Category Archives: Allergies

Article by Rick jammes

Allergies start troubling when flowers start blooming each spring every year. Millions of people all over the world start fighting their allergies with symptoms of nasal congestion, watery eyes, itching etc. Such allergies are more common in countries where the surroundings are sterile, use of antibiotics are more prevalent, use of food treated with chemicals or preservatives is a mode of life which causes improper digestion and heavy accumulation of toxins and polluted air. People in such countries absorb more toxins, excess wastes, and impurities in their body than people in other countries.

More Americans than ever before are suffering from nasal allergies – the Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America estimates there are approximately 40 million allergy sufferers in the US alone and recent studies indicate as many as one out of every four people have seasonal and year-round nasal allergies. Experts say nasal allergies are easily the most common chronic respiratory illness. What causes this irritating, even debilitating, condition? Read on to learn about the most common indoor and outdoor allergens and the steps you can take to do away with your nasal allergies.

Symptoms of nasal allergies – aka allergic rhinitis

Allergic rhinitis is a condition characterized by your body’s immune system mistaking substances in the air – that you breathe – as intruders and then attacking them.

Your immune system’s reaction releases substances, such as histamines and leukotrienes that cause inflammation in the nasal lining and the following symptoms:

Sneezing

Runny nose

Stuffy nose or congestion

Itching in the nose, mouth, throat and ears

A true milk allergy is not the same thing as being lactose intolerant, although many people who are lactose intolerant will mistakingly tell you they are allergic to milk.

Milk is the most common food allergy in babies and children; however, a true milk allergy affects only approximately 3% of the population, according to a study in the 2007 Journal of Allergy and Children. To be diagnosed with a true milk allergy instead of lactose intolerance will require specific symptoms and a strict diet. Although a true milk allergy can cause many health problems, most children outgrow it by the age of three.

Bloody Stools
One symptom of a true milk allergy is blood in the stool. This occurs because when the body has an allergic reaction to milk, the colon will start to have tiny pinpoint hemorrhages. The color of the blood is generally bright red and is streaked or mixed in with the stool.

Mucous in Stool
Those who have a true milk allergy also will experience mucous in their stools due to the damage to the lining of the colon. It is a mixture of undigested lactose from milk and inflammatory cells that have been triggered by an allergic reaction.

One of the most difficult aspects of dealing with allergies is to discover what triggers them. Some allergies are seasonal – i.e. the allergies are caused by weed pollens, grass, flowers, etc – while others can appear at any time of the year.

Symptoms of Allergic Reactions

The symptoms of allergic reactions vary a lot but generally they are red, itchy eyes, watery eyes, sneezing, coughing, blurred vision, tears, etc. Not all people show all symptoms and not always these symptoms are due to an allergy. That is why if you are experiencing any of them, you’d better consult a doctor and get examined, so that you discover the real cause for your condition.

What Causes Allergies

Allergies are a defensive reaction of your immune system against harmful agents in the environment. When your immune system discovers a harmful agent in your body, it makes its best to destroy it, remove it, or at least neutralize it. However, sometimes your immune system makes mistakes – i.e. it identifies an agent as an enemy, while it isn’t. Pollen, dust, animal dander, or mold are frequently such agents and your body starts to produce certain substances (histamines), which in turn lead to irritation, itchiness, redness and the other chemical reactions.
One of the most frequent eye allergies is the allergic conjunctivitis. Allergic conjunctivitis may reappear every year, at the same time of the year, because then the allergen occurs. Allergic conjunctivitis is not a life-threatening condition but it could cause a lot of problems, so if you notice symptoms of an eye allergy, hurry to the doctor’s office.

Milk allergies occur when our bodies mistake milk for a foreign or dangerous substance. The good news is that a milk allergy can disappear at any time. The bad news is that about half of the people who experience milk allergies will experience other food allergies as well.

There are several categories of symptoms that go along with a milk allergy.

*Skin Problems: Hives, rashes and eczema are often symptoms of milk allergies, as well as other food allergies. Itchy and rough skin often accompany this allergy.

*Gut Problems: Recurrent vomiting, constipation, ulcers of the mouth, poor appetite, diarrhea and stomach pain. These unpleasant side effects are the most common problems with milk allergies.

*Mood Problems: Hyperactivity, night walking, depression, fidgeting, dizziness and recurrent headaches can sometimes be expected with a milk allergy.

*Urinary/Genital Problems: Vaginal itching or discharge, frequent urinating, or for children, even bed-wetting.

*Breathing Problems: Sinus pain or pressure, snoring, ear infections, nosebleeds, congested nose, runny nose and wheezing.

*General Problems: Increased Thirst, high temperatures, swollen lymph nodes, sleep problems, talking or walking in sleep, obesity, unexplained weight loss.

Article by Tony Dickfos

This is your source of information on the types of allergies, allergy symptoms, and allergy relief. Explore these pages if you or someone you love has an allergy to better understand and deal with all that goes along with it. A little knowledge can go a long way in reducing the suffering that allergies can bring.