Allergy Symptoms Relief

Archive for August, 2009

Allergy has always been a source of concern for people all over the world. Different people suffer from different allergies. You can be allergic to just about anything like pollen, dust, moulds, foods, medications, venoms and even animal danders. Different allergies merit different treatment and the best possible help here is only your own Doctor who will either medicate you himself if he can or send you to a specialist to cure you.

Yet some allergies are those that you have to live with too till more research is done as you could be allergic to a plant that grows everywhere or a particular tree that is common and your resistance to that type of allergy has to be built up to deal with it.

An allergy is really your body’s reaction to any particular substance which may be totally harmless for another. Your body reacts to this by producing chemical reactions to this substance which result in the allergy. However, it still does not always mean that if the person reacts to a substance he is definitely allergic to it also.

Allergy can also be a reference to a number of immune reactions which may also include Type I hypersensitivity which makes the person’s body hyposensitized and then develops immunoglobulin E or IgE which are a type of antibodies to typical proteins. These are called allergens and can vary from benign to very serious symptoms and problems.

Allergy is really a very common occurrence and in America, more than 50 million Americans suffer from allergies. These cost the health care system around $ 18 billion yearly. allergy symptoms differ to an extent with the type or kind of allergen and the route cause of exposure for e.g. exposure to dust mites or pollen may give you different symptoms than eating something to which you are allergic.

It is still not known why some people get allergies while others do not. Familial genes must have something to do with these to an extent as there are a number of cases where family members can share allergies to specific foods or medications. allergies can occur at any time but are a more common occurrence during our childhood or young adulthood.

The best thing to do is to go to your Doctor who would thoroughly examine you and may ask for some tests. He could suggest allegra as the medication for your allergy depending on the allergy symptoms and test results. He would also inform you of the Allegra side effects so please ensure that you follow his advice and never medicate yourself on your own.

Roger
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/allegra-is-an-antiallergic-93557.html

Atopic dermatitis or atopic eczema can be caused by more than one allergen. Allergens may be food, pollen, dust mites, perfume or drugs. As such, eczema is a condition that has close ties with another allergy oriented problem, hay fever. Approximately forty five million American citizens suffer from one allergy or another.

Hay fever is also known as allergic rhinitis. The name hay fever came about because many people who worked with hay in farms years ago often develop respiratory symptoms such as sneezing as well as sinus and nasal congestion afterwards. The three most popular symptoms of an allergic reaction are asthma, eczema and hay fever.

Hence, those with eczema may also get hay fever as well. Their risks to developing allergic rhinitis rise lie in the fact of how their bodies treat allergens that get into the body. Allergens are considered as foreign invaders, triggering a chain of events that ultimately results in an inflammatory response. Antibodies are sent to protect the body from this intruder and a fight ensues between antibodies and allergens. Your body then brings on the release of histamine, which floods your bloodstream. Histamine sets off the allergic symptoms that you observe in your body as it tries to ward off its attackers.

If you get hay fever, you can experience several symptoms which include itchy, watery eyes, nasal congestion, nasal congestion and headaches. Other symptoms can also include sore throats, problems with their hearing, coughing problems and hoarseness. Symptoms that are less common are problems with balance, irritation of the skin surface, inflammation that erupts in the face or tissues of the throat and sometimes respiratory problems such as asthma.

Hay fever is triggered by pollens in the air. In the United States the most common pollen to start hay fevers is the ragweed. Pollination season of ragweed starts in late summer, sometime in late August and ends when winter appears. The pollens that come from the grass in the latter half of the spring season include orchard, red top, timothy, Bermuda, Johnson, a variety of bluegrasses and sweet vernal. The pollen that shows up in the early start of spring comes from a multitude of trees. These tree pollens include alder, ash, beech, birch, cottonwood, cypress, elm, hickory, maple, oak, pecan, poplar, sycamore and walnut.

Mold is another common allergen that can cause serious threats to hay fever and eczema sufferers. Mold spores are believed to be the cause of just as many allergic reactions as are pollens. These allergens tend to affect sufferers more adversely in the colder months due to indoor heating and the fact that fresh air is not as plentiful.

Understanding about how your body reacts to the different allergens is important whether you suffer from eczema or hay fever or both. With no clear understanding, it will not be easy to look for the best treatment option for yourself.

Evelyn Lim
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/hay-fever-risks-increases-in-eczema-patients-200187.html

Cat Allergies: Cats, like humans, can suffer from a wide range of allergies. The most common allergy among cats is flea allergy. As cats get older, their sensitivity to flea bites increases. Food allergies account for another 5-10% of cat allergies. Food allergies might manifest themselves as dermatitis and severe itching, or vomiting and diarrhea, but may take up to 10 years to show up.

Vomiting: Some cats vomit all the time, while others rarely do. One of the most common reasons for vomiting is hairballs. All cats benefit from regular brushing to help minimize shedding and ingestion of hair. To check to see if your cat has vomited as a result of hairballs, examine the vomit carefully for small grayish pellets or lumps, regardless of your cat’s hair color. Hairballs can occur even with shorthair cats. Another reason for vomiting might be that your cat is allergic to its food. Try switching to another brand with substantially different ingredients and no food colorings to see if that helps. Sometimes cats vomit when they have worms. Consult your vet for a worming appointment. Periodic throwing-up can also be a sign of an overactive thyroid or kidney infection. This is particularly common in older cats. Your vet can do a blood test to find out about either. You know your cat’s habits. If it vomits more than usual or in some way demonstrates a departure from its normal habits, take it to the vet. The main thing is to give it plenty of fluids so it does not become dehydrated.

Diarrhea: If your cat has persistent diarrhea, you can try changing its diet. You can try boiled rice, cottage cheese, bread, plain yogurt, boiled chicken, chicken broth or strained meat. Choose the ones your cat prefers. If symptoms continue for more than two days, take your cat to the vet with a stool sample. You should also call your vet immediately if your kitten is weak or listless, or refuses to take fluids.

Feline Urinary Syndrome: (FUS) Feline urinary syndrome, or FUS, is an inflammation, irritation, and/or obstruction of the lower urinary tract. The inability to pass urine can become a life and death situation if not treated quickly. FUS is far more common among male cats than females. Your cat might have FUS if it strains to urinate, has blood in the urine, makes frequent trips to the litter box with only small amounts voided, or forgets how to use the litterbox.

Diabetes: Diabetes occurs in cats who cannot properly regulate their blood sugar level. Symptoms may include excessive thirst and urination; loss of weight or obesity. Older cats are more likely to develop diabetes than younger ones. Diabetic cats should be kept indoors to prevent accidental feeding that could elevate its blood sugar.

Feline Immunodeficiency Virus: (FIV) Though this disease is related to HIV, it is NOT possible to contract AIDS from a cat with FIV. FIV is passed through open wounds such as cat bites, resulting in an impaired immune system. As there is currently no vaccine for this disease, FIV-positive cats should be kept inside and away from other cats.

Upper Respiratory Disease Upper respiratory disease will manifest itself in your cat by cold or flu-like symptoms, like a runny nose and sneezing combined with reddened, runny eyes.

Feline Herpes Virus: Don’t worry, you can’t get herpes from your cat! FHV affects only cats.

Chlamydia Psittaci: Chlamydia is a bacteria-like organism that inhabits the tissues around the eyes. The most common symptom is conjunctivitis, which is generally seen in one eye at first, then spreads to both eyes.

Tristan Andrews
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/common-ailments-in-cats-91661.html

Do you have red scaly patches on your skin? You might be suffering psoriasis. This skin condition is an immune-mediated disease. Psoriasis is a non-contagious disease which affects the skin and joints. Excessive alcohol consumption and stress can further aggravate psoriasis. But why take a chance with this condition, when there are medications such as Tazorac and Soriatane are available to treat psoriasis.

Soriatane (acitretin) is an oral psoriasis medication. It is the foremost treatment which is helpful for all 5 forms of Psoriasis i.e. plaque, guttate, erythrodermic, pustular, and palmar-plantar.

This medication is classified as being associated to retinoid (Vitamin A). It works on the principle of inhibiting specific receptors, by this means aiding in enhancing the proliferation of skin cells. This action in turn facilitates the fading away of skin associated diseases such as Psoriasis.

10mg and 25mg are the strengths in which Soriatane medication is available, with usual once-a day consumption. The dosage of this medication may differ from individual to individual depending upon their health condition and requirement. For effective completion of Soriatane treatment, it may take up to 2-3 months. In few cases noteworthy improvement is displayed within a span of 8 weeks usage.

Overindulge into Soriatane medication, even in order to balance a missed dose is not recommended. Strictly stick on to your doctors’ prescription for optimistic results. This medication is exclusively accessible through a doctors’ prescription. Speak with your doctor if Soriatane is suitable for you or not.

A slight worsening of your psoriasis, more itchiness, and redness may be encountered during the Soriatane treatment, which generally subsides with continual usage of this medication. Consult your doctor for immediate medical help until these side effects diminishes completely.

Enlighten your doctor pertaining to your medical history including any allergy to vitamin A supplements, usage of other skin medications amongst others. Women with child bearing potential, expectant women, breast-feeding mothers, diabetics should refrain from consumption of Soriatane medication.

One ought to abstain from donating blood while on treatment and up to 3 years subsequent to the termination of therapy. On no account share your Soriatane medication with others. Preceding consultation with a doctor is always suggested before initiating upon Soriatane medication.

Adam Frazer
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/soriatane-making-psoriasis-treatable-120068.html

Looking for the best air purifier at a price you can afford? You’ll want to start your search by considering options from leading makers of air filters and purifiers, including Oreck, Honeywell, General Electric, Holmes, Hunter and Bionaire. A good purifier doesn’t have to break the bank, either – reliable models are available for under $100.

Why buy an air purifier, anyway? First and foremost, for your health! A good purifier can remove contaminants in the air that could otherwise lead to some serious health problems and medical bills. For asthmatics and allergy sufferers, air purifiers are one of the best ways to reduce exposure to materials that could bring on an allergy or asthma attack, such as pet dander, dust, plant pollen, spores from mold, and other indoor allergens. The alternative is extensive and frequent housecleaning, which can be an exhausting and difficult regimen to maintain.

Air purifiers also remove second-hand smoke from the air, creating a safer atmosphere for non-smokers who share a household with smokers. This is especially important for children of parents who smoke, who are especially vulnerable to the effects of secondhand smoke.

A key measurement to look for when shopping for an air purifier is its CADR, or Clean Air Delivery Rating, which specifies how effective it is in filtering the air of impurities. The higher a purifiers CADR number, the better it is at cleaning the air.

Air purifiers use a number of innovative technologies to filter undesirable contaminants from indoor air. HEPA purifiers use an extremely fine filter to remove particles as small as .01 microns across. Ionizing purifiers use electrically charged mechanisms to generate ions, charged particles which bond with impurities, causing them to be attracted to a collection plate with the opposite charge – just like a magnet attracts metal objects. UV purifiers use intense ultraviolet light to kill pathogens in the air such as bacteria, mold, and viruses, rather than filtering them out. Ozone purifiers emit ozone gas, an oxidizing chemical that destroys impurities via a quick chemical reaction. Before choosing an ozone purifier, however, you should be aware that ozone in significant concentrations can also post a health hazard. Most other types of purifiers on the market use variations on these mechanisms to either filter, attract, or destroy contaminants in the air.

Once you’ve done your research and decided on an air purifier model, you should have no trouble finding a great deal at shopping sites like Amazon and eBay. With plenty of experienced and efficient online merchants to choose from, your new air purifier is just a few clicks away!

Lou Drake
http://www.articlesbase.com/environment-articles/finding-the-right-air-purifier-140731.html