Posts Tagged ‘Allergic Reaction’

Definition Of Food Allergies

Comments: 0August 1st, 2011 by admin



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.

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Posted in Allergy And Sinus

Hay Fever Allergy

Comments: 0April 20th, 2011 by admin



Allergy is the most common illness in the world. It is characterized by the immune system’s reaction to substances that are viewed by the body as potentially harmful. The body launches an attack on these substances which is manifested by the symptoms experienced in an allergy attack. There are many substances that can cause an allergic reaction. Among them are peanuts, shellfish, eggs, milk, dust, insect bites and pollen.

Also known as allergic rhinitis, hay fever is usually characterized by an allergic reaction to pollen. The illness is named after the “haying season” when pollen grains in the air are in abundance. Since pollen carried by the wind is the more popular culprit, you should be aware of the most common plants releasing these pollen grains in the air. Trees including birch, alder, hazel, hornbeam, horse chestnut, willow, poplar, plane, lime and olive cause hay fever. Among these, birch and olive pollen are the most dominant. On the other hand, grass pollen from rye and timothy are responsible for about 90% of the total hay fever cases.

Effects of hay fever vary form person to person. Some experience mild reactions while others suffer severe reactions. Symptoms of the illness include coughing, headache, itching nose, runny nose and sneezing. You might also experience impaired smelling functions and sensitivity to flavors. Your eyes will water from the irritation in your nose. Sore throat, wheezing and conjunctivitis are also common reactions.

Hay fever is usually diagnosed by determining the patient’s history of symptoms. Your doctor will ask you the frequency of your symptoms, severity and onset. Changes in your diet, exposure to pets and allergens as well as weather conditions will all be considered in the evaluation for hay fever. Skin testing is also performed to determine specific sensitivity to particular allergens. Since cross-reactivity is normal, your doctor will naturally check you for reactions to cross-reacting substances.

To prevent hay fever, you should avoid being exposed to pollen. If you must go outdoors, try to wear a protective face mask for filtering pollen. You should also avoid going out during the early mornings and evenings when pollen levels are high. When drying your clothes, never put them outside where they can be exposed to pollen. The pollen will attach to the clothes you placed outside for longer than a moment and if you wear these clothes it’s possible that you could have an allergic reaction. Another activity you should avoid is mowing your lawn. This activity will disperse pollen in the air, increasing your chances for a hay fever attack. Some doctors recommend putting little cream on the nostrils and around the eyes to prevent pollen from entering these areas.

There are currently several available medications for treating symptoms of hay fever. These include fast-acting antihistamines, short-acting antihistamines, longer-acting antihistamines, leukotriene receptor antagonists, corticosteroid nasal sprays, topical decongestants, cromolyn sodium, allergy shots and herbal remedies. Any of these medications can relieve symptoms of hay fever effectively. You should make sure that when taking these medications, you will not be driving or operating heavy machineries since drowsiness can be experienced when taking medication like antihistamines.

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Posted in Allergy And Sinus

What Causes Wine Allergies?

Comments: 0May 16th, 2009 by admin



Although not as common as food allergies, people affected by wine allergies have as severe reactions as with any allergy. Sometimes people are even unaware that they may have these allergies, chalking up symptoms to “something they ate” or even being “hung over”. The symptoms can be hives, severe headaches after just a small consumption of wine, itchy eyes, skin rashes and this can even trigger an asthma attack.

What Causes It

Even though, the first thought when someone has this allergy, could it be the alcohol? There are many more ingredients that are the probable culprit in this type of allergic reaction. The production of wine is somewhat complicated, using a method to produce the wine; and then, one to preserve it. In both processes there are many additives used to complete the entire wine making process. A common element found naturally in wine is sulphur dioxide. This compound is found on growing plants, including grapes. It is additionally added by winemakers because it helps to prevent organisms from growing in the wine. In addition, it keeps the wine from turning to vinegar by slowing yeast growth. There are limits to how much sulphur dioxide can be added to wine. For many, this ingredient may be the cause of their condition. Sweeter wines contain more sulphur dioxide; these are more likely to be white wines.

Red wines contain a larger variety of ingredients, and people allergic to wine may have more reactions when drinking red wine. Histamines can be found in red wine, and this could be a trigger for some with wine allergies. The reaction seen from histamines is usually like a hay fever attack, with sneezing and itchy eyes.

To discover exactly which component is causing the allergic reaction, a patient can through a skin-prick test. If there is no skin reaction to any of the ingredients, than the patient has a wine intolerance, not wine allergies. With diagnoses of intolerance, further steps can be taken to learn how to eliminate that ingredient from your diet.

Organic wines are becoming more popular, enabling people with wine allergies to still enjoy a favorite beverage. There are several organic vineyards that can be located through internet searches. These vineyards are kept to strict standards to maintain the integrity of the organic label.

Learning what ingredients causes and possible ways to avoid the ingredients can enable people to enjoy a glass of wine.

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Posted in Allergy And Sinus

Why Am I Congested? Do I Suffer From Hay Fever?

Comments: 0February 20th, 2009 by admin



Hay Fever: What is it?

Hay fever is a condition that is seasonal that is the direct result of an allergic reaction to pollen. There are tests available that can determine if you have a pollen allergy as well as which type of pollen you are more sensitive to.

What Are The Symptoms of Hay Fever?

Sneezing Runny Nose Watery Eyes Congestion Itchy Nose Fatigue

There will be days when your symptoms might seem better than others and this can be due to the weather. Climate has an impact on how high the pollen count will be. When there is rain this tends to lower the pollen count as it cleans the air. However windy days will kick up the pollen and make symptoms worsen.

How Can I Control My Pollen Allergy?

There are several things that you can do to help control your allergy to pollen. Some of the easy ways to help control your allergy are:

Take a shower after you have been outside as pollen can cling to skin Change clothes after being outside as pollen also can cling to your clothes Try to stay indoors during high allergy alerts Talk to your doctor about possible over the counter or prescription medication options to help you get relief

If you suffer from hay fever or think that you might it is a good idea to get tested for pollen allergies. There are some people who actually move to get away from the plants and climate that worsen their condition.

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Posted in Allergy And Sinus