What is the definition of food allergies? How might it differ from other food related issues? There are some individuals who have intolerance to juice because of the acid. It causes the person stomach pain, diarrhea, and maybe even a small rash, but this intolerance is not necessarily an allergy. This is why it is important to understand the definition of food allergies so that you know what is actually an allergic reaction, and what is only a mild intolerance. It will help you seek the proper treatment and keep yourself healthy.
First food intolerance means that you have a reaction to food because your body doesn’t have the necessary enzymes to break down the food you have eaten or in the case of juice you may find your stomach has more acid than is normal. With a food allergy you are looking at something that causes an immediate reaction to eating the food, in which your throat closes up, you can go into anaphylactic shock, and the hives appear almost within seconds of ingesting the food. You will also find that food allergies are related to the immune system. This is one of the reasons the reaction to the food can be so quick. As soon as the food touches your skin or inside your mouth your body starts to react as the first taste reaches your body’s immune system.
Once you understand the definition of food allergies you can help to remedy the situation. For instance, if you have only a mild case of intolerance you may not see a need to change your diet. On the other hand if you have a true food allergy that will cause anaphylactic shock the instant the substance touches your skin you are going to have to change your diet. You see for most food allergies that individuals suffer from it will be a mild case, where they may feel a little swelling, but generally be okay, as the symptoms will disappear in a few hours. With the more severe cases the food and any food substance must be avoided from even coming into contact on the outer skin. If a person with a severe allergy were to touch peanut oil they could have a reaction that causes the need for epinephrine. This means that eating such foods could indeed cause death before the actual medication were to work. The definition of food allergies is a constant and it is something one should understand for the proper treatment to be provided.
Archive for the ‘Allergy And Sinus’ Category
Traditionally, asthma is often classified into two types – intrinsic asthma and extrinsic asthma. However, as per the modern medical world, there can be so many different types of asthma, such as steroid-resistant asthma, occupational asthma, nocturnal asthma, exercise-induced asthma, intrinsic asthma, and allergic asthma. Besides that, doctors now use four basic classifications to determine the severity of asthma, including severe persistent, moderate persistent, mild persistent, and mild intermittent.
Allergic Asthma
More than 90% of the patients suffer from allergic asthma. This is the most common type, which can be diagnosed when asthma attacks are triggered by specific allergies. The good thing here is that such allergies are easily avoidable and identifiable if you get the treatment at the right time. So, make sure you contact your doctor immediately once you experience any such thing.
Intrinsic Asthma
This is one of the most common types of asthma that usually affect people aged 40 years and up. It does not normally occur in children. The cases where children have been affected by intrinsic asthma are rare. It is mainly caused by regular inhalation of irritating chemicals, such as cleaning products, smoke, and perfumes. It is not an easy condition to treat. Therefore, it is very important for you to be very alert and talk to your doctor about every symptom that you are experiencing and that might indicate to such problems. The basic idea is to prevent the condition from worsening.
Exercise-Induced Asthma
This is also one of the common types of asthma and it occurs usually in people who practice heavy exercises regularly. One of the important signs of this condition includes coughing fits caused by exercising heavily. So, you must monitor your coughs while you exercise. When you work out heavily, your lungs lose the necessary moisture and heat, which eventually results in asthmatic attacks and breathing difficulties.
Nocturnal Or Sleep-Related Asthma
In these types of asthma, the asthma symptoms occur in the patient during the night hours. This can be a very situation especially of children are experiencing this. You must consult your doctor immediately if you notice any such thing. Some common possible causes for nocturnal or sleep-related asthma include gastroesophageal reflux disorder, Allergens in the lowered room temperature, and Allergens in the bedroom.
Occupational Asthma
Occupational asthma has also become increasingly very common these days – probably because of the increased level of pollution in the air. These types of asthma occur by prolonged exposure to allergens or industrial chemicals. Inhalation of chemical fumes and dust is the major reason for these types of asthmatic attacks.
Steroid-Resistant Asthma
You are strongly recommended to take your medications as directed by the doctor. If you don’t take medications in time or take overdose of medications, you are always at the risk of developing a more serious condition, which is known as steroid-resistant asthma. In this case, the patient stops responding to the medications.
All these types of asthma need urgent medical assistance regardless of their severity level.
It no secret that indoor air is generally more polluted then the air in the great outdoors. Study after study has proven this to be true and those who suffer from respiratory problems such as asthma bear the brunt of this problem. Fortunately there are answers to this problem that all asthmatics can take advantage of.
First let’s take a look at why air quality is so important to asthma sufferers. Asthma is a respiratory condition that is characterized by the narrowing of a person’s airway (bronchioles and bronchi) that causes difficulty breathing. 3 to 5 percent of all people will suffer from its affects at some point in their life, some more severely than others.
Breathlessness and a wheezing cough are the two main symptoms of an asthma attack and these tend to be worse during the night. During more severe attacks breathing rates increase, heart rates rises, and they may be unable to speak because they can’t catch their breath. This lack of oxygen may also cause cyanosis which results in their skin turning blue.
The most common cause of an asthma attack is bronchiole hypersensitivity to airborne particles and pollutants. Pollen, smog, animal dander, tobacco smoke, household cleaners, perfumes, and spores, just to name a few, are all known airborne contaminants that can cause a reaction. As worldwide pollution levels have increased there has been a corresponding increase in people suffering from asthma.
The prevention of asthma attacks involves avoiding or removing the environmental triggers that cause the reaction. Since airborne particles and substances are the most common cause it makes sense that some sort of air filtering system would help alleviate symptoms since the indoor environment is more polluted then outdoors.
For airborne particulates a HEPA filter or electrostatic filter are the best choices. These remove dirt, dust, pollen, pet dander and other floating particles from the air. For microorganisms such as spores, mold, bacteria and viruses an Ultraviolet (UV) filter is what is needed as UV light kills these organisms. Asthmatics should avoid ozone producing air purifiers as these can trigger an attack.
For the asthma sufferer the cleanliness of the air they breathe is the key to preventing asthmatic attacks. Filtering the air in their home and office with an air purifier can be a good way to help prevent an attack and the symptoms one brings.
Building air entry can occur by air moving into the home through cracks and voids and by air moving from the inside to the exterior of the home. Excess air movement increases energy costs in the home and can make your home drafty, humid or too dry. There is a balancing act that needs to be performed when designing and building a home. Too much air leakage can cause a drafty and cold house and lead to higher energy costs.
The paths to air leakage are most often found in penetrations drilled for plumbing, electrical, vents, and other utility services. Also devices installed on the exterior of the home such as light fixtures and outlets, can also greatly contribute to air leakage in the home.
One area of probable air leakage that gets ignored are the spaces between the bottom of the sill plate and the foundation walls of the home. In newer constructions there is usually a foam gasket installed. In older construction there are usually gaps that will also a lot of air leakage into the basement. Foam insulation can be installed into these gaps to help keep air leakage to a minimum. The areas where patio doors and windows attach to the home should also be sealed in order to prevent air leakage. Use silicone caulk in order to seal these areas. Silicone caulk is flexible and will stand up better to changes in weather. Avoid using fiberglass insulation to fill gaps. Fiberglass batt is porous and does not stop air movement effectively.
Another area that is neglected and can cause a great deal of air leakage is the perimeter bands in between the floors of the home. Air can enter through gaps in the siding and travel far into the home away from its entry point into the home.
There are many products on the market to help you seal the air leaks in your home. Caulk can be used to seal smaller holes or gaps. Expandable foam can be used to seal up larger holes and gaps. Rope caulk can also be used to seal up areas around windows and doors. There are foam gaskets that can be purchased to seal areas behind outlets and other penetrations. Weather stripping can be used to make windows tight in their frames.
Older homes can benefit the most from air sealing measures. It is easier to do this type of air sealing when the home is under construction or under renovations. Stopping air leaks is a very cost effective method to lower energy bills in your home.
One very effective way to check for air leaks is to hire a professional that uses a device called a blower door. The house is closed up and the large fan that is installed in the doorway exhausts air to the outside. While operating the blower pulls outside air through the gaps located around the home. Air flow through the fan can be measured using flow meters. The method is also very effective with isolating the various air leaks in the home.
Often infrared cameras can be used in conjunction with the blower door. Infrared will tell you where the home is loosing energy by exposing areas of air leakage. Infrared will scan the home using a blue and red color spectrum to detail where the home is leaking air. Areas of blue are the coolest areas and areas of red indicate hot areas. Depending on the time of the year and temperatures the infrared camera can show you where to install additional air sealing measures.
Cancun is known for its tourist spots and resorts. Being in the Yucatan Peninsula, Cancun has a variety of resources to die for. A stand of white powdery sand, crystal clear blue waters, fish camps, wild animals and jungles are among the few. This place is swarmed by visitors all year round not only because of its shoreline but also for its great climate. Though there are occasional rains, tourists are not prevented from enjoying what Cancun can offer.
The hotel zone is lined by more than a hundred accommodations that range from simple motels to luxury hotels. These accommodations have rates that include rooms, meals and even tours. The hotel zone is considered posh and very expensive. However, based on the government’s statistics, those who visit this place are mostly local and belong to the middle class. This means that the place may look expensive but still, they are affordable.
There are other places in Cancun that offer great activities to enjoy. Downtown Cancun offers smaller hotels and business areas that include malls, restaurants and parks. Small Islands nearby are good sites for exploration, island hopping, canoeing and scuba diving, snorkeling as well as fishing, jungle crossing, island cruising and whale watching. You can be enchanted by Mexico’s language and culture. You can also have a taste of warm Mexico in any of their finest hotels.
Margaritas
This three star hotel is located in Yaxchilan Avenue in downtown Cancun. It is centrally located near the airport, bus station and other business areas like restaurants and bars. It is also a few minutes away from the white beaches. This hotel is well-known for its bohemian ambiance.
Hotel Margaritas features air conditioned rooms, car parking areas, satellite television, fresh water pools, laundry and room services as well as money exchange facilities, private bathrooms and direct dial telephones. You can have an overnight stay in Margaritas for only $110.20, inclusive of breakfast.
Plaza Kokai
This is a four star hotel situated in Uxmal Avenue. Visitors come here for both business and pleasure. The hotel features a fabulous and unique Mayan architectural design. Bus terminals are provided by the hotel and offers guest tours to archeological and wonderful local sites.
Starting at $78.84, the hotel will give you an air conditioned room inclusive of breakfast. Each room has double beds, baths, direct dial telephones, satellite televisions and Internet access. Plaza Kokai provides a safe, an air conditioned restaurant, disco, bar and conference room along with an outdoor swimming pool and private bathrooms. This hotel offers room and laundry services, car parking areas, 24-hour reception desks, and medical services.
Radisson Hacienda
This is a five star hotel in Nader Avenue. It provides guests with modern comfort. It is structured with a charming colonial Mexican architecture. Radisson Hotel is situated at the heart of Cancun, giving guests an easy access to shopping centers, financial and business districts as well as numerous tropical beaches.
Areas of attraction nearby include the National Institute of Anthropology, Aqua World, Tulum and various other recreational areas. The hotel provides a fitness center, an outdoor swimming pool, wheelchair access and a tennis court, valet services as well as laundry, concierge and shuttle bus services going to the beach.
They also have novelty shops, a business center, room and laundry services as well as a lobby bar, meeting and banquet spaces. They also guarantee a restaurant that offers international and Mexican cuisines.
Starting at $133.69, Radisson will give you a double room accommodation with free breakfast. The hotel’s rooms and suites feature high speed Internet access, multi-line telephones, coffeemakers, hairdryers and irons with ironing boards.
I live in Colorado where we are having a very dry season-lots of warm days and dust and pollen floating around to make hay fever sufferers run for the decongestants and allergy medicines. STOP! Enough with the drugs that have harmful effects on the body! Nature can actually help. Yes, nature has given us the pollen that is causing the problem but nature also provides the cure in the form of essential oils.
Hay fever is an allergic reaction triggered by airborne allergens like pollen, animal hair, feathers, dust mites, etc that cause the body to release extra histamines. It’s the histamines that cause inflammation of the nasal passages and sinus-related areas. Sneezing is generally a first sign and I don’t just mean an occasional sneeze-but sneezing fits. A more serious form of respiratory allergy is asthma.
What Can Essential Oils Do to Help?
German chamomile (Matricaria recutita) is probably the best single oil remedy. It is actually in the daisy family and is high is oxides. This chamomile is a powerful antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, relaxant and anesthetic. For nasal allergies, you might want to diffuse this oil or take it internally in capsules. I wouldn’t advise making this into a tea-the German variety has a harsher taste than the Roman variety which is sweeter and more palatable. Besides, one drop will make about 30 cups of chamomile tea.
The Roman Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile) is a good second choice. This variety is much lighter in color-pale bluish yellow as compared to the German chamomile’s dark bluish black color. The Roman Chamomile is known for its relaxing qualities, is antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory and detoxifies the blood and liver. This one is so mild that you could put a few drops on your wrists or under your nose, diffuse it or take it as a dietary supplement. Unlike the German variety, the Roman chamomile is high in esters.
Here are two more suggestions for essential oils. Lavender (Lavendula angustifolia) is known far and wide for its anti-allergic properties, that is unless you are sensitive to lavender. Lavender is good for respiratory infections, as well as being helpful for allergies. It is antiseptic, antifungal, analgesic, anti-inflammatory and is vasodilating and a great relaxant.
My other suggestion is wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens). Wintergreen has antispasmodic properties, is highly anti-inflammatory, a vasodilator, has analgesic and anesthetic properties. Its primary ingredient is Methy Salicylate which makes it excellent for pain relief.
Do you have a quality diffuser? I don’t mean a candle burner but a diffuser that puts micro-droplets into the air. You will need a good diffuser when trying to help with airborne allergies. Want to learn more about how essential oils can help you maintain your health?
Hay fever allergies produce some of the most persistent and irritating conditions that when continued will often cause mental stress in addition. What can appear to others to be a rather simple reaction to pollen, dust and other irritants in the environment, can assume immense proportions to those suffering severe attacks.
Many who are trying to cope with alternate running nose or dry, itchy nostrils, inflamed and itchy eyes and roof of the mouth, painful sinuses, coughing, wheezing or asthma cannot easily cope with the regular matters of daily life and work. If one symptom or two would appear at any time to demand relief it would be easier but when things get bad, ten to one all these symptoms take their turn and then we are apt to become miserable indeed.
Medication is offered by pharmaceutical products such as anti-histamine tablets, inhalants and ‘puffers’ to open the airways. These can be employed as part of a preventative programme prior to the seasons that are suspected of causing most allergies, or can be used for immediate relief in times of stress when the allergic reactions really are acute. However, as with all drugs, there are side effects and certain cautions that must be observed.
There are many who are grateful for the relief given by anti-histamines and puffers. However, the prospect of having to rely upon these remedies is not a good idea. It is pretty easy to be tempted to succumb to habitual use but it is better to find other options and seek other ways. We would be wise to investigate the value of acupuncture treatment, herbal remedies, homeopathic medicines, nutritional adjustments, the inclusion of garlic, yoghurt, oats, salads and seaweeds in our diet as well as avoiding the obvious catarrh forming foods such as breads and dairy produce.
Having experienced extreme symptoms in spite of taking anti-histamines and the puffer, I can only offer a few hints for additional possible assistance when enduring the various unpleasant symptoms of hay fever.
Frozen peas in a plastic sandwich bag and wrapped in tissue or paper towel is invaluable when gently placed over your eyes and nose when itching, sneezing or when inflammation makes breathing and comfort impossible. Not too many peas – just enough to mould to the area you wish to treat.
Inhaling peppermint oil, eucalyptus or pine brings comfort and a feeling of freer airways, but usually only gives temporary relief in between the use of the puffer.
Drinking herbal teas such as chamomile or nettle leaf tea is comforting.
Garlic sliced onto a thin piece of bread or biscuit daily is guaranteed to ease the state of your lungs after a few days rather than providing immediate relief. Thousands of people use garlic for this purpose.
When the throat itches or coughing is threatening, a teaspoon of honey is soothing.
If wheezing develops into asthmatic spasm and you wish to avoid another use of the puffer, press the fist into the solar plexus region between the ribs, beneath the sternum, until you feel with fist or fingers the muscular seat of the spasm and apply pressure for a few seconds. This can provide an effective alternative, giving you time to regulate the breath and return to a gentler breathing pattern once more.
Some people who inherit an allergy sensitive background develop certain allergies from time to time. These allergies may be due to many environmental factors and sometimes symptoms of asthma are also impersonated by them. Some common forms of these allergic reactions may be seasonal while others may be perennial in nature.
It is important to understand the differences between these and asthma so that they are never confused with asthma because their treatments as well the severity both differ from each other. Seasonal sneezing is called seasonal allergic rhinitis or hay fever in the common parlance. As against the name it is not caused because of hay but because of certain pollutants mainly certain kinds of pollen in the environment to which a person may be allergic.
In contrast to these people some others suffer with sneezing bouts, stuffy or running nose almost all the year round. These people suffer from perennial sneezing or perennial allergic rhinitis. When these people are exposed to cold wind, sunlight, dust and fumes the symptoms of the sneezing bouts precipitate.
In hay fever or seasonal allergic rhinitis the symptoms appear gradually or all of a sudden. This depends upon the degree of exposure to the offending allergen and also upon the degree to which the person may be allergic to them. When the symptoms appear gradually they are accompanied with mild sensation of itching and burning of the eyes and mild irritation in the nose or itching of the palate inside the mouth.
The symptoms usually appear in the early morning hours when the concentration of pollen grains is at its peak. The sneezing bouts are also accompanied with marked increase in the nasal congestion, throat congestion, running of the nose profusely and watery eyes. The nasal mucous membrane becomes highly sensitive with advancement of symptoms and any slight change in the nasal mucous membrane manifests in heavy bouts of sneezing.
These changes may be of very slight nature like appearance of a draft, strong odours, or even minute quantities of dust. In addition to these symptoms there may be appearance of other associated symptoms like general lethargy, loss of appetite, drowsiness and also pain in the body with slight rise in temperature.
In some patients in addition to the above mentioned conditions the symptoms of bronchial asthma also develop side by side making the conditions worse. These symptoms either develop right from the start of the other symptoms or may develop later as the disease advances. The worse part is that once a person starts with these symptoms he may continue with the symptoms of asthma even after the sneezing attacks stop.
This condition can be very easily diagnosed with the study of the case history of the patient. The tests usually undertaken to identify the pollens are skin tests with extracts of the pollen and scratch or intracutaneous tests giving positive reactions to the pollens simultaneously with a confirmation of the same through consultation of the pollen calendar.
Once the offending pollen is identified the effect of it can be controlled efficiently by hypo sensitization tests. Treatment with antihistamine tablets generally proves to be every effective. But it is only a temporary resort. The allergen has to be properly identified and then treated accordingly with preventive measures and drug therapy if need be.
Taking preventive action to overcome seasonal sneezing attacks is very important. For this undue exposure in a particular season should be completely avoided. Outdoor activities like tending to the garden or farming should not be done. The windows of the rooms should be kept closed as far as possible to avoid exposure to the allergen. In extreme cases using air conditioning may be the only way out.
The patients of perennial sneezing or perennial allergic rhinitis have sneezing, running nose, blocked or stuffy nose and nasal discharge almost all the year round. These people many – a – times are found to be snoring at night and are in the habit of breathing through the mouth. They have discomfort in the ears because of blockage in the ear tubes that open in the throat.
These are called Eustachian tubes. When the irritation persists for a long time a person tends to rub the nose vigorously and repeatedly. This leads to development of a crease across the nose called the allergic crease. Some paranasal sinuses may also get blocked leading to accumulation of secretions.
When the ear, nose and throat get infected repeatedly there may be accompanying fever. Exposure to irritants like cold wind, sunlight, dust, fumes and smoke all lead to aggravation of the symptoms. These symptoms usually occur in the early morning hours and then the symptoms may continue throughout the day and even at night. The symptoms in severe cases may resemble symptoms of asthma accompanied with bronchial spasm and suffocation.
The condition is generally diagnosed after studying the family history of allergy. The lab test of eosinophil count is a must to come to concrete conclusions. Skin test of pollen and other allergens is necessary in case the eosinophil count is normal. Treatment with antihistamines helps very limited people. Nasal drops may provide temporary relief but they should be used very sparingly as they work on the principle of cauterization, that is burning o the mucous membrane of the nose so that the nasal passage becomes insensitive. Hyposensitization works efficiently and surgery may be used in very extreme cases only.
This story begins on a beautiful sunny Sunday morning in early August. The birds were chirping, the sky was a glorious powder blue, and the air warm but dry. The usual Midwest humidity had not crept into the morning, so it was a perfect day for a drive. At the coffee shop a crowd had gathered, all in seeming no particular hurry, just enjoying the start of a wonderful Sunday.
Rather than taking the interstate for my usual trip home, I chose the winding country back roads. It was a more scenic route, with its curvy roads, and rolling hills along endless fields of corn and beans; the perfect backdrop to the sunny morning.
The drive was peaceful and serene, allowing a chance to review the anticipated visit in my head. Over the next hill and a couple of quick turns, and then the road is straight and narrow following along the river for the next twenty or so miles. But the journey abruptly stopped. A broken windshield, smashed dashboard, and a pile of crumpled metal was all I had in my view now. Smoke softly rose above the metal and into the dark sky. Movement had stopped and time stood still, the beauty that surrounded me was obscure.
The events of the past two minutes were inconceivable in my mind; was this terrifying illusion or a twist of fate?
The mind plays games with you when you are sitting alone in the calm of a storm. Sounds come and go, but you cannot tell if they are real. An oasis clouds your frontal vision with images of people running to your aid, but they are not really there. The stunned mind reacts with first disillusionment and then panic. You cannot break free from the pile of rubble that entraps you. An unwilling hostage to a situation you would have not predicted or could have controlled.
The numbness the physical body experienced is now replaced with excruciating pain as awareness of the situation sets in. Soon the pain over takes the mind and sleep comes. Such events in one’s life are often referred to as life changing and believed to be signs of change. I know it changed me, and abruptly made me face my destiny with my master.
A choice is given to grow in spirit or remain in a lower vibration destined to repeat the lessons again. I chose the higher spirit; for as difficult as the journey ahead is, it is nothing to compare with the journey I took on that sunny August day.









