The Truth About Seasonal Allergy Symptoms

"What is your favorite season?" this is a common question that people ask. However, for people with seasonal allergy symptoms, there is no favorite season. Allergy symptoms can occur in any season but usually occur during the season of spring and fall when flowers and plants are growing or dying off. Pollens are small, round shaped powdery grains released from flowering plants, which are moved through the wind or carried by insects. These symptoms can be great nuisance to people, as it impacts the way a person live causing lower productivity.

Seasonal allergy symptoms include runny nose, teary eyes, nasal congestion, and difficulty of breathing. All of these nasal symptoms are normal response of the nose tissue reacting to the seasonal allergens. People with post nasal drip may further experience sore throat, while those with congestion may experience a headache. Sufferers from these symptoms will have itchy, water, and red eyes. Frequent itching can lead to bacterial infection on the eyes leading to sore eyes. Using eye drops to reduce redness and itchiness are recommended. In addition, cough, shortness of breath, and wheezing are other seasonal allergy symptoms. These symptoms are common in patient with bronchial asthma, although this can also occur to people who do not have asthma. Nebulizers with bronco-dilators and anti-inflammatory drugs are used to treat aero-symptoms like this. It opens the air pipes and reduces swelling to make breathing easier.

Although the above mentioned are the common seasonal allergy symptoms, many people complain about fatigue and body malaise. Experts say, it is just a response by the body after working hard to fight allergens. Other complains being reported are headaches and feeling foggy or not able to think clearly. Insomnia is also a reported case as these sufferers are unable to sleep because of the symptoms. Sometimes common colds are mistaken as seasonal allergy symptoms as both have similar symptoms; the difference is length of time. Common colds usually disappear after ten days. Management of these symptoms includes medications that can be bought readily over-the-counter; however, it is still better to consult a physician before taking any medicines.

Allergy Testing Kits

One great way to check for allergy symptoms safely and conveniently are the allergy testing kits. Today, there are tons of different selection of kits so before choosing, make sure it's FDA approved. Allergens or intensified effects to an external substance are one possible result of allergies. Through inhalation, or contact with skin, eyes or airways, allergen enters the body. Signs and symptoms of an allergic response contain sneezing, shortness of breath, itching or rash, abdominal pain, or digestive complications. If you are experiencing from the above mentioned indicators, perhaps, you might want to know the causes. For this reason, you should consider seeing the doctor for allergy testing.

Instead of paying your doctor for the treatment, which is expensive, kit is the right one for you. Allergy testing kits could be utilized in the comfort of your own house,and they provide quick outcomes. You are able to figure out what causes your allergy symptoms within a week after sending in your test. Typical causes of allergies can be found anywhere the house, such as dust mites. Just one mattress can contain as many as two million mites. Dogs and cat's fur can also cause allergies. This is commonly known as 'pet dander".

A good allergy kit can also help you find out whether the family is producing your allergy symptoms or not. And also, outdoor allergens like pollen from grass, trees and weeds causes individuals to endure from seasonal allergic reactions. As you see, this allergy testing kit will help you from many more allergens that you can get anywhere.

Here are some less common yet bothersome allergy causes:

* Insect bites - most common are Bess or wasps
* Meals and drinks - includes milk, eggs, wheat, citrus, shellfish or peanuts.
* Cosmetics or body wash and soaps.

According to Mold and Fungus Latex or rubber Medications Specialists that 1 out of 3 individuals will endure from an allergy at some point in their life. For this reason, it is good to invest in an allergy kit. Here's a brief summary of how testing kits works. Most allergy testing kits include the following: Instructions Painless finger stick lancets, Blood assortment tube, Alcohol pad and adhesive bandage, personal information and facts and registration card mailing supplies. You'll need to fill out the registration card.

Each card contains individual key code that's used to acquire and report your information. Afterwards, you'll gather blood samples utilizing a painless spring-loaded lancet. Blood is placed into the given collection tube. The completed info and sample tube are placed within a pre-addressed mailer and sent directly to the laboratory. After receiving, in 3-5 days you are able to locate your outcomes using the key code using the laboratory site. A more complete report will likely be sent by return mail. The most effective way to find an allergy testing kit would be to do a thorough research online. You will discover numerous distinct types of kits, and costs will vary. Get the allergy kit that works for you. It just may aid to relieve your signs and symptoms.

Prevent These Common Dog Health Symptoms Now - Keys to Your Dog's Longevity

How will you know that your dog is not feeling well? Is he ill or just tired? Some dog health symptoms may already be showing but you still don't know it. It is important as dog parents to pay attention to your dog's health. A grunt, a whimper, or a whine from your dog can mean they are feeling something that you, the owner, may not recognize at first. Having a thorough understanding of the dog symptom checker and prevention guidelines are the keys to ensuring the safety of your beloved family addition.

1. The Wrong Foods- One of the most important steps you can take deals with every day eating habits. While some pet owners feel they are 'treating' their dog by giving them table scraps or a sweet nibble of human food, it is important to know the dangerous foods we humans enjoy but are harmful to dogs. Ensuring your pet never eats these foods may prevent it from illness, even death. Some of these foods include:

Chocolate- Chocolate contains a chemical called theobromine, which is a stimulant that, when mixed with caffeine and theophylline, may result in rapid heart rate, hallucinations, epileptic seizures, internal bleeding, heart attack, and even death.

Avocado- Persin, a fungicidal toxin contained in the seeds, leaves, bark and fruit, while safe for humans, can be toxic to your dog and cause vomiting and diarrhea.

Fat trimmings- If you are tempted to offer up some juicy fat trimmings to your dog, stop. This innocent enough habit can result in your dog developing pancreatitis.

Alcoholic Beverages- A drunken dog acts the same way as an intoxicated man. Beer is from a plant called hops that can cause malignant hyperthermia that is fatal to dogs.

Macadamia Nuts- These nuts may be pleasing for humans but never for dogs. Dog health symptoms may be visible as soon as they've had some. Once eaten, dogs may suffer tremors, stiffness, hyperthermia, and abdominal pain.

Onions- This contains thiosulfate that may result to hemolytic anemia in dogs.

Besides dangerous foods, there are also harmful household substances you should be aware to keep the dogs away from it. A few of these are:

Mouse and Rat Poison - These poisons are very attractive to dogs. These poisons contain cholecalciferol that causes hypercalcemia and hyperphostamia.

Zinc - Ingestion causes severe hemolytic anemia.

Antifreeze - Once ingested it affects the liver and often results in kidney failure.

2. Allergies- Allergies, such a flea allergies, often result in infections commonly seen on the dog's ears, nose, mouth, and skin. Common allergy symptoms include:

Shedding, dry/itchy skin
Paw chewing
Smelly ears
Upset stomach
Poor coat
Hot spots
Self-mutilation

3. Lack of Exercise- Just as humans require exercise for proper health maintenance, so do dogs. Remember, your dog is dependent on you to provide it with ample opportunities for exercise, whether it's playing fetch in your backyard or going for a neighborhood stroll together. Don't just assume because you have a big yard that your dog will get enough exercise on its own. Take time to exercise 'with' your dog. You will both reap the benefits.

Common symptoms of lack of exercise include:
Poor muscle tone
Obesity
Little or no energy
Emotional problems

If not addressed, your dog's lack of exercise can lead to serious health conditions, such as heart problems and bone disorders, which can shorten the life of your family member. It is up to you, not your dog, to make sure he is getting enough exercise. Illnesses, like diabetes, which result from fatty and excess sugars, and obesity, which results from overeating are our responsibility as good dog parents to prevent.

Asthma in Cats Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

What is Asthma in Cats

Asthma in Cats - much like human asthma is really a chronic inflammation of the small passageways of a cat's lungs. Whenever an asthma attack happens, these types of passageways coagulate and tighten, rendering it very hard for your cat to breathe. This frequently results in asthmatic distress, that can turn out to be serious within a matter of minutes. Your cat's lungs might also start to release mucus in the air passages, bringing about fits of wheezing as well as coughing. A few cats having more gentle circumstances merely feel a small, persistent cough. Since asthma can easily turn into a fatal health condition, any kind of hacking and coughing cat must have a vet examination.

Symptoms of Asthma in Cats

繚 Coughing and wheezing

繚 Persistent cough

繚 Squatting with shoulders hunched, neck extended as well as rapid breathing or gasping for breath

繚 Gagging up foamy mucus

繚 Open mouth breathing

繚 Blue lips and gums

繚 Labored breath after exercise

繚 General weakness and lethargy

The Cause of Asthma in Cats

Though there are numerous components which lead to asthma in cats, it is considered to produce due to allergic bronchitis. Allergic bronchitis takes place when the air passage within a cat's lungs turn swollen because of an inhaled allergen or some other element that induces the immune system.

Frequent components that may add to the intensity of the asthma attack can include:

繚 Allergens, such as pollens, molds, dust from cat litter, cigarette smoke, perfume as well as particular foods

繚 Pre-existing heart problems or illnesses

繚 Parasites

繚 Extreme stress

繚 Obesity

Asthma-like conditions in cats can be related to various other disease, like heartworm, respiratory parasites, tumors, heart failure and pneumonia.

Do Allergies affect Asthma in Cats

Cat Allergies The Sensitivity to external air-borne pollutants and pollen can play a role in asthma in certain cats.

Cats More Susceptible to Asthma

Asthma in cats generally builds up between age of 2 and 8 years of age, having a greater likelihood in female cats than males. Siamese and Himalayan breeds as well as mixed breeds often have asthma more often than other breeds.

My Cat Has Asthma What do I do

Pay a visit to your vet right away if you believe your cat has got asthma. The Vet will then carry out a physical check-up and probably suggest diagnostic assessments to discover the cause of the condition.

How does Asthma in Cats get Diagnosed

Given that signs of asthma may be much like the ones from other diseases like heartworm, pneumonia and congestive heart failure, it is vital for your vet to identify the reason for his attacks. No specific test can confirm asthma, however radiographs, blood work, analysis of bronchial secretions as well as parasite tests might be performed to exclude additional factors.

Treatment for Asthma in Cats

Though there's no genuine cure for asthma, there are a variety of techniques for effectively handling it. Efficient therapy can include medicines which will clear breathing passages and lessen airway inflammation or adjust the body's immune response. Similar to human asthma, medicine is occasionally given via an exclusively adapted inhaler.

Prevent Asthma Attacks in my Cat

繚 Have your cat analyzed regularly for internal parasites.

繚 Reduce stress within your cat's environment, since it has a tendency to intensify allergy and asthma symptoms.

繚 NO perfumes, room fresheners, carpet deodorizers, hairspray, aerosol cleaners, etc., around your cat.

繚 Avoid cat litters that generate a lot of dust, scented litters or litter additives.

繚 Dry air motivates asthma attacks, so hold an effective humidifier going particularly throughout the winter months.

繚 Hold your cat's weight down and her body active!

繚 NOTE, no cat should be exposed to cigarette smoke however should your cat have asthma, cigarette smoke is a complete no-no.

Symptoms of Allergies and Allergy Tests

There are different symptoms of having an allergy. Some can be mild, some can be very annoying, but some can be dangerous and even life threatening. Below is a list of some common allergy symptoms:

1. Skin rashes - annoying and itchy and sometimes painful. Depends where they are on the body, they can make someone to look quite ugly.
2. Breathing problems - when allergy causes problems with breathing and lack of oxygen, it is very serious and requires attention.
3. Itchy notes, mouth, throat and skin - this is one of the most common and annoying allergy symptoms - an itch that can't be smoothed.
4. Conjunctivitis - burning and itchy eyes, is also a common allergy problem.
5. Coughing - another common allergy problem for many people - constant cough that sometimes is also painful.
6. Hives - hives can be painful and they can cause attention of others in public.
7. Headache - distracting headache that makes difficult to do anything constructive or relax.
8. Diarrhea - long time diarrhea can be also life threatening.

When you have an allergy the next step is to find out what causes it. You should talk to your doctor who will after checking the symptoms, know what to do. You should have a physical examination. The next step is usually tests which can find out precisely what causes the allergy. There are three kinds of tests:

1. The Skin Test - it is the least expensive and is very accurate. To do the skin test, a small amount of allergen is put on the skin and then the spot is pricked or scratched with a needle. A bit of allergen is also injected into the outer part of the skin. If there is an allergy to the tested product, after about 15-20 minutes after the test, there will be redness, swelling and itching on the skin

2. The Patch Test - it is done to find a contact dermatitis. A small amount of allergen is put into skin and then covered with a bandage. A doctor then checks the spot within forty-eight hours to see if a rash develops.

3. The Blood Test - this test is done when there are skin conditions or medications taken that might interfere with a skin test. In the blood test, the blood is taken to a laboratory and allergens are added to the blood sample. The amount of antibodies that are going to be made will be measured in this test.

Over the Counter Treatment of Seasonal Allergies

According to the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology seasonal allergies (aka hay fever) affect over 35 million Americans and results in 16 million visits yearly to the doctor. Symptoms often appear at about the same time every year and can include runny nose, sneezing, congestion and itching in the ears, eyes, nose and throat. Seasonal allergies are usually triggered by airborne pollen from trees grass and weeds and from mold spores.

Allergy

An allergic reaction is the bodies over-reaction to substances in the environment. These substances are often called allergens because they cause the allergic reaction. The symptoms of an allergic reaction are very similar to that of a cold but a cold will usually resolve in 7 to 10 days while an allergic reaction can last for weeks or even months. Also the nasal discharge during a cold is often thick and yellow but in an allergic reaction it is thin and clear.

Treatments

Treatment for allergies can be as simple as using over the counter products or it can include visits to the allergist for allergy skin tests and immunotherapy (allergy shots). This article focuses on over the counter therapy. If you do not find relief from these suggestions you should seek further assistance from your doctor.

Histamine

When exposed to an allergen, the body responds in several ways, including producing extra histamine. Histamine causes inflammation, swelling, a runny nose, sneezing and itching. Histamine also narrows airways in the lungs (constricts bronchi) and increases stomach acid secretion.

Antihistamines

This class of medications is a good starting point for treatment of seasonal allergies. There are several over the counter antihistamines available, many of which were once only available by prescription. They work by blocking the action of histamine in the body.

Antihistamines are generally separated into first and second generation agents. The first generation antihistamines are considered to be sedating while the second generation agents are commonly known as non-sedating. In reality, all antihistamines have the potential to cause drowsiness.

Some of the more popular first generation antihistamines are diphenhydramine (Benadryl), chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton), clemastine (Tavist) and doxylamine (Unisom). Doxylamine and diphenhydramine are so sedating they are commonly marketed as sleep aids. Clemastine is less sedating than these and chlorpheniramine is less sedating than clemastine. A benefit to these antihistamines is their ability to decrease mucus production in the nose due to their strong anticholinergic effects.

The second generation antihistamines include cetirizine (Zyrtec), and loratadine (Claritin). They are much less sedating than first generation antihistamines and are dosed once daily. They also have fewer side effects but as a result they are less likely to dry up a runny nose.

Check with your doctor before using antihistamines if you have glaucoma, prostate problems, emphysema, bronchitis or you are taking sedatives.

Decongestants

Since congestion is one of the symptoms of allergies, it makes sense to use this class of medication to get some relief. There are only two oral decongestants available over the counter. They are phenylephrine (Sudafed) and pseudoephedrine (Sudafed PE). They work by constricting blood vessels. This in turn results in shrinking of the nasal mucosa (the mucus membranes) allowing more air to pass, improving drainage and a less stuffy feeling.

Decongestants can also be found in nasal sprays such as oxymetazoline (Afrin). They can provide more immediate relief oral decongestants but the nasal sprays should not be used for more than 2 to 3 days due to worsening of congestion after stopping. This is known as rebound congestion.

Talk to your doctor before using decongestants if you have high blood pressure, heart disease, thyroid disease or diabetes.

Combination Antihistamine Decongestants

There are many combination products on the market. There may be a benefit to taking a combination product because the two classes of medications work together to improve symptoms. Have your pharmacist help you select a combination product that is right for you. As an alternative, you could buy a decongestant and an antihistamine separately and take both together. An advantage to doing it this way is you can selectively take one or the other or both together depending on your symptoms.

Nasal Irrigation

This is a good alternative therapy for seasonal allergies. It is an ancient technique of using a salt solution to bathe or wash the nasal passages. The theory is by washing away the allergens and mucus you improve normal function and decrease inflammation. 

Cromolyn Nasal Spray

Cromolyn nasal spray (Nasalcrom) is a less commonly used medication. It can be used in combination with other treatments. Cromolyn helps stabilize mast cells. These are the cells that over react to pollen or other allergens causing the allergy problems. Buy stabilizing these cells, they release less inflammatory chemicals such as histamine. In order for cromolyn nasal spray to be effective it must be used several times a day. Symptoms may take 1 to 2 weeks before they improve. Do not use to treat sinus infections, asthma or cold symptoms.

Local Honey

An alternative therapy for allergies involves eating 1 to 2 teaspoons a day of local honey. Local honey is defined as honey made within 30 to 300 miles (depending on who you talk to) from where you live. Bees make honey from plant pollen (often the same ones causing allergies). The theory is that continuous daily exposure to the pollen in the honey decreases the chance you will react to it when exposed in the air. Some people swear by this but the studies that have been performed do not support it.

Conclusion

There are lots of treatments available for seasonal allergies. If you suffer from seasonal allergies, start your treatment a few weeks before your symptoms usually start and continue through the allergy season. If the above treatments do not provide relief you will need to seek the advice of a doctor.

Here are a couple of good resources

Check out your local pollen counts www.pollen.com 

Sign up for our free health newsletter loaded with useful health and pharmacy information.

What You Must Know About Herbs For Allergies

Allergic reactions can absolutely make a wretched being out of you. There are various symptoms that you can experience, such as sneezing, watery eyes, coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, hives, and even anaphylactic shock. Antihistamines, decongestants, and other prescribed drugs may offer temporary relief, but their side effects, such as sleepiness and confusion, can be as debilitating as the symptoms themselves. Hopefully, you can spend the rest of the day resting and letting the effects wear off without your routine getting too disrupted. Unfortunately, the ordinary person usually does have daily tasks that demand vitality and presence of mind. Since this is the case, then allergies must be dealt with sans having to suffer from the unfortunate side effects. What's the ideal solution?

There are herbs for allergies that offer possibilities. Natural allergy relief can be achieved through herbal antihistamines and decongestants. There are many herbs for allergies that have these wonderful curative properties and we cannot mention all of them. However, we can provide you the names of the more popular ones.

Antihistamine Herbs

These herbs are the ones that block the body's histamines from launching the symptoms of an allergy. The most popular herbal antihistamine nowadays is the stinging nettle, a decided favorite among natural allergy relief programs. Other antihistamine herbs for allergies are eyebright, chamomile, yarrow, wild rue, jewelweed, tarragon, ginger, basil, amaranth, fennel, ginkgo, and passionflower.

There are also fruits with antihistamine compounds that can give natural allergy relief. The Barbados cherry, fig, capsicum, and papaya are not only rich in vitamins, they treat allergy symptoms as well.

Herbal Decongestants

These herbs for allergies are the ones that deal with congestion in the sinuses and the head. They give natural allergy relief by loosening up the mucus as well as easing the pressure on the sinus cavities. Some of the herbal decongestants are eucalyptus, marshmallow root, horseradish, chili, onion, burdock, garlic, mullein, and white pine.

These wonderful herbs for allergies, such as the ones mentioned above, are not only effective in getting rid of your symptoms, but they can also strengthen your immune system. Treating the symptoms is the conventional way of dealing with allergies, but an even better approach would be to prevent the symptoms from occurring in the first place. That being said, we have to go further and maintain that the best way to deal with allergies is to get rid, not just of the symptoms, but of the allergies themselves. These herbs for allergies with their immune system-boosting anti-oxidants certainly have the potential to accomplish this feat.

Milk Allergy Symptoms

Milk allergies are a reality for millions of people. One major problem is that milk products and derivatives of milk are in so many of the food products we consume. It is very difficult to completely avoid milk products and byproducts as we go about or day to day life as food consumers. It is a very real problem for parents of children. Once they are out their sight treats like a caramel apple or milk chocolate can bring on an allergic reaction.

Symptoms can manifest themselves in a variety of maladies. Vomiting, diarrhea, hives are three of the most common. Bloating, gas, watery eyes, skin rashes that can also include acne are among others. An asthmatic who also suffers from milk allergy can have complications with their asthma condition as a result or his or her allergy to milk. Another reaction is ear infections and hyperactivity, particularly in children. Minor milk allergy symptoms can go undiagnosed for years.

As a result of ongoing research more information is being made available for those who suffer from milk allergies. Also more and better alternatives to milk are being made available. Milk allergy sufferers are denied this valuable source of calcium in their diet and more palatable alternatives are important in replacing milk and milk products for the allergy sufferers.

Soy products that were once ghastly are now quite delicious and soy milk itself is now do to improvements quite delicious and resemble milk quite well. Tofu is a great alternative to cheese. With products like these, milk allergy symptoms can easily be avoided. Take a short trip to your supermarket and you'll find plenty of alternative dairy products. No longer will you have to avoid the common foods that you like the most, easy alternatives can be used.

One ingredient in milk is lactose, or milk sugar. Lactose intolerance is a type of milk allergy where the person experiencing the allergy is intolerant to the lactose in the milk itself An enzyme called lactase is responsible for breaking down lactose in the digestive process. It is estimated that up to seventy percent of the worlds population is lacking in this enzyme and some have none at all. This has caused problems in the past when international care packages of food relief were taken to countries on the African continent to fend off starvation and the milk products in the food was consumed by lactose intolerant people there.

Avoidance is the most common treatment for milk allergies. But as I stated previously that can be difficult. Anything containing the word casein should be avoided. Careful screening of preprocessed food labels is a must. Beyond that there has been some buzz about energy based allergy treatments. Many people have claimed to have been completely cured of all symptoms of milk allergy after undergoing an energy based allergy treatment. Energy based allergy treatments are quick and are not long and ongoing. They are an entire topic in themselves so I can only brief you on the topic here.

Are You Allergic to Your Computer?

Being allergic to your computer sounds like a cheesy and entirely unlikely episode in a soap opera, but think again. Research at Stockholm University in Sweden found that there may indeed be such allergy problems.

The main issue seems to be with flame retardants. These are chemicals used widely in modern manufacturing. The motive is of course to reduce fire risk and it is likely that we all have some exposure to flame retardants used in our curtains, or carpets or perhaps in flame retardants used in paint and now apparently in our computers too.

Unfortunately these worthy concerns about fire safety have led to scientists developing flame retardants to slow down the spread of fire. Our safety has been increased in one respect and apparently compromised in another.

The research found that computer monitors, especially new models, emitted significant levels of flame retardant from the plastic casing. Around each computer there was a vapour containing the chemical found up to 2 feet from the monitor.

The flame retardants are stated to cause allergic reactions with symptoms of headache, nasal congestion and itching.

The researchers found significant levels of flame retardant in 10 of the 18 monitors they tested and they found that the levels varied according to the manufacturer. Unfortunately, for consumers, the researchers have not published the makes of monitors used so that we could make better buying decisions.

That said, there are some things we can do. Clearly working in a well ventilated room would help to reduce the amount of chemical vapour emitted by the monitor that hangs around the monitor as an invisible cloud.

Keeping an adequate distance away from the monitor would make sense too. Sometimes we tend to work a little too close to our computers, perhaps to get better visibility.

The researchers also found that after 2 weeks of continuous operation the amount of chemical vapour emitted by the computer monitor was far less - so the issue becomes less pressing with time.

How serious this issue is seems to be unknown. What is known is that the chemicals are widely found in the environment and that nearly all Americans tested have trace levels in their body.

Depending on where you live you may well have a right to know of any chemical hazards from equipment you use in your workplace.

For those of use with computers at home we can follow up enquiries with the manufacturer and in the meantime make sure we use our computers in well ventilated rooms and take regular breaks from working or playing on our computers.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) And Elimination Diets

Foods may cause irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms: In the U.S., most doctors have been, and continue to be, skeptical that foods cause symptoms of (IBS) and elimination of specific foods can improve these symptoms. This is despite almost 70% of people diagnosed as having IBS reporting symptoms related to specific foods. There is accumulating evidence, though still criticized because of limitations of studies that make it difficult to prove, that specific foods may be the cause of symptoms in many people labeled as having IBS.

Food intolerance testing and elimination diet based on IgG antibodies may be beneficial: Atkinson et.al. (Gut, 2004) randomized people to either an elimination diet based on elevated IgG antibody levels (YorkTest Laboratories) for specific foods or a sham diet. Those who avoided specific foods based on their IgG antibody tests had improvement in IBS symptoms (10-26% reduction) and global rating of quality of life significantly improved. Re-introducing foods for which they tested positive resulted in worsening. Zar et.al. (Am J Gastro, 2005) reported significant improvement of IBS symptoms such as pain, bloating, and alterations in bowel habits based on six month elimination of elevated food-specific IgG4 antibodies in 25 people.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is very commonly diagnosed in adults: No diagnostic tests can confirm IBS. It is a diagnosis of exclusion. It is a syndrome, that is, a collection of symptoms that cannot be explained by other diseases resulting in the diagnosis of IBS. Common missed diagnoses that are blamed on IBS include lactose intolerance, Celiac disease, gluten sensitivity or gluten intolerance, colitis, Crohn's disease, parasite infections such as giardia, bacterial overgrowth in the intestine or alterations in gut bacteria levels and types (dysbiosis), food allergies, food intolerance, and food hypersensitivity.

Celiac disease, colitis and Crohn's disease should be excluded before diagnosing IBS: Celiac disease, colitis and Crohn's disease can be diagnosed or excluded by blood tests, stool tests, and biopsies of the intestine. Food allergy, intolerance and sensitivity are not only more difficult to confirm or exclude but frequently missed because of limitations of blood tests, stool tests, allergy skin tests and biopsies. Adverse food reactions have to be considered as a potential cause of the symptoms attributed to IBS.

There are common foods that cause adverse food reactions: Common foods reported by IBS sufferers, whose symptoms improve with elimination, are wheat, barley, and rye (gluten); dairy including cow's milk protein (casein) and/or lactose (milk sugar); the legumes (peanut) and soy; yeast used to bake or brew foods; corn; shellfish and fish; nuts (almond, Brazil nut, cashew, and walnut); fruits (apple, orange, and strawberry); vegetables (celery, cabbage, and lettuce); the meats (pork, beef, and chicken); and nightshades (potato and tomato).

Individual specific and food-specific elimination diets are based on a variety of tests and a food-symptom diet diary: Elimination diets based on the common foods causing allergic reactions and non-allergic food reactions have been used for quite some time and are often prescribed with or without a food symptom diet diary. Interestingly, to my knowledge, no one has looked at approaching these people and their adverse food reactions individually, based on tests for Celiac disease, gluten intolerance or sensitivity (elevated blood gliadin IgA or IgG antibodies and/or stool gliadin IgA antibody without diagnostic blood tests or biopsy for Celiac), casein intolerance (stool IgA anti-casein antibody or blood IgG antibody), oral allergy syndrome (OAS) history and thorough food allergy testing (skin prick testing, IgE RAST or CAP RAST tests, intradermal skin testing or patch skin testing).

Specific food elimination diet trials based on such information (see the table at www.thefooddoc.com) has been helpful in my experience. Food-pollen cross reaction in OAS is well documented. A diet symptom diary combined with specific food elimination based on results of food allergy tests, food intolerance of food sensitivity tests, and known pollen allergies should be considered as a possible approach to elimination diet. This should not exclude evaluation for and treatment of established Celiac disease, lactose intolerance, dysbiosis, colitis or Crohn's disease.

Bibliography

Atkinson W, Sheldon TA, Shaath N, Whorwell PJ. Food elimination based on IgG antibodies in irritable bowel syndrome: a randomised controlled study. Gut 2004;53:1459-1464.

Choung RS, Talley NJ. Food allergy and intolerance in IBS. Gastroenterology & Hepatology October 2006;2(10):757-760.

Zar S, Benson MJ, Kumar D. Food-specific serum IgG4 and IgE titers to common food antigens in irritable bowel syndrome. American Journal Gastroenterology 2005;100:1550-1557.

Zar S, Mincher L, Benson MJ, Kumar D. Food-specific IgG4 antibody guided exclusion diet improves symptoms and rectal compliance in irritable bowel syndrome. Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology. 2005;40:800-807.

The Dangers of Royal Jelly Allergy

Royal Jelly is also known as Bee Saliva, Honey Bee Milk, Royal Bee Jelly and Jalea Real. It is a honey bee secretion and one of its most popular purposes is to help with the nutrition of the larvae or the adult queen bee. Unfortunately, royal jelly allergy is really frequent among people. It could be life-threatening and it could also cause death, but if you take proper treatments, you will not have any problems. Sometimes people use royal jelly because they think that it will help them to strengthen their immunity. If they suffer from that allergic reaction, they should stop using it because it will be really dangerous. What is more, the result may be lethal.

But how could we find out if we suffer from that kind of allergic reaction? What are the symptoms of royal jelly allergy? If you note any of the following symptoms: skin breaking out, rashes, skin itching or red eyes, then you need to look for some help immediately. If you have a runny nose, this could also mean that you suffer from that kind of allergic reaction. But do not worry because it is curable. Of course, it would be best if you talk to a doctor or you could find the information that you need on the internet. A lot of people suffer from that allergic reaction, so it is comes as no surprise that many of them share their experience with the others. They are trying to help other people who are in the same situation. You could find the best treatment for you that will really help you.

If you are not sure whether you are allergic to royal jelly, then you could find out on your own. You could try it and if any symptoms appear on your skin, then you should stop taking it because the result will not be good. As we all know, royal jelly allergy could cause death if any precautions are not taken on time. You could find proper treatment if you surf the net or if you talk to some experts. They will tell you what will be best for you.

There are other symptoms that could help you to find out whether you have a royal jelly allergy. The only problem is that you will have to take royal jelly, so that you could find out if you are allergic to it. If you note any asthma symptoms after taking it, then you have to stop using it immediately. You should also know that experts do not recommend taking royal jelly when the person has other allergies because it could cause more serious problems. Also it is very important for pregnant women to pay special attention to royal jelly allergy. It would be good if they do not take it at all when they are pregnant or when they breastfeed. Everyone has to be very cautious when they take all these natural products because most people do not know from what allergic reactions they suffer.

Allergy Symptoms - Confusing No More

Nowadays allergy symptoms plague a majority of Americans. I for one have continually struggled with understanding the signs that indicate an allergic reaction. Every day we are exposed to foods that could cause us food intolerance like lactose intolerance to drugs that can give us side effects that are due to our body reacting negatively to it. Even the simple pleasure of spending time in the backyard expose you to other possible allergens like grass and flowers.

Understanding your allergy symptoms and treating the underlying causes are two very important parts of finding an effective solution to improving your health and wellness. There are many ways that people treat allergy symptoms. The band-aid approach of treating the allergic reaction quickly is pretty popular, yet often these treatments are short-lived. With patience and research, one can learn to manage these otherwise debilitating allergies.

Common allergy symptoms are seen throughout the world by both Allergists and Family Practitioners. Doctors tend to categorize the symptoms as mild, moderate or severe. The most common fall into the mild and moderate category and include:

• Chronic Sinusitis


• Watery Eyes that can become Red and Itchy


• Rash


• Congestion


• Itchiness


• Difficulty breathing

Chronic sinusitis is possibly the most frequent sign of an allergy. This usually causes sinus headaches as the nasal passages are continually clogged and sometimes draining as well. Watery eyes are another very common allergy symptom which can cause painful irritation. This causes scratching which can make matters worse particularly in children who usually show no restraint. In order to treat these symptoms, there are a variety of medications available to help stop this reaction and inflammation process. Both prescription and over-the counter medicines are available. Eye drops like Visine are often used as well to take out redness and irritation from the eyes. Natural approaches popular for treating so many things nowadays are also an option when it comes to treating allergy symptoms as well. An example of this is the herb milk thistle which cleanses the liver and helps it to function properly which helps those with food intolerance.

Severe reaction otherwise known as anaphylaxis is more rare but is life-threatening. It may begin with a common symptom like itching of the eyes or face but will suddenly progress to include:

• Swelling that effects breathing and swallowing


• Abdominal pain


• Cramps


• Vomiting


• Diarrhea


• Dizziness(possible mental confusion)

If you think you are experiencing anaphylaxis seek emergency help immediately.

Other allergy symptoms may cause more reactions that can occur even weeks after an exposure. This type of allergy is probably the most difficult to diagnose. Sufferers continue to experience problems for years. Some are continually misdiagnosed particularly for those with allergy symptoms that include gastro-intestinal issues such as irritable bowel syndrome, constipation or diarrhea. Finding the food that causes these reactions and eliminating them is the only way to find relief. Depression and attention deficit have also surprisingly been linked as an allergy symptom to certain chemicals or food additives. Out of the box treatments such as acupuncture may help to find the root causes of these allergy symptoms.

Many times we like to brush off our allergy symptoms as minor nuisance. We would rather think we have a cold than address the process of trying to identify your allergies and treat them appropriately. We continue to eat some things that we know don't agree with us and just chalk it up to the latest stomach flu. Do yourself a favor and bring these symptoms up to your doctor. It doesn't hurt to ask and the answers could help drastically improve the quality of your life.

Learn to Deal With Allergies When Singing

Allergies can really throw you a curve and interfere with your plans when you are trying to become a singer. This affliction can cause you to be all stuffed up with mucus, make you cough until your throat is sore, and even cause the muscles in your throat to swell up. Since the voice is such a delicate instrument, these changes can really wreak havoc on it, making it difficult to sing the right notes on the scales, especially the high notes.

Tips for Singing with an Allergy

So what do you do if you have plans to enter a karaoke or local talent competition, or if you have more serious auditions scheduled and you start to feel the tell tale signs of allergies coming on? You need to find a way to make it through the session, as difficult as this might be.

How do Professionals Do It?

Obviously other people do it since you seldom hear of professional singers cancelling their shows because they have allergy symptoms. The trick is just figuring out what will work with your ailment.

Treatment Options

Although there are a number of medications, both prescription and over the counter, that can help with allergy symptoms, some of these will just cause other issues that make it difficult for you to sing like drying out the throat, so you might have to experiment a bit and see if any of them work for you. Your physician or even other singers might be able to recommend some suggestions that might work out.

Proper training on improving voice quality and breathing techniques can also be useful since in some cases these can help you work around the problems that you are experiencing. Speak with your voice instructor to get some ideas on what might be helpful for you to try.

The Home Allergy Remedy

Your problems might also be helped by following some of the home remedies and tips that you can find on the Internet. These include things like taking a steam bath or holding your head over a pot of steaming water vapor in order to loosen up the mucus that is clogging you up.

Other common suggestions include drinking herbal teas (with honey and/or lemon if your throat is sore), making sure to take in lots of fluids while avoiding caffeine, and getting plenty of vitamin C. These are just a few options so do a little experimenting to see what works best for you. Don't let your singing career go flat because of pollen.

Winter Allergies - What Can We Do About Them?

Mostly we think of spring as the Allergy Season. Often we can see clouds of pollen and blossom blowing in the wind. So it comes as a shock to learn that many allergy sufferers have an awful time in the winter.

Allergies can be triggered by many different things; pollen from flowers and trees are often responsible but for the Winter Allergy sufferer household mould is often to blame.

After all in the winter we have the windows and doors sealed to prevent cold wind and rain chilling us. But the result of sealing the house is the rise of humidity which is exactly what mould needs to grow.

Doctors have advised that keeping the humidity below 35% helps not just to inhibit mould but dust mites too.

Dust mites are tiny animals, rather like ticks. They leave their droppings wherever they go-and it is their droppings that cause our allergic reactions. Every animal has to eat and dust mites eat the tiny fragments of human skin that fall off us everyday. If you are allergic to these critters you may find that measures such as using dust-proof bedding covers very helpful. Another standard measure is to diminish the number of "dust traps" such as carpets and rugs, especially in the bedroom. This is especially important for asthma sufferers.

Also in the winter we may be in contact with our pets for longer and it is sad but true that banning Fido or Tibbles from the bedroom is essential in the case of a pet allergy.

So that "winter cold" you have been suffering from, well if it has gone on for more than a few days, there is a good chance that you are showing signs of a winter allergy. The typical symptoms are blocked or running nose, painful sinuses and scratchy eyes and throat.

One way to start to take action against these winter woes is to take notes. Do the symptoms occur after more contact with a pet? Or even after eating a winter food-in which case this is not an environmental allergy after all but a classic food allergy. If there is no obvious pattern at all except that you have a winter allergy one way to treat it and test it is to take a holiday.

This welcome advice has medical evidence behind it. Often children in Europe lose their allergy symptoms when they go to the Alps. The dry mountain air does not allow dust mites to thrive. British children have found the same benefit by visiting Spain. Apparently dust mites are beaten by Spanish heat.

Winter allergies can make life misery but there are many steps we can take against them even without taking medication!

The Common Allergy Symptoms

Do you think you may have had an allergic reaction? If you are reading this, I can safely assume that you think you may and that you are looking to affirm your suspicion. Some people think if they can diagnose themselves there is no need to seek medical intervention or for medical attention. Granted at times the symptoms are mild enough to treat yourself but sometimes they are too severe to even contemplate self medication, self preservation should predominantly prompt immediate medical attention.

So how do we determine you are allergic to something? We look at the common allergy symptoms to establish whether a simple lifestyle change will suffice or if an appointment to your general practitioner is in order. According to most medics, most common symptoms of allergies are mild and average on a scale measuring severity. These symptoms include a feeling of tightness in the chest, burning as well as scratchy eyes and a skin rash. In some cases, allergy sufferers experience an itchy feeling all over the body and a little difficulty breathing.

Most people just go to their local pharmacist who can recommend the best allergy medications particularly if it is common allergy symptoms regardless of the trigger. If you do find the trigger, good for you, you can then fight the allergy with over the counter supplements or as a home remedy, squeeze a lime into a glass of warm water and a teaspoon of honey. Drink it once a day for a couple of months and do so before breakfast.

Severe allergic reactions are not as common as the ordinary allergy symptoms. So when the common symptoms of an allergy, which you have diagnosed and decided to self treat, seem to be escalating and when the assault on the chest becomes more aggressively congested then medical attention should immediately be sought. Food allergies are said to be more severe as far as allergic reactions go. Severe meaning throwing up, swelling, struggling to breath, diarrhea, cramping, wooziness and eventually you black out.

If medical intervention is not sought then that black out could unfortunately be permanent. The severity must never be underestimated because that mistake could be fatal.

It is easy to want to be your own doctor sometimes you can be, there are plenty of home remedies available and most allergies work themselves out your system over a very uncomfortable period of time. Sometimes though when you know you have tried everything with no lessening of your symptoms then you have to listen to your body and your gut telling you something is just not right especially if those feelings are soon accompanied by stronger symptoms.

Chocolate Allergy

For children and all age group people's chocolate is a passion and several of them having chocolate addictions. Chocolate is present in different variety and color in market to attract children.

But antioxidants found in dark chocolate, which make us feel less guilty when we indulge more often then we should. Several people have this allergy and so they can't eat chocolate event if they wanted. For this allergy there are so many causes and many ways to prevent the chocolate allergy.

Exact Cause of Chocolate Allergy

Chocolate cocoa beans Chocolate is made up of cocoa beans. Cocoa beans are found in many countries. Making Chocolate is very vast and long process from cocoa beans. Cocoa beans first fermented, roasted, and then grinded and added with the ingredient such as, gluten, soy, corn syrup, milk, fruits, different types of nuts and additives to make desired flavors and colors. Finally it is known as chocolate and then we can eat.

In chocolate main ingredient is cacao beans and many other ingredients causing many allergies. Chocolate allergy may cause due to any of the ingredients from it like milk, soy who affected by food allergy.

Chocolate Allergy Symptoms

There are common symptoms of chocolate allergy like headache, skin rashes, heartburn, hives, rectal itching, unclear thinking, vision problem, and breathing problems, asthma. If you get any symptoms mentioned above that time you immediately consult your allergist.

Allergist will determine and diagnosis by using number of bloods and skin tests. Chocolate allergic to cocoa beans occur very rarely but usually are allergic to other ingredients.

Preventing Chocolate Allergy

Chocolate allergy can be prevented by avoiding chocolates often regularly. One way to determine allergy is follow the instructions of your allergist. Take precaution for another attack of allergy once you cured.

Treatment parts are drugging and lotions that need to be applied on rashes. Some cases allergic people can enjoy chocolate again after cured. However some people don't want to try again.

Allergy Symptoms and How to Heal Them Naturally

Allergy symptoms vary from person to person (and animal to animal), but tend to fall into a few categories. One group of people will tend to express their allergies through their skin. Various eruptions will appear on any part of your body. These are unique to you, in both the area affected and the type of eruption.

Another group of people will express their allergy symptoms through watery discharge of the upper respiratory tract. Symptoms might include those typical of hay fever - streaming eyes, sore eyes, red eyes, itchy eyes, streaming nose, itchy palate, itchy throat, itchy nose, sneezing, etc.

And yet another group of people may express their allergy symptoms through their stomach, with indigestion, gas and diarrhea.

Whatever the area affected, it is showing you your weakness. But at the core of the problem is your immune system. It's struggling really hard and not making much headway. It's badly compromised.

This is at the heart of every single disease under the sun. The expression of the disease (ie your symptoms) indicate your area of weakness, but the fact that you have the allergy or disease in the first place is because your immune system is compromised.

If you have a good, healthy immune system, your body will heal everything. You won't even be aware that there is a problem.

So how do you restore your immune system to its former glory? Generally this is a life transformation. There is no easy fix, no magic bullet. But if you start now, it can only improve.

Things that stop your immune system working are:

• eating unhealthy food (fast, junk, processed, dairy, too much meat, preservatives, colours and so on)


• taking medicine on a regular basis


• having vaccines


• not getting exposed to enough sun


• not taking regular exercise


• drinking too much alcohol

But by far the most important aspect is how you think. If you think negatively, get frightened easily, get angry often or suppress your feelings regularly, your immune system will be badly affected.

Those people who are at peace with themselves don't have compromised immune systems. And they don't get sick very often.

So instead of thinking someone else, other than you, can fix your allergy symptoms, try thinking that you are responsible for your health. It could be the start of a profound journey for you. 

Egg Allergy Signs and Symptoms

One of the most common of all food allergies, especially amongst children. Most people will eventually outgrow their allergy but for a small percentage of people it will remain. Egg allergy symptoms are basically the same as the symptoms caused by any other food allergy.In general most people have fairly mild reactions to eggs but like all allergies they can produce severe symptoms in some people.

Egg allergy symptoms are pretty much the same as the symptoms for any other allergy however in the vast majority of cases the main symptom is eczema. Egg allergies are the leading cause of eczema outbreaks. Eczema isn't caused by an allergy but it is usually triggered by one. Eczema is actually a skin condition; most people develop it during childhood. It will remain with you throughout your life causing periodic outbreaks of a rash. These outbreaks can be caused by a number of different things but allergies are the leading cause, particularly egg allergies. It is also possible that eggs will cause hives; this is skin condition that is caused directly by the allergic reaction. It will appear fairly quickly and disappear again in a couple of days. Hives are a much less common egg allergy symptom then eczema.

The other most common allergy symptom would be gastric distress. This is a generic term that covers anything unusual that happens in your intestines. Most commonly this would be excessive flatulence or diarrhea. In some case it might also include nausea and even vomiting. These reactions can occur with egg allergies but they are much more common with other food allergies.

One possible egg allergy symptom is asthma. This can be a dangerous reaction so if you are prone to asthma precautions must be taken. Asthma will cause an inflammation of your airway, making it difficult to breathe. In extreme cases you may find your airway completely blocked and be unable to breathe at all. Asthma is an allergic reaction and can be caused by any allergen. That being said it really isn't that common with egg allergies. Nevertheless if you are prone to asthma attacks you are going to want to be careful around eggs.

The most severe allergy symptom would be anaphylaxis. Again this is very rare, especially with egg allergies but it can happen. Anaphylaxis is a whole body allergic reaction caused by the dilation of your blood vessels. This cause swelling and might make it difficult to breathe. You will also experience a drop in blood pressure. Some foods like nuts and shellfish cause anaphylaxis in a lot of people. Eggs on the other hand will rarely cause it. Again, any allergic reaction can cause anaphylaxis and some people are more prone to it than others. If you are one of those people you are going to have to be careful. Your doctor will likely have you carry an Epipen so that you can inject yourself with the medication in the event you do have a reaction.

Find more tips about: Egg Allergy Symptoms

The Most Common of the Food Allergy Symptoms and Their Causes

Food allergy crops up when the immune system incorrectly strikes a food protein. This leads to the improper digestion of the offending food, which in turn triggers abrupt discharge of certain chemicals, leading to an allergic reaction. The symptoms of these allergies can branch out from mild to very serious. Here are some of the most common food allergies symptoms:

Remember, separate foods are associated with separate food allergies symptoms. For example, you will feel wheat and chocolates mainly cause headaches. Here is a list of symptoms and the food that cause them:

Asthma: eggs and flour

Allergies in Children: Wheat, milk, eggs, colas, beef, peanuts, chocolates, rye,

Headaches/ Migraine: Alcohol, peanuts, chocolates, milk, eggs, dairy products, tomatoes, wheat, chocolate

Eczema: oranges, tomatoes, grapes, Eggs

Nasal Allergies: chocolate, Milk, wheat, nuts, colas,

Hives: mango, Strawberries, tomatoes, eggs, chocolate

Fatigue: wheat, corn, milk, Soya

Apart from these, Peanut food allergy is known to be the most common and the most fatal food allergies. Unfortunately, since the past few years the prevalence of this allergy has only doubled.Hence, If you feel that your body reacts abnormally after peanut consumption, immediately stop and go to the doctor for further clarification.

Another very common allergy is the allergy related to Egg. If you refer to the above-mentioned food allergies symptoms, you will notice that most of them include eggs. Hence, if you are one of those people who have an allergy from eggs then make sure you check the Food labels of the products that you eat.

Causes Of Food Allergy

There are several causes for food allergies to develop. A few of the many causes are:

Food Contaminated With Toxins

If an individual consumes a food that is contaminated with pollutants, then the body will react by generating antibodies to get rid of the food inside the system. This abrupt response of the body can cause an allergic reaction and symptoms.

Difficult Bowel Syndrome

It is a known fact that more than 6 percent of the people suffer from a difficult bowl syndrome globally. A bad bowl can be very treacherous and can cause pain and discomfort, while eating certain foods. This pain can be incorrectly mistaken for food allergy symptoms. However, the fact is, as the bodies of the victims, suffering from this problem ultimately interpret the foods that they respond to by causing pain, the allergic symptoms follow. The body will react by generating antibodies, which leads to an allergic reaction.

Allergy, Sinusitis, Asthma Is Increasing - Fight Back!

The bad news is that the numbers of persons with allergies is increasing. With this increase comes the complications of asthma, sinusitis, sinus headaches and bad sleep.

Recently Quest Diagnostics announced that there is a 15% increase in Ragweed Allergy over the past four years. This company does allergy diagnostic testing from blood samples. They examined some 2 million samples and concluded that ragweed allergy is significantly increasing. Based on their blood sampling, there is a six percent increase in overall incidence of allergies.

Worst increases occurred in California, Nevada and Arizona. Here, over the four year period, the number of ragweed sufferers increased by a whopping 21% This is of particular importance because in the 50's and 60's patients were advised to move to these states to escape ragweed in the North Eastern U.S. When I practiced in Washington D.C., I advised patients to move to Arizona for their allergy. I personally moved to Los Angeles from Washington to escape that pollen area.

The US Dept of Agriculture, according to Lewis Ziska, has reported a 12% increase in fungal spore growth. They note that the ragweed season has increased by one month since 1995. For example in New York City area it has now gone from 90 to 105 days.

You used to be able to plan vacations away from the ragweed, using data from previous years. Unfortunately with the unusual weather we are experiencing in 2011 that is no longer an easy option. Nevertheless keeping an accurate symptom calendar to match with the pollen calendar is essential in order to obtain an accurate diagnosis. If the severity of your allergy symptoms correlates with the severity of the pollen count, that gives you an accurate diagnosis without blood or skin tests.

Immunization injections still remain effective for most allergens. Immunization by injection is gradually being replaced by oral drops placed under the tongue. This is called SLIT desensitization - stands for sublingual immunotherapy. Here drops are placed under the tongue where they are absorbed. Once absorbed they act like the injection.

Ragweed is a weed that releases its pollen about mid-August. (Trees pollinate in spring and grasses in the summer.) Symptoms include sneezing, runny nose, nasal congestion, itchy eyes, skin and throat. Associated with ragweed pollen is allergy to fresh fruits such as bananas, cucumbers, melons and zucchini. This is why I have patients avoid fresh fruit and vegetables during this period. (Note: you can eat these cooked or processed for cans, because that breaks down the allergy molecule.) During allergy season you need to avoid hot spices with your food. These can add to the amount of histamine in your body. Ragweed sufferers welcome the first frost as that usually ends the ragweed season.

Therapy:
Which method of treatment is best? Pills, cortisone nasal spray, or allergy sprays? Unfortunately it is difficult to predict if Claritin or Zyrtec will give you better relief that Flonase or Nasonex. If Claritin works, usually that is the least expensive. Some expensive allergy type nasal sprays such as Astepro may work when pills fail. The advantage of the nasal sprays is that they are localized to the nose whereas pills go to the entire body. Benadryl is a common antihistamine that has the advantage of making you sleepy. Don't bring pollen into the house. Change outside clothing and shower, include washing your hair. Pets bring pollen into the house and need to be washed too.

Body Thermostat
When you have ragweed, your normal body thermostat erroneously has you sneeze and hack in order to adjust your body temperature. It is important to avoid getting chilled. Have hot tea before arising out of bed to avoid morning symptoms. Carry a jacket to avoid chilling when going in and out of air-conditioned buildings. Think of allergy like arithmetic: Pollen plus perfumed lipstick plus getting chilled, plus fatigue, plus eating spicy foods equals symptoms. If you reduce some of the arithmetic, you can reduce your symptoms.

Air Conditioning
Whenever possible use air conditioning because that is filtered air. Especially while driving. Driving open air can multiply the number of pollen particles that enter your nose, and therefore increase your symptoms. Do not drive in a convertible if at all possible. Avoid driving behind a diesel bus or truck.

Windows closed
Plants pollinate, approximately at 5 AM and 5 PM. This is when your bedroom windows need to be closed.

Bedroom
The bedroom is the most important place to do allergy prevention. The goal is NOT to provide a filter sufficient to take care of the dust and pollen. The goal is to reduce quantity of dust- no wall-to-wall carpet, no drapes or hangings that can give off dust. Use glass or plastic curtains. Ideally allergen free pillows and mattresses. No matter what you do, if the humidity is over 50% you will get mold so do watch that level. Pets? Keep them out of the bedroom. If your filter is too noisy you can run it during the day and turn it off at night. Further details can be obtained by calling allergy specialty companies such as Allergy Buyers Club. 1-888-236-7231

Start pills before season
Current thinking is that you should start allergy pills/nasal sprays before the season actually starts. This is a significant departure from the concept of only taking pills when you are symptomatic. However the literature indicates that patients do best is they begin medication before the season, roughly three weeks before.

Avoid sinusitis
Infection with an allergy is common. This is because, with persistent allergy symptoms, say sneezing non-stop three weeks, then the nasal cilia slow down and no longer move bacteria and pollen out of the nose adequately. Restoring the tired cilia is the key:

Good sleep
Humming "ooooommmm"
Exercise
Pulsatile irrigation at a frequency harmonious to normal cilia frequency of pulsation
Avoid reinfection with devices that have flowback. These get contaminated when the squeeze bottles suck back in.
Increase intake of hot tea, lemon and honey.

Avoid asthma
Under the unified field theory, the nose, sinuses and lungs are part of the same embryonic system. With nasal allergy, it is not best to be macho and ignore nasal allergy. The allergy symptoms need to be reduced or eliminated, not just for symptomatic relief, but to avoid complications that could affect the lungs or sinus cavities.

Drugs Versus Fish Oil For Allergies - Differences Clearly Explained

Many naturopaths now recommend fish oil for allergies. There is a lot of confusion about what benefits fish oil can have for your allergies, so here's a basic analysis of the situation.

An allergic reaction is an unnatural reaction of the body to some external substance, such as a pollen, a food or a chemical. Allergies can manifest as a fever, eczema, bronchial asthma or psoriasis, just to name a few. What all of these conditions have in common is that they are inflammatory responses in the body. They all involve the release of pro-inflammatory chemicals called eicosanoids into the blood. Two of the worst offenders are prostaglandins and leukotrienes. It is these chemicals which cause the symptoms we all find so annoying, such as sneezing, congestion, sinus pain and bronchial spasms.The body mistakenly identifies the offending substance as an enemy and attacks it, as though it were a virus or bacterium.

The good news is that fish oil is very effective at decreasing the pro-inflammatory chemicals and preventing the allergic response and its associated symptoms. Fish oil contains polyunsaturated fatty acids called EPA and DHA. These substances have been proven again and again to reduce inflammation in the body and therefore to alleviate allergy symptoms. EPA and DHA have been shown in many university studies to be particularly effective in reducing eicosanoids.

There are three main differences between fish oil and pharmaceutical antihistamines.

The first is that fish oil has a broad range of action, decreasing many pro-inflammatory chemicals simultaneously. Pharmaceutical antihistamines only act upon the histamine receptor sites, in an attempt to block histamine from causing allergic reactions. The problem with this approach is that allergic reactions are caused by a group of pro-inflammatory chemicals and not only by histamine.

The second difference is that once someone becomes used to taking an antihistamine, the antihistamine stops working and a higher dose is needed. Basically, antihistamine drugs become like an addiction.

The third difference is that EPA and DHA are natural substances, have absolutely no toxicity, and actually provide many more health benefits than just allergy prevention. Some of these include better cardiovascular health, better brain development, better concentration, lower triglycerides and better vision. Antihistamines, on the other hand, are chemical drugs that poison your body and especially your liver.

The important thing to consider is which fish oil to use. The best ones are molecularly distilled and purified and come in concentrated capsules. Taking concentrated capsules is the only way to ensure that you're getting a high enough dose to make the anti-inflammatory effects possible.

Allergies - Reducing the Severity of the Symptoms

Each change in the season brings about its own unique presence. Spring, summer, autumn and winter all bring their own rewards to those who have been anticipating their return.

However, for millions of Americans suffering from allergies, the changing seasons bring about their own terrors as well. Pollens accompany spring, smog abounds during the summer and autumn's falling leaves can also trigger allergic reactions. And since almost everyone spends a lot of time indoors during the winter, they are more susceptible to the effects of the common house dust!

The symptoms of an allergic reaction may vary from one person to another. For some, the symptoms may be as mild as an irritating postnasal drip while others may experience more severe symptoms of a full allergy attack (coughing, sneezing and itchy, red, teary eyes). Still other allergy sufferers may experience fatal or near-fatal symptoms such as those plaguing people with allergic asthma.

Aside from the usual medications, the symptoms of mild allergies can be successfully reduced or eliminated by following these simple suggestions:

. By all means, avoid the offending allergen. An allergen is any specific substance which can trigger an allergic reaction. This may include pollens, smog, dust, animal hair, certain foods, dust mites and others. It is both wise and practical that you avoid anything that can trigger an allergy attack. Or otherwise observe the necessary caution when you are forced into a situation that makes avoiding the allergens impossible.
. Shut the windows, please. This is especially helpful during the pollen season. Keeping the windows shut can keep the pollens out of the house!
. Splash it up. Soothe red, itchy eyes by rinsing them with cool, clean water.
. Soothe congested nasal passages with a warm washcloth. One of the symptoms of an allergic reaction is painful and congested nasal passages. To ease this, soak a clean washcloth in warm water and place it over the nose and the upper-cheek area. It will definitely make things better! . Saline solution, anyone? To remove irritants, which may have clogged and inflamed the upper respiratory tract, try irrigating the nose with saline solution. This may also help remove some of the inflammatory cells.
. Remove pollen and other allergens by washing your hair. Spending time outdoors makes it unavoidable for the offending particles to stick to your hair, clothing and other body parts. Try to shrug it off by washing your hair as soon as you get home.
. Taking a shower helps. Sometimes, even washing your hair doesn't get rid of every bit of the allergen and you wake up in the middle of the night with a full allergy attack. Try taking a warm shower to get rid of the allergens. It will also help you relax and makes going back to sleep easier. . Wear protective eyewear. When going out on a windy day, especially during the pollen season, wearing protective eyewear such as a pair of sunglasses may help shield your eyes from airborne allergens. For added protection, try wearing sunglasses with side shields or perhaps you can try wearing a pair of goggles.
. Take extra caution during smoggy days. As much as possible, don't go out or spend as little time as possible outdoors during smoggy days.
. No smoking please! Tobacco smoke is a major no-no especially for those suffering from respiratory allergies. Avoid this by enforcing a strict no-smoking rule inside your house.

There you have it! Some simple tips to reduce your allergy miseries. The next time you are bothered by an allergy attack, try putting them to use. You practically have nothing else to lose and everything to gain!

Dealing With A Cat Allergy

You are suspecting that you just might be allergic to your cat but there is no way that Fluffy is going to be moving out of your house. What to do? Dealing with a cat allergy can be accomplished with a little diligence.

Finding out you are allergic to your cat can be heart breaking. There are a variety of symptoms that can occur such as sneezing, itchy watery eyes, runny nose, sinus infection, headache, and a host of other mild to moderate symptoms that if you are determined enough you can likely find some relief from and still keep Fluffy. But there are also situations that are severe and even life threatening which means you will have to find your cat a new home. Lets assume your cat allergy is one you can live with. So what to do?

Let's first have a look at some of the other symptoms that can be related to a cat allergy. The list is long - besides the symptoms already mentions other symptoms include eye infections, redness, swelling, itching, post nasal drip, hives, rashes, itchy skin, plugged or poping ears, hoarseness, and coughing. There may also be shortness of breath, wheezing, reoccurring bronchitis which increases during tasks such as grooming or cleaning the litter box.

They may also increase when vacuuming or dusting which stirs up the dander. And often overlooked is that the allergy is actually not with the cat but with the perfumes used in cat products such as the litter. The cat allergy is caused buy allergens commonly the sebum produced by your cat. So it's not the actual cat hair that causes the allergy but rather a protein that is in the dander and the tiny particles are easily moved around.

So how do you deal with a cat allergy? There are several things you can try. HEPA filters are a great place to start. HEPA filters situated in each room of your home as well as a vacuum with a HEPA filter will certainly help reduce the allergens.

Having your cat neutered or spayed can help your cat allergy because it reduces the sebum level that is produced. Replace carpets with flooring can make a big difference because carpet traps not only cat dander but dust mites, and a host of other allergy causing things.

Bathe your cat regularly and cover your pillows and mattress with tight casings that can help. We spend half of our life sleeping so it makes sense to also keep the cat out of the bedroom. And of course you can also have the allergy shots that are designed to desensitize you.

But wait! There are some natural remedies for dealing with a cat allergy and some are very effective. Seek out the help of a naturopath or do some research online. You can find several products that might be beneficial.

First of all it is a well known fact that allergies including your cat allergy are a result of an immune system that is misfiring, so building your immune system and doing natural things to help bring your body into balance can also be very helpful.

Don't ignore the simple fixes when you are dealing with a cat allergy. Do it right and Fluffy will spend the rest of her days with you in a life of luxury!

Is There a Cure For Food Allergies?

Many people today are struggling with food problems and wondering if there is a cure for food allergies. They may be able to cause these symptoms to decrease and disappear by making some simple changes to their diet.

In an earlier article I described how our bodies produce acid waste which gets stored in our bodies if it is not eliminated.

Unless we counteract this by drinking alkaline water and eating foods that are predominantly alkaline then our bodies can become over-acidic. When that happens toxins are produced in our bodies. These toxins can cause us to feel tired and produce allergy symptoms.

The toxins cause stress to our immune systems and cause us to become sensitive to certain chemicals and foods. The results of this include irritation and inflammation, hay fever, allergenic asthma and food allergies.

If our bodies become too acidic they will try to eliminate acid toxins which creates problems such as soreness, swelling, watery eyes, runny nose and eczema.

If you eliminate the toxins in your body then the allergy symptoms will disappear. This is the cure for food allergies.

There are ways that you can test whether your body is overacidic. The acid/alkaline scale is from 1-14, with 7 being neutral and the optimum pH level for us is just over 7 ie around 7.3-7.4. The way to test yourself is to check your urine using pH strips, which can be obtained from a Pharmacy or from tropical fish retailers.

The best time to use them is in the morning. Acids or alkalines cause the strips to change colour, the optimum colour being light green.

If the test result is acidic then it's time to examine your diet and start drinking alkaline, ionised water and increase your intake of vegetables, including green, leafy vegetables. This will help to eliminate toxins in the body. Raw foods, including salads, sprouted seeds and beans, are good because cooking destroys some of the nutrients.

We can speed up the process of transforming our bodies from acidic to alkaline by drinking vegetable juice as well. They have the advantage that the nutrients, vitamins, minerals and enzymes are assimilated more easily and quickly. Put a variety of vegetables into the juice but include plenty of green vegetables as they are highly alkalising.

However, keep fruit juices to a minimum as they are high in sugar content

If you follow these steps you should experience an increase in well-being and energy levels and your allergy symptoms should decrease and disappear. You will find that there is indeed a cure for food allergies.

Can You Develop an Allergy to Alcohol Later in Life?

The short answer to "Can you develop an allergy to alcohol later in life?" is YES!!

I know this because this happened to me. I was a drinker in my early and mid thirties. I had no issues whatsoever with allergies to alcohol. I quit drinking. Started drinking again in my mid forties. My drinking was at the level of getting drunk about 3 nights a week. (yes I WAS an alcoholic which has something to do with allergy to alcohol which I will explain) After two years of drinking all of a sudden one night I thought I was having a stroke.

That is probably the best way to describe allergic reactions to alcohol for someone who never experienced it for themselves. The symptoms I was having made me think I was having a stroke because I had never even heard of alcohol allergy before. My symptoms to drinking that night hit quick and hard and included:

• Sensation of intense pressure in my head and congestion. This was the biggest and first symptom.


• Feeling like someone was sticking pins in my face. A prickly sensation all over


• Beet red face. It looked like I was blushing very bad


• Red blotches. Red patches started showing up on my shoulders, chest, arms, and legs


• Racing pulse. It could also feel my pulse throbbing in my veins almost like my pulse was too intense or hard

Those were my main symptoms. At the time I had absolutely no idea that this had anything to do with alcohol allergic reactions to alcohol at all simply because I had never heard of such a thing.

I had discounted my symptoms at the time and thought they were just some weird fluke but the one thing I do remember is that the whole experience definitely ruined enjoying my drinking.

These symptoms of allergy to alcohol continued to show up over the next two years but NOT on a regular basis which was also puzzling. I could drink several times over a couple of weeks and then all of a sudden the symptoms would hit again.

I actually ended up quitting drinking at 48 and these symptoms had a lot to do with that. Although I STILL have no idea what these symptoms were I DID have the common sense to realize that these symptoms I had when I drank booze were my bodies way of rebelling and telling me to stop.

The reason I developed an allergy to alcohol later in life was after two years of regular drinking my bodies ability to handle and break down alcohol was reduced. With some people (particularly Asians because of genetics) their ability to handle and break down alcohol is heredity. In other words 50% of the Asian population will get these symptoms when then drink alcohol even if they rarely drink or they have no addictions to alcohol whatsoever.

This allergy to alcohol and its symptoms is referred to as the Asian Flush, Asian Glow, or Asian Girl Glow. The cause of my symptoms when drinking booze was that I was abusing my body. People who only drink socially who get these symptoms have a true allergy to alcohol. In these people these symptoms are not your bodies way of telling you to quit drinking but instead it is caused by a "genetic defect" that greatly reduces your bodies ability to handle alcohol.

For people like me (people who drink to excess both in terms of frequency and volume) the answer is to QUIT DRINKING! For people who do not have a drinking problem and instead have the Asian Flush the symptoms ARE treatable.

Mold Allergy - The Causes and Symptoms

Mold allergy is not the typical spring time allergy. It's an allergy that's based on the air borne fungal spores or fragments. Since the spores and fragments are very small, they have the ability to bypass the nose tract and reach the lungs. Being microscopic, the foreign particles may be very difficult to avoid and could be common in almost any home or building.

Origin of Molds

Molds grow in places where there are moisture and oxygen. In natural settings, they may thrive on rotting logs, vegetation, and places in shady areas. In the home, they could grow in damp basements, bathrooms, attics, closets, garages, or practically any place that has moisture. The prime locations for mold spores don't necessarily end at the home. Commercial places such as greenhouses, old buildings, bakeries, and industrial factories are a favorite place for mold growth as well. Molds have a ubiquitous nature and it's important that we understand how molds work and where they come from.

There are a number of allergenic fungi that cause allergic reactions in people. The Alternaria, Aspergillus, and Cephalosporium are commonly known fungi that fall under the Fungi Imperfecti group. These, specifically the Alternaria and Caldosporium are more prevalent outdoors than indoors. They are common during the autumn season, but sometimes they appear in the spring and summer. Indoors, Aspergillus and Penicillium are relatively persistent throughout the year with little effect from environmental factors.

Airborne isn't the only way that molds can get into the body. Common foods such as mushrooms, dried fruits, and cheese allow molds to be transported into the body. These items carry various types of molds that produce the same type of symptoms found from the airborne form. What are the typical symptoms?

Symptoms of mold allergies are similar to the effects of seasonal allergies from pollen. Typical symptoms include watering of eyes, stuffy nose, wheezing, and asthma. Medical books will call this allergic rhinitis, which is normally associated with seasonal problems and hypersensitivity problems. Studies suggest that allergic rhinitis is similar to cold-like symptoms. The reaction to these molds is not always immediate. It can sometimes be delayed, depending on the severity. With the help of allergy medication, one can treat mold allergies as with other allergies.

A more dangerous form of allergen is "Toxic mold." Toxic mold, or statchybotys, is a deadly form of allergen that can affect children in a negative way. The more common manifestation of this type is black mold. Black mold causes infants and children to suffer skin rashes and other lung damage that can result in death.

In the southern states, foam boards (wall insulation) with no allowance for air space have caused the walls to become wicks for water leaks and floods. As a result, mold spores easily proliferated throughout the house, leaving black mold. The symptoms of black mold allergy include coughing of blood, anemia, wheezing, bloody nose and nausea.

Allergy-causing molds can range from the simple ones found in nature to the dangerous molds created by man-made construction. The effects of these molds can have a severe effect, including mortality. By understanding the causes and effects of mold allergies, one can start pursuing preventative treatments.

Natural Allergy Remedies for Hives - 3 Herbs and 3 Homeopathics

Hives, also known as urticaria, is a skin reaction to allergic and even to non allergic triggers.

Non allergic hives can be caused by viral infection, pressure during exercise or too much sun exposure.

In both cases the skin reacts or flares up in reaction to the allergen with a red rash and with swelling. The rash is called hives and the swellings are called wheals. A wheal may be as small as a pinpoint or as big as a few inches across.

The cause of the wheal and flare reaction is the normal action of body systems reacting to a threat and mounting a defense by a cascade of inflammation involving histamine and other inflammatory chemicals inside the body. That being the case treatment options involve anti-histamines either directly from using the anti histamine actions of vitamin C or from various well known and well used herbal or homeopathic remedies.

Speaking of homeopathic treatment, this has to be personalised by a dialogue with a homeopathic expert but let's say that each homeopathic remedy has to fit a picture. If you fit that picture too you have found the remedy you need. Bear that in mind when reading the following summary of 3 homeopathic cures for hives...

Apis Mellifica is probably the most well known homeopathic remedy for hives. The picture is that of raised red blotches that worsen with warmth and which are worse at night. There is swelling on the face around the eyes or lips.

Nux vomica is a classic remedy used to treat digestive complaints and especially allergies from drugs or food. Irritability and impatience will be present!

Pulsatilla is used after eating rich or simply fatty foods. Warmth produces a worsening of symptoms as does a closed in and stuffy room. Coolness or being in the open air relieves symptoms.

Herbal Remedies for Hives - there are hundreds, here are 3...

Nettles are the classic cure for hives. Nettle juice may be applied direct to the skin or nettle tea taken when in need. Chamomile tea will also sooth and can be made into a cold compress.

Aloe Vera is a powerful healer and has a soothing gel that may be applied to the skin. Aloe has plant steroids that fight inflammation. Not just urticaria but also psoriasis and eczema may be treated with aloe.

Chickweed is a tiny white star shaped flower possibly growing near your home. It is a wonderful traditional treatment for soothing skin rashes and eruptions and sores. A simple tea may be made from chickweed and used to bathe the inflamed skin. A chickweed ointment may also be made and used after the bathing.

There are many other home and natural remedies that may help your allergy symptoms.

Skin Allergies - Easy and Effective Home Remedies

Allergies in general are defined as hypersensitivity to some foreign particle or the other. Different people have different kinds of tolerances for foreign bodies. When some people cannot adjust with certain elements in their surroundings, they may suffer from certain skin problems that are commonly referred to as skin allergies.

There is a sure way of determining whether your skin affliction is an allergy or not. If you have got a skin problem due to a cause that has affected no one else, then it is an allergic reaction. For example, several people may be exposed to dust. But if it affects you in a strong way, then you are allergic to dust.

Skin allergies could be in the form of itching, dry and scaly skin, eruptions, rashes, boils, etc. There are three main types of problems that are associated with skin allergies. These types are as follows:-

(i) Dermatitis - This is the skin allergy which is caused due to contact with some substances. It is shown as an inflammation.

(ii) Hives - Hives is a fluid accumulation in the skin which shows up as a swelling. This is a temporary condition and heals with treatment. Hives are also known as urticaria.

(iii) Prickly Heat - This is a red rash which occurs on the body. Prickly heat is generally caused due to excessive perspiration due to hot and humid climates.

All skin problems are vata dosha disorders. Vata dosha controls the air element of the human body. Hence, when the vata dosha is vitiated, there are skin reactions. In different people, there are different degrees of the vata dosha. In some people, the vata may be weak and get easily vitiated due to external factors. Such people are more specific to skin allergies than others.

In this article, we see how to treat various skin allergies with an Ayurvedic point of view.

Useful Herbs in the Treatment of Skin Allergies

- Cassia (Cassia fistula)

Cassia is used effectively in the treatment of several irritations on the skin caused due to allergies. A paste of the cassia leaves can be applied on the skin in case of inflammation of the hands and feet caused due to extreme cold, and also swellings caused due to accumulation of fluids under the skin, as in hives.

- Henna (Lawsonia inermis)

Henna is an excellent remedy for several skin allergies. It can be used in case of hives, swellings, boils and other kinds of inflammation. Applying henna on the skin cools the skin and removes the symptom of the allergy.

- Holy Basil (Ocimum sanctum)

The holy basil is venerated in Indian tradition as the tulsi. It has an almost maternal status for the Hindus. This plant is venerated for its many medicinal properties. Among the other advantages, tulsi is also used for healing skin problems. In case of itches and rashes, the juice of the tulsi leaves is applied on the skin. This is a very quick treatment for allergic skin problems.

- Madhuca (Madhuca indica)

Madhuca is used as a treatment for skin itch problems. The leaves are made into a paste and applied onto the skin in skin infections due to allergy.

- Rauwolfia (Rauwolfia serpentina)

Rauwolfia is known as sarpagandha in Ayurveda. It is a very good remedy for skin problems. In case of hives, the juice of its leaves is applied on the swollen parts to reduce itching. Relief is almost immediate.

- Sandalwood (Santalum alba)

Sandalwood is a traditional remedy for all kinds of itch problems on the skin. It is made into a paste and applied on the skin. It smoothes the skin and prevents it from allergies. Itches are immediately resolved by applying sandalwood paste on the skin. Permanent relief can be obtained by keeping the paste smeared on the skin for half an hour before washing it off. Sandalwood oil is also used in the treatment of diseases such as erysipelas (an eruptive allergic skin disease) and prurigo (an itchy skin eruption).

Dietary Guidelines for Treatment of Skin Allergies

You must take a lot of water to prevent all kinds of skin allergies. These include fresh fruits and vegetables that have high water content in them. In the summer season, take cooling drinks such as lemon juices and sherbets.

Do not consume sour foods if you have skin allergy problems often. This can vitiate the vata dosha further.

Home Remedies for Treatment of Skin Allergies

- Take about 30 milliliters of the juice of the leaves of wood apple (Feronia limonida) and mix some cumin powder in it. Take this twice daily. This is a very good treatment for urticaria or hives.

- Extract the juice of the jambula (Indian Plum) and mix some soda in it. Apply this in case of prickly heat.

- In hot seasons, drink a glass of lemon juice twice everyday. This will supplement the vitamin C content of the body lost due to perspiration and will prevent the outburst of prickly heat.

- Chomping on sugarcane several times in the hot season is also a good method of preventing prickly heat.

- If the area on the skin is exceptionally itchy, then mash a papaya and spread the paste of the papaya on it. This will reduce the itch and also make the skin healthier.

Decrease Your Cat Allergy Symptoms

If you start to sneeze, develop teary eyes, a runny nose and a headache every time you get near your cat you might be having an allergic reaction. Cat allergens from the saliva and dander have to be airborne in order for you to breathe them in and then have an allergic reaction. Since they are airborne, they can circulate everywhere in your house and on you. Have yourself tested so you can be sure your symptoms are coming from your cat. Allergists can perform a scratch test on your skin that can reveal 70-80 possible allergens. Allergies to a pet can begin at any age. Many people that have pet allergies may have allergies to other things like molds or pollen. Allergies also tend to run in families.

Most people do not want to give up their cat unless they absolutely have to. If the symptoms are mild, you probably will be able to keep your cat. There are ways to decrease the unpleasant symptoms of the allergy.

Start by not letting your cats sleep with you anymore. In fact, keep them out of your bedroom completely. Wash your bedclothes in a hot water temperature of 140-degrees. This will eliminate any allergens while you are trying to get your symptoms under control.

Try to keep your cat confined to one area of the house until you have been treated and feel better. This might be difficult but it may be the only solution if you have severe allergies. A room you don't use could be a good area to keep your cat in temporarily. Make sure you put toys, food and water in the room. A room with windows with wide panes may be a good idea so they can sit and look outside. Have someone without allergies take your cat outside for a while every day.

Cats should be bathed regularly to control the quantity of allergens that are released. A good micro fiber cloth will also work. You can rub down their coat to eliminate any obvious dander. There are shampoos for pets that work to reduce the airborne allergens. Always wash your hands after touching your cat. There are medications that can be taken such as antihistamines, eye drops and nasal sprays. Allergy desensitization shots are another treatment option. The shots make the person immune to the allergies. Small amounts of allergens are injected at first and than slowly increased. Make an appointment with a holistic healthcare practitioner if you want a more natural way to control your symptoms. Nutritional supplements and herbs may decrease an allergic response. Your cat should also eat a healthy diet with omega-3 fatty acids. Cats produce less dander if they are healthy.

If for some reason you don't respond to any of the treatments then you might have to give up your pet. Of course, you want them to have a good home. Ask family members or friends if they would take your cat. Rescue groups are also good to call to help you find a place where your pet will receive excellent care.

Solve Your Cats Health Problems and Allergies, and Save Money, Too!

All pet owners know that health care for your cat can be the most expensive part of pet ownership. Vet bills are never cheap, and pets have a knack for getting sick right when we can never afford it. Thankfully, while emergencies and accidents will always happen, by investing in your cats' health with a strong preventative health program, as well as proper diet and effective nutritional supplements, you can ward off one of the most destructive and disruptive medical problem in cats- allergies.

Allergies and Cats- a Destructive Cycle

A great many cat owners are familiar with the painful and disruptive effects of feline allergies. Chronically irritated or itchy skin, chronic sneezing, wheezing and coughing, runny eyes and nose, chronic vomiting and diarrhea and even self-mutilation are just some of the symptoms of allergies in cats.

Just as in humans, an allergic reaction in cats occurs when the immune system begins to overreact to a seemingly normal substance or material. Often times, a cat can become allergic to a substance suddenly, after being exposed to it with no problems for months or even years prior.

Flea and Skin Allergies

Flea allergies are one of the most common types of allergies in cats. In "normal" cats, fleas and flea bites may cause minor irritation and itching, which often will resolve quickly once the fleas are removed. Cats with flea-bite allergies have a much stronger reaction, with intense itching causing hair loss and open sores- even from just one flea bite.

The typical signs of flea-bite allergies in cats are the presence of fleas, intense itching, and sores and scabs on the skin. These sores, caused by repeated itching and chewing, can lead to a skin infection.

If you take your cat to the vet, typically it will be treated with anti-inflammatory medication (steroids) and antibiotics for several weeks. While this route may solve the immediate problem of the skin infection, it does nothing for the underlying cause- the fleas and the allergies- leaving your cat open to future allergies and repeated courses of unhealthy steroids and antibiotics, both of which can contribute to a weakened immune system, and therefore increasing the occurrence of allergies.

The other choice is to use natural alternatives such as herbal anti-inflammatory and a soil-based probiotic. And while these are both highly effective and non-toxic, instead of treating skin allergies and the resulting skin infections after they occur, you can prevent severe allergic flea reactions in your cat by removing the source of the allergies (fleas), and by preventing your cats' immune system from overreacting.
Prevention requires proper supplementation to improve the quality of your cat's immune system.

Oil based nutrients, common in the human natural health spectrum as fatty acid supplements are equally vital to feline health, and especially in the case of skin and coat problems. A proper lipid supplementation, based from one of the most potent antioxidants known to science, Krill Oil, as well as other essential lipids can help to supplement your cats' immune system, reduce the severity of allergic reactions, improve the condition of your cat's skin and reduce healing times.

Food Allergies

Food allergies in cats are one of the most frustrating allergies to deal with. Many times a cat may develop a food sensitivity or allergy to a type of food despite being fed, even though your cat may have eaten that same food for many years with no problems. Further complicating the diagnosis of food allergies are the myriad of ingredients that typically make up most of today's commercial cat foods.

Cats typically manifest food allergies in two different ways- chronic digestive problems (i.e. vomiting and diarrhea that occur more than 3 times a week) and through skin allergies, such as itching, scratching and losing hair.

Cats can be allergic to any component in their food. The more common cause of food allergies in cats is the highly processed, grain based nature of commercial cat food. It is the protein in these grains that cause allergies in the form of skin rashes, digestive problems, and even problems with stiff joints and arthritis.

Feeding the Way Nature Intended

Cats are carnivores by nature. Their systems require meat. In order to be healthy, cats must eat a diet that mimics the one they would eat in the wild- namely whole prey. In the wild, cats eat virtually the entire content of their caught prey. Their protein comes from the bulk of the kill, most of their water intake comes directly from the water in the body of the kill, and the only grain they ingest is that which is in the stomach of their prey.

Unfortunately, commercial cat foods do not place the same emphasis on pure protein that the cat needs to survive, substituting low levels of grains and carbohydrates. Meat by-products (the parts of the animal unfit for human consumption), rendered meat, plant matter and carbohydrates, are the staples and fillers of commercial cat foods. They have very little nutritional benefit to cats, and, in fact, cause a myriad of their own health problems as a result.

The natural prey of cats consists of at least 65% water, and historically cats evolved from the desert, where they had to rely on their prey as a primary source of water. Cats do not naturally drink much supplemental water, yet by feeding dry food to cats with negligible water content, it requires cats to increase their water consumption, or else become chronically dehydrated.

Cats typically manifest food allergies in two ways- chronic digestive problems (such as chronic diarrhea and vomiting) and skin problems, such as chronic itching, recurring skin infections, yeast infections and ear infections. All of these symptoms of allergies are uncomfortable and damaging to your cat's health, and typically require repeated courses of steroids, antibiotics and other medications. Unfortunately, by continuing to feed the same food, the causative factor of the allergy-food that is nutritionally indigestible and virtually "foreign" to the cats system-the allergies will continue to reoccur.

Instead of creating a revolving door of allergy symptoms, vet visits, medications and cost, preventing allergies through a proper diet and nutritional supplementation is the more cost effective, and more importantly, the much more healthy alternative for your cat.

Home and commercially prepared raw diets seek to mimic the cats' natural diet- wild prey-, by eliminating the foreign carbohydrates and grains that are the causes of so many food allergies. This alone will go a long way to restoring his or her health. Be mindful that raw meat, fowl, or fish is not sufficient by itself.

In addition to feeding your cat a nutritionally sound Raw Diet, proper supplementation insures that all of your cat's nutritional, probiotic, vitamin, mineral and fatty acid requirements are being met, and properly assimilated by the body.

Cats and Asthma

Of all the types of allergies in cats, asthma can be the most heartbreaking to watch your cat endure- and in severe cases, it can even be deadly.

As in humans, asthma attacks in cats are caused by an allergic reaction of the respiratory tract to particulates in the air. The precipitating cause stimulates the mucosal lining of the throat and airway to secrete mucous and swell, leading to difficulty breathing, wheezing and coughing. In severe cases, the breathing difficulties can lead to respiratory distress, an abdominal effort to breath, and the swelling may become so severe that the airway becomes totally obstructed, leading to death.

Typically, treatment of cats with chronic asthma is managed through long-term steroid therapy, to suppress the immune system and prevent airway swelling. Unfortunately, steroids only mask the symptoms; long-term use atrophies your cats' natural immune response. Many health problems are directly related to the long-term steroid use.

In addition to the cost of veterinary visits associated with treating asthma flare ups and medication to treat it, chronic steroid use can lead to other health problems such as liver dysfunction and even failure, kidney failure, chronic dehydration and lessen the body's ability to fight viruses, bacteria, simple infections and even cancer.

By treating the underlying cause of your cat's asthma, you can prevent the life-long cycle of steroid administration, continuing respiratory problems and more severe health problems down the road.

As asthma, at its core, is an allergy caused by a heightened immune system, every effort must be made to remove potential allergens from the cats' environment. Changing your asthmatic cat's food to a Raw Diet can help to eliminate further allergens from your cat's system, giving the immune system less irritants to react to. In addition, by proving a carefully balanced probiotic, vitamin, mineral, lipid (oil) and amino-acid supplements to your cat, you are insuring that your cat's body utilizes the full potential of the raw diet.

In addition, the powerful anti-oxidant effects of soil-based probiotics, fatty acids, vital lipids and essential enzymes are scientifically proven to naturally reduce inflammation.

Moreover, they support and create a healthy immune system capable of dealing with emerging health crises, while preventing the terrible immune system overreactions that cause asthma attacks.

Save Money... and Save Your Cat

Conventionally speaking, allergies in cats are expensive to treat. Modern medicine has yet to provide us with a cure to allergies. Instead, veterinary medicine often provides little more than a "band aid" for treating your cat's allergies. Failure to address the actual cause- a dysfunctional immune system reacting to the unnatural way that domestic cats have been fed and kept leads to repeated courses of medications that can do more harm than good.

By addressing the core of your pet's health through a proper diet, as nature intended, and supplementing and supporting the immune system, you can save your cat years of suffering from allergies, create a healthier cat from the inside out, and save money on repeated treatments that don't work, and cause more problems than they solve.