do to your body and then describe in more detail the itching skin humans have related to the food allergies.

Food allergies occur because the immune system is at battle with a property of the food you ate. Most often it is related to a protein that is contained in the food. This is why nuts, peanuts, eggs, dairy, shellfish, seafood, and wheat tend to be the most common allergens. You will notice that especially peanuts, nuts, and eggs have a high quantity of protein. The immune system doesn't recognize this property and therefore it begins to fight against the protein. The idea is that the protein cannot be broken down through regular means, so the immune system releases various chemicals to help the process. These chemicals in turn cause the symptoms most of us see with food allergies including itching skin or the hives.

Hives are red bumps or welts that form on the top layer of skin. Usually they will appear in a small area first, but they can then spread. You will find that the hives can appear on the face, arms, neck, or all over the body. The nature of hives is to be itchy. This means that food allergies cause itching skin in humans. Often the skin may appear itchy before the actual hives or reddened patches of skin will appear. For the treatment of food allergies itching skin on humans you can purchase products such as hydrocortisone. Hydrocortisone is used for a great many allergies that cause skin issues because the properties take away the itch and help to reduce the redness in a quicker manner. Just using a lotion can actually increase the problem.

There are of course more symptoms related to food allergies and it is important to deal with each one as it comes up. While hives are a rather mild reaction if anything more serious occurs, especially breathing problems it is recommended that you seek medical attention immediately for the issue. Food allergies can be very serious for some individuals.

Does My Child Have Coeliac Disease? - Recognizing Gluten Allergy Symptoms in Toddlers

Gluten is the cause of Coeliac disease, a serious and lifelong auto-immune condition (meaning that the body produces antibodies that attack its own tissues). Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, rye, oats, spelt, and other grains (NB some people are able to tolerate oats). Coeliac disease is genetic so your risk is increased if you have family members who are sufferers. Treatment consists of a gluten free diet for life, which leads to a full recovery in most cases. Many people with Coeliac disease do not realise they have the condition.

In Coeliac disease, the villi that line the gut are attacked and damaged leading to problems with absorption of essential nutrients. Symptoms vary from mild to serious and can include stomach pains, bloating, diarrhoea and nausea. Symptoms are often confused with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) or stress. Recognizing and diagnosing Coeliac disease can be a lengthy drawn out process and some people go years before finding a diagnosis and some people are simply never diagnosed and suffer with general ill health. Since the disease can go on for many years undiagnosed there is the risk of developing long-term complications such as anaemia, weight and hair loss, osteoporosis, infertility, joint/bone pain and malnutrition.

Q. Does your toddler/child have more than two of the following symptoms after eating gluten-containing foods: abdominal distension or bloating; bone or joint pain; flatulence; headache, nausea and vomiting?

Q. Has your toddler/child ever been diagnosed with: anaemia; obesity; low bone density; sleep apnoea?

Q. Would you say your toddler/child is generally: tired - especially after eating; prone to swinging between constipation and diarrhoea; noted for having a poor appetite and for lingering over food?

Surprisingly enough, all the symptoms listed above and below are indicative of gluten reactions and should be checked out by a medical practitioner.

The common symptoms of gluten sensitivity and therefore possibly Coeliac disease include:

• Feeling tired or exhausted
• Want more energy
• Have low iron levels
• 'Irritable bowel' diarrhoea/constipation
• Gastric reflux, heart burn
• Get moody or irritable or depressed
• Bothered by headaches and migraine

Also, consider if your child(ren) have chronic symptoms such as:

* eczema (itchy and scratchy skin)

* stomach troubles (gastric reflux, sore tummies, diarrhoea, constipation)

* behaviour issues (being cranky, moody and irritable)

Lots of children (and adults) have chronic symptoms of gluten sensitivity but think that they are 'normal'. They experience symptoms and bad feelings every day of their lives - but this is 'normal' for them. They do not recognise that they have a problem. It affects about 1 in 10 people. So your child could be the one! If the symptoms in these lists are starting to look familiar then perhaps a test for gluten sensitivity is your next step. It is always difficult diagnosing any condition in children as they are not able to tell us what is wrong. So, it is important that you make observations about your child/toddlers behaviour, bowel movements, energy levels, eczema flare ups etc - consider keeping a food and symptom diary to see if there are any patterns. This diary could assist a doctor with their investigations and eventual diagnosis. Talk to your doctor or an allergy specialist about getting tested - a very simple blood test can help to detect the possibility of gluten sensitivity and then further tests can be carried out for Coeliac disease if necessary. It is important to have these tests done before starting a gluten free diet otherwise the tests could give false negatives.

Surviving Outdoor Allergies Naturally

Spring means many different things, to many different people. For individuals who live with seasonal outdoor allergies, it means finding a way to cope with months of discomfort every time they step outside. Each year, millions of allergy sufferers instinctively reach for over-the-counter medications and prescription drugs as their first line of defense. Unfortunately, not all users take the time to read and fully understand the potential side effects of these chemicals.

Allergy medications work by suppressing the immune system to prevent the release of a substance called histamine. Under certain circumstances, haphazardly taking these medications could pose a significant health threat to individuals with a compromised immune system. Surprisingly, very few people are even aware that there are natural compounds available to help support healthy histamine and immune system response. Let's review four of the most promising.

Quercetin

During an allergy attack, white blood cells produce billions of molecules that scour the body in search of mast cells. Once they have been located, the two types combine to form one cell. Once this merger has occurred, they newly formed cells gradually begin to secrete histamine. Quercetin is a bioflavonoid that works by stabilizing mast cells, thus preventing them from releasing excess histamine into the bloodstream. It is histamine that promotes the sneezing, runny nose, watery eyes, and other symptoms associated with allergies. Stabilizing the cells that produce histamine has a powerful effect on how much histamine circulates throughout the body. Nutritionists recommend taking Quercetin with Bromelain, to help increase efficacy.

Probiotics

Many people fail to realize that the human digestive tract plays an important role in allergies. In 2003, the Kirin Research Group in Japan discovered a particular strain of Lactobacillus, named Lactobacillus KW. According to Kirin researchers, this unique bacterium could be helpful in preventing the onset of some common allergies, including hay fever. This was evidenced in studies using animal models, where a marked reduction in allergy symptoms was reported. More impressive, studies conducted on humans with hay fever showed that adding Lactobacillus KW significantly reduced the frequency and severity of allergy symptoms. This is an indication that probiotics may be helpful in modulating immune response to allergic triggers.

Omega- 3

Researchers are constantly finding potential new health benefits associated with the consumption of omega-3 essential fatty acids, found in fish and flax oils. One study that may be of great interest to allergy sufferers took place in 2003. This study examined the effect of fatty acids in 334 individuals who suffered from hay fever. At the conclusion of this study, researchers determined that there appears to be link between high oleic acid (omega-9) levels and hay fever. Interestingly, they were also able to determine that people who consumed little to no omega-3 fatty acids reported the worst symptoms. This is just another reason that we, as health-seeking consumers, need to remain keenly aware of maintaining adequate omega-3 intake.

N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC)

NAC is a potent antioxidant that has been shown to increase the body's production of the important antioxidant, glutathione. To date, there's no evidence that it can completely eliminate allergy attacks, however it does appear to create an environment that is unfavorable to their proliferation. Within the body, glutathione is heavily involved in the protection of cells, oxidative cellular defenses, and a number of immune-related activities. Research has shown that glutathione also helps stabilize the lung's response to inflammation in asthma models, while increasing the body's production of T-cells involved in immune response. Ultimately, researchers believe that NAC might help the body naturally reduce the inflammatory response that leads to heightened allergy symptoms.

If you are one of the millions of individuals who enjoy spring and summer with some trepidation, relief might be closer than you think. The nutritional sciences are constantly discovering new ways to improve the quality of life without drugs and synthetic chemicals. A skilled, certified nutritionist can be very helping you in understanding what may be best for you.

References

Kimata M, Inagaki N, et al. Effects of luteolin and other flavonoids on IgE-mediated allergic reactions. Planta Med. 2000 Feb;66(1):25-9.

National Institutes of Health (NIH). Available at [http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/print/] druginfo/uspdi/202060.html, Accessed 4-2-2006

New Bacteria to Fight Allergy Symptoms. Online resource, information obtained from nutraingredients.com Nov 2003. Accessed 4-2-2006

Blesa S, Cortijo J, et al. Oral N-acetylcysteine attenuates the rat pulmonary inflammatory response to antigen. Eur Respir J . 2003 Mar;21(3):394-400.

Witschi A, Reddy S, et al. The systemic availability of oral glutathione. Eur J Clin Pharmacol . 1992;43(6):667 - 9.

Nagle G. The influence of the dietary intake of fatty acids and antioxidants on hay fever in adults. Allergy 2003; 58(12): 1277-84

Wine Allergy Symptoms - Do You Have These Symptoms of Wine Allergy?

A wine allergy is caused because when you consume alcohol your bodies efforts to process and remove the alcohol that is in the wine create a waste product. Normally your body produces an enzyme which will process and remove this waste product. However if you have the genetic defect that results in you having wine allergy symptoms your body will not remove this waste product. As you drink and it builds up in your blood your body revolts. Your wine allergy is really an alcohol allergy.

Listed below are the most common symptoms of wine allergy. Do you have these annoying symptoms of a wine allergy?

• stinging and tightness in cheeks and lower jaw.


• facial swelling all around the eyes and a bit in the cheeks and around the mouth.


• getting very drunk very fast, after only one or two glasses, becoming dizzy and disoriented and feel sick and tired.


• related to above, the next day having a hangover that is way worse than it should be relative to the amount of wine or alcohol consumed. This is referred to as the Asian Hangover and is a very common symptom of wine allergy.


• bright red face. Accompanying this may be red patches on your arms, legs, chest, or back.

It seems as though the amount of allergic symptoms you get from wine can be directly related to the quality of the wine. For example more expensive wines can produce significantly reduced wine allergy symptoms that cheap wines. Try a more expensive wine and see if that makes a difference.

There is a formula you can make at home that is reported to have a 100% success rate. It is called the Alcohol Allergy Formula. You consume it at home before you drink and you will not have the allergy to wine symptoms. The wine allergy symptoms are commonly referred to as the Asian Flush or the Asian Glow syndrome.

Helpful Household Tips for Allergy Sufferers

One of the most common causes of indoor allergy symptoms is the house dust mite. It's estimated that up to 85% of asthma cases-eczema and hay fever too-are caused by the fecal matter and cast-off skins of these little critters. These allergy triggers are only a couple microns in size - invisible to the naked eye. They are abundant in almost all homes, with infestations prevalent in bedrooms and in bedding - the dead skin cells we naturally exfoliate every day are the food source for these microscopic creatures. Protective measures can be taken to at least limit one's exposure to dust mite populations and to reduce their effect in the home. Here are 10 steps that will help keep your allergy symptoms at bay.

1.) Encase your mattress and pillows with a zippered hypoallergenic allergen barrier that blocks any particles larger than 1 micron in size and that fully encases the mattress and pillow. Doing this will eliminate new mites from populating these areas and will lock in dust mites that are already living there, keeping you free from their allergens.

2.) At least once every week, wash your sheets in very hot water. The water should be at least 130°F. If your bedding is made of fabrics that cannot be washed in hot water, you can put it in the freezer for one to two days, which will effectively kill dust mites. Every 2 to 4 weeks, you should also wash blankets and mattress pads.

3.) It is recommended that severe allergy sufferers also completely cover their box springs and their comforters or duvets with allergen barrier encasements as dust mites can infest these two areas as well.

4.) Keep the temperature in your home and especially in your bedroom below 70°F if possible and the humidity below 50 percent because dust mites thrive in warm, humid climates. Leaving your sheets unmade each morning allows them to dry out (nighttime perspiration) and keeps the bed cooler because less heat is being trapped beneath the sheets. In addition, dust mites are photophobic, afraid of the light so are less likely to settle in an unmade bed exposed to sunlight.

5.) While encasements keep dust mites from entering your mattress and pillows, allergens and dust may still accumulate on the surface. It's important to wipe down encasements each time that you change your sheets or remove them to be washed. You should also wash your encasements in hot water every 8 weeks or so.

6.) Always vacuum beneath your bed and mattress. Damp mop any hard flooring and use a damp rag to dust. Sweeping a dry floor may only stir up dust and allergens.

7.) If it's in your budget to do so, remove carpeting, especially in the bedroom, and replace with hardwood flooring. Replace drapes and cloth blinds with wood or vinyl blinds. If you prefer to have carpeting, make sure to vacuum weekly.

8.) Wash children's soft-cloth toys in 130°F water if possible, otherwise place them in the freezer for a full 24 hours to kill off dust mites, if they are non-washable.

9) Dust mites also consume the dead skin cells that Fido and FiFi exfoliate, and pet dander itself is yet another common allergen trigger that affects many people. If you or your children suffer from allergies or asthma, don't allow cats or dogs or any other pets in the bedroom.

10) Not only can cigarette & fireplace smoke be carcinogenic, they also can exacerbate any respiratory condition. Don't smoke in the house and if you have a fireplace in your bedroom, don't use it.

~ Ben Anton, 2007

Do You Suffer With Persistent Allergies? Natural Remedies For Allergies Can Help

Natural remedies for allergies are becoming more sought after due not only to the high price of allergy medications, but also to the fact that those medications simply aren't working for many allergy sufferers. Also, prescription and over the counter remedies can have side effects that are not conducive to hectic lifestyles. Some of these prescribed cures can keep us from being able to drive or work, which limits our quality of life. Natural remedies for allergies often have no detrimental side effects and can be more effective for some people. Let's take a look at some of the natural remedies for allergies available to us today.

One of the first things allergy victims can do is try to avoid the problem. While this can be quite an undertaking, air purifiers can make this a simpler task. Some of these electronic air filters also come with ionizers, which charge the air similar to the after effects of rain. The only problem with air purifiers is that you need to make sure you have one capable of cleaning all of your space. Most of them are just for one room. You also need to clean the filters regularly in order to produce the desired effects of removing dust, pollen and other particles that can cause allergic reactions.

Quercetin is another of the natural remedies for allergies that is easily obtainable. It is naturally occurring in apples, berries, red onions, capers, red grapes, citrus fruits, parsley, tomatoes, broccoli, lettuce, wine and black tea. Apples are best when eaten with the skin to absorb the most nutrients. If you don't care to monitor your intake of these foods, then you can also purchase quercetin in supplement form and take up to 1,000 milligrams daily as one of your natural remedies for allergies. This antioxidant is believed to help prevent the production and release of histamine, which causes such allergy symptoms as sneezing and itching, making it one of our favorite natural remedies for allergies.

Stinging nettle is a natural antihistamine that does not cause dry mouth or drowsiness. This common American weed is also available in supplement form. You can take about 300 milligrams a day but this is one of those natural remedies for allergies that does not last all day. A few hours of relief is all you can expect. For those who particularly have problems with hay fever, adding omega-3 fatty acids can help reduce inflammation and therefore have an effect in reducing allergic reactions. It serves other purposes too, such as improving circulation and helping maintain healthy cholesterol levels, which makes this a must have supplement in your arsenal of natural remedies for allergies.

Another way to treat allergies that affect your sinuses is by using one of the centuries old natural remedies for allergies, which is flushing the sinus cavity with a saline solution using the most popular method, the neti pot. Research has shown that this procedure can reduce pain, pressure, congestion and the need for prescription medicines. Flushing or irrigating the nasal passages can thin the mucous and thereby help reduce allergy symptoms. As always, seek medical advice from a professional before trying one of these natural remedies for allergies.

Common Allergies and Symptoms That Strike During Allergy Season

At any given time period, allergy season can be upon you. Depending on what causes your particular allergy, will determine if it will be making you miserable this year during allergy season.

Whether you suffer from common allergies and symptoms at the present time or not, educating yourself about what causes allergies can be helpful to you. Some allergies may strike when you are well into adulthood and without warning.

Being prepared can make the difference in a trip to the emergency room and in a select few cases may save you or a loved one from death. Allergies are one of the leading causes of illness and reasons cited for patients seeking medical attention from a physician. Taking charge of treating your symptoms can be the first step in taking control of your allergies and reducing their effect on your well-being.

Allergy season generally refers to the time of year when the air is full of what causes allergies. These substances that cause allergic reactions are called allergens. Allergies occur when an allergen enters the body. Many times these allergens enter during the season when pollens, dust and others are at elevated levels and spread readily by winds.

In order for the symptoms to occur an allergen must not only enter the body; but also cause an abnormal response. The typical abnormal response is for the body to release histamine. The histamine causes the body to produce many of the symptoms.

Common Allergy Causes:

Commonly referred to as "hay fever" or "seasonal allergies"; these symptoms of allergies are caused by one or several of the following:
Pollen from:
o Ragweed
o Grass
o Trees
o Dust that is carried on the wind
o Mold spores from leaf mold.
Leaf mold occurs when leaves from deciduous trees (such as oak, maple or other shade type tree) get wet and lay over time. Mold forms and spores are released into the air. The spores travel on the air until you breathe them or they land on you.

Common Symptoms:

o Itching skin
o Itchy watery eyes
o Redness of the eye
o Runny nose
o Sneezing
o Coughing
o Wheezing (difficulty breathing that cause a noise to be made when a person breathes. The wheezing is primarily due to swelling in the air passages along with additional mucus production.
o Hives or rash on the skin

Allergies can come on suddenly, even if you have never had symptoms before. The severity depends on the amount of allergen you are expose to and how much reaction an individual's body produces.

Some people have minor symptoms that cause a person to feel miserable; but generally they do not pose a life threatening event. This mild to moderate reaction is usually treated with over the counter medications or your physician may give you a prescription medication.

Other allergy sufferers may have a severe reaction that requires immediate medical attention when it occurs. A person who has severe symptoms of an allergy may require additional monitoring by their doctor during allergy season.

Could That Dermatitis Be Coconut Allergies?

Food allergies are no laughing matter. Make light of people that can't even breathe in peanut aroma all you want but those who have serious allergies know that they're not just unpleasant; they can sometimes be downright deadly. Coconut allergies are no exception to this rule. While they are very rare they can be very upsetting and difficult for those who have them.

Some assume that if they have an allergy to peanuts then they are more likely to have coconut allergies, but there really is not a connection between the two. Food allergies are very particular and difficult to pin down; there isn't always any rhyme or reason as to why a person has the particular allergies they have. Some people have many allergies and some have only one or two. This is why there is no connection between coconut allergies and peanut allergies; even though they are of the same food "family" they are not so identical that a person is going to be allergic to one if allergic to the other.

What is interesting about coconut allergies, however, is that people typically don't have a reaction when they ingest coconut products but rather when they come into contact with them. They have a skin allergy to the oils in the coconut that causes a reaction of dermatitis; this might include redness, itching, swelling, dryness, and other symptoms of irritation. Some don't realize that these reactions are because of coconut allergies as they often assume food allergies are only when you eat the food, not touch it or come into contact with oils from it. Coconut oils are in many products, from hair care items to lip balm and hand lotion. And these products may not necessarily smell like coconut, since the oils are not that concentrated and are contained in only small amounts. This too contributes to the problem of people not realizing that their skin breakouts and dermatitis are being caused by coconut allergies.

If you suspect that you have coconut allergies, you should check all topical items you use, from your shampoo to hand creams and anything else you put on your skin. The ingredients should list coconut oils if the product contains it. Try switching to a product that is without coconut oils and see if this doesn't help your dermatitis.

And if your doctor tells you that you have coconut allergies and you have tried eliminating the use of all products that contain coconuts, ask your doctor for some topical ointments or other treatment options. You may be able to use some creams or lotions to help your dermatitis clear up; otherwise you could be causing serious damage to your skin.

Common Vitamins and over the counter products can help with rashes such as Aloe Vera, Green tea, Quercitin, Bromellain and zinc.

Aloe Vera will help rejuvenate and tone skin all over. A naturally cooling gel, the Aloe Vera botanical ingredients work together to stimulate the blood circulation and naturally soften the skin.

Green Tea Contains antioxidants that may protect against heart disease, several types of cancer, and skin damage.

Quercitin is a well known flavonoid. Flavonoids are powerful antioxidants and can reduce inflammation boost the immune system and strengthen blood vessels and improve circulation. Quercitin is also known for its ability to block the release of histamines, thus reducing or preventing allergy symptoms. Take 500 mg twice daily.

Bromellain will enhance the absorption of Quercitin. Take 100 mg twice daily.

Zinc is needed for healing and maintaining healthy tissues. Amino Acids are the building blocks of protein and are the vital components of skin, hair, muscle tissue, the body's organs, blood cells, various enzymes and hormones. Zinc also has a profound influence on the body's ability to resist disease.

Always consult your doctor before using this information.

This Article is nutritional in nature and is not to be construed as medical advice.

Reasons Why Alcohol Causes Flushing in the Face

If you get red or flushed faced when consuming alcohol or any of these other allergy to alcohol symptoms you may have Asian Glow or Asian Flush.

Some people experience the allergic reaction to alcohol only some of the time they drink and others experience every time they drink alcohol. Which of these allergy symptoms do you get when you drink alcohol?

red or flushed face, fast heartbeat, congestion that feels as though you have been over inflated with air, dizziness, red spots on the face, chest, and neck, congestion and/or difficulty breathing through your nose.

If you have an allergy to alcohol and the symptoms of alcohol allergy indicated above it is because your body does not have enough of an enzyme aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) to break down the alcohol properly. If you ever hear someone talk about "asian glow" or "asian flush" or "asian blush" all these phrases mean alcohol allergy or alcohol intolerance.

If you never heard of this condition and these symptoms from consuming alcohol you must not be Asian because alcohol intolerance is extremely common to anyone of Asian decent. Some people don't have these allergic reactions to alcohol until after several years of drinking and in this case the cause is more than likely that the liver is being broken down from long term alcohol abuse.

Facial Flushing when Drinking Can be More Serious than you think

A serious dark cloud to alcohol allergy is that if you experience these symptoms and do not do anything about it, either quit drinking or take the 'Red Face When Drinking' formula, you are at greater risk for throat and stomach cancer.

Don't want to quit drinking?

That will certainly terminate your facial flushing and other alcohol allergy symptoms but if you are not ready for that yet then there are two options available to you. Some people believe the use of an antacid like Zantac or Pecid are an effective solution to Asian Glow or Asian Flush but it can be dangerous because antacids prior to drinking can significantly magnify your reaction to alcohol.

The 'Asian Glow Cure' utilizes certain antacids as PART of its formula and will instantly end all of these symptoms of an allergy to alcohol with the added bonus of reducing your hangover the next day as well.

Help I Am Allergic To Avocado

If you suffer from Avocado Allergy then you suffer from allergies Type 1 or contact allergy. The proteins found in avocado trigger the immune system to reaction. Antibodies and histamines are releases into the blood stream in an attempt to neutralize the protein. These chemicals trigger the allergic symptoms. In sever cases Epinephrine, also call Adrenaline, is administered to control the anaphylaxis reaction.

Reactions usually begin within a couple of minutes to several hours after exposure to avocado. Mild symptoms involve skin redness, hives, or itching. In more sever cases the respiratory system is involved. Wheezing, coughing or difficulty in breathing may be noted. If any of the breathing symptoms occur or if the other symptoms are pronounced then prompt emergency treatment is needed.

Sensitivity can develop over time and may not appear when you are expose to the irritant the first several times. A good example of this is the growing number of healthcare workers that are becoming allergic to latex after regular and prolonged exposure to latex examination gloves.

Diagnosis of avocado allergies is usually performed by appropriate laboratory skin prick test. Self-diagnosis of avocado allergies can be done if a person has the same reaction every time after eating avocado.

Another test that can be performed is commonly called The Food Challenge. You are told to avoid all avocados for several weeks. The doctor will then have you eat only avocado under close supervision. If symptoms appear after eating the avocado then you are allergic to avocado and will need to avoid eating avocado in the future.

Since allergies to a single food are uncommon if you are allergic to avocado then the possibility of you developing a cross-reaction to other foods is increased. Because of the similarity between the allergens of latex and avocado if you are allergic to one then there is a good chance you may develop an allergy to the other. Other foods to be on the lookout for are banana, bay leaf, cantaloupe, chestnuts, cinnamon kiwi, and mango.

No mater what type of allergy you are suffering from their is a good chance that you can find relief from the allergy symptoms. Common Vitamins and over the counter products can help with Allergies such as Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and M.S.M.

Vitamin A is a known antioxidant and can assist the human body in the healing process. Vitamin A is stored in the liver and fat cells of the human body and can reach toxic levels. DO NOT take more than the recommended dosage of Vitamin A.

Vitamin C is nature's protective nutrient, essential for defending the body against pollution and infection and enhances the bodies immune system.

Vitamin E protects the lung tissue from inhaled pollutants and aids in the functioning of the immune system.

M.S.M maintains the development of the body's protein by forming flexible disulfide bonds between certain amino acids and in maintaining the strength of connective tissue. This allows water and nutrients to flow freely into cells and allows toxins to flow freely out of the cells. M.S.M increases athletic stamina and helps eliminate muscle soreness. M.S.M is a natural supplement that is getting a lot of attention due to its role in tissue healing at the cellular level. It is a natural organic sulfur that comes from rain fall and is found naturally in the human body.

If you are Allergic To Avocado then find a good health care professional prior to starting any type of home treatment.

Always consult your doctor before using this information.

This Article is nutritional in nature and is not to be construed as medical advice.

How to Treat a Skin Allergy?

Skin is the largest organ in the body. It plays very important role in the body functioning. Skin allergy is common for allergens to cause a reaction to the skin. Skin allergy is the common problem and difficult to diagnose also, skin allergy is confusing diseases to diagnose reported by many allergists. Skin allergy symptoms are inflammation to hives and drug-related rashes to eczema.

The major symptom of skin allergy are hives, rashes, swelling, itching which may includes one or more physical signs like dry skin and it results in cracking of the skin. The hands, face, arms and neck are the common areas affected by skin allergies as are exposed usually every day.

Allergic Contact Dermatitis and Eczema

External substance when come in direct contact with skin, allergen produce skin irritations. The source of allergy is external substances producing allergic reactions like contact dermatitis. On the other hand the skin irritation occurs due to direct contact with a harsh substance.

The most common skin allergy types are known as contact dermatitis and are very common. The contact dermatitis of skin allergies occur due to allergens exist anywhere and anytime. Allergens are found everywhere like in cosmetics, may be metallic like nickel and chrome, or jewelries, hair products, toiletries, bathroom cabinets to rubber latex gloves, fabric softeners and other so many places.

Eczema skin allergy is also a skin allergy type but in this skin allergy source of allergens are unknown origins. In this type of allergy symptoms are itchy and dry patches. Usually affecting areas are arms, legs, scalp and face. Unlike other allergies eczema allergy has no exact known diagnosis.

Allergist and doctor can diagnose skin allergy type by conducting tests to determine the cause skin allergies. The skin allergy symptoms are commonly rehashes, hives, swelling and itching which helps to determine the type of skin allergy.

Common Milk Allergy Symptoms

Our immune system is main role to protect your body from attack external substance, and allergies are the reaction caused by our immune system to protect our body. Several people around the world suffer from different types of allergies.

The Contents of Milk

At all ages and sometimes those who drink milk will be affected by milk allergies. And most commonly this allergy found in children and especially infants. Milk contains protein, mineral, carbohydrates, water and fats.

Milk allergy's main cause is protein found in the milk. This allergy will harmful because it is very hard to determine.

This allergy type has three main and very common allergy symptoms. And the most common type of allergy symptom occurs in 24 hour hours, and symptoms are mainly diarrhea.

Milk affects directly. So anybody suffering from it can also encounter asthma, and/or allergic shiners.

Preventing Milk Allergies

Many products on the market today contain milk extract in one form or the other and those who are suffering from milk allergies should take every step possible in order to prevent it. Here are some easy steps like read every label carefully for anything that says a form of milk and also stay away from cheese, yogurt, sherbets and milkshakes. Also avoid some food like some breads that contain milk, baked products, malts, pancakes and mashed potatoes.

Keep watch for common items that contain milk, which you should point out by reading the label of all food products and when eating out ensure and be careful about you specified that you are allergic to milk in order to get food items that do not contain it.

Milk allergy symptoms can leave one feeling exhausted, dehydrated and unable to perform simple daily activities.

Identifying And Dealing With Sore Throat Allergies

When the immune system perceives something taken into the body as being harmless, it sends out certain chemicals to counteract their negative effects on the body. Some of these substances that immune system is trying to protect the body against, are harmless. However, the body does what it does in order to protect itself.

One symptom of a throat allergy is hay fever. This symptom is usually quite tenacious. Persons who are continuously exposed to pollutants from industrial wastes, metals or candida, agonizes with long-lasting sore throat allergies. The ingesting of foods such as cucumber, zucchini and sunflower seeds is the major cause for severe sore throat allergies. For sore throat allergy to be treated, it is imperative that its symptoms be properly identified. In addition to the symptoms already mentioned, persons suffering from sore throat allergies also experience a pain when swallowing and their nasal passages are usually congested.

When you have a sore throat that is caused by allergies, it is not always necessary for you to take drugs as a means of cure. Alternative treatments could include the use of peppermint oil and several other non-prescription treatments. Another way to treat your sore throat is the way that has long been used and may even be the most effective method; gargling with tepid water with some salt in it. Sprays for the throat that can be bought over the counter are also very effective in treating a sore throat allergy.

Drinking lots of fluids is also a good way to help to soothe your hard-testet throat on the way to curing your throat allergy. Water, vegetable soups and broths are usually advisable when one is suffering from a throat allergy. Rest is also a very essential in the treatment of a throat, which is sore. However, if there are additional symptoms and if the other symptoms persist despite all your efforts to treat them, then you should go the doctor to get it checked out.

When a doctor's definitive prognosis comes back to say that your throat has been triggered by allergies, s/he will try to discover exactly what triggered your allergic reaction. More than likely your doctor will tell you that you will need to stay away from whatever it is you are allergic to, be it the foods you consume or any other allergens such as pollen. Additionally, you should try to stay away from smoking and drinking alcohol, and avoid dehydration as this may cause an irritation of the throat which in turn will cause you to cough; further irritating your already poor throat.

A Short Episode On How The White Mold Is A Danger To All

There are different types of mold that can grow and develop, and White Mold is one of these types. It can often be hard to tell when you have a White mold problem however there are certain signs and symptoms of it that you can watch out for. Found in New York region, white mold is a virus of beans Sclerotinia.

White Molds can either be the fungus that eats up organic matter or a process that requires shaping a liquid form to an established shape. Molding is a process wherein a liquid form of glass, metal, ceramic or plastic is filled into a hollowed out block and it takes the shape of the block.

Signals of White Mold:

One of the most common symptoms of white mold poisoning is allergy or
respiratory problems, and if one or more people in your home begin to suffer allergic reactions that seem to be associated with the building that you are living in, then you are going to want to check for mold problems to see if this is the problem.

White Mold and a few other types of mold product unpredictable Organic Compounds which are known as being the cause of the typical mold or stuffy look and feel that is generally connected with fungal infectivity indoors. Exposure to high levels of these compounds may result in nauseating the mucous membranes and as well the central nervous system and this can result in leading to certain symptoms such as headaches, decreased attention span, difficulty in concentration and dizziness. The very initial signal of apothecial development is the expansion of the stalks, growing upward from the surface of the sclerotic.

How to Keep a Check on White Mold:

It is best to expose the area infested by mold or any kind of mold to the sun or a bright light so as to dry them out. The area should also be ventilated so that the molds will not strike again. The safest way to treat molds is to assume that they are deadly to you. It is best to wear protective gear, like gloves and an inhalation mask when cleaning.

Exposure to molds has become a very noteworthy health risk throughout the world today, and in recent years in particular, an increasing incidence of mold-induced diseases has been bump into in various locations around the world.

Fall Hay Fever Allergies - 4 Quick Tips For Seasonal Allergy Relief

Okay, so you roll out of bed one morning, open your eyes and then it hits you- watery, itchy eyes, congestion, sneezing. Sure, it could be a cold, but guess what? You might also be experiencing hay fever. And not just any hay fever, but fall hay fever.

But then you wonder, "If it's hay fever, shouldn't my hay fever allergies occur in the spring?"

Hay Fever Allergies Are Seasonal Allergies, And Fall Is As Good A Season As Any To Get Them Contrary to the belief of many people who experience hay fever allergies for the first time, hay fever allergies occur in all but the winter months. Also contrary to what many believe, you can develop hay fever allergies (known clinically as allergic rhinitis) at any time during you life. Sorry, but once you've got hay fever, you're likely to have it for a very long time.

According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI), 35 million people in the United States suffer from hay fever, so at least you'll be sharing your misery, but that's not going to do anything for your allergy symptoms. What can you do to find fall hay fever allergy relief?

The good news is that you don't have to suffer. At least not as much as you would if you weren't armed with good, solid information. For the worst hay fever allergies, you may want to see your doctor, and there are certain hay fever allergy medications that can help reduce your allergy symptoms, but before starting a full-fledged fall hay fever allergy treatment, you may want to take these steps.

4 Fall Hay Fever Allergy Tips:

• Tip 1: Keep track of the pollen count in your area. You'll know when allergic pollens are at their highest and be able to prepare for them. The AAAAI website provides this information. Use it.


• Tip 2: Use air conditioning, if possible. Yes, the weather may be getting cooler, but the air conditioner in your home or car will filter out allergens from the air, especially if it's one equipped with a HEPA air filter.


• Tip 3: If symptoms are really bad, and you don't want to use medications, you might try a charcoal mask- not necessarily where others will see you and think you're preparing for a mustard gas attack, but in your garden or patio.


• Tip 4: Stay indoors if you must. Sad, but true- most of the allergens you encounter will be outside and you can avoid them by staying inside. You may not want to put your life on hold, but you may also want to control how many outdoor allergens you're exposed to.

Congratulations! The first steps to fall hay fever allergy relief! Now take a deep breath, put on a stiff upper lip and take these steps that can reduce your allergy symptoms. After all, hay fever allergies are nothing to sneeze at!

Does Local Honey Help With Pollen Allergy Symptoms?

There is a popular claim by many who suffer from pollen allergies that eating honey from the local region helps reduce their pollen allergy symptoms. It said that the honey must be local so it will contain pollens from the local region. The theory goes that by ingesting small amounts of pollen from the surrounding area your body will build up a immunity to pollens so they will produce fewer allergy symptoms.

Honey has a long history of being used by ancient cultures. The Sumerians, Egyptians, and Babylonians all placed a great value on honey. Some cultures went so far as to use it as a currency. Despite the many positive properties that honey may have there is little scientific proof that honey reduces pollen allergy symptoms.

Much of the problem behind the theory is that bee's do collect pollen in making honey but the majority comes from flowers, but most pollen allergy symptoms are not caused by flower pollen. Flower pollen is heavy and is not spread in the wind very easily which is why flowers rely on the bee to help pollinate. Most allergies are caused by weed, grass or tree pollen which is lighter and relies on the wind to help spread their pollens and reproduce. The plants that spread their pollen this way are referred to as broadcasting.

If people find they experience fewer allergy symptoms when they ingest honey on a regular basis there could be other properties in honey that are responsible as there are many studies which have shown honey to have positive attributes. Of course the allergy relief could also be psychological.

Nasal Corticosteroids - A Safe Option for Allergy Relief?

Nasonex (mometasone) is a prescription steroid nasal spray used to treat symptoms associated with seasonal and year-round (chronic) allergies in patients 2 years of age and older. Seasonal allergies are often caused by exposure to outdoor allergens such as grasses, weeds, and tree pollen while chronic allergies are usually caused by indoor allergens such as dust mites, mold, and pet dander.

Nasal corticosteroids are commonly regarded as the most effective type of drug for treating allergic rhinitis (also known as hay fever), even though antihistamines seem to be more popular.

In addition to treating symptoms associated with allergic rhinitis (sneezing, runny nose, watery eyes), Nasonex is the only prescription nasal spray clinically proven to help prevent most seasonal nasal allergy symptoms in patients over the age of 12 years. This is also the only drug in its class approved for children so young. Doctors recommend starting treatment with Nasonex 2 to 4 weeks before the anticipated start of the pollen season to prevent symptoms.

A Different Kind of Steroid

The steroids contained in it are not the same type of steroids taken by athletes and extreme bodybuilders. Nasal corticosteroids are sprayed directly into the nose and reduce inflammation in the mucous membranes making the area less reactive. Nasal corticosteroids also don't affect you like oral corticosteroids, which have side effects including weight gain, weakened bones and skin, and high blood pressure.

Harold Nelson, M.D., senior staff physician at National Jewish Medical and Research Center in Denver, says that he rarely uses antihistamines because he finds nasal corticosteroid sprays to be a cheaper and more effective option for patients. He says, "There's never been any convincing evidence that there's any systemic side effect from nasal steroids."

While nasal steroids generally affect only your nasal area, some people are concerned because studies have shown that they can cause children to grow more slowly. Dr. Nelson says that this doesn't appear to be a serious issue because, "If there is any slowing, it's very transient in the first couple of months and is not continuous and cumulative." In addition, most of the studies used the drug beclomethasone which is absorbed into the body more easily than other nasal corticosteroids like Nasonex.

During clinical trials of Nasonex, the most common side effects included headache, viral infection, sore throat, nose bleed, and coughing.

How to Use Nasonex

To avoid stinging, burning, and bleeding in your nose, Dr. Nelson recommends aiming the spray bottle away from the septum, the wall of cartilage that divides the nose. This works best if you hold the inhaler in one hand and spray the medicine into the opposite nostril. And if you use the spray regularly, be sure to use a dose just large enough to keep your symptoms at bay.

If you'd like to know whether it can help you or your child please contact your doctor or healthcare provider.

Seasonal Grass Allergy - What to Know

Spring and summer are peak times to develop a seasonal grass allergy. A grass or tree allergy is a common and prevalent allergy that affects people throughout the spring season and during the onset or ending of the summer season. Grass allergy is often directly linked to hay fever, because their symptoms and causes are somehow similar to each other. Seasonal allergies are fairly common in children age 5 and up: According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, about 10 to 15 percent of school-age children have seasonal allergies.

Symptoms of Season Grass Allergy

The common symptoms of grass allergy are sneezing, a runny nose, watering and itchy eyes. If these symptoms sound familiar, and they occur at the same time each year and last longer than a cold would, then you could be experiencing seasonal allergies. Monitor your health. If you tend to have few allergy symptoms on days that are rainy, cloudy, or windless, that may tell you something. Grass pollens don't move around much on those days. To be sure, schedule allergy testing by a physician. If the symptoms are severe or you experience or long-lasting allergy symptoms, medical testing is vital.

The decision about which individual allergens to test for is dictated firstly by the patients history, and taking into consideration his geographical location (particularly with respect to aero-allergens). Symptomatic medications for treating the eye and nose symptoms of allergy are generally available to grass allergy sufferers. Not everyone who has seasonal allergies needs allergy shots, but if your life is being impaired by seasonal allergies, you should discuss this with an allergist.

With a few preventative measures, and knowledge of how to handle allergic symptoms, you can make your life significantly easier. Histamine inflames the nose and airways, and the chemicals cause the well-known symptoms of hay fever: runny nose, watery eyes, and frequent sneezing to flush the allergen from the body.

Sources of Grass Allergens

Typical allergic symptoms caused by airborne allergens include sneezing, runny nose and nasal congestion (allergic rhinitis or hay fever). Grass pollen allergens cross-react with food allergy proteins in tomato,lettuce, onion, celery, corn and sometimes carrots. There is a Chrysanthemum allergy that originates from flower pollen. The cousins of birch pollen allergens (apples, grapes, peaches, celery, apricots), produce severe itching in the throat and ears. The cypress pollen allergy can require identifying allergens and cross reactivity between divergent species, such as olive, ash, privet, and Russian olive tree pollen allergens.

Another form of seasonal grass allergy, is the combination of airborne particles of pollen mixed with mold. This tends to occur around rural areas and farms where the soil is plowed and molds become airborne with the dust of the land.

Conclusion

Antihistamines are usually prescribed to curtail grass allergy development among patients. The most effective treatment for tree or grass allergy is preventing the occurrence in the first place by avoiding exposure to outdoors or wearing a mask to prevent inhaling grass pollens.

Allergies and Genetics

Allergy is the body's hypersensitive reaction to any external allergen and its symptoms may vary in intensity among various individuals. While some people might not even notice these symptoms; for others, the reactions of the immune system are so severe that it may even threaten their life or give rise to many complications. What causes this difference in allergy symptoms intensity is genetics.

This means that the individual is more susceptible to a hyperactive reaction or response to allergens. Allergens are mostly harmless substances that may be safe for others but quite detrimental to the person who is allergic. If your parents suffered from some allergies then it is quite likely that the children will develop allergies or have greater tendencies to do so.

Even though genetics plays a major role in allergies, there are still many ways and lifestyle habits that can be adopted in order to enhance the body's immune system.

Whether the condition runs in your family or was directly inherited from your parents, the need to develop a healthy and strong immune system in order to combat the numerous symptoms remains crucial.

Depending on your allergies, and their severity, there are a multitude of treatment plans that can be adopted and made use of. Your doctor might even prescribe you individualized treatment plans so as to specifically target a particular allergic reaction while also considering the patient's overall health condition, his or her age and medical and family history.

It is however, mandatory to remember that not all allergies are curable. In actual fact, allergies are mostly treated rather than cured. Infants and children with allergies however, might develop a healthy immune system with time which helps cure these allergies naturally.

The best treatment plan for allergies whether genetic or otherwise, is prevention. If you have a family history of allergy to particular allergens, like dust mites, pollens etc. then it is highly recommended that you avoid exposure to these substances. Make it a habit to wear a mask before stepping out of the house or going to excessively windy and dusty places. Moreover, get rid of any carpets in your house. As carpets tend to trap dust particles and other minute substances, they are a complete disaster for those with a family history of allergic reactions.

It is already known that an individual's chance of developing allergic reactions is aggravated both by genetics and by environmental conditions. As different genes interact, the resulting combinations may either result in positive and sometimes even negative effects. Allergies are one of such negative reactions which may not be passed down in exactly the same manner or response to the exact allergen but the tendency is most likely to be passed and the body may respond to some other allergens negatively.

Painful and Itchy Penis - It Could Be a Latex Allergy

Condoms are an integral tool in the fight against sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancies. When a condom is used right, that barrier can keep diseases out and can keep fertile eggs from meeting up with willing sperm. Unfortunately, most condoms are made of latex, and experts suggest that about 6 percent of the population is allergic to this substance. Proper penis care can help ease a latex reaction, and buying less inflammatory products in the future can keep new outbreaks from taking place.

A Natural Product

Latex is made from the milky fluids produced by a rubber tree. Particles in latex are packed together so tightly that even tiny germ particles can't pass through, and the material is so strong that it rarely breaks, even when it's pulled or pinched. It's easy to see why this material would be idea for condom production, and it's similarly understandable that medical experts would consider latex the gold standard when it comes to protecting men and women from the consequences of sex.

Latex allergies can crop up in almost anyone, but people who have a history of allergies or asthma are typically at greater risk. Their immune systems are just primed to react to signals from the outside world. People who wear rubber gloves at work or who make rubber products might be at increased risk as well, since allergies thrive on repeat exposure.

Common Symptoms

People who have latex allergies typically experience reactions about 48 hours after they've been exposed to the substance, although some people can experience their symptoms up to 96 hours later. Common symptoms of a latex condom allergy in men include:

• Rings of rashes near the base of the penis


• A swollen, red penis tip


• Itchy, raised blisters on the penis


• Swollen lips or tongue, if the condom came into contact with the mouth

In extreme cases, people with latex allergies can develop sneezing fits, as well as stinging eyes and a runny nose. These symptoms can appear almost immediately, as soon as the latex touches the skin, and they can progress to a life-threatening state. Highly sensitive people can find it difficult to breathe, and they might lose consciousness. People who develop breathing problems should go to a hospital right away. Medications can be used to halt the attack, and soothing therapies can keep inflamed and sore skin from getting worse.

Finding the Cause

Latex is the likely culprit when people at risk develop sensitivity after using condoms. But some people react to the lubricants in condoms, not the latex, and other people have rashes that seem like allergic reactions that are really symptoms of another problem, such as genital herpes. A doctor can run in-office tests to determine exactly what is causing symptoms a man might have.

If a latex allergy is to blame, there are alternate materials that could provide an effective barrier without triggering a reaction. Polyurethane condoms contain no latex at all, and some users report that they conduct heat a little better and provide a more pleasurable experience. Polyisoprene condoms, which are made of a synthetic form of latex which has the allergenic components removed, is suitable for people with mild or moderate latex allergies, and they could be a good choice for some.

Healing Up

A latex allergy can leave the skin of the penis feeling dry, itchy and inflamed. A good penis health cr癡me (health experts recommend Man 1 Man Oil) can help to soften this skin and allow it to heal. Avoiding sexual contact until the penis has completely healed might be another excellent step to take, just to ensure that newly formed skin isn't abraded and healing steps aren't lost in the process.

Cat Allergy Symptoms - Get Relief From These Plaguing Symptoms

Cats are considered among the cutest and most lovable pets you can have. However, it's undeniable that lots of individuals are allergic to cats and their furs. Allergic reactions to cats can show various cat allergy symptoms like runny nose, itching skin and eyes.

The good news about this is there are lots of ways on how to relieve these reactions so you can also experience having your own pet cat. All you need to do is understand the following symptoms and start getting relief from it. Here are some of the symptoms and how to treat them.

For itching eyes, there are lots of eye drops that you can purchase over the counter so you can get immediate relief from this symptom. The good news is you have lots of options to choose from in the market and they come in varying prices. Formulations are also different to match the severity of the symptoms. Dander is the main reason why you feel these symptoms and these drops can take care of it.

Runny nose is also among the common cat allergy symptoms. There are lots of antihistamines that can be taken orally or sprays to avoid this problem and are available over the counter. However, there are instances when these may not work for you as users may have a different reaction to it. For this instance, make sure to ask a physician or allergists for the right ones for you as they can assess and prescribe the right medication.

Itching skin is also a known symptom of allergic reactions to cats. This symptom can be immediately treated with the help of topical creams, gels or ointments and will target the main source of itchiness and relieve possible swelling or rash soreness if there are any.

But of course, these medications may only work for mild allergic reactions to cat dander. If the symptoms continue to occur then it's time to consult a physician just to see if it's only caused by cats or others. This will ensure you'll get the correct medication suitable for you after several assessments.

In conclusion, a person may experience lots of cat allergy symptoms in the body but there are now medications that can work to calm and relieve them immediately. But even if there are over the counter medications available, it's still better to ask a physician to obtain the best medication for you and be free from these symptoms.

Cedar Fever Symptoms? You Don't Have To Suffer Anymore!

It's cedar fever time again in South Texas. Mountain cedar pollen erupts from the trees and is spread all over the region, leading to cedar allergy sufferers experiencing symptoms that include congestion, irritated eyes, coughing, sneezing, and throat irritation. As the name "cedar fever" suggests, some also will run a low-grade fever due to the major inflammatory response their bodies generate in reaction to the high pollen levels. Cedar fever symptoms can range from mild to severe, and in susceptible individuals can make life pretty miserable with little to no relief from conventional treatments.

Mountain cedar season, which typically lasts from December through February in Austin, San Antonio, and the Texas Hill Country, is probably the worst time of year for anyone with allergies. Not only does cedar pollen trigger strong allergic reactions, but it is produced in such huge quantities in this area, that the pollen simply overpowers most allergy remedies, so cedar fever symptoms can be very difficult to control.

Local news shows love to demonstrate the high cedar pollen release by sending a crew out to show someone shaking a mountain cedar branch to release the inevitable cloud of pollen. The fine, dust-like pollen is easily blown off the trees and carried all over the area by the high winds that are typical of this time of year. There is so much pollen produced that cedar may actually go above the levels recorded on allergen counts and begin to show up as an air pollutant. With this quantity of pollen, there's no surprise that this causes severe symptoms for allergy sufferers.

While there is no escaping the massive quantities of cedar pollen, except perhaps to live in a plastic bubble, there now is a method for alleviating allergies that works fast and is incredibly effective in most cases. This technique is rather strange, but for those who experience it, it's nothing short of magical.

Basically, it is possible to stimulate the body's acupuncture meridians in a very specific way - without needles, I might add - to desensitize the body to cedar fever and thereby eliminate symptoms. There are a few variations of this approach, but they all use some type of acupuncture/acupressure stimulation to re-set the body to not react to cedar pollen (or other allergens depending on what the individual is being desensitized to). In my office, I use what is called "cold" laser to stimulate the acupuncture points, and it allows for fast treatment that is completely painless. In fact, other than the laser wand touching the points, there is no sensation at all, which makes it a very patient-friendly, even to young children.

The effects of the desensitization work very fast - usually within 24 hours. Better yet, the effects are long-lasting. In most cases, only a single desensitization procedure is needed to get through the entire season in which mountain cedar fever symptoms are prevalent, and for many people the effects last for several seasons to come. In other words, in most cases a single desensitization procedure will last for at least a few years without any "boosters" or any other ongoing treatment!

Most who undergo this type of allergy desensitization find that their cedar fever symptoms become a thing of the past.

Dust Mites And The Allergies They Cause

Dust mite allergy or intolerance is one of the most frequently found healthcare determinations most medical doctors make throughout their practice as an allergist. These are amazingly small to medium sized members of the Arachnid class and Acari subclass, similar to spiders and "other relatives" to head lice and ticks. Individuals with this type of allergy are allergic to both the termite and its waste material. The indications involve scratchy and drippy eyes, itchy nose, sneezing, coughing, wheezing, and dry out, itchy skin.

Would you have Dust Mite Allergy? Whenever you could have allergy signs and symptoms around dusts in the house, additional probable sources of allergy consist of cockroaches, household animals, mouse and rat dropping, and molds. A person will even most likely discover important amounts of pollen in house dust during season when allergies are prevalent. This is exactly why it's critical for you for getting skin testing accomplished by an allergist to help pinpoint the source of your allergic reactions. Using this method, when you go to the difficulty and expenditure of environmental prevention, you can prevent the particular things to which you have allergies.

Medical doctors have experienced clients who gave away the family cat and then discovered it was a dust mite allergy that was getting their child unwell, or other people who have gone through rigorous dust mite prevention procedures only to find out they weren't hypersensitive to mites in any way. Right after having the skin testing, patients identified with a dust mite allergy are usually defensive about their housekeeping habits.

With a tiny effort, you can significantly decrease your exposure to these mites and subsequently decrease the allergy signs and symptoms ensuing from exposure. However to beat the dust mite, we must first realize how it exists and thinks. Termites love our skin. Believe it or not, these enjoy feeding on our skin, especially the skin cells which we normally get rid of and which fall off our body.

Termites will not be air-borne. This is principally since they are overweight but also mainly because there is no foodstuff (i.e. dead skin) in the air (until you have incredibly bad dandruff or flaky body pores and skin. Therefore, we come across high levels of activity in bedding, in apparel, in upholstered household furniture, and, to a lesser extent, in carpets. Jumping up and down on the mattress or substantial cleaning may for a limited time send the termite adrift inside your home (giving those with a termite allergy a great excuse to go to the beach while another person with no mite allergy is vacuuming and/or other anti-dust mite activity).

Mites just like to reside where there's considerable foodstuff, dampness, and warmness. For mites, this usually means our bed. Our bed is the best location for dust mites in a number of exactly the same ways as it is for people: most of us like to sleep there simply because it's warm and toasty! And also, we as people tend to get rid of most of our skin in the bed. And that's great news for our eager dust mite bed companions. But dust mites proliferate wherever there is warmth and moisture, not just your bed. That may be why when you open a house that's been shut for a very long time, you may encounter a few violent sneezing and wheezing.

Probiotics Information And Side Effects

There are a few side effects associated with probiotics. The side effects have not really been scientifically studied so it is hard to say if some side effects are more common than other side effects while using probiotics. It is reported that side effects are a rare occurrence when taking probiotics.

Abdominal discomfort is one of the most common side effects that is reported when using probiotics. People sometimes report feeling bloating after taking probiotics. Bloating happens when the digestive process produces excess gas. Feeling extremely full is a sign of bloating. Pain in the abdominal region is another side effect that users report while using probiotics. People need to see their doctor if they experience any kind of abdominal discomfort after they use the supplement.

Not only are abdominal pains and bloating some reported side effects but headaches are also commonly reported side effects of using probiotics. People who suffer from headaches after using probiotics should lower their dosage. Some people say that their headaches go away once their body becomes used to taking the probiotics supplement. People should contact their doctor if their headaches do not get better over time or if the headaches become severe.

Some reports of probiotics say that a small number of people should not take the supplement because they could become more prone to catching infections, mainly fungal infections. Sometimes the infections can happen more often due to the immune system being compromised. Intestinal infections are other types of infections that can occur as a result of taking probiotics. Anybody who gets symptoms of infection after taking the supplement should call their doctor.

Diarrhea has been reported as one of the side effects of using probiotics. Diarrhea has not been a commonly reported side effect and probiotics are also used to treat diarrhea.

Skin rashes are rare when using probiotics supplements but rashes have been reported in some cases.

A person who experiences any abnormal changes in their body after taking probiotics should contact their doctor and make an appointment to see them.

Side effects are quite rare when using probiotics but they do happen once in a while.

Probiotics Supplements

Probiotics supplements are sold in many different places. A lot of probiotics supplements come in pill form but sometimes the supplements come in liquid form too but pill form is the most common form the probiotics come in. Powder form is also a popular form that it comes in. The powder is simply stirred into a drink such as water and then consumed by drinking it.

Probiotics supplements are made by many manufacturers. Research on companies and manufacturers of probiotics is needed when a person decides to buy the supplement because some probiotic supplements may be better than others as some manufacturers may use slightly different ingredients than other manufacturers.

Many manufacturers will make their own recommendations on when to take the probiotics supplements. However, most companies recommend taking probiotics supplements before breakfast with a glass of water. After taking it, a person should wait around twenty minutes before eating because this will help a person get the full benefits of the supplement. The probiotics supplements should not be taken within three hours of consuming an antibiotic.

Almost every single company will recommend taking probiotics right around meal time, most likely breakfast time.

Side effects are usually mild but there are rare cases where the supplement has been linked to major side effects.

Probiotics Benefits

There are many positive benefits of taking probiotics. There are some reports that say that one of the benefits of consuming probiotics is an enhanced immune system response. Sometimes antibiotics can cause negative side effects but probiotics can reduce those negative side effects.

A lot of people experience colon inflammation after a surgery. Probiotics actually helps treating the inflammation as well as preventing it.

Eczema is a nuisance for many people but youths can take measures to prevent eczema. Eczema is a nasty rash that can cause severe itching. The skin condition is something that is very hard to treat. However, one of the measures that can be taken to treat eczema is probiotics supplements. Eczema prevention is one of the benefits of taking it.

Another benefit of probiotics is that a person can expect to digest food better because their ability to digest food will increase.

The overall immune system gets enhanced too and this acts as a therapeutic for viral tract infections.

Lactose intolerance is reduced when taking probiotics. Incidents of vaginitis, yeast infections and candidiasis are also reduced when taking the probiotics supplements. Women love taking it because of these benefits. Many women do not know how to effectively reduce incidents of yeast infections and vaginitis and taking probiotics is one of the best things to take to reduce such incidents.

Probiotics also help with bad breathe. Bad breathe is a very common problem among many people. Bad breathe causes thousands and thousands of people embarrassment and shame. Many do not know how to battle bad breathe. There are way too many remedies out there that claim they battle bad breathe but often people are let down by such products making such claims. However, many people believe that the best remedy for bad breathe are probiotics supplements. There are many reports out there that show that probiotics work very well in preventing and even curing bad breathe.

Probiotics may help with preventing cavities. Preventing cavities is something that many people try to do. Brushing teeth and using mouthwash are both great ways to prevent cavities but taking probiotics is possibly another way to prevent cavities. There are not a lot of studies out there to back up the claims but many people do believe the good bacteria can prevent cavities. There is a small amount of studies that do claim certain strains of probiotics can prevent cavities.

Probiotics are also great for digestive disorders. Digestive disorders such as IBS, diarrhea and constipation are some common forms of digestive disorders. These disorders are uncomfortable and can cause a person to feel a lot of abdominal pain. A lot of people feel helpless when they suffer from digestive disorder symptoms. However, probiotics alleviates disorders such as diarrhea, IBS and constipation. The benefits are usually noticed shortly after consumption. Many elderly people seem to have issues with constipation and this is why they love the benefits of taking probiotics. A lot of elderly believe that the symptoms of constipation are reduced shortly after taking the probiotics supplements.

There are a lot of men and women who encounter bladder infections. Bladder infections can be treated with different types of medicines but the treatments may not always be effective. People who suffer or experience bladder infections frequently should give probiotics a try because there are many studies out there that show they are effective at relieving symptoms of bladder infections and sometimes even curing them too. Men and women have reported positive improvements in bladder infections' symptoms shortly after taking probiotics.

There are some studies out there that show that probiotics promote healthy bacteria in the colon. This is great news but it is amazing news for men because a lot of men suffer from problems relating to the colon but probiotics help lower the conversion of bile into carcinogens in the colon. Colon cancer is one of the leading cause of deaths in men.

Probiotics increases the availability of vitamin K as well as fatty acids and lactase. They also produces very important enzymes.

Allergies affects millions of people all over the world. Allergies are sometimes hard to deal with. However, there is some good news for people who suffer from mild or severe allergies. A lot of people find that taking probiotics help relieve allergy symptoms.

Chronic fatigue suffers also can feel the benefits. One of the benefits of the probiotics supplements is that it helps relieves symptoms of chronic fatigue. People find themselves more energized and able to stay awake more shortly after consuming probiotics.

Nutrients such as vitamin B and calcium are affected by probiotics. Vitamin B is easier to synthesize because the supplements increases the ability to do so. Calcium is also absorbed easier because probiotics increases the ability to absorb calcium.

Cholesterol is something that affects all types of people and sometimes lowering it can be a difficult task. Probiotics actually can lower cholesterol in people. There have been many people who have said that their cholesterol have been lowered as a result of taking probiotics. Reducing blood pressure is another claim that is made by quite a few people who take probiotics.

Parasites are also something that a lot of men and women have to deal with. Some parasites can be harmful to the body and cause serious problems. Not only are probiotics good for types of fungal problems but they are also good for treating people with parasites and can sometimes prevent people from getting parasites. Parasites are often eliminated completely soon after consuming probiotics supplements or food with probiotics in them.

Stress is something that almost all people deal with. It does not matter how old somebody is or what their sex or race is, stress is something that is unavoidable at times. There are people who suffer from stress more than others and they find it hard to relax and relieve stress. Although there are not many studies about the positive benefits that probiotics have on people who deal with stress, there are a few studies that say probiotics actually help people who suffer from stress. Some foods and probiotics supplements boosts peoples' overall moods and helps them cope with stress a lot easier.

Probiotics Yogurt

The good bacteria is also found in yogurt. Different strains of the good bacteria are found in different yogurts. This means that all yogurts are not created equal when it comes to probiotics. Some strains of the bacteria are considered to be more beneficial than others, so it is important to read the labels on yogurt carefully. Read on and find out the different types of strains that are found in some types of yogurts. Almost all yogurts have some form or amounts of probiotics in them. However, probiotic yogurts have many more beneficial probiotics in them, and this is why they are called probiotic yogurts.

One of the most popular strains of the bacteria is Lactobacillus GG (or LGG) and it is found in many yogurts. LGG in yogurt has been shown to help people reduce the effects of diarrhea and atopic eczema in kids. LGG is also shown to reduce illness in kids who attend day care. LGG is the most studied strain of probiotics and is thought to have the most benefits. This is why LGG is found in many yogurts. Bifildobacterium is another strain that is commonly found in yogurts. Both of the strains are similar to good bacteria that is found naturally within the body.

There are many different brands of probiotic yogurts. Before discussing the types of brands who market probiotic yogurts, lets discuss how safe these types of yogurts are. Side effects of consuming probiotics were discussed earlier in the first paragraph and some of those side effects can occur due to eating probiotic yogurts. Read on and find out what possible side effects can occur from eating probiotic yogurts.

Although rare, bloating and gas is a reported side effect of eating probiotic yogurts. Bloating and gas are the two side effects that are most commonly reported after consuming probiotic yogurts. Gene transfer is another side effect that sometimes occur due to eating probiotic yogurts. Unhealthy metabolic activities is another side effect that is sometimes due to eating the yogurts. Sometimes another ingredient in the yogurt could be the cause of certain side effects and not the probiotics causing the side effects. A person should see a doctor if they experience any severe side effects or side effects that don't go away within two or three weeks.

Now lets discuss the different types of yogurt brands that have probiotic yogurts on the market today and what kind of reputation they have. Activia is considered to be the most popular brand that makes probiotic yogurts. Activia products contain bifildobacterium. Activia is said to improve digestive health and is considered to be a functional food. The brand has a wide selection of probiotic yogurts to choose from and can be found at virtually any grocery store. The brand of yogurt is available in more than thirty countries including the UK, Russia, United States and France just to name a few.

Yoplait is a very popular brand that produces probiotic yogurts. Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus are the two main live microorganisms that Yoplait uses in their probiotic yogurts. Yoplait is not quite as popular as Activia is but many people do claim to experience great benefits in regards to their digestive system. Yoplait is said to be one of the best yogurts with probiotics in it because hundreds of people have claimed that Yoplait yogurts have helped their digestive system as well as making their bowels regular. Yoplait is very popular among the elderly and kids.

Stonyfield is a producer of probiotic yogurts too. The company creates some of the best selling probiotic yogurts in the United States. Their yogurts contain a few types of probiotics and there are a lot of positive reviews about the yogurts that the company makes. Stonyfield is very popular for a reason and one of the main reasons is that the benefits people feel are extraordinary. The company also uses many natural ingredients in their products and they are strong believers in using organic ingredients in all of their products.

Gerber is also a good brand that produces probiotic yogurts. Gerber has many different types of yogurts but all of the yogurts are rather healthy. Gerber has yogurts specifically made for toddlers, infants, women, pregnant women and more. The yogurts are packed with beneficial probiotics. The yogurts are popular among all types of people. Gerber is known for producing quality probiotic yogurts and they can be found in stores all over the world. The brand is known for producing yogurts that do not cost a lot of money to purchase. There are a lot of positive reviews about the yogurts that Gerber produces.

When it comes to probiotics in yogurts, some of the best ones can be found in the yogurts that Nature Valley produces. The company makes great tasting yogurts that are filled with quality probiotics. People who want to improve their digestive systems love Nature Valley yogurts because the yogurts can do just that.

EasiYo is a company that a lot of people have not heard of but the company is one of the best companies that make yogurts. They have a large line of probiotic yogurts. The yogurts are known for having a rich thick taste as well as a smooth taste. The probiotics in EasiYo yogurts help regulate bowel movements and are great for the digestive system. A lot of people say that they can feel the benefits of eating the yogurt shortly after consuming them. The probiotic yogurts that EasiYo has are also high in calcium and protein. The yogurts are affordable too and can be found all over the world.

Probiotics Brands

There are tons of probiotics brands on the market today. Some brands are better and more well known than other brands. Knowing which brands to get probiotics from is very important. Some probiotic brands have better probiotics than other brands. Choosing the right brand can help a person get the most benefits from the probiotics. Lets discuss some of the top probiotics brands on the market, so a person can make a wise decision when they want to get their hands on a brand that has the best probiotics in their products.

Align is one of the top probiotics brands on the market today. Align has capsules available. The capsules are taken just once a day. A person can expect to be able to build and maintain a healthy digestive system when they take the probiotics from Align. The capsule that Align has is very easy to swallow and it does not take long to start feeling the benefits of the supplement. Most people who take probiotics from Align start to feel and see the benefits just a few weeks after starting the supplement. A lot of people also say that they feel less stressed out while they take probiotics from Align. It is very easy to see why Align is one of the best probiotics brands on the market. The brand produces quality products that are affordable. The brand has also received a lot of positive feedback from many satisfied customers.

Activia is one of the most popular probiotics brands. Their major product line is a line of yogurts with probiotics in them. Activia offers customers many different types of flavors. The brand's yogurts contain quite a bit of probiotics and they have yogurts that all kinds of people will like. Young and old love the benefits that the yogurts Activia produces offers them. People usually have to eat two or three yogurts a day to start feeling the positive benefits of the probiotics in the yogurts. The company's yogurts are inexpensive and the brand has yogurts in stores all over the world. It is no secret why Activia has a solid reputation for creating quality yogurts that contain many good probiotics.

Florastor is considered by many to be one of the top probiotics brands. Florastor is another brand that produces a probiotics capsule which is extremely easy to take. The pill is easy to swallow. A person may not want to swallow the pill, and if that's the case, then they can even crush the pill and place the powder in their food. The capsule is taken just once a day. Florastor is unique because it does not take long to feel the benefits of the brand's probiotics. Kids can also take the brand's product. The product can be mixed with liquid and given to kids. Kids as young as two months old can also take Florastor's products. There are many benefits of taking Florastor and many people experience benefits in as little as two weeks. A lot of customers say that they feel healthier after being on Florastor's product for just a few weeks. Many customers report being in better moods, feeling stronger, taking regular bowel movements and suffer from less indigestion after taking probiotics from Florastor. The brand can be found at many pharmacies throughout the world and the product is very affordable.

Garden For Life produces quite a few products with probiotics in them. Garden For Life has products that are meant just for kids, women and even men. The products are designed to offer the best benefits to men, women and kids in a short about of time. Just one capsule a day is all that is needed in order to start feeling the benefits of what the probiotics have to offer. The Garden For Life probiotics supplement is not only easy to take but the formula is very healthy for people. Customers claim that the probiotics by Garden For Life helps them with their immune system, bowel movements and overall moods, just to name some of the benefits they experience. The brand offers other products but one of the most popular probiotics product they have is called Primal Defense, which is a capsule. The capsule also contains other important nutrients that the body needs and should have. The company also has a powder, which is great for people who do not want to take a probiotic in pill form. Garden For Life is a reputable company and they have more happy customers than unhappy ones.

Nutraelle claims that their products deliver over one billion beneficial bacteria to their customers' intestinal flora. The company recommends that a person takes one pill a day in order to start reaping the benefits of the supplement. One capsule a day is suppose to help improve a person's immune system and even help people with diarrhea and help people who have constipation. The supplement is very easy to take and many people consider Natraelle's supplement to be much better than yogurt when it comes to providing them with probiotics. Vegetarians also love to take the company's probiotics supplements because the product does not contain any gelatin. There is also no calories in the supplement, which is good news for people who carefully watch their calorie intake. The product also does not contain sugar or sodium.

Culturelle is one of the most popular probiotics brands out there because they have affordable products and their products are known to work very well. Culturelle offers customers an easy to take capsule that is taken just once a day. Just like other brands out there, Culturelle has capsules that are specifically made for men, women and even kids. Many customers feel benefits such as a healthier digestive systems, stronger immune system, healthier bowel movements and more. Culturelle supplements are usually a big hit with people of all ages and sexes.

Puritan's Pride is a probiotic brand that has been around for many years. Puritan's Pride produces some of the most affordable probiotics on the market today. The brand is known for only using quality ingredients that are needed, and they avoid using any unnecessary ingredients. The brand offers a few supplements to customers, as well as a chewable tablet that is very easy to take. There are many positive reviews about the brand.

Threelac is one of the most prominent probiotic brands. The brand produces probiotics that comes in the form of a powder. The flavor is a fruit flavor and is mixed in water or even food. The product is great for kids too because sometimes kids do not like to take capsules. Threelac has three important probiotics that are resistant to acid in the stomach. The product helps people maintain a healthy immune system and helps people with their digestive system. The brand's product may not be considered cheap in price but the product is a high quality product.

Dr. Ohhira's probiotics are named after himself and he created his probiotic brand using fermentation techniques used in Japan. The probiotics have won many different types of awards. Twelve beneficial strains are used in Dr. Ohhira's probiotics, and one of the strains is E. faecalis TH which is considered to be one of the strongest types of bacteria. The capsules are easy to take and only one capsule a day is needed. A lot of customers claim that they feel relief from heartburn and other digestion problems shortly after taking the capsules. The supplements are very affordable and are known all over the world.

Yakult is a great company that produces a probiotic formula that was created after a great deal of research was done. The product is a beverage that a person consumes once a day. The brand sells their beverage in many different countries and the beverage also contains an exclusive strain of bacteria. The brand's beverage is great for men, kids and even women. Yakult's beverage tastes great, is affordable and very easy to consume. Many customers say that the brand's beverage tastes excellent and works very well. The brand is popular among many different types of people. Yakult has many positive reviews about their product.

Probiotics Foods

There are many different types of probiotics foods out there. A lot of people are not aware of what types of foods have probiotics in them. Some foods are very common and then there are foods that people may not have even heard of. Lets discuss some of the foods that have probiotics in them and which foods people should be eating or at least try for a few weeks.

One of the best foods to eat that has probiotics in it is Natto. Fermented soybeans is what is used to make Natto. The food has bacillus subtilis in it. Natto has a distinguished taste to it but the beans are easy to chew and swallow, although the beans are a little bit sticky. Natto is very high in protein and is also high in vitamin K. Natto provides many different types of benefits, including benefits that have already been talked about previously in this article. The food is inexpensive and can be found at Asian stores worldwide. Many other types of stores may have the food but Asian stores are commonly the stores that sell the food.

Kimchi has lactobacillus kimchii and other probiotics in it. The food is beneficial to peoples' immune system, intestinal health and bowel movements. The food is typically used as a condiment. Kimchi can be bought at a lot of specialty stores located throughout the world. A lot of people actually make their very own Kimchi but it is very inexpensive to buy. Customers love the food because it tastes great and the benefits are amazing. The largest exporter of Kimchi is Japan but is more of a Korean dish.

Miso is a food with probiotics and is a seasoning that is used in many Japanese dishes. The food is fermented with a wide range of ingredients such as soybeans, brown rice and barley. Miso is said to have a buttery taste to it but very easy to consume. Miso is available worldwide and is very cheap to buy. Miso is great for overall health and is very high in vitamin B12.

Yogurt was already discussed earlier on but almost all yogurts have probiotics in them. Yogurts are sold all over the world and there are many different types of yogurts available to people. Yogurt is one of the most commonly consumed food with probiotics in them.

Tempeh is high in protein and is easy to eat. Tempeh can be eaten cooked or uncooked but usually people boil it. The food is derived from soybeans that are fermented. The food originates from Indonesia. The food kind of resembles a cake. Tempeh is sometimes stirred into veggies too. Tempeh is also eaten as a meatless burger too. The food is inexpensive and can be found in many supermarkets throughout the world. It is also available at many different health stores too.

Kefir is another great probiotics food. It has a similar texture to yogurt and can be bought in many different supermarkets. Fermented grains and goat milk make up Kefir. Not only does Kefir contain probiotics but it is also a great source for antioxidants. It tastes great and is inexpensive, and that is why the food is extremely popular among people.

When it comes to healthy food, many do not consider chocolate as being a source of healthy nutrients. However, dark chocolate actually has probiotics in them. Dark chocolate actually has quite a few probiotics in them and has more probiotics than a lot of dairy based products. There are many different types of dark chocolate and it can be bought almost everywhere and anywhere throughout many stores worldwide.

Microalgae is a food that is not known to many people. Microalgae refers to plants that are ocean based, such as blue-green algae. The food is popular and has a unique taste to it.

Pickles are not something that is often considered healthy, let alone a good source for probiotics. Pickles are actually an excellent source of probiotics and they can be found and bought at many places. A lot of people also make their own pickles. Pickles provide people with many benefits that can have a positive impact on their health. Pickles also taste very good and they do not cost a lot of money to buy.

Cheese tastes good and can be used on many different types of foods. Cheese is often used on cheeseburgers, ham sandwiches and eaten alone. Cheese is a great source of probiotics. However, aged cheese is the best type of cheese to eat when one wants a good source of probiotics. There are different types of cheese but most cheese provides people with the benefits that probiotics are known for. Cheese can help a person maintain a healthy immune system as well as help with diarrhea.

Many types of beans, especially soybeans, have good amount of probiotics in them. Beans are consumed by many people around the world and are very common. Beans can be served alone or on top of foods. Beans are beneficial to people with irregular bowel movements because beans are extremely beneficial for bowel movements, thanks to the probiotics in them. A lot of elderly and kids love beans because of how easy they are to swallow and most beans have a taste that is easy to get use to. Anybody who wants to feel the benefits of probiotics should get their hands on some beans.

Traditional sourdough breads are an excellent source of probiotics. Grains are also good for probiotics and cereals with grains in it are some of the best sources for probiotics. Cereals that are grain based are often eaten by kids because of the other nutrients that are found in them. However, the probiotics in grain cereals provide kids and adults many great benefits. People often feel better, less stressed out and have regular bowel movements when they consume grain cereals on a daily basis. Grain cereals can be bought in virtually any supermarket throughout the world. The cereals containing probiotics are inexpensive and easy to find.