Tips To Keep Allergies at Bay

It’s completely fair to say that nowadays more people are falling prey to allergy, be it, food, pollen, pets, and dust. We often start sneezing when we enter somebody’s house full of allergens. Allergens are found everywhere and the only place where we can minimize their presence is our own house. Here are some tips to keep your home allergens free.

 

• Long heavy curtains, thick carpets and decorative shelves are favorite breeding ground for dust mites. If you can’t get rid of them, make sure to clean them very often. Steam cleaners are one of the best available options to wash curtains. As for floors and carpets, good vacuum cleaners with HEPA 13 filter silver ions filter are good options. They are affordable carrying high suction capacity. 
• If somebody in your family is allergic to feathers, you can help him/her by replacing feather-filled pillows with anti-allergic cotton filled pillows. They are easy available in the local market. You can also purchase woolen pillows, but give them the steam mop twice a week.
• Fancy carpets are a pleasant way to beautify your home, but not a good choice when someone in the family is suffering from allergy. Sadly, woolen carpets too contain dust mite and microorganisms, even if you clean them regularly. The only option left would be to get rid of carpets. However, if you cannot, clean them with the steam-mop.
• Remove all the pets from your house. It can be emotionally thumping, but essential if you want your family to stay healthy. Pets’ hair is a very strong allergen and an ideal breeding ground for microorganisms. Pets can bring pollen on their hair that will cause allergic reaction in the affected person.

It’s a difficult task to provide an allergy free environment at home. However, we should make every effort to make our loved one’s life easier when they suffer from allergy.

Food Allergies: What works and what not

Can a balanced diet help you prevent food allergy? Some individuals agree and some don’t. But the fact is there are many dietary strategies that can help fight allergies and asthma. After reading the points below, you will get a fair idea of what works and what doesn’t. However, your first priority should always be to follow that your physician has advised.

Eating fruits to prevent asthma: Making fruits a part of your eating regime can significantly reduce the risk of asthma, especially children from birth to 8 years of age, researchers say. They found individuals with higher intake of fruits at lower risk of asthma. The antioxidants present in fruits and vegetables prevent damage to airways, probably reducing risk of asthma, which troubles more than 8 percent of Americans. Other fruits such as apples, bananas and Vitamin-C rich citrus may lower asthma risk.

Not a good idea to have honey: There is no clear evidence that shows eating honey assuages allergy symptoms. A myth pertaining to honey is honeybees carry pollen from the plants that cause itchiness in the eyes. That helps in strengthening immune system and reduces allergy symptoms. According to Miguel P. Wolbert, an allergist and immunologist at the Allergy & Asthma Care Center in Evansville, Indiana, eating honey doesn’t make a huge difference in reducing allergy symptoms. He further quotes, “It’s unlikely that honey will help your allergies.”

Less intake of salt: High salt diet often results in worsening of asthma symptoms in children. A low sodium diet is particularly helpful to people with exercise–induced asthma. Apart from other health benefits a low sodium diet possesses, it may be judged a medication to manage asthma. Stay away from packaged foods, which have higher proportion of sodium.

A strict no-no to raw milk: It’s still early days to tell whether raw milk actually benefits allergy and asthma sufferers. However, there are other risks involved with the consumption of raw milk. As reported by the Centers for Disease Control, raw milk was responsible for more than 1000 sicknesses, 100 hospitalizations and 2 deaths between 1998 and 2005.

Managing Allergy and Asthma While Traveling

A sudden and unexpected attack of allergy or asthma can hamper your travelling plans. Sometimes, a fresh environment can trigger allergy and asthma symptoms that can put you off schedule. It is important to consider your allergies or asthma and take precautions accordingly to avoid igniting your symptoms while travelling.

If your preferred mode of travelling is airways, remember airplane can be dry and trigger allergy or asthma symptoms. You may need supportive oxygen to help you breathe easier when you fly in higher altitudes. If you have encountered breathing issues previously, talk to the airline before your trip to make special arrangements.

If you suffer allergies and asthma often, you might benefit from immunotherapy, which can ease off your symptoms wherever you go. Immunotherapy decreases sensitivity to allergens like pollen and mold. Furthermore, it increases the amount of allergens in the body in order to build resistance to that allergen. Immunotherapy is beneficial especially for those who can’t plan their trip in a way that keeps them away from allergy and asthma.

Interestingly, there are things you can do to prevent allergies when you reach your destination. For instance, if the place is high on pollen count, try to stick indoors as much as possible. Keep the windows closed. Stay away from smoking, as it can severely hamper your allergies or asthma. Remember to close windows while travelling in a car.

Besides allergy shots, there are other methods to ward off allergies and asthma, which includes:

A visit to the doctor is particularly helpful before heading off to your destination. Give him/her details about the place and follow any advice or recommendations on dealing with your allergies or asthma while you are there.

Pack your bag with extra medication including a peak flow meter. Make sure to carry inhalers on hand at all times.

If you get a serious attack while traveling, talk to your physician about bringing along some emergency medications like corticosteroid medications and an epinephrine injectable medication, like an EpiPen.

Things You Must Know About Fall Allergies

Allergy symptoms can always be troublesome turning any time of the year into a sneezing session. Runny nose, scratchy throat and itchy eyes are just the beginning symptoms as the mercury falls and days get shorter. The fall can be difficult time for individuals who are susceptible to mold and ragweed pollen. But these seasonal elements aren’t alone responsible for making this time of the year worse. There are also few other things known to trigger allergies. Here’s a quick dropdown of things you must know about fall allergies:

In reality, hay fever has nothing to do with hay. It’s a simple term used to depict the warning signs of late summer allergies. Ragweed is a common cause of hay fever prominently known as allergic rhinitis. The plant begins pollination in mid August and continues to do so until winter arrives. Visit a physician for proper medication or else take allergy shots.

Warm temperatures can make rhinitis worse. Dry and humid weather is the perfect breeding ground for mold spores. Start your medication before symptoms grip you. Track your allergy symptoms and if you don’t get relief from over the counter medicines, visit an allergist.

Some people may find it difficult to keep terms with raking leaves throughout the autumn. But for allergy patients, raking brings in lots of issues. It can trigger agitating pollen and mold into the air, causing allergy and asthma. Individuals with allergies must wear an NIOSH rated N95mask when raking leaves.

There is more to allergy than seasonal pollen and mold. School going children are often exposed to irritants and allergy triggers such as chalk dust and classroom pets. Students with food allergies may find it difficult in the lunchroom. Similarly, kids with exercise-induced bronchoconstriction may suffer attacks in recess or gym classes. Educate your child thoroughly on what can trigger their allergies and asthma, and how they can avoid symptoms.

No matter what the situation is allergy sufferers must see a board-certified allergist. An allergist can help you develop a treatment plan, which can further assist you in the longer run.

Prepare In Advance for Allergies

Allergy is of the most common diseases in the world and every individual sooner or later suffers from a kind of allergy. If left untreated, allergy can harm the body in many ways. However, we can always prevent allergy from happening in first place. If we are aware and have a relief kit ready, we can combat allergy easily. Here is a list of items than can prove useful in fighting allergies.

Eye Drops: Red-eye and itchiness are two symptoms of eye allergy. An eye-drop is the perfect way to fight this type of allergy. It can ease inflammation and itching, tearing, and swelling. Consult your doctor to know which kind will suit you.

Decongestants: Decongestants help in relieving stuffiness and congestion in the nasal tissues. They are easily available from your local drugstore. Individuals with high blood pleasure, thyroid should consult a doctor before taking decongestants.

Nasal Sprays: Decongestants also come in the form of nasal sprays. However, there use should be limited to 3 days only, as they can worsen the symptoms. Nasal sprays are helpful in providing relief to dry nose. Doctors too recommend the use of nasal sprays.

Antihistamine: Antihistamine pills are helpful in curing runny nose, sneezing, and itchy, watery eyes. Your immune system responds to allergens by producing a substance called histamine. Antihistamine blocks it and hence provides relief.

Bronchodilators: Allergies are known to worsen asthma. In such scenario, always carry short-acting inhaler- bronchodilators with you. For a relatively small attack, a couple puffs will quickly relax the muscles that have tightened around your airways.

Skin cream and Lotions: For skin allergies, always keep small tubes of moisturizer and hydrocortisone cream in your allergy kit. Moisturizers can ease the dryness and itchiness associated with skin allergy. Your doctor may prescribe other medications for extreme skin reactions.

Asthma and Pregnancy

Asthma is one of the common health issues among pregnant women, including some who conjure it first time. During pregnancy, asthma not only impinges on you, but also affects your unborn. This clearly states that asthma is chronic condition, which should be taken care of. However, that does not mean in any sense that it will make your pregnancy dangerous. If asthma is properly controlled during pregnancy, women have little or no risk to themselves or their fetus.

The process of managing asthma during pregnancy is the same as the one followed in non-pregnancy. Pregnant women must have a plan ready for asthma attacks, which include recording fetal movements. Consult your doctor immediately if you experience a decrease in fetal kicks. To be on the safer side, monitor your fetal movements after 28 weeks. There are certain things to watch out for during pregnancy:

• Communication between your asthma specialist and gynecologist is necessary. In tandem, they can keep your pregnancy and asthma risks at minimum.Monthly checkups are advised with your doctor to monitor lung functionality. This is done to ensure that your growing fetus gets enough oxygen, as asthma severity changes in women during pregnancy.

• If you have moderate or mild asthma, consider having ultrasound to check your fetus’s growth after 32 weeks.

• Make an extra effort to control asthma triggers like stopping the consumption of tobacco, cigarettes and so on.

Get extra protection against flu as soon as it’s available. It is safe and proposed for all pregnant women.

It is believed that there are certain risks involved while taking asthma medication during pregnancy. Asthma, if left untreated during pregnancy can trigger into extreme attacks. It is however, safe for a pregnant woman to have asthma medication. Discuss with your doctor if you want to stop the medication. Do not do it yourself. You might have to wait until the birth to make changes in your medication.

Asthma? Try Herbal Treatment

Asthma happens to be one of the fastest growing diseases in the world and anybody can become its victim. Asthma is a respiratory disorder exemplified by wheezing. According to medical professionals, a patient suffering from asthma has issues with breathing in addition to having sensitive or hyperactive responsive airways, which react by means of obstructing when they become irritated. Prominent symptoms of asthma include wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath and chest congestion.

When it comes to curing asthma, you can always go for the herbal treatment. Not new, though people consider this as an easy option. You have to consult with the proficient persons for herbal treatment of asthma.

Garlic is regarded as the premium herbal treatment for asthma. The best way to consume garlic is to mix it boiled milk and then drink it. This should be done after seeing the first signs of asthma attack. This treatment is known to minimize the symptoms associated with the attack of asthma.

Turmeric is extensively helpful in treating asthma. To get the best out of turmeric, combine it with a glass of milk and drink it twice a day.

One of the lesser-known facts is that mustard oil is as effective as any other form of treatment for asthma. Use it as massage oil. Mix it with some camphor and rub it on your chest. It helps in warming up the mucous that has formed in the chest.

One of the common ways people use to treat asthma is mix ginger with tea. This is ideal, especially because it relieves the symptoms and retrains the attack of asthma. Drinking garlic rich tea twice a day would do wonders for your symptoms. Additionally, you can search over the internet regarding other types of herbal treatments.