Did You Know that Allergies Are a Very Common Disorder What Are Allergies

What are Allergies? Basically, allergies are agitated reactions of the immune system to certain foreign substances to the human body. These are known as "allergens."

The Viennese pediatrician Clemens von Pirquet discovered the word "allergy" in 1906. He called this phenomenon "allergy", from the Greek words allos meaning "other" and ergon meaning "work."

The immune system of a person with an allergy tries to combat allergens. It’s a part of everyday life - house dust, pollen, animal dander, and mold. It’s important for people to educate themselves on how allergies work and what causes them because it’s the only way to find the solution to the problem.

Did you know that allergies are a very common disorder and more than 50 million Americans suffer from allergic diseases. Allergies are the sixth leading cause of chronic disease in the United States. In fact, 60% of people with allergies are said to develop asthma as well.

Allergens are classified in four categories based on where they have come from. By knowing these four classifications of allergens, a person could identify where and what he or she is allergic too.

The classifications of allergens are: physical, biological, mental, and chemical. All four resources trigger even the slightest allergy in the human body. There are some people that react to these allergens while others do not even realize they are having an allergic reaction.

Physical.
Allergens can come from technological devices such as infrared, microwaves and radio, atomic radiation, visible light, X-rays, ultraviolet light, etc. These allergens can bring on an allergic reaction to an individual whenever they get in contact with any of these devices.

Biological sources.
Allergens can come from infections, food and beverages, plant and animal proteins, etc. Biological sources are the main resource of allergens. The known culprits are the animal proteins in the animal dander or flakes of dead skin, urine, or saliva of the animal. These proteins are usually spread throughout the house wherever a pet roams. A person who is allergic to these kinds of allergens will have an allergic attack because of the remains of the animal’s proteins even if there is no animal present in the room.

Metal sources.
This usually happens when the allergens are too excessive that it devastates the immune system. The immune system is having difficulty coping with its normal function. This is why excessive emotions can also trigger an asthma attack, a known disease caused by allergies.

Chemical resources.
These are people who are allergic to some types of medications. It is extremely important to test the product first before administering it to the patient to avoid more serious problems that might even cause death.

It’s definitely important to know these causes of allergies to avoid further problems. The first step is to figure out what the allergic reaction is caused by. After this has been figured out, stay away from the allergen as much as possible.

There are people who are not yet aware of what causes their allergies and this can cause serious trouble. There are also people who do not know that they have allergens already in there home and do not know how to combat them. For this reason, it is important for a person to submit to an allergy test, especially those who are showing visible signs of allergic reaction. This is when an allergy test can yield much useful information. Normally, if a person is having persistent allergic symptoms, has worked with his or her doctor but can’t isolate the allergen. It is a good idea to see an allergist, getting tested, and find out what the allergens are.

Having an allergy test is simple. Its skin testing, that is scratching or pricking the skin in order for the allergen to be introduced under the skins surface. The skin is observed closely for signs of a reaction, usually swelling and redness of the site. Results are usually obtained within about 20 minutes, and several suspected allergens can be tested at the same time.

A similar method involves injection of a small amount of allergen under the surface of the skin and watching for a reaction at the site. Skin tests are most useful for respiratory allergies, penicillin allergy, insect bite allergies, and food testing.
For testing food allergies -- suspected foods are eliminated from the diet for several weeks and then gradually re-introduced one at a time while the person is observed for signs of an allergic reaction.
While this is useful for mild allergic reactions, it must be undertaken carefully in individuals with suspected severe reactions to foods. Blood tests are a safer approach. Of note, skin testing is almost never performed to detect food allergies for the same reason of the higher risk of causing a severe allergic reaction.
It is essential that you not take antihistamines prior to the test. This may lead to a false-negative result, falsely reassuring you that a substance is unlikely to cause a severe allergic reaction. Your doctor will tell you which medicines to avoid and when to stop taking them before the test.

Is it Possible to Hide from Allergens is There Anything Allergy Suffers Can Do

Is It Possible to Hide From Allergens? Is there anything allergy Suffers can do?

If you are among the 35 million-plus people in the U.S. who suffer from seasonal allergies, it’s not news to you that the allergy season has arrived early in many parts of the county - especially here in the south. Everything, cars, porches, windows, etc. are covered in a yellow coating. Your nose, eyes, chest and head know it. This spring’s burst of buds and blossoms and the bumper crop of airborne pollen and mold spores are due to winter’s heavy rains and higher than normal temperatures.

The heavy rains and higher temperatures have produced an impressive growth of vegetation, which is wonderful to enjoy if you don’t have allergies. But if you have a history of allergies or allergic asthma, you need to be careful. Pollen, mold and dust mites in your home can trigger allergies. This causes the membranes in the nose to become inflamed, causing sneezing, congestion, runny nose and itchiness in the roof of the mouth, throat, eyes, and nose. Having allergic asthma is more serious and can be life-threatening. This causes the passages in the airways to become inflamed and swollen, making it difficult to breathe.

It’s impossible to hide from pollen and mold since both are carried by the wind. Pollens are only found outdoors, molds are found both indoors and outdoors. Outdoor molds can be found in the soil, vegetation and rotting wood; you’ll find indoor molds in bathrooms, attics, carpets and upholstery.

Is there anything allergy suffers can do to minimize their discomfort? Look at some of the suggestions below.

1. Change the time and location of your exercise routine. Avoid exercising in the early morning between the hours of 5 and 10 since that’s when the pollen is usually emitted. Exercise indoors whenever possible.

2.Consider swimming. Swimming is an excellent exercise for people with allergies. If you live near a beach, the purest concentrations of air in the ten to 15 inch layer right above the water. The gentle humidity keeps your airways from drying out.

3.Ask your physician if he or she can recommend a long-acting over-the-counter antihistamine medication.

4. Where do we spend most of your time? The bedroom is a place of refuge for most people. One of the most common allergens present in our homes is the lowly dust mite. Dust mites are microscopic insects, which thrive mostly in dusty, humid environments and can be found lurking in almost all areas in our homes.

One of the best things people can do is look at the allergen specific products on the market. Mattress and pillow covers that keep harmful dust mite allergens from escaping from bedding can be helpful. The fibrous materials in your pillows and mattresses can be a haven for these microscopic dust mites. Choose your beddings well. Stay away from down, kapok, feather comforters, and pillows. It might require some investment but it will be well worth it.

Wash your sheets in hot water every week, your mattress pads and synthetic blankets every two weeks and your pillows every month. This will keep the dust mites away!

5. Keeping a room clean can either prevent or bring on an allergy attack. Why is this so? Keeping a room clean can eliminate dust from accumulating; the activities involved in the process such as mopping and sweeping the floor can undoubtedly raise dust. You should clean once every week using a vacuum cleaner and a damp cloth. If you want to use furniture polish, dampen your rag before spraying the polish on it. Never spray furniture polish directly on the furniture. The initial contact just spreads the dust. Also wear a facemask while you clean.

6. Carpets are an excellent nesting ground for dust mites. Pollen is carried in from your shoes and ground right into the carpet, so it is better to opt instead for bare floors.

7. In with the curtains, out with the Venetians. Venetian blinds, trap dust, curtains are washable. If this is not possible, add vacuuming or cleaning the Venetian blinds to your weekly cleaning.

8. Do away with dust catchers as much as possible.

9. Bathrooms are the worst for mold - high humidity makes it grow. Clean your bathroom once a week and use bleach and water 50-50 to keep the mold under control. Mold is often found around the tub. Pour straight bleach on the mold and let set for a while, then wipe.

9. Run your air conditioner or dehumidifier during hot seasons (especially spring and fall) to keep the humidity level low. Dust mites thrive in areas where humidity is high. Your humidity level should be maintained under 40% but above 25%. If you have an air purifier, use it to keep your rooms dust free.

Seasonal Allergies Some Tips and Advice for Surviving Spring

As spring approaches many people dread this otherwise wonderful time of the year due to seasonal allergies. Seasonal allergies can be a burden even when they are only mild in symptoms. Allergies can make it difficult for a person to function normally, because having Hay Fever, asthma or just a runny nose and itchy eyes can be miserable. Personally, I suffer from only mild seasonal allergies, however mother nature launches and all out attack on my daughter. There are many ways one can quell the symptoms of seasonal allergies, from over the counter medicines and natural remedies to simple daily behavior changes. Small obvious things, that we may overlook can make a huge difference in the quality of our lives during this time of the year.

When experiencing the onset of symptoms associated with seasonal allergies, the first thing most people do is rush to the pharmacy to purchase an over the counter allergy medicine. Most of these over the counter medicines work as histamine blockers and are perfectly adequate for mild to moderate symptoms. I myself prefer Claritan, because I have never experienced any drowsiness while taking it. It also comes with or without a decongestant which is nice to have as an option. Benadryl is great as well, I don’t usually chose Benadryl, simply for the fact that the formula of Benadryl that works best for me is the extra strength which can tend to make me drowsy. However, some times I will take it before I go to bed and it really knocks me out which is helpful when your are all stuffed up and congested. Nasal sprays are good as well especially if you need quick relief. However, over use of nasal sprays can cause swelling of the membranes which may cause your symptoms to worsen.

There are also many natural remedies that can help relieve seasonal allergy symptoms as well. Natural remedies can be used most times in conjunction with over the counter medicines.Many times however, they work well enough to be used alone which is great for people who don’t like taking synthetic drugs. For instance, my father is a life long allergy sufferer and relies solely on natural remedies with great success. Some things that are worth looking in to are:
Vitamin C- is said to have a natural antihistamine effect on the body and it also supports the immune system.
Vitamin A, E and B complex -support the immune system.
Bee Pollen- seems to help prevent the sneezing, runny nose, watery eyes, and other symptoms of seasonal pollen allergies.
Butterbur Extract- can help reduce nasal allergy symptoms, including sneezing, itching, runny nose, stuffiness, and watery eyes.
Nettle Leaf- promotes a clear upper respritory system.
Alfalfa- believed to relieve runny nose, sneezing and itching.This is also believed to help the immune system.

These are just some of the natural remedies I have heard about through the years. I have not tried them all myself, but they are certainly worth investigating and discussing with your physician. In my opinion at the very least you should be taking an age suitable multi-vitamin on a daily basis. Multi-vitamins have to many benefits to list, but they support the body in it’s entirety which is always positive.

Personally, I am a huge proponent of making lifestyle changes to help reduce the instance of attacks and symptoms related to your allergies. Getting evaluated by your physician, to find out what exactly you’re allergic to is very important if your are consistently experiencing problems. This evaluation will give you a better understanding of what is triggering your symptoms, and it will provide you the ability to better manage your treatment. Once you know what it is that you are allergic to, you can keep track of high pollen days for your specific allergy by either watching the local news or visiting sites like weather.com for pollen level updates. Knowing what days might be bad for you enables you to make small changes, that you may not have done prior to having this knowledge. Some of the changes are: keeping the windows in your home closed on those days, limiting your exposure to the outdoors, driving with your windows up etc.. There are many other changes you can make in your everyday life that help as well. Using an air purifier with a HEPA filter can help tremendously. Try holding off on your yard work when pollen counts are high or when it is windy outside. Keep the dust in your home to a minium, by using pillow and mattress covers and vacuuming regularly. Additionally, you should change the filters on your heater and air conditioner once a month.

Making these small changes can make a huge difference in the symptoms you experience on a daily basis. Although you may not completely rid yourself of your symptoms altogther, being proactive in your own care is an important step in controlling your allergies. Investigating these suggestions and doing your own research will be beneficial to you and help you have a more enjoyable spring.