Tips To Better Manage Food Allergies

Food allergies, like other allergies, can emerge at any age. The best control against serious reactions to food is information on how to prevent and manage the food allergy reaction. This includes knowing how and when to administer epinephrine or adrenaline

30 Ways to Limit Your Exposure to Allergy Triggers

You can make simple and easy changes in your routine to help reduce your exposure to environmental allergens that trigger your allergy symptoms.

Why Do I Have Allergies?

What are allergies and why are some adults and children affected by them when others aren't? Allergy occurs when our immune system mistakenly fights harmless substances including pollens, mites, mold spores and animal dander (skin flakes), all of these particles totally, absolutely harmless. Our immune system is designed to fight viruses and bacteria that can make us sick. Our immune system shouldn't fight allergens (pollens, mites, molds and dander) because they are harmless. But those with allergies simply make a mistake and their immune systems fight allergens and the chemicals, histamines, released to fight the allergens, are what cause our allergy symptoms to occur.

Nature's Garbage Men: Dust Mites

Dust is a disgusting stew of many particles including ash, fibers, fingernail filings, food crumbs, glass bits, oil, soot, paint chips, plant parts, pollen, animal and human skin cells, dander and hair, fungal spores, soil, stone particles, wood shavings, etc. Dust exists almost everywhere both inside and outside and is carried on air currents. Dust Mites are foul living creatures that live in dust. It's impossible to completely eradicate all of them in your world, but there are steps to reduce their number in your home, especially your bedroom, which will reduce their impact on asthma and allergies.

Food Allergies: Focus on Peanuts

Approximately one out of every hundred and fifty people has a peanut allergy. The allergy can range from mild to deadly. Peanuts aren't nuts, they're legumes, from the bean family, like peas and green beans. Some people (1 in 20) who have peanut allergy are also allergic to peas and green beans.

Mild symptoms of peanut allergy might include an itchy mouth, hives, swelling, breathing problems like throat tightening or wheezing, stomach pains or vomiting. Severe symptoms affect blood circulation and the heart, resulting in fainting or even heart failure. These are the symptoms which can cause death through anaphylaxis.

Peanut allergy, like most food allergy, isn't restricted to children. Peanut allergies are unpredictable. Some patients can have a severe reaction if they eat only 1 peanut, while someone else may be able to eat 7-9 peanuts without any reaction. It's rare for someone to have a severe reaction from just smelling peanut butter but they might have a reaction from opening a pack of airline peanuts and inhaling the "powder." Some might have a severe reaction through cross-contamination, contact or touch alone. This article mentions the possible causes of peanut allergy and the best ways to treat a peanut allergy.

Build a Strong Immune System to Help Fight Allergies

Our immune system is a network of organs and cells working together to defend us against disease. This system blocks "foreign" proteins, substances not meant to be in our bodies, from entering our body. When harmful proteins are detected, the immune system sends out soldiers or "antibodies" on "search and destroy" missions. These antibodies can identify what is a normal cell versus a substance that doesn't belong, an invader. Antibodies destroy those foreign invaders, keeping us from getting sick. Antibodies are such powerful and intelligent "soldiers" that people who undergo organ transplants must take medications to weaken their immune systems so the antibodies don't destroy the transplanted organ, which is foreign to the host's body.

People with allergies don't necessarily have a weak immune system — they have one that is very protective. Their immune systems mistakenly identify normally harmless substances as a dangerous substance; antibodies fight these harmless "invaders" - dander, pollens, dust, etc. - causing the symptoms of allergy: cough, sneeze, runny nose, congestion, red and/or weepy eyes and fatigue. Once the immune system sends out antibodies against a foreign invader, the body "remembers" this invader and the next time we're exposed our body releases antibodies again to fight off that substance beginning the cycle of allergy symptoms.

Until scientists discover why the immune system mistakes harmless substances as dangerous ones causing allergic reactions for more than 50 million adults in the USA, one way you can help reduce your reaction to allergens is to build and maintain a strong and healthy immune system. AAFA-TX suggests some simple steps to build a stronger immune system.

You Can Control Pollen Allergies

If you have seasonal pollen allergies, it's time to take charge and be in control of your allergen or allergy trigger. In Texas, January through November are heavy pollen months of one variety or another. Tree Pollens abound January through June. Grass Pollen season overlaps from April to September. Weed Pollen season is July to November — just in time for the Ragweed season which lasts from August into November or our first heavy frost. And these pollen seasons can be prolonged depending on rainfall and temperatures.

Pollens are miniscule, lightweight, dry powdery granules generated by flowering trees, grasses and plants. Plants are usually masculine or feminine. Some pollen is spread from male to female plants via the wind, others by butterflies or bees. Trees are the earliest seasonal pollen-producers and many trees remain active in Texas into November. Tree pollen is so light that winds can carry these pollens many miles from their source. Of the more than 50,000 types of trees, less than 100 types contribute pollen — and most of these are native to Texas.

Pollen Counts measure the amount of these granules in the air. The pollens that cause our seasonal allergies are usually those spread via winds; we inhale them, resulting in rhinitis or runny nose. AAFA-TX suggests ways you can combat seasonal allergies triggered by pollens through selective plantings and common-sense gardening actions.

IAQ: Is Your House Making You Sick?

Approximately 70% of asthmatics have allergy-induced asthma. AAFA-TX teaches how to identify and eliminate the most common allergens — pet dander, dust, dust mites, mold, roach droppings, smoke and pollens. All agree outdoor air pollution and ozone have a bad health impact for those with asthma or allergies too, but is your home's indoor air quality (IAQ) as bad as, or worse than, outdoor air quality? And is it making you sick?

Indoor air pollution is one of the top 5 environmental health risks. If you feel better when you leave your home than you do when inside, you might be having allergic reactions to the air inside. Poor indoor air quality (IAQ), although not a true allergen, can trigger asthma flares, be a cause of sore throats and hoarseness, cause red and itchy eyes, rhinitis (runny nose), headaches, general crankiness, and even fatigue due to allergic reactions.

How can you tell if your house has poor IAQ? When you walk into your home does the air smell "stuffy" or stale? Can you smell lingering, unpleasant odors — from pets, mold, cooking or smoke? When you're inside, are your eyes, nose or throat irritated? Can you see mold or mildew on surfaces in your home? Is it too humid (over 60%) or too dry (under 30%)? Is furniture covered with dust or pet hair? If you answered yes to some or all of these questions, then you may have poor IAQ in your home.

There are some irritants that affect your home's indoor air quality that aren't easily detected without scientific equipment, chemical irritants causing poor air quality— and poor air quality, indoor or out, DOES affect your health.

We asked Dr. Richard Corsi, PhD, the ECH Bantel Professor of Professional Practice in the Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin about pollutants found in the home that can affect allergies or asthma. Dr. Corsi serves as Director of a new National Science Foundation graduate program on Indoor Environmental Science and Engineering and focuses on sources, physics and chemistry of indoor air pollution. Learn what these chemical irritants are, learn why your home could be making you sick and learn how you can follow some simple steps to improve your indoor air quality to become healthier.

Acaros del Polvo

Polvo es un guisado repugnante de muchas partículas incluyendo ceniza, fibras, limaduras de la uña, migajas de alimento, cristal, aceite, hollín, virutas de la pintura, piezas de la planta, polen, células de la piel del animal y del ser humano, caspa y pelo, las esporas fungicidas, tierra, las partículas de piedra, las virutas de madera, etc.  El polvo existe casi en todas partes tanto en el interior como en el exterior y es cargada en las corrientes de aire. Ácaros del polvo son criaturas vivas asquerosas que viven en polvo. Es imposible deshacer completamente de ellas en tu mundo pero hay pasos que pueden reducir el numero en tu hogar, especialmente en tu recamara, que reducirá el impacto sobre asma y alergias.

Latex and Medication Allergies: The Often Overlooked Triggers Of Anaphylaxis

Most people understand that anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction to some foods and also to insect venom yet few know that severe medication allergy or allergy to latex products can also trigger this response.

Latex is a natural product from the rubber tree; some people develop allergies to products containing latex after repeated contact or exposure to it. Some people with certain food allergies — to bananas, chestnuts, kiwi, avocado or tomatoes for example - have a greater risk of developing latex allergy. People most at risk include those who are exposed to these products on a regular basis such as health care workers, people who work with rubber and rubber products or people who have had multiple surgeries or medical procedures where latex products or supplies were used. For those with severe latex allergy, exposure can result in anaphylaxis. Once diagnosed with latex allergy, avoid contact with these and other rubber products and follow a medication plan developed between patient and doctor.

It is difficult to identify a drug allergy because these allergies can be caused by many different medications and some drugs have side affects that imitate an allergic reaction, making it hard to determine what is happening, allergy or side effect. A true drug allergy is a hyper-sensitivity to that drug and the reaction will always be the same to the offending drug. Females are more likely to have drug allergies, but for anyone to have drug allergy they must first have a genetic pre-disposition for allergy and have at least 2 exposures to that drug; the first exposure causes sensitization then the next exposure causes an allergic reaction.

Signs of a drug allergy can include skin reactions, digestive reactions or respiratory reactions. A severe reaction can cause anaphylaxis.

Sometimes a drug allergy won't show-up for several days but there may be other symptoms like fever, aching joints or rashes when taking the drug before other allergic symptoms appear. The best way to treat medication allergy is to avoid that drug. The best way to do that is to 1) learn both the generic and the trade name of the drug(s) allergic to and read all product labels to see if that drug is included 2) tell family, friends, colleagues, and all doctors about the allergy to that drug 3) wear a medic alert bracelet (studies show patients admitted for emergency treatment wearing a medic alert ID not only get faster treatment but also reduce mortality risk as well as their medical costs) 4) always carry an epinephrine device if a doctor feels there is risk for anaphylaxis.

If the allergic drug must be used because there is no other medical option, then physicians would pre-treat the patient with steroids or antihistamines before they are given the allergic drug, a very dangerous option. It might also be necessary to desensitize the patient to the drug in a hospital setting — gradually giving minute amounts of the drug until a tolerance is achieved. But this tolerance lasts for that single drug course only. If the patient must use the drug again, the whole process would have to be repeated. Avoidance is still the best option for drug allergies.

Air Duct Cleaning: The Do's and Don'ts

Since every home is different it's impossible to generalize whether to have your own home air ducts professionally cleaned just because someone in the household suffers from allergies to dust and molds. No studies have ever determined that duct cleaning has improved anyone's health or that "dusty" ducts circulate the dust back into the home. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) DOES NOT recommend professional air duct cleaning except under special circumstances. They do recommend, in the case of fossil fuel burning furnaces, that they should be inspected yearly for threats of carbon monoxide poisoning and also to improve heating function.

It's normal for air ducts to gather dust while they function circulating air; usually this dust can be self-cleaned by vacuuming the registers. If you look into the ducts and don't see or smell visible signs of mold growth or large amounts of dust, then cleaning the ducts won't help relieve your allergy symptoms. As a rule of thumb, if: there is visible heavy mold growth on the inside sheet metal surface of the ducts or other parts of the cleaning system, or the ducts are infested with rodents, insects or their droppings, or ducts are clogged with excessive dust and these particles are being released into the air, then there is a good chance the ducts should be cleaned professionally but to alleviate and help reduce allergy symptoms caused by environmental allergens, allergen prevention is still the best action. To learn more about keeping your air duct system free of allergens and how to be a smart consumer if you do decide to have your system cleaned professionally, please read this article.

Air Purifiers: Do They Help Relieve Your Asthma or Allergies?

Chronic sneezing, sniffling or wheezing from allergies or asthma may cause many to consider purchasing either a home filtration system or a room air purifier. The question is, do these expensive products actually help relieve your symptoms? Most physician specialists might suggest other, more efficient and less expensive steps to relieve your symptoms before considering this purchase including eliminating your exposure to allergens in your home, keeping indoor air as free of allergens as possible, keeping your home's relative humidity between thirty and fifty percent and following your personal medication plan. To learn simple steps in how to do these things plus some basic guidelines if you do decide to purchase an air purifier, please read this complete article.

Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis in Infants and Young Children

Only three percent of elementary aged children and two percent of adults have proven food allergies yet most people sometimes have an unpleasant reaction or intolerance to a food. A true food allergy is an abnormal immune system response to a food: food intolerance is sensitivity, not an immune system reaction. Those with true food allergies must identify the foods they're allergic to, and, to prevent an allergic reaction, always avoid that food. Food allergy reactions can be extremely dangerous, even causing death through anaphylaxis.

Blood tests are generally used to determine true food allergies along with symptom observation, but these tests aren't always accurate because they might indicate allergy when it is only intolerance, a false positive. A food "challenge" might be used to determine if there is a real food allergy or to determine if a child has "outgrown" a food allergy. In a challenge, the patient eats a tiny amount of the allergic food and then is observed for allergic reactions. Potentially dangerous, these challenges can only be done in a physician's office under medical supervision in case a bad reaction does occur.

Food intolerance might cause similar reactions, so if any of these symptoms are evident, it is important to be tested to determine if it is an intolerance or sensitivity to the food or a true allergy to that food. More common than allergy, food intolerance can be a one time event, caused by a bacterial or toxin contamination, or it can be constant, caused by foods with high levels of histamine like cheese, wines, tuna or mackerel. 1 in 10 people have lactose intolerance meaning their gut doesn't have enough lactase to digest most milk products, causing gas, bloating, stomach pain or diarrhea. Many people are intolerant to food additives used to give foods color, improve taste or prevent molds from growing. These additives can cause symptoms such as hives, flushed skin, headaches, a warm feeling, facial pressure or chest pains but usually someone has to eat a lot of these additives to have these symptoms.

Diagnosis techniques for all illness in infants and young children is challenging due to the lack of communication skills and this is also true for diagnosing and recognizing food allergy in infants and young children. Food allergy in infants can take various forms with the major difference being between immediate anaphylactic reactions and those with non-anaphylactic reactions. To learn more about the symptoms of food allergy and how to recognize the symptoms of food allergy and anaphylaxis in infants and small children, please read the complete article.

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