Dust Mite Allergy - How To Minimise Exposure

If you suffer from asthma or similar breathing difficulties you will undoubtedly be very sensitive to the quality of the air around you. Whilst you cannot personally do much to influence the quality of the air outside your home, inside is a very different matter.

Household dust is largely made up of dead skin particles shed by we humans and our pets, all of which make a tasty feast for the dust mite. It is the dust mite?s function in life to chomp his way through this debris and prevent us from drowning in our own filth.

This beastly little chap is too small to be seen with the naked eye ? he along with 5,000 of his minute friends could comfortably sit on the head of a pin, and they congregate wherever there is food for them. The most hospitable places in our homes are in our beds, upholstery and carpets as all of these harbour dust.

Whilst we largely live in harmony with dust mites, inevitably, as with all animals, what goes in one end comes out again the other end, albeit in a different form. It is the excretia of the dust mite that creates allergies in some of us.

If you have difficulty breathing at night, or frequently wake up with that ?bunged up? feeling, your bedding is undoubtedly in need of a spring clean. So put a fresh filter in your vacuum cleaner and get to work on your mattress and when you?ve thoroughly vacuumed the top, turn it over and do the other side as well. If you have a box spring base you will also need to vacuum that . Do the same with your pillows, but if they are more than a few years old, replace them with new ones. Dry clean blankets and/or duvets or, if they?re washable put them on a minimum of 60oC cycle (anything less and the little blighters will survive!).

For most of us this exercise, carried out approximately twice a year, will make enough of a difference to return us to rested sleep filled nights. However, for those who are hypersensitive, suffering from asthma and/or hay fever, more drastic measures may be necessary to keep household dust to a minimum.

On a regular basis (at least twice a week) it will be necessary to

? damp wipe all surfaces to remove the dust, (rather than push it around to resettle somewhere else), ? vacuum, rather than sweep, all floors. ? keep your bedroom and bedding well aired - dust mites thrive in high humidity

It?s also a good idea to:

? vacuum upholstery with the same thoroughness you used on your mattress
? use zippered plastic covers for your mattress and pillows to prevent dust penetration
? keep pets out of the bedroom, regularly wash their bedding on a hot cycle and frequently vacuum the areas where they predominantly live
? remove carpets and replace with hard flooring.

Unfortunately it is impossible to eliminate dust mites from our homes, but the above measures should make living with them more comfortable.

The author has for the last 13 years run a domestic cleaning agency www.selclene.co.uk providing regular cleaners to private homes in the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley. In response to the increasing demand for spring cleans, pre and post house move cleans etc she has started another cleaning business www.rainbowcleaners.co.uk

Allegra A Common Anti Allergy Drug

 More than 50 million Americans have allergies. Allergic rhinitis (inflammation in the nasal area) is the most common allergic disease, affecting at least 20 to 25 percent of the population. Allergies are the 6th leading cause of chronic illness in the U.S.

For allergy symptoms such as a runny nose, watery/itchy eyes, or sneezing that occur infrequently, most individuals can be treated successfully with an oral non-sedating antihistamine such as Loratadine (Claritin), Desloratadine (Clarinex), Fexofenadine (Allegra), or Cetirizine (Zyrtec) or an antihistamine nasal spray.

Allegra is a common anti allergy drug available by prescription. Fexofenadine or Allegra is an oral, "second generation" antihistamine that is used to treat the signs and symptoms of allergy that are due to histamine. It is similar to the other second generation antihistamines like the Loratadine (Claritin), Cetirizine (Zyrtec) and Azelastine (Astelin). Histamine is a chemical that is responsible for many symptoms of allergic reactions, for example, swelling of the lining of the nose, sneezing, and itchy eyes.

Fexofenadine blocks one type of receptor for histamine (the H1 receptor) and thus prevents activation of H1 receptor-containing cells by histamine. Unlike the first generation antihistamines, fexofenadine and other second-generation antihistamines do not readily enter the brain from the blood, and, therefore, they cause less drowsiness.

Sanofi-Aventis announced this month that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have approved Allegra(R), (fexofenadine hydrochloride), an oral suspension for the twice-daily treatment of symptoms associated with seasonal allergies in pediatric patients, 2 to 11 years of age, and for the treatment of chronic idiopathic urticaria in children 6 months to 11 years of age. This approval makes available a safe and effective seasonal allergy treatment option that is non-impairing to pediatric populations as young as 2 years old.

Allegra side effects in children 6 months to 5 years old were similar to placebo. Side effects varied by age. The most commonly reported Allegra side effects were: vomiting, pyrexia, cough, otitis media and diarrhea.
An advisory panel of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has voted overwhelmingly that three allergy remedies?Loratadine, Cetirizine, and Fexofenadine (Allegra) are safe enough to be bought at pharmacies and supermarkets without a doctor?s prescription. But the manufacturers of the drugs are resisting the idea.
Fexofenadine, marketed in the United Kingdom as Telfast and in the United States as Allegra, is available only on prescription in both countries. But you can check Allegra information available on various internet sites.

The three popular anti-allergy drugs marketed by Schering-Plough, Pfizer, and Aventis, are heavily advertised directly to consumers. The drug companies claim that they are better than the older drugs because they do not cause drowsiness.

Roger is an associated editor to the website http://www.allegrarelief.com . It is committed to provide visitors with complete information on allergy, Anti allergy Drug, Allegra Dosage & allegra effects. You can reach Roger at roger.sandler@gmail.com.

What Is A Gluten Allergy

In wheat, barley, rye, and low level oats, there is a rubbery like protein called gluten. This substance is what helps the dough bind, which you would see with baked breads and other baked foods. Although these grains contain gluten, which can cause a gluten allergy in sensitive people, they also contain a number of other proteins that can also cause allergy symptoms.

The four primary proteins found in wheat, rye, and barley includes albumin, globulin, gliadin, and glutenin, better known as gluten. While the symptoms and severity of the symptoms of gluten allergy vary from one person to another, generally a person would experience hives, swelling, abdominal cramps, nausea and vomiting, or asthma. If the person is highly sensitive to gluten allergy, the symptoms could be life-threatening.

The good news about gluten allergy is that if the person has a reaction after eating wheat or wheat product, making an early diagnosis is easy. The challenge is that so many of the foods we eat are made with wheat, making it difficult to tell where the real problem lies. Most often, a trained doctor or allergist would conduct a skin prick test or take blood to confirm that gluten allergy is the problem.

If the reaction to gluten is severe, the solution might be to eliminate wheat and wheat by-products from the diet. However, if the gluten allergy is minor, then reducing the amount of wheat consumed and/or allergy medication or shots might do the trick. If the person with gluten allergy is a young child, chances are he or she will outgrow the allergy.

Gluten Intolerance, also known as Coeliac Disease, is a hereditary disorder that affects the immune system. In this case, when gluten is consumed, the mucosa, which is the lining of the small intestine, is damaged. When this happens, important vitamins and nutrients are not absorbed properly. When a person has this type of gluten allergy, the symptoms would be different in children than they would be in adults.

For children, the gluten allergy would be seen as abdominal distension, impaired growth, abnormal stools, irritability, poor muscle tone, malabsorption, poor appetite, and wasting of muscle. If an adult has this type of gluten allergy, then diarrhea, significant weight loss, abdominal cramping and bloating, constipation, and offensive stools are common.

In both cases of gluten allergy, a doctor would need to perform blood tests to make a confirmed diagnosis. Once done, the only treatment is to have gluten completely eliminated from the diet. Because of this, it is essential that nutrient and vitamin deficiencies be addressed with things such as niacin, iron, thiamin, riboflavin, chromium, magnesium, selenium, folacin, molybdenum, and phosphorus. With proper care and diet, a person with gluten allergy can enjoy a hearty choice of foods without the irritating symptoms.

Grant Segall RPh is a pharmacist and webmaster for the allergy related website http://www.allergy-allergy.com.

Aspirin Allergy

Aspirin is the useful medication which is used in the patients for treatment by reducing the inflammations and pain. Originally it is derived from the plants extracts. Nowadays, aspirin is prepared up synthetically. numerous of alike artificial, non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory medicine with alike properties are as well available.

Well Aspirin allergy might occur due to various reasons from mild to the severe allergic reaction to aspirin could occur. The common Symptoms that may occur are flushing, blocked, itchy rashes, soft noses and sometimes severe difficulty while breathing or could cause asthma, generally in an hour of intake of the tablet. The treatment is possible but the Testing for the aspirin allergy is very difficult as why the allergic reaction to the aspirin and identical correlated pain-killers take place is very uncertain. Whereas there are no such dependable blood test and skin allergy test that has been confirmed to be so useful for excluding or confirming allergy to these medicine. The common and only method to do is to do the graded open confront under the strict checkup supervision. The Challenge checkup is not forever necessary but might sometimes be recommend to confirm that the sensitivity exist, or to show the security of the unrelated drug.

Most of the patients experience from the nasal polyps, aspirin allergy and asthma, a situation commonly known as aspirin triad. Most of the Aspirin allergy develops in the later years of life, even if previously it has been well tolerated. Frequently asthma is the later beginning as well and every sufferer might not be that allergic to the inhale allergen like the dust mite, moulds, animals and the pollens. Most of the Patients with this state produce the increased amount of leucotrienes. The Leucotrienes are the inflammatory chemical that is produced by the white cells which could increase the inflammation of the nose, lungs, and sinuses and may trigger up on the gooey noses and wheezing, As a result it worsens up to asthma and in the form of accelerated polyp growth.

If the aspirin has problematic results in the patients there are other medicines that might also be supportive we also come over the asthma medication known as the anti-leucotrienes as for example accolade, Singular that could also be used up in this circumstances. Unluckily, they are at present very expensive. The Side-effects of the aspirin desensitization could result in Stomach Irritation, bleeding at elevated doses, ulceration and Tinnitus ?ringing of the ears are rare?, easy bruising are the common form.

Asperine allergy is a common allergy in most people all over the world. It leads to mostly itching reactions and other forms of disorder in the patients suffering from it. To know more about asperine allergy click on www.abetterglobal.com

Allergies - Allergy Shots

In this article we're going to discuss a common form of battling allergies with the use of allergy shots and how allergy shots work to build up a person's immunity to outside allergens.

A growing number of people who suffer from allergies and not finding the relief that they want from antihistamines are turning towards allergy shots to hopefully put and end to their dreaded sneezing, wheezing, itching and misery.

So exactly what are allergy shots? Allergy shots actually contain a very small amount of whatever it is that you're allergic to. If you have multiple allergies, such as a combination of indoor and outdoor allergies, then two shots are actually given. One for the outdoor allergies and one for the indoor allergies.

How do allergy shots work? Well, in theory it's actually very simple. Allergy shots help your body fight the allergen that is bothering you. When you get shots of the allergen itself your body makes antibodies to the allergen. These antibodies help block the effects of the allergen itself. Your symptoms become less severe because the antibodies block the way your body reacts to the allergens. After taking enough of these shots over a long period of time you might start to get relief from your symptoms. This relief should last for a very long time.

Many kinds of allergies can be battled with allergy shots. They work very well with allergies to pollen, or what is commonly called hay fever. They also work for eye allergies, bee sting allergies, and even some drug allergies. In many people, allergy shots can greatly improve asthma symptoms. Most people will get allergy shots after they have exhausted every other option.

Unfortunately, not everyone can get allergy shots. If you have severe asthma or a heart problem you should not get allergy shots. Also, if you take a beta blocker for a heart condition you shouldn't take allergy shots. Children under five years of age should also not get allergy shots. Also, you shouldn't start allergy shots if you are pregnant.

If you decide, along with your doctor, to get allergy shots, he will first have to give you an allergy test to determine what allergies you have. This test in effect is actual treatment as some of each allergen has to be injected into you in order to do the test. After the results are in, a vaccine can be made which can then be given on a weekly or biweekly basis or for whatever interval the doctor thinks is necessary.

Once you start taking your shots you will at first have to take them every week or every other week. After about 6 months most people can go on what is called maintenance and get shots once each month. This usually continues for about 3 to 5 years until eventually most people no longer need to take shots because their immunity has been built up enough to the allergens.

Allergy shots are normally not harmful but some people do have reactions to them. If you should have a severe reaction the doctor will usually keep you in his office for about 20 minutes each time you get your shot so that if you have a reaction he can give you something to counteract it.
Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Allergies
 

Natural Allergy Treatment; Just Wishful Thinking

More and more attention is being focused on a natural allergy treatment for a lot of us because of how prescriptions can cause other health problems. It seems that allergies are affecting a growing number of people each year similar to the growth rate of serious diseases like those plaguing our nation now. Luckily there is an remarkable allergy treatment found in a natural botanical.

This botanical reaches into numerous areas of your body and targets whatever needs the most attention, while correcting allergy problems too. There are centuries of folk lore and years of scientific proof behind it, and more universities are planning more studies. Some studies are focusing on the xanthone, which is proving to be a powerful nutrient. There are about 200 xanthones we are aware of, of which a majority are found in wood, and over 40 found in the mangosteen fruit. (not related to Mango)

Get An Allergy Test Done

If you go for an allergy test you'll be conscious of what to avoid in your diet or what to stay away from. This is obvious but neccesary, and doing that will mark the start of your allergy treatment. There are also a lot of allergens beyond your control so the next step is to improve your natural allergy defense.

A well prescribed allergy treatment will cast off discomfort, suppress the severity and maybe even go as far as eliminate your symptoms. Unfortunately, most medications are a temporary solution and in some cases don't do a proper job. If your allergies are a threat to your life, then you might want to carry an Epi-Pen with you and renew it each year.

In north america our health system is the best in the world in many respects, but ignorant in other areas. Many Doctors will never concede they don't understand your problem and resort to prescriptions because of their training. If they knew of an efficient natural allergy treatment, there's no doubt they would tell you about it.

Something To Think About

With the lengthy list of allergens that could cause your reaction, how effective is an allergy pill when it's just an antihistamine? It makes more sense when a natural allergy treatment is working with your bodies natural defences. Especially when it has anti-inflammitory properties to help with breathing, reduce swelling, hives and itching. It's even better when it's from a good tasting fruit that has a number of vitamins and minerals helping it out.

The natural allergy treatment I'm writing about is found in the Mangosteen fruit. Highly revered for its medicinal qualities, it contains a powerful nutrient called the xanthone. It's a super star on nutrients being closely watched by the scientific community for its healing potential. It's a double bonded molucule with side chains, and each side chain is usefull for specific health problems.

Xanthones; Natures Hero

It's important to know why a double bonded molucule is powerful, especially as an allergy treatment. Xanthones have a skeletal structure (the double bond) and side chains. Each side chain can address a different health issue and once set free to do its work will search for pathogens like viruses and parasites to destroy them. It will also strenghten vital organs by boosting your immune system.

A double bonded molucule is more powerful than an average molucule, not like antioxidants that expire on first contact with a free radical for instance. Because of the skeletal organization, the side chains are anywhere from 20 to 30 times more powerful than antioxidants found in raw vegetables and fruits. The astonshing thing is is how it out performs concentrated extracts like co-enzyme Q10 for instance.

The Easy To Swallow Allergy Treatment

As mangosteen becomes more widely known to local doctors, they are starting to use mangosteen before resorting to medications if a condition persists. The number of Doctors even aware of mangosteen is minimal, but you can tell your own doctor about mangosteen and maybe he will start prescribing it too.

Remember when aloe vera first came out in the late 70's? It quickly became a commonly known name and most homes had an aloe vera plant somewhere for scrapes and cuts. Today you can stroll into most health food stores and see numerous brands of aloe vera sitting on the shelf. Aloe Vera has one xanthone, Mangosteen has 43 and counting!

Mangosteen Facts You'll Want To Know

Along with many nutrients Mangosteen includes, Catechins, Polysaccharides, Stilbenes, Quinones, Vitamins and Minerals, and of course Xanthones. The COX 2 inhibitor properties found in mangosteen work a lot like the drugs Vioxx and Celebrex, but without the dangerous side effects. Xanthones are in every part of the fruit, but the highest concentration is found in the pericarp, which is the rind of the fruit. Remarkably, xanthones were tested against HIV at the University of Singapore. Two xanthones proved able to to interfere with HIV protease, causing the virus to remain immature and incapable of infection.

*** Use Mangosteen To Eliminate Allergies ***

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Discover Allergy Cures That Can Help You

Allergies are a very common disorder that can bring misery and discomfort to one?s daily life. People who suffer from this affliction constantly seek out different allergy cures to ease their symptoms. Firstly one should try and determine the actual cause of symptoms in order to properly treat any allergy problems.

Common causes are pet dander, dust, mold, as well as outdoor elements like pollen. Once you determine the cause behind your symptoms, finding a possible allergy cures to try becomes easier. While there are some over the counter medications that can be quite helpful others find respite after a visit to a specialist. Or there are some who don?t find relief at all.

Homeopathy is a viable option especially for those who don?t seem to find any reprieve from commonly used allergy cures. Adopting an all-natural approach to medicine and health, Homeopathy is a subject matter of some argument and controversy. While some argue that homeopathy is a hoax and that no allergy cures can be possibly found through natural elements. Others affirm that they have experienced instantaneous relief from their symptoms through homeopathic remedies.

Allergies include symptoms such as congestion, headaches and colds. An allergy symptom can develop into a more severe condition like bronchitis and pneumonia. For all those who experience symptoms in particular the more severe condition on a daily basis, finding the right allergy cure is essential to health and general well-being.

The medical community makes use of traditional methods regularly in order to address various allergy symptoms. This includes painful shots, medications that can leave the patient both groggy and miserable or even surgery in severe cases.

Traditional methods of treating allergy symptoms are quite disheartening to many people who want to discover an allergy cure that doesn?t include medication or taking shots.
Surgery offers relief to many, though not everyone may really want to do it.

Homeopathy methods suggest that the allergy cures lie in the substances that cause the allergic reactions in the first place. These substances are diluted and administered to the body in little doses. Thus this enables the body to form the proper antibodies to protect against the abrasive substances effectively without producing an allergic reaction.

The whole process is fairly similar to getting a vaccine. When we get a vaccination shot, we are actually injecting the virus or threatening substance into our systems. The weakened substances are introduced to our systems in small doses that can be fought off by our immune systems. As soon as our bodies shows signs that they can fight the virus, we are immune. Homeopathy follows the general logic we use behind vaccines hence it is probably well worth a try!

John Wellington provides readers with up-to-date commentaries, articles, and reviews for health, fitness and other related information.

Allergy: An Immune Malfunctioning Process

Allergy is a popular form of immune reaction which creates the process of irritating the body through means of itching. Allergy is basically a Greek term which means ?other work.? Allergy is a common disorder which is virtually affecting more than 50% of the total world population in one way or the other. Allergy often leads to the formation of certain chronic diseases. Allergy may be caused due to weather, dust, food, pollution, animals, flowers, plants etc and the list is quite unending.

Certain signs and symptoms of allergies may be enumerated as follows:

? Swelling of the nose in the nasal cavity area with continuous itching.
? When allergy affects the eyes, the eyes experiences redness and also itching in the conjunctiva areas around the eyes.
? Blocking of the airways which leads to continuous wheezing and sneezing.
? Pain in the inner portion of the ears.
? Rashes in the skin which is generally caused due to continuous rubbing and itching of the affected area.

Allergy needs proper treatment and medical diagnosis. But most importantly, allergy which is caused due to dust and pollution can be treatment by way of avoiding and thus taking precautions toward it. It is basically recommended to stay far away from those things which produce allergies. I myself would like to sate here that I m prone to catch allergy due to dust, so I better prevent myself to the explosion of dust than to suffer from the consequence of it. Thus prevention works better than cure in respect of allergy. But sometimes when allergy becomes very acute, proper treatment should be meted out to overcome it. Before providing the basic treatment to the allergy patient, the root causes of it should be firstly diagnosed. So for this purpose, a proper skin test should be conducted over the patient suffering from allergy. Through this process the basic cause behind the occurrence of allergy can be sorted out and on the basis of it the right treatment could be meted out to them.

Moreover, there are a lot of therapies which has been meted out for overcoming of allergy. These therapies are readily made available in the market. Certain alternative medicines like ayurvedic medication, homeopathy, herbal medication, and certain Chinese medicines are helpful in overcoming various types of allergies. Besides these, there are also to certain aromatic processes which also work wonders in the process of overcoming allergies.

Farzina Naznin has been written articles on various topics. Sites like http://www.healthtohealth.com/ http://www.healthcentreworld.com/ http://www.onegoodhealth.com/ will enable one to reveal her articles which she has written for these sites.

How Food Allergy Can Kill Or Save You

Allergies may seem quite a nuisance but few know that it is actually an attempt by our body to save our life! Allergies are our immune systems response to food allergens that can harm the body. People can be allergic to a whole lot of things, a wide range of things in fact, from pollens to cheese, to dust. Reactions are also wide range. Some only exhibit skin reactions such as rashes and itchiness while others report on physiological reactions such as nausea and breathing difficulties.

Allergic reactions are actually caused by our bodies attempt to neutralize the foreign substance through antibodies. This process releases a substance called histamine, which in turn causes the allergic reactions.

One of the most common types of allergy is food allergy. There are, in fact, millions of people who suffer from this ailment. In addition to being largely inconvenient, food allergy can be life-threatening. Unfortunately, finding out what food you are allergic to can only be done through the process of hits and misses. There is no clear cut procedure or diagnostic test that can tell you outright to what food you are allergic to. And like the diagnostic process, there is also no clear-cut procedure on how to treat food allergens. Although there are medicines that will help ease the symptoms and physiological reactions brought on by the allergens, there are no drugs that can completely get rid of the allergy.

Often, food allergens only cause mild symptoms such as itchiness, appearance of rashes that spread all over the body, itchy eyes and runny nose, bouts of sneezing and coughing, vomiting, diarrhea and earaches. While these symptoms can cause you a day?s work at the office, they are not exactly dangerous to your health. There are allergic reactions though that are so severe that it will impede your breathing. This occurs when the mouth, throat and the bronchial tubes swell so much that your breathing area gets blocked. This condition can be accompanied by rashes in the body and a really swollen face.

What is really difficult about dealing with food allergy is that you do not know just how much can you take and how your body will react when it ingests a certain amount. In addition to taking care not to ingest the type of food that you are allergic with, it is also good to determine early on if too much of the food allergen can cause your death.

Here are some of the common food allergens. Take a look and see if the food you are allergic on threatens your life?

Peanuts is perhaps the most dangerous of the lot, not because of the bodily reactions that it can cause but because peanuts are often used as hidden ingredients in a lot of food mixtures. Because of this, people who are allergic to it are often caught unaware.

Another food used as hidden ingredients in so many food mixtures is soy. People should be really careful in eating foods that they are not familiar with especially if they know that their reactions to these foods are severe.

Fish and shellfish can cause severe reactions in some people including difficulty in breathing and nausea.

Milk allergies are also quite common. It involves an allergic reaction to casein, lactalbumin and lactoglobulins, which are all proteins found in milk. Allergic reactions to milk can range from something as mild as rashes to severe cases such as wheezing, asthma, rhinitis, pneumonia and anaphylaxis.

Robert Thatcher is a freelance publisher based in Cupertino, California. He publishes articles and reports in various ezines and provides allergy resources on www.your-allergy-resources.info.

To Protect Allergy Sufferers In Your Home

 To Protect Allergy Sufferers In Your Home

 by: News Canada

(NC)-For those who suffer from allergies the spring season comes much too soon. It's a time when allergy symptoms can be at their worst. Pollen levels rise during the spring as trees and flowers begin to bloom causing sneezing, runny nose, itchy watery eyes and nasal congestion.

Thankfully, there's no place like home to escape from these airborne allergens. Or is there? Dust, mold and other allergens can also make a home seem unbearable for allergy sufferers.

The good news is that there are ways to reduce these irritants and make your home a haven from outdoor pollen and mould spore attacks.

There are a number of preventative steps that the estimated one in five Canadians who suffer from allergies can take to reduce the number of allergens in their living spaces. The most effective and simple steps involve sanitizing your environment with a thorough cleaning.

If you don't want outdoor pollen, dust, dust mites and mould to be "at home" with you, here are a few suggestions:

• In the bedroom, discourage dust mites by encasing mattresses, pillows and box springs in airtight or allergen-proof casings and/or regularly vacuum them. Sheets should be washed weekly in hot water to kill dust mites. Use comforters and pillows made of synthetic fiber and replace synthetic pillows every two or three years.

• In the bathroom, the biggest problem may be mold. Wash the tile behind the tub, shower doors and around the sink with an anti-fungal cleaner. Replace vinyl shower curtain liners regularly.

• Wash curtains, drapes, bedding and children's stuffed animals in hot water to eliminate dust.

• Keep pets and their animal danders out of bedrooms.

• Keep furnishings, household decorations and collections of knickknacks to a minimum. The fewer surfaces on which dust can collect, the easier your home will be to clean.

• Get rid of house plants. They are a major source of mould and dust.

• Remove carpets and replace them with tiled or wooden floors.

• Have furnaces serviced, ducts cleaned and appropriate filters put on the furnace and the vents. Keep humidifiers and air conditioners clean.

For more information on coping with allergies contact 1-800-665-1507 or visit www.claritin.ca.

News Canada provides a wide selection of current, ready-to-use copyright free news stories and ideas for Television, Print, Radio, and the Web. News Canada is a niche service in public relations, offering access to print, radio, television, and now the Internet media, with ready-to-use, editorial "fill" items. Monitoring and analysis are two more of our primary services. The service supplies access to the national media for marketers in the private, the public, and the not-for-profit sectors. Your corporate and product news, consumer tips and information are packaged in a variety of ready-to-use formats and are made available to every Canadian media organization including weekly and daily newspapers, cable and commercial television stations, radio stations, as well as the Web sites Canadians visit most often. Visit News Canada and learn more about the NC services.

The Expert: Allergy Q & A with Dr. Harold Kim

The Expert: Allergy Q & A with Dr. Harold Kim

 by: News Canada

(NC)- What is an allergy?

An allergy is a super-sensitivity to a substance that is not harmful to most other people. These substances are called allergens. The common allergens include pollen, mould, dust mites, cockroaches and pet dander. Some people also have food allergies. Some people have symptoms with strong chemical fumes, odours (including perfumes, fragrances in household cleaners and detergents), smoke and air pollution. These compounds are chemical irritants and not true allergens. The common symptoms of allergy include hay fever, asthma, eczema or food reactions.

How do I know if I have allergies?

Hay fever is the most common allergy problem in Canada. The typical symptoms of hay fever are sneezing, a stuffy or runny nose, watery eyes, a dry cough and itching. Asthma is a lung condition which can lead to shortness of breath, wheezing or coughing. Eczema is a skin condition which often involves a dry itchy rash. True food allergy reactions can include hives, itchiness, shortness of breath, throat tightness, lightheadedness or stomach pain after eating the food allergen. Allergies can be a serious medical condition and you should consult your doctor if you suspect you have them. A doctor may recommend allergy scratch tests (a type of skin testing in which suspected allergens are applied to the skin, scratched and observed for a reaction in 15 minutes). Skin tests should always be done under the supervision of a qualified physician with an expertise in allergy.

How are allergies treated?

The first step in an effective allergy treatment plan is to make some simple lifestyle changes that will limit your exposure to allergens. I would suggest having allergy scratch tests done before any major lifestyle changes are made. After the allergy scratch tests you will know the likely causes of the allergy symptoms. One can avoid pollen by keeping windows closed and air conditioning on during the high-pollen seasons. Most of the mould that causes allergies is from the outdoors. Therefore, keeping the windows closed is helpful. If you notice mould in the house it should be cleaned with diluted bleach. The best ways of avoiding dust mites are to purchase proper dust mite proof pillows and mattress covers, remove carpet from the bedroom, wash the bedding in hot water and to keep the humidity around 40 percent. Vacuuming and duct cleaning are actually not very effective at removing dust mites. The only way to remove pet allergens completely from the home is to keep the pet outdoors or to give the pet away. By keeping pets out of the bedroom, washing pets weekly and removing carpets from the bedroom, you can decrease your total pet allergen exposure. If you have a true food allergy, that food should be completely avoided.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist about which medications would help you manage your allergy symptoms. Antihistamines are the most common medications used to treat hay fever. Antihistamines block the action of histamine released by the immune system and are effective at reducing sneezing, runny nose and itchy, watery eyes. They are particularly effective at relieving the symptoms of seasonal hay fever and should be taken as soon as an allergy attack develops. You may also need a decongestant to reduce nasal congestion. Some antihistamines can cause side effects such as drowsiness and they should be avoided if you have to drive, work or perform tasks that require you to be alert. There are several websites offering good information on allergies, for example, visit www.claritin.ca.

Dr. Harold Kim is an allergy specialist based in Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario.

News Canada provides a wide selection of current, ready-to-use copyright free news stories and ideas for Television, Print, Radio, and the Web. News Canada is a niche service in public relations, offering access to print, radio, television, and now the Internet media, with ready-to-use, editorial "fill" items. Monitoring and analysis are two more of our primary services. The service supplies access to the national media for marketers in the private, the public, and the not-for-profit sectors. Your corporate and product news, consumer tips and information are packaged in a variety of ready-to-use formats and are made available to every Canadian media organization including weekly and daily newspapers, cable and commercial television stations, radio stations, as well as the Web sites Canadians visit most often. Visit News Canada and learn more about the NC services.

The Migraine Headache Allergy Connection

Most everyone has had a headache at some time, but there are people who cannot function on a daily basis due to headache pain. Many people go to physicians for headaches, in fact, headaches are the ninth most common cause of physician visits. Some headaches are caused by serious medical conditions and may need medical treatment.

Migraines, which come on an average of 1-2 times per month, may last anywhere from 3 hours to 3 days each. The pain, may vary from throbbing to moderate, often comes on gradually. Sometimes it starts on one side of the head and then switches sides. People report seeing lights, rainbows and blurred vision. There may also be loss of appetite, nausea or vomiting.

More women than men complain of headaches. Usually migraine patients have a family background of headaches 80% of the time. 43% of migraine sufferers complain of eye symptoms. According to many studies, most sufferers have other symptoms: hay fever, eczema, travel sickness and a history of digestive tract problems.

The Allergy Connection

Migraines are often a reaction to an allergen, which in turn, irritates the blood vessels. In migraines, an artery, most commonly the superficial temporal artery, becomes constricted at first, then the same segment of the artery becomes widely dilated, and overstretched. The pressure of the blood carried in the artery increases the pain, whereas compression of the artery with the hands on the side of the head over the dilated segment will cause relief of pain. The control of blood vessel tone is through the autonomic nervous system. Thus many natural treatments are directed at the nervous system and blood vessels.

Triggering Agents

The most common triggering agents for migraines are alterations in serotonin metabolism (a deficiency), food allergies (in order of the most common- wheat, citrus fruit, eggs, tea, coffee, chocolate, milk, salt, corn, cane sugar, yeast, alcohol, cheeses, onions), low magnesium levels, hormonal imbalances, histamine-induced platelet aggregation (blood platelets sticking together). Migraine headaches can also be triggered by eyestrain, poor posture, stress, sleep excess or deficiency, weather changes, blood sugar imbalances and drug use. (Dr. Dana Myatt)

Other studies cite triggers like hypoglycemia, tension, depression, tobacco, birth control pills, vasodilator drugs, water retention, menstruation, wind exposure, and sun exposure. There may also be factors that aggravate migraines such as poor air, constipation, getting cold, noise, carbon monoxide poisoning, very low / high blood pressure, altitude changes (air travel), bright or flashing lights (a recent study showed 30% were in the sun when the migraine started), loud or low frequency noises, electromagnetic fields (cell or portable phone), emotional stress or trauma, strong odors (including news print), pet allergies, and others. (Dr. Ron Roth and Lancet)

Can Foods Cause Migraines?

When allergy producing foods were avoided there was a dramatic fall in the number of headaches per month, 85% of patients becoming headache-free (Lancet) Migraine users may want to stay away from food with dairy and wheat.

Eating too many varieties of foods at one meal is a common cause of headache. The many chemicals from the various foods, even though naturally produced, still make war inside the system. For people with headaches it is wise to take two dishes at a meal of very simple foods. (Dr. Agatha Thrash).

Natural Relief

* When the headaches first starts, applying an ice pack can provide quick relief. The ice pack can be placed on the top of the head or on the forehead.
* Tension headaches result from stress and reduced blood flow to the brain, causing the neck muscles to tighten. To soothe the neck muscles apply heat. Applying a heating pad or taking a hot bath can provide relief.
* A massage can relieve stress and relax the muscles in the neck and other parts of the body. With the fingertips, massage the scalp and temples, using a circular motion.
* A hot foot bath with a cold compress or ice pack over the painful area can also be helpful.
* Studies show that Feverfew and Ginkgo reduce migraines and vascular headaches. The leaves of the Feverfew contain parthenolide, which inhibits the production of substances that dilate blood vessels and cause inflammation. Ginkgo also relieves ringing in the ear, and dizziness often associated with headaches. Feverfew and Ginkgo are available at health food stores.
* Ginger relaxes blood vessels in the head and reduces swelling in the brain. It activates natural opiates in the brain that relieve pain. Ginger can be taken in the form of tea or in tablets available at health food stores.


Where to Find Help

For information on headaches contact: The National Headache Foundation (888) NHF-5552. Always consult a physician before proceeding with any remedies. Headaches can be a sign of a very serious medical condition that can lead to death.

Since diet can play a part in migraines, reducing allergy producing foods is recommended. If you can't afford the $100 food allergy test from your alternative medicine provider, you can instead try going 1 month each without wheat, dairy, and yeast. Those are the most common offenders. If any of them is involved, you should notice a difference!

Although it can be a challenge to change your diet, if the end result is migraine headache relief, it will be well worth your effort. There are an increasing number of non-allergenic food mixes and seasonings on the market today that have no dairy, are easy to make and healthful and fun to eat. You may want to consider some of those options while testing your diet to see if you can determine what foods, if any, are the ones that give you a headache.


Cari Haus is webmaster for http://www.thevegetarianexpress.com,a manufacturer and online retailer of quality vegan food mixes and seasonings.