Do you suffer from Hayfever?

So, here we are in springtime again!  What a beautiful time of the year.  New life starts coming up from the earth.  People get a little skip in their step and a twinkle in their eye as the weather warms up.  Thoughts of lovely afternoon barbeques fill the mind.

However, there are many people that associate spring with something far less pleasant than anything I just described.   For many people, spring can be a dreaded time of year, as Hayfever kicks in.

For anyone who  hasn’t experienced it, consider yourself lucky.  For anyone who has experienced it, you know it can be a terrible experience.  It can interrupt your work day, cause problems  your sleep, and just make life miserable.  I didn’t believe that until I started suffering from in a few years ago.  I felt like the symptoms went on forever!  And I’m sure I went through at least a tissue every five minutes.

There are many things out there that are supposed to help relieve your symptoms, but none of them worked very well for me. I tried nose sprays, anti-histamine pills, acupuncture, small diet changes, and other things.

I’m happy to say that my days of suffering are over now, though.  Do you want to know what worked for me eventually?  It was an unintentional discovery, but a great relief!

I did a food intolerance test.  That is it.  I did the test and cut certain foods out of my diet and Voila – no more hayfever.  I don’t know if this can also work for you, but if you have bad symptoms, I would recommend giving it a shot.   It certainly has been a godsend for me!

Here’s to your health.

Kimberly

Global Warming Makes Allergies Worse

Global warming…I’m sure there are people out there who don’t want to hear one more thing about it!  Right?  Global warming is such a hot topic right now for politicians, environmentalists, and… allergy sufferers? That’s right. As the planet heats up, so does our battle against allergies and asthma. In fact, many scientists now acknowledge the link between global warming and breathing problems.

What does global warming have to do with allergies? As the planet heats up, winter seasons become shorter. That means longer stretches of warm weather – and allergies. Springtime has been arriving earlier, leading to months of misery for those with airborne allergies. How much earlier? 10-15 days earlier in the past three decades alone. And this trend is not expected to stop anytime soon. Thanks to the lengthening seasons, allergies aren’t just lasting longer; they’re becoming more severe as well. The problem is so serious that experts have been scrambling to create new policies and solutions. Even the World Health Organization has commented on the serious health implications of longer pollen seasons.

There is more carbon dioxide in the air during allergy season. This is detrimental to allergy sufferers because plants and weeds thrive when they’re exposed to more carbon dioxide. One sign of a strong plant is the amount of pollen it produces. And with pollen levels on the rise, people with allergies are noticing an increase in their symptoms.

If you’re a city dweller, you could have an even harder time. Cities act like giant greenhouses for weeds. The press of bodies and buildings trap heat, causing weeds to grow larger and release more pollen. The large number of people releasing carbon dioxide into city air also stimulates weed growth. Research has shown that city weeds can grow twice as large as their country cousins. To make matters worse, they also produce stronger pollen that wreaks havoc on allergies.

Global Warming Brings More Allergens

With longer occurrences of warm, wet weather – not to mention the increase in floods and storms – the air contains more mold and fungi than ever. This is bad news for allergy sufferers, since those are some of the most common allergens. Asthma is on the rise, too, especially among young children who live in the city.

Even in the dry seasons, dust, toxins and smog lurk in the air, making it harder to breathe. But global warming is such a big problem -what can allergy sufferers do to make living – and breathing – a bit easier?

Fortunately, there are plenty of options that don’t involve drug therapy (which can have unwanted side effects).

First, take care of your airways. Give yourself good air to breathe by investing in a HEPA filter. Clean all the air filters in your home. And don’t neglect your car’s air filter if you spend a substantial amount of time behind the wheel. Keep track of air quality alerts in your area; on days when allergens are high, stay indoors as much as possible and keep the windows closed. On hot days, carry out most of your physical activities in the morning before allergens have a chance to flourish in the midday heat.

Consume foods that help your airways function properly.  This includes things rich in essential fatty acids, such as fish, seeds, and nuts.  You can also take a good fish oil supplement.

Make your home as allergy free as possible.  Carpets attract and trap dust, mites, and other allergens. Consider switching to hardwood flooring to improve your allergy symptoms. Regular cleaning of curtains, rugs and linens also helps to keep allergies at bay. And don’t forget about the health benefits of hypoallergenic trees and plants! Not only will they improve the air quality around your home, they’ll add beauty, too.

Laundry tips to prevent allergies

Did you know that your laundry habits might be causing your allergies? Laundry isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when people think of allergies, but it is a common culprit. If you’re not careful, your laundry can pack a potent one-two punch with dust mites and irritating chemicals. The resulting itchy skin, rashes, hives, and eczema are enough to make anyone miserable. Luckily, you don’t have to make huge changes to your routine; simply employing some new cleaning strategies will bring relief from your allergy symptoms.

Dust Mites

These tiny mites aren’t visible to the naked eye, but they are a leading cause of allergies in the home. It’s estimated that every mattress contains 100,000 to 10 million dust mites. They can also bring on asthma attacks, especially in young children and the elderly.

To get rid of these microscopic pests, bed linens should be washed in hot water. The mites can survive temperatures up to 56ºC/133ºF, and they will cling to fabrics washed in water of that temperature. Wash every sheet, blanket, and pillowcase one a week in hot water. Needless to say, the sheets need to be made from a resilient fabric that can withstand high temperatures. Cotton is a good choice.

You can also use chemicals such as benzyl benzoate to kill dust mites in your laundry. This solution is considered safe for short-term use, but nobody knows how it affects a person’s health when used for long periods of time. Extra rinse cycles can help wash away residual chemicals. If you have a skin condition, you might have better luck using benzyl benzoate on fabrics you don’t touch on a daily basis.

Skin Conditions

If you suffer from allergies, eczema, or other painful skin conditions, you should be extra careful when doing the laundry. Some detergents and fabric softeners contain chemicals that irritate sensitive skin. These should be tested on one or two pieces of laundry at first, just to see if they will cause an allergic reaction. If they do, rinse out the washing machine thoroughly with hot water and move on to the next product.

Folks with serious allergies should try detergents that don’t contain perfumes or dyes. These are frequently marketed for babies and toddlers, but they work just as well for grown-up laundry. Some people find that biological washing products, which contain enzymes, worsen their skin conditions. Enzymes are natural substances that help break down molecules, such as stains. If your skin condition worsens after using a biological washing product, either do a double rinse cycle before drying your clothes, or switch to another type of detergent.

Stain removal can be a challenge to people with skin conditions, simply because most stain removers rely on harsh chemicals. For a natural approach, try mixing up your own stain remover from vinegar, club soda, baking soda, or corn starch. The results might surprise you.

Fabric softeners are another source of skin irritation. Luckily, there are hypoallergenic alternatives. Instead of regular fabric softener, try a quarter cup of baking soda. Vinegar and Borax, also used in quarter-cup measurements, make clothes soft without worsening the symptoms of eczema. To go totally chemical-free, use laundry balls instead of a detergent or fabric softener.

All about Child Allergies

Childhood allergies can be swift and frightening. Imagine a child happily snacking on peanuts one minute, then gasping for breath the next. It’s enough to make any parent afraid.

But allergies have been a part of childhood for hundreds of years. Luckily, most of them go away by the time children reach puberty. In the meantime, you can keep childhood allergies from endangering your child with just a few simple steps.

First, know which allergies are the most common. If your child has allergies, chances are good that their allergens are airborne (pet hair and dust); contact skin irritants (such as wool); or food (wheat, soy, or apples). Each type of allergy can manifest in a number of different ways. Of childhood food allergies, milk is the most common and peanuts are the most dangerous.

Next, learn about childhood allergy symptoms and how to recognize them. Airborne allergens cause sneezing, coughing, itchy or watery eyes, and a runny nose. Allergens can also cause hives, rashes, or asthma-like breathing problems. Food allergies often cause gas, bloating, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. When allergies are severe, sufferers can have an anaphylactic reaction. Anaphylaxis causes swelling of the air passages. Without medical attention, victims can stop breathing and die.

Milk allergies usually show up during the child’s infancy. This type of food allergy is very common, but not as severe as peanut allergies. Children who are allergic to milk might break out in hives or suffer from colic. Lactose-free formulas are one way to avoid this allergy.

Peanut allergies are very serious; always watch your child carefully when feeding them peanut products for the first time. Children who are sensitive to peanuts can suffer from swelling of the mouth and tongue, hives, and difficulty breathing. They also risk life-threatening anaphylaxis. If your child exhibits any of these symptoms, seek emergency medical help immediately.

The next thing you can do to protect your child from allergies is to talk to their pediatrician about testing and treatment. Allergy tests will reveal the allergens that your child is most susceptible to. Once these substances have been identified, it’s time to decide on a course of treatment.

Mild allergies can be managed simply by avoiding or limiting contact with the allergen. The child’s pediatrician may also recommend nasal sprays or antihistamines to control airborne allergies. Food allergies are isolated by removing and reintroducing certain foods. By keeping track of which foods have been consumed on a given day, parents can figure out which foods their children are allergic to.

Some allergies are more serious. These might require allergy shots or breathing treatments. These types of treatments involve low doses of corticosteroids. Steroids reduce inflammation, a common response to allergens.

Natural allergy treatments are increasing in popularity. Children with breathing problems and coughs due to allergies can benefit from the herbal extract, butterbur. Butterbur promotes healing and respiratory health. Glucosamine, a popular anti-inflammatory, can help with bronchitis symptoms.

Antioxidant fruit and vegetable pigments known as flavonoids also support the lungs. Because some asthma sufferers have exhibited a manganese deficiency, it’s thought that magnesium supplements can help control breathing problems.

There are also natural substances that promote healing by helping the body replenish its cells more efficiently. Folic acid is one such supplement. A B-vitamin, folic acid stimulates new cell growth. M.S.M is another natural compound that has been studied as a treatment for seasonal allergies. It works by binding amino acids together and promoting strong connective tissues.

This carries vital water and nutrients to cells, and helps toxins pass out of them easily. M.S.M has been found safe for short-term use.

Finally, the enzyme lactase can be taken by children with lactose intolerance. Lactase helps children digest lactose, or milk sugar.

Those who suffer from milk allergies rather than a simple intolerance will need to find a suitable alternative such as soy milk. Seek a doctor’s advice before making any dietary changes or giving supplements to your child.

Stop Allergies Now

Sometimes our bodies decide that they just don’t like something. When this happens, they let us know in a variety of ways. When we come into contact with an irritating substance, our bodies sometimes complain by itching, sneezing, coughing, and breaking out in rash. This lovely collection of symptoms is called ‘allergies’.

The above-mentioned symptoms aren’t the only signs of allergies. Sufferers frequently experience irritated, watery eyes and runny noses. Others, particularly children, might get dark circles under their eyes.

Think you might have allergies? If you do, you’re not alone. Over 50 million people suffer from allergies in the U.S. alone. With so many symptomatic individuals running around, it’s no surprise that a number of treatments have sprung up.

If your allergies are persistent, talk to your doctor about prescription or over-the-counter medications. They’ll be able to recommend the best drug for you. Popular anti-allergy medications include nasal sprays and antihistamines. Nasal sprays, such as Flonase and Nasonex, contain mild corticosteroids to fight inflammation. Antihistamines fight the body’s production of reactionary chemicals called histamines. Histamines cause allergy symptoms. An antihistamine, like Claritin or Benadryl, can be used in place of or in addition to nasal sprays. Some antihistamines cause drowsiness, so be sure to consult with your doctor to see which one is right for you.

Would you rather avoid drugs and treat your allergies the natural way? Natural treatments are great for mild to moderate allergies. Here are a few ways that you can cut down on your exposure to allergens each day.

First, educate yourself about allergies. If you have food allergies, make sure that you know how to read food labels and decipher their information. Improve the air quality in your home or office with a dehumidifier or air filtration system. Avoid prolonged trips outside and close doors and windows during high pollen days and in the mornings. Don’t keep pets that trigger allergies. Many allergy sufferers find it helpful to wash all their sleeping linens thoroughly each week.

Allergies tend to be hereditary. But before you blame Mom and Dad for your sniffles, take a look at the things you encounter every day that trigger your allergies. Do you have dust and mold around your house? Do you come into contact with animals that make you allergic? There are many factors that you can eliminate from your daily life to reduce your allergy symptoms. Take the necessary steps to ensure that you’ll enjoy an allergy-free existence – no matter the season!

Wheat Allergies: Signs and Symptoms

We eat so many wheat products each day that it’s hard to imagine how anyone with a wheat allergy could manage to live a normal life. But many wheat allergy sufferers do. That’s because they took the time to understand their condition, recognize the ways it manifests, and seek out wheat alternatives to replace the foods that cause an allergic reaction.

What allergies share some symptoms with other food allergies, but they also have symptoms that are very different – and sometimes alarming. For example, someone with a wheat allergy might experience chest pain and dizziness.

Others find that they have to urinate more than usual after eating wheat products. Still others might suffer from a swollen tongue, irritated eyes, or mood swings. More common symptoms include gastrointestinal complaints, nausea, skin rash, and vomiting.

Whenever a food allergy is suspected, the sufferer needs to investigate which food is causing the problems. This is done by cutting out one food at a time and watching for a corresponding decrease in symptoms. Then foods are added back to the diet until the symptoms reappear.

Then the food causing the allergy is revealed, and can be avoided. Some people find that keeping a written record of their food consumption helps them pinpoint problem foods. If this method is unsuccessful, a physician can perform allergy tests.

If it’s determined that you do have food allergies, don’t despair. You can find relief from your symptoms just by cutting problem foods from your diet. It might sound daunting to remove wheat from your diet, but it’s easier now than ever. There are wheat-free alternatives for almost every food. Even better – they taste great.

Don’t let a wheat allergy make you miserable. Go online or to your local health food store and ask about wheat-free or gluten-free food products.
You’ll be back to eating bread and pasta in no time!

All about Allergies

Have you been suffering from a prolonged case of the sniffles? Do your eyes constantly water and itch? Have you been coughing and sneezing so much that nobody wants to come close for fear of catching something icky? The good news is that you’re probably not contagious. The bad news is that you might have allergies.

Allergies occur when we inhale, touch, ingest, or otherwise come into contact with substances known as “allergens”. Different substances trigger different people; for example, one person might be allergic to pet dander, and another might be allergic to pollen.

One thing all allergens have in common is that they provoke an allergic reaction in people who are sensitive to them. While most people develop a tolerance to most substances, allergic individuals are continually prone to all or some of these annoying symptoms:

• Skin rashes or hives
• Itchy, watery eyes
• Itchy nose or scratchy throat
• Sneezing
• Shortness of breath or wheezing
• Anaphylaxis (in severe cases)

An anaphylactic reaction is a serious, sometimes life-threatening reaction to allergens. Victims of anaphylaxis experience swelling, dangerously low blood pressure, and difficulty breathing. A reaction of this sort requires immediate medical aid.

Airborne allergens such as pollen, dust, and mold commonly cause allergic reactions. Sometimes our bodies have an adverse reaction to the foods we eat. Though they produce symptoms similar to allergies, these reactions are considered food intolerances. There is no immune system involvement during a food intolerance, but sufferers usually experience gastrointestinal distress.

Dealing with Allergies

Anti-histamines are commonly prescribed to treat allergies. But these drugs can cause drowsiness or restlessness in the user. Rather than depending on chemicals to ward off their allergies, more people are now turning to natural alternatives. Citrus fruits have a natural antihistamine effect. So do onions and garlic.

Since allergens settle around the home, many people endeavor to clean, dust, wash bed linens, and vacuum once a week. Others plan their outdoor activities around the pollen count; if it’s high, they stay home. Allergies can play havoc on nasal passages and sinus cavities, so many allergy sufferers try to improve the quality of the air they breathe by installing air filters and setting up dehumidifiers. Still others find relief with saline nasal washes.

If you’ve got allergies, experiment with the solutions presented above to find the one that works best for you. Some changes are easy to incorporate, while others might be a challenge. Once you find relief, though, you’ll agree that the time and effort were well worth it.