 Allergies and Allergy relief
Allergies are disorders of the immune system, which when a foreign substance that is normally harmless in most people causes an extreme reaction within the body. Contact can be with the skin, lungs, oesophagus, mouth, stomach and intestine and can cause a reaction to those organs plus the musculo-skeletal, genoto-urinary system, bowel, cardio-vascular, nose, eyes and brain. The substances that cause these reactions are called allergens and the person who suffers from this, is said to be allergic to the substance.
When an allergen comes into contact with the body, the immune system believes it is under attack and produces antibodies called IgE to fight it. The antibodies trigger chemicals (the main one being histamine) to different organs of our body from mast cells which causes the symptoms of an allergic reaction.
The case history should form the basis for all allergy investigations. In order to give the doctor an idea of the mechanisms and allergens causing the trouble, the doctor will question the patient or ask him/her to fill in a questionnaire.
It is important to know when and how the symptoms developed. Also important is the relationship to seasons, damp weather, physical activity, certain foods, etc. Knowledge of personal habits such as smoking, occupation, hobbies, etc., will be necessary and some information about the home can be important (e.g., whether there are pets, or fitted carpets in the house or if cleaning aggravates symptoms). A favorite cologne or perfume can be the cause of allergic conjunctivitis, while a soap may be the cause of chronic eczema. Fingernail polish may cause eczema of the upper eyelids.
In nasal allergies, the case history alone may give enough information to settle the diagnosis and the doctor can then decide which measures to take to help the patient. In more complicated cases, however, further investigations may be performed to get a final diagnosis.
Every individual has their own target organ that has more of an allergic reaction than the others organs. Whatever the substance that causes the reaction, the symptoms occurs in the weak target organs whether this is the same point of contact or not. The symptoms as a result from the allergic reaction will be dependant on the function of the afflicted organ and whether it is depressed or excited.
The main organs that are affected are the brain, eyes, ears, nose, lungs, heart, skin, bowel, genoto-urinary system and musculo-skeletal system.
Anaphylaxis is an acute allergic reaction which affects the whole body and requires immediate medical attention. Many people who are severely allergic to something may have this reaction. Symptoms include anxiety, itching of the skin, headache, nausea and vomiting, sneezing and coughing, abdominal cramps, hives and swelling of tissues such as lips and joints, diarrhea, shortness of breath and wheezing, low blood pressure, convulsions, and loss of consciousness. (You may have a friend, for example, who is extremely allergic to bee or wasp stings and carries a self-injecting epinephrine syringe when outdoors.) A quick, decisive epinephrine injection can literally be a life-saver in the case of exposure to an allergen that has previously caused an anaphylactic reaction.
Natural substances such as mould, spores, pollen, dust mites, animal dander and insects usually cause an allergic reaction in the upper respiratory systems. They cause redness, itching and fluid in the form of water and mucous and can affect the eyes, nose, sinuses, throat, lungs and bronchial tubes.
The target organ can change as the body changes, for instance, a child may have eczema as an infant which then changes to hay fever later in childhood which then can change again to migraine attacks in the teenage years which then can change again to arthritis in old age.
If the spring and summer seasons leave you sneezing and wheezing, you may suffer from allergies. Colds, on the other hand, are more likely to occur at any time (though they're more common in the colder months). Although colds and allergies produce similar symptoms, colds usually last only a week or so. And although both may cause your nose and eyes to itch, colds and other viral infections may also give you a fever and aches and pains. Cold symptoms often worsen as the days go on and then gradually improve, but allergies begin immediately after exposure to the offending allergen and last as long as that exposure continues.
To help eliminate or reduce the symptoms of allergies it is best to consume lots of still mineral water, brown or white rice, fruit juices except citrus fruit juices, lots of vegetables except corn and tomatoes, fish except shellfish, turkey and almonds, sunflower seeds and walnuts.
In conclusion, good nutritional health is vital to support our immune systems to help ward off allergic reactions to foods and environmental chemicals. Once a person knows they have an allergy, it is best to avoid that food or chemical, improve nutrition and exercise regime, combat stress and generally support the immune system. It is best not to ignore allergic reactions, as they can lead to further more serious illnesses.
So once you know you have allergies, how do you deal with them? First and foremost, try to avoid things you're allergic to! If you have a food allergy, that means avoiding foods that trigger symptoms and learning how to read food labels to make sure you're not consuming even tiny amounts of allergens. For people with environmental allergies, keeping your house clean of dust and pet dander and watching the weather for those days when pollen is high can help. Switch to perfume-free and dye-free detergents, cosmetics, and beauty products (you may see non-allergenic ingredients listed as hypoallergenic on product labels). Avoid contact with household cleaners and yard chemicals whenever possible.
Allergic reaction can be caused by food additives and environmental chemicals such as chemical sprays, pesticides, hydrocarbons, tobacco smoke plus thousands of others.
For example, headaches are associated with chocolate and wheat, migraine headaches are associated with milk, eggs, nitrates, alcohol, cheese, chocolate, citrus fruit, nuts, wheat, tomatoes and MSG, eczema is associated with eggs, tomatoes and citrus fruits, hay fever is associated with milk, wheat, cola drinks, chocolate and sulfites, hives are associated with strawberries, nuts, pork, mangoes, tomatoes, eggs, chocolate and shellfish, asthma is associated with wheat and eggs, cerebral symptoms are associated with wheat, corn and Soya beans and childhood allergies are associated with fish, beef, rye, milk, wheat, eggs, peanuts, artificial colourings and flavourings and salicylates.
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