Asthma and Allergy

Get your FREE Valentine's Day Samples!

2009-02-13T00:50:00.001+07:00

Get your Valentine's Day Samples!

And find out why chocolate and kisses
keep your heart healthy...

*With offer invitation and completion of program requirements.

QualityHealth.com is not affiliated with any of the listed products, brands, or merchants. Trademarks, service marks, and/or logos (including individual product names) are the property of their respective owners, who have no association with and make no endorsement of the products and services provided by QualityHealth.com. This is not a specific incentive offer; it is intended to indicate the value you can receive through membership.

YOUR PRIVACY IS IMPORTANT TO US. After joining QualityHealth.com, if you elect to, you may receive emails and/or direct mail containing personalized health content, targeted advertising, opportunities to take surveys, and other free offers from our manufacturer partners. While on QualityHealth.com, we will only share your personal information with third parties whose offers you have chosen to participate in, for the purpose of fulfilling that offer. We will not share your personal information without your prior consent.

QualityHealth.com is a property of Marketing Technology Solutions, Inc.

Diet pills and allergy

2008-12-25T15:21:00.004+07:00

I never thought that diet pills can have substances that may cause allergic reactions, hence it will not be good for people who has allergy. Some of the contents that can cause allergic reactions are: amphetamine, dextroamphetamine, ephedrine, epinephrine, isoproterenol, metaproterenol, methamphetamine, norepinephrine, phenylephrine, phenylpropanolamine, pseudoephedrine, terbutaline, or other appetite suppressants.

Therefore, people who have allergy and want to take diet pills are suggested to consult their condition to physician so they can choose the best diet pills for them.

Everyone will have different body reactions to diet pills, thus end result will be different from one person to other person. So, it’s always wise to do some research, e.g. by reading diet pill reviews to learn how they can get the most advantage out of diet pills and get the result that they want. The source for this information is available in the internet, magazines, newspaper, medical clinics, etc.

By learning more, you will find diet pills that work and safe for your allergy condition.

Natural Allergy Treatment; Just Wishful Thinking?

2008-09-21T13:42:00.000+07:00

by Dwain Berlin

There is a growing trend towards natural allergy treatment for many people because of concerns over side effects from prescriptions. It seems that allergies are affecting a growing number of people each year similar to the growth rate of serious diseases like cancer, stroke and heart disease. Luckily there is an effective 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 allergies as well. There are hundreds of years of folk lore and decades of scientific research behind it, and more focused research is being done every year. Some studies are focusing on one specific nutrient called the Xanthone. There are about 200 xanthones in nature, most of which are found in wood, and over 40 found in a fruit called Mangosteen. (not related to Mango)

Get Tested For Allergies

By getting an allergy test done you'll know what to remove from your diet or what to stay away from. This is obvious but neccesary, and with a little discpline you can start your allergy treatment. There are also a lot of allergens beyond your control so the next step is to increase your allergy resistance.

A well prescribed allergy treatment will eliminate discomfort, reduce the severity and maybe even go as far as eliminate your symptoms. Unfortunately, most pills just mask your symptoms and in some cases become less effective over time. If your allergies are serious and life threatening, then you should carry an Epi-Pen with you and renew it each year.

Our North American health system is the best in the world in many respects, but lacking in other areas. Many Doctors will never admit when they don't know how to help you and resort to prescriptions because of their training. If they knew of an effective natural allergy treatment, there's no doubt they would tell you about it.

A Point To Consider

With the endless 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 an allergy treatment is focused on helping your body heal itself. Especially when part of the treatment is anti-inflammitory to help with breathing, reduce swelling, hives and itching. It's even better when it's from a powerful natural source that has a compliment of nutrients working together.

The natural allergy treatment I'm reffering to is found in the Mangosteen fruit. In this delicious fruit is a specific nutrient called xanthone. It's a powerful antioxidant that controls a wide range of healing functions. It's a double bonded molucule with side chains, and each side chain addresses a different health problem.

Xanthones; Natures Hero

It's important to know why a double bonded molucule is significant, especially as an allergy treatment. Xanthones have a skeletal structure (the double bond) and side chains. Each side chain can deliver a different treatment and when active in your body will seek and destroy viruses, fungus, parasites and other nasty intruders. It will also strenthen vital organs by helping your immune system.

A double bonded molucule is re-enforced and has lasting power, not like antioxidants that expire on first contact with a free radical for instance. Because of the backbone structure, the side chains are anywhere from 10 to 50 times more effective than nutrients found in most fruits and vegetables. What's even more amazing is how it out performs concentrated extracts like co-enzyme Q10 for instance.

Natures Powerhouse Allergy Treatment

Now that Mangosteen is becoming known in DOctors offices, those who are aware are begining to prescribe Mangosteen first and pills later if a condition persists. The number of Doctors who know about this is minimal, but you can introduce it to your Doctor and help this trend grow.

Remember when Aloe Vera first came out in the late 70's? It quickly became a household name and every mother had a plant in the house for scrapes and cuts. Today you can walk into any health food store and see six or eight brands of Aloe Vera Juice on the shelf. Aloe Vera has one xanthone, Mangosteen has 43!

Xanthones Heal

Mangosteen has been used in Asian culture for hundreds of years. It has been used for numerous health problems too long to list here, but most importantly it's a powerful allergy treatment. The majority of xanthones in Mangosteen are found in the rind which is very bitter tasting by itself, so that may be why it didn't go commercial until just recently.

A special process is required to make the juice of the whole fruit taste good. Without including the rind in Mangosteen juice, it would not be an effective allergy treatment.

*** Use Mangosteen To Eliminate Allergies ***

Don't wait another moment... Start getting relief today. Discover what thousands of other people swear by Allergy Treatment

Looking for Food Allergy Recipe Ideas

2008-09-20T13:39:00.001+07:00

By Allen Matthews

It seems that some recipe books (that have been specifically written for people who have a food allergy), seem to offer little value for money. Its particularly annoying when they are simply rehashing regular recipes, but add the side line "get a [insert food allergy] free substitute" within the ingredients of each and every meal guide.

Still, on the Internet, there is a wealth of food allergy recipe information, allowing for some respite those of us with sweet tooth's, but a food allergy that can sometimes restrict it.

So here is your quick three step guide to searching for food allergy free recipes online:

*** Visit many of the larger reputable cooking websites. In fact a lot of the major cooking or dieting websites, will automatically, create recipes for you that make sure that certain food items are not in your meal's ingredients.

*** Always check the details. For example, when a recipe simply says to add butter, or oil, you have to be sure that the products you buy are nut free.

*** Make recipe finding part of your regular web-surfing time. Build up your own little recipe cards, for you to go to when you need to feed your sweet tooth!

Do You Still Need a Recipe Idea?

As a peanut allergic adult myself, (who is also a great cook!), I have not abandoned my sweet tooth for fear of what may be within biscuits or cakes. Instead, I have searched for recipes that allow me to make a great peanut-free cookies and cakes.

In fact, here is one of my favorite recipes. But be careful, at 83 calories per cookie, you could get a little bit too carried away!

Peanut Free Cookie Recipe

Serves: 4 Dozen Cookies

Nutritional Value of 1 Cookie: 3.8 g Fat; 83 Calories 84 mg Salt

Ingredients:

3/4 cup Soya nut butter - Soya nut butter is a great peanut butter alternative since it contains no peanuts or tree-nuts.
1/2 cup vegetable shortening - Please note that you should always check for the type of vegetable oil that is used. If the vegetable oil isn't clearly identified, avoid it, as the manufacturer may have used peanut oil.
1 1/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
3 tablespoons soya milk
1 tablespoons vanilla
1 egg
1/4 cup soy flour
1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup roasted, salted soya nuts (for topping)

Preheat your oven to 375 F.

Put the soya nut butter, vegetable shortening, soya milk, brown sugar, and vanilla into a mixing bowl.

Blend the ingredients until smooth, then add the egg.

Blend the egg into the ingredients.

Now add the flour, salt and baking soda, and blend those ingredients into the mixing bowl.

Drop teaspoonfuls of the mix onto ungreased baking paper, and shape as required.

Top each cookie with a few of the salted soya nuts.

Finally, bake in the oven for 8-10 minutes until mildly brown, then allow for them to cool down completely, before eating.

Methods To Treat Asthma In Adults And Children

2008-09-18T13:36:00.000+07:00

by Karina Jacobsen

Asthma is a very serious condition affecting both children and adults. The effects of an Asthma attack are disabling if your doctor doesn't know about your condition, leaving you improperly cared for. Though treatments for Asthma are much more advanced than they were years ago, more than half a million people every year, are in need of in-patient care while nearly four thousand ultimately die. How your doctor or specialist chooses to treat your asthma is based on your age and how severe your Asthma is.

It's possible to pass Asthma on to a child through heredity, but more likely asthma is caused by your environment. An Asthma attacks happens when allergens infiltrate your respiratory system causing your bronchiole airway to constrict which leads to over production of mucous. It's also possible to bring on an Asthma attack by merely laughing. There are plenty of warning signs to indicate an Asthma attack is brewing.

If you have a history of Asthma or suspect you or someone you know might, watch for signs such as: Coughing (sometimes so severe it wakes you from sleep), wheezing, tightness in the chest and the feeling of not being able to catch your breath. If you experience these symptoms its imperative you seek medical attention immediately.

If you have mild or intermittent Asthma, your doctor may suggest the use of over-the-counter medication such as a bronchodilator. More severe Asthma may require the use of a prescription medication or an inhaler containing corticosteroids, as treatment. Prescription medications used to treat Asthma contain active ingredients used to decrease the inflammation in the lungs and sensitivity to allergens. A bronchodilator is prescribed and used for immediate relief of Asthma symptoms but has no long lasting effects.

It's possible your doctor will choose to use a combination of treatments to relieve your Asthma symptoms and attacks. An ever popular and effective treatment for Asthma caused by allergies in children and adults is Immunotherapy. This method works by building antibodies in the system to the allergens that set off the attacks by exposing the Asthmatic to ever increasing doses of said allergen. Eventually, the allergy is resolved and with it, hopefully, the Asthma attacks.This article in no way should be taken as medical advice.

As with any medical condition, its important to speak with your doctor for the best course of action and prevention. If you are currently under your doctors care for Asthma, and feel your symptoms are not improving, speak with him/her about alternate forms of treatment. If short term inhalers are being used often, this is a good indication your Asthma is not effectively being controlled.

Ask your doctor about physical exercise, how much is too much and if there are certain activities you should avoid or limit. Breathing should not be a chore, tell your doctor today if you suspect that you or someone you love maybe suffering from Asthma.

Learn About Allergies and The Relationship To Food

2008-09-16T13:32:00.003+07:00

by Charles Amith

Allergies are the hypersensitive response of the body to foreign substances. These foreign substances are called antigens, which stimulate the body to produce antibodies, whose normal function is to combat antigens by destroying them or otherwise making them harmless. In allergic individuals, for poorly understood reasons, the body's antibody defense mechanism goes awry and injures the body instead of protecting it.

The most familiar allergies are hay fever and asthma, which are caused by a wide variety of inhaled pollens, dusts, and other agents. However, food can also be a cause of allergic reactions.

Food does not often cause allergic reactions. Food allergies are more common in infants than in older children and adults, probably because the infant's immature digestive tract permits more ready absorption of offending food molecules.

Manifestations of food allergies in adults are usually of the immediate kind, including hives, angioderma, eczema, gastrointestinal disorders, and general systemic reactions of the anaphylactic type. Systemic reactions occur quickly after eating.

They are most frequently caused by legumes, nuts, seafoods (especially shellfish), and berries, but carbohydrates, fats, food additives, and contamination by drugs may be implicated.

In infants and children, eczema is the prominent manifestation, and the most frequent causative agents include milk, wheat, eggs, fish, and soybean products.

Food allergies are diagnosed on the basis of the patient's allergic history together with trial eliminations of suspected foods from the patient's diet. Skin tests and tests for antibodies in serum are less significant, because the hypersensitive reaction may be provoked by the breakdown of products of the food resulting from digestion, and not by the food itself.

The management of food allergy is based mainly on the avoidance of the offending foods. An antihistamine taken before a meal may be helpful if a food to which one is allergic is to be eaten. Food allergies in children tend to lessen or disappear with age, but the anaphylactic types manifested in adults do not usually improve over time.

One day at asthma clinic

2008-09-12T10:48:00.002+07:00

I had asthma and I experienced asthma attack several times. I didn’t like being in that situation at all. It was hard to breathe, I couldn’t sleep, I couldn’t lie down.

One day, I visited my asthma clinic for my routine check up and following my treatment. All of sudden, one of the patients in the waiting room had asthma attack. The physician was still with other patient, both rooms were occupied. Her medical assistant came to help the patient. She tried to make patient comfortable while waiting for the doctor to come.
Fortunately, the physician finished examining her patient and with a quick action she handled that reoccurred patient with her special treatment method.

The clinic has another medical assistant for filing and keeping patient record and arranging patient appointment. It was a medium size clinic, so I knew all of the staffs. All of them went to different medical assistant schools.

Get Rid Of My Sinus Infection!

2008-09-03T15:49:00.000+07:00

Get Rid Of My Sinus Infection!: "Ever wondered how you get a sinus infection? Ever wondered how you permanently get rid of a sinus infection?"

What is Allergy Induced Asthma?

2008-09-01T11:39:00.000+07:00

By: Isabelle Boulay

When someone is exposed to an allergen – a substance to which their body is sensitive – they may produce ‘histamines’, which cause inflammation and irritation as they work to rid the body of the allergen. In the case of allergy induced asthma, the histamines go to work on the bronchial passages and lungs, making it difficult for the allergic person to breathe.

The incidence of allergy induced asthma has grown almost geometrically in recent years, and scientists aren’t quite sure why. They suspect that part of the reason may be the increased exposure of children to some common allergens. This seems to be borne out by population based studies – African-American and Hispanic children living in the inner city are far more likely to develop allergy induced asthma than Caucasian children in the same cities, and even those children are more likely to develop allergy induced asthma than suburban and rural children of the same socioeconomic level.

A number of reasons have been advanced for the disparity, but the most likely is simply that Black and Hispanic children are far more likely to live in the most crowded old neighborhoods of the city. Crowding is the biggest risk factor for the presence of common household pests like cockroaches and rodents, and cockroach parts and rodent droppings are two of the most common allergens in children with allergy induced asthma.

Diagnosing Allergy Induced Asthma

Doctors will diagnose asthma differently depending on the age of the patient. Children under five, for instance, may find it difficult to follow instructions for breathing capacity tests. Doctors will often use history, both the child’s and the family medical history, to help determine the possibility of asthma. Often, if asthma is suspected, the doctor will prescribe a bronchodilator. If it helps, the diagnosis is confirmed.

In older children and adults, doctors may perform a series of breathing capacity tests with a peak flow meter and a spirometer to help determine the extent of an asthma problem.

Generally, doctors don’t use allergy tests to diagnose asthma, but if there’s a reason to believe that a specific allergen is a problem, allergic dermatitis tests may be used to confirm or rule out possible allergens. Knowing that a specific substance or food is a problem can help you avoid it and reduce your risk of asthma attacks.

Treating Allergy Induced Asthma

The good news is that interventions to reduce exposure to allergens seems to be as effective a treatment for allergy induced asthma as corticosteroid inhalers. If your child has been diagnosed with allergy induced asthma, there are ways that you can help control your child’s symptoms. Besides using inhalers and nebulizers as directed by your doctor, you can also keep your home – and especially your child’s bedroom – as close to allergen free as possible. Mattress covers, pillow cases, air filters and pest control measures can reduce your child’s exposure to allergens that cause allergy induced asthma to worsen into acute stages.

Natural cure asthma alternative medicine

2008-08-31T12:37:00.000+07:00

By: Good health

Man is exposed to many unhealthy environments due to this he has been captivated to number of diseases. He is becoming unhealthy with the stress of work and the food he intakes. He to get relaxed has found many bad ways like usage of tobacco, smoking, drinking alcohol, drug addiction and many more by which he himself inviting the diseases to his cadaver.

Asthma is a chronic disease of the airways in the lungs. The two main components of asthma are airway constriction and inflammation. Together, constriction and inflammation result in narrowing of the airways in the lungs, which results in symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. It's also important to remember that some days, you may not even experience any symptoms at all. But your asthma is still with you. That's why it's essential to continue treating your asthma, with daily preventative medication, even on days you feel well. One way of helping to manage your asthma is through education. In this section we have provided useful information about your asthma so you'll begin to understand how you can help treat it.

The reactions cause the airways to become narrower and irritated - making it difficult to breath and leading to symptoms of asthma. It is difficult to say for sure what causes asthma. What we do know is that:
· you are more likely to develop asthma if you have a family history of asthma, eczema or allergies
· certain environmental factors influences whether which also causes asthma
· many aspects of modern lifestyles – such as changes in housing and diet and a more hygienic environment – may have contributed to the rise in asthma over the last few decades
· smoking during pregnancy significantly increases the risk of a child developing asthma
· children whose parents smoke are more likely to develop asthma
· environmental pollution can make asthma symptoms worse and may play a part in causing some asthma
· adult onset asthma may develop after a viral infection

There is cure for asthma, as there are some excellent medicines available to help you to control your asthma so that is does not interfere with your daily life. We at our center cure this asthma with natural dietary supplements which are filled with herbal and cures the asthma with no side effects. It is important that you take your asthma medicine properly according to the advice of the doctor.

Some of the signs which makes you that asthma has to be checked as early as possible are:
· Waking at night with coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath or a tightness in the chest
· Having to take time off work because of your asthma
· Finding it difficult to breathe, and breathing short shallow breaths
· Needing more and more reliever treatment
· Finding that your reliever does not seem to be working
· Having to take your reliever more frequently than every four hours
· Feeling that you cannot keep up with your usual level of activity or exercise

If your asthma is under control you are more likely to have a better quality of life and be more able to do the things you want to. So if you are in need of having a better life then you can take control your asthma by knowing what medicines to take, how much and when to take them. It is also important to avoid things that trigger your asthma and know what to do if your symptoms get worse.

Of course you want to do whatever you can to help care for a family member or friend with asthma. You may not be sure how to help. But with a little guidance, you can help your loved one manage his or her asthma. Identify the signs of asthma and help your loved ones with asthma. See what the asthma medications are taken by your loved ones are whether they are long term or short term preventatives. Know what to do and what to medications give during the emergency. If you think your loved one are suffering with a severe attack, get medical help immediately.

How to prevent from asthma
· Be away from the animals as they have fur which are small particles due to inhaling them asthma can be attacked so keep them away of the living room.
· The air we breathe contain lots of dust and pollution which paves a way to asthma. So should try to be away from the polluted air.
· The ozone rays which are ultra violent are also one of the cause for this asthma so should be aware of using the things which keeps us away.
· Cold and viral infections are one of the triggers for asthma. So before taking the vaccinations for it they should be consulted with the doctor.
· If somebody in the family was suffering with it then some of the precautions are needed to be taken for preventing it.
· If you have got the symptom of asthma then it is better to quit the smoking for the better of your life.
· The sudden change in weather may also is one of the symptom of asthma, so you should be careful and should use the medications in a proper way.

The above said are not to be considered as the medical advise but to be taken as just information so you will be aware about asthma and take care of yourself or your loved ones to cure it in a proper way.

Let me end this with the statement-Asthma can be cured and conquered!

Yoga for Asthma

2008-08-29T09:33:00.000+07:00

by Kevin Pederson

What is Asthma Asthma is an ancient Greek word that means panting, gasping or short-drawn breath. It is one of the most discomforting of respiratory ailments, known to affect around 5% of the worlds adult population and 10% of children. Asthmatics suffer from periodic attacks of breathlessness interspersed with bouts of complete normalcy. When normal people inhale, their air sacs fill up with air like small balloons. In exhalation they deflate expelling air. Airways are clear and open in healthy people. In asthmatics, the reverse takes place because their airways and air sacs have lost their shape and have become floppy. Their bronchi and alveoli collapse, rather than expand when air flows through them. As a result, they can inhale and exhale less.

Symptoms of Asthma
1. Dry cough
2. Difficulty in breathing
3. Shortness of breath
4. Feeling of lightness in the chest
5. Wheezing (hissing or whistling sounds during exhalation.)
6. Sometimes an attack is preceded by a running nose, irritated eyes, or an itchy throat.

Two peculiarities of asthmatics:
1. Almost all patients suffer more attacks at night, in their sleep.
2. Asthmatics have more trouble exhaling than inhaling.

Causes for Asthma Factors that precipitate an asthma attack are called triggers. They cause the air passages to get clogged and constricted, making it difficult for the patient to breathe. The inflamed bronchioles generate more mucus and also cause the muscles around them to tighten and get irritated, constricting the airways. This is called a bronchospasm.

However, asthma has a variety of causes.
1. Allergy For most it is an allergy to foods, perfumes, scents, body sprays, deodorizers, the weather, drugs or any other irritants. They vary from person to person. However, dust allergies seem to be the most common factor.
2. Combination of Factors For others, it is triggered off by a combination of allergic and non-allergic factors including stress and tension, air pollution or infections.
3. Abnormal Body Chemistry Asthma may result from the abnormal body chemistry involving the bodys enzymes or a defect in muscular action within the lungs.
4. Heredity In 75 to 100 per cent cases it has been found that when one or both parents suffer from asthma, the children have similar allergic reactions.

Yoga Therapy for Asthma Tests carried out at Yoga Therapy Centers, across the world, have shown remarkable results in curing asthma. In some cases it has also been found that attacks can actually be averted, without the aid of drugs, just through yogic practices. There is ample research evidence to substantiate the fact that Yoga Therapy makes the treatment so much more successful. Nowadays, even allopathic and homeopathic doctors have arrived at the consensus that Yoga is an excellent alternative therapy for Asthma.

Since Yoga believes that the mind is central to a diseased condition, pacifying and placating it would, in itself, help cure the disease to a great extent. The practice of yogasanas, yogic kriyas, pranayamas, relaxation and meditation calm down the whole system. This, in turn, facilitates proper assimilation of food and strengthens the lungs, digestive and circulatory system. Over a period of time, that checks attacks and even cures the condition.

This is because Yogic practices result in more anxiety reduction than drugs do. Yoga gives patients access to their own internal experience and helps them pin-point the cause of their ailment, i.e find their own triggers. This comes through increased self-awareness. Simple Yogic practices help regulate breathing patterns, as well as enhance lung functioning. Result is that most patients are able to manage their condition by simply allaying their fears and anxieties.

Yoga also has a stabilizing effect on the bodys immune system. It is now proven that the regular and consistent practice of yoga raises the bodys tolerance to infection as well as its local resistance to infections in the respiratory tract. Yogic rest and relaxation reduce the nervous systems overall activity, leading to remarkable recovery. Only Yoga offers resources like Abhyasa (regular, constant practice) and Vairagya (detachment) as means of holistic healing.

For best results, do all the practices prescribed in our sections on Yoga Asanas, Cleansing Techniques and Pranayama. Lay more emphasis on cleansing techniques like Jala Neti and Sutra Neti, Vaman Dhauti and pranayamas like Kapalbhati, Anuloma-Viloma, Ujjayi, Surbyabhedana and Bhramari. All yogaasanas prescribed are highly beneficial without exceptions or emphasis on any. However, Shavasana, should be practiced for as long as possible and whenever possible, lying down, sitting or standing

The practices work best on an empty stomach, but you should continue to sip water from time to time, to help keep your airways moist. Wear light, loose-fitting clothes and practice in a comfortable, well-ventilated, airy room or outdoors, with adequate room to lie down. If you experience any symptoms lying down, sit on a chair for a while and rest your head on a table, either on your folded arms or on one cheek. If you feel nauseous, anxious, or short of breath in any of the practices, stop immediately, get up and walk around. You are probably just hyperventilating and need to burn off some energy. Don't resume your practices right away. Rather give them a break for about a day or two.

Above all, tell yourself from time to time particularly when you get irritated or upset with yourself that the way you breathe now is what is making you ill. It is conditioned behavior, which can easily be altered.

Seriousness of allergy rhinitis

2008-08-27T14:30:00.001+07:00

By: AlexChong

What is actually allergy rhinitis? Allergy rhinitis is an allergic disease, which is caused by the sensitinogen that reacting on the mucous membranes in the nasal cavity. It consists two types that are perennial and seasonal allergic rhinitis. Perennial allergic rhinitis occurs throughout the year; whereas, seasonal allergic rhinitis usually occurs during the blossoming or flowering season. In this season, plants start to release their pollen for breeding purpose. Pollen is one of the sensitinogens to the allergic rhinitis. Clinical features of allergic rhinitis are; itching in the nose, sneezing, watery nasal discharge and nasal obstruction. There are about 20 % of adults and children have seasonal or perennial allergic rhinitis [Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1986;94:470-5]. Although it is prevalence in most of the countries regardless tropical or seasonal, most of the conditions are not treated adequately and the consequence is that allergic rhinitis becomes chronic. The chronic state of allergic rhinitis usually will lead to more serious complications of the upper and lower airways such as asthma, sinusitis and otitis media with effusion. Otitis media is an inflammation of the middle ear. Fluid is built up in the middle ear and causes temporary lose of hearing. However, if this chronic disease is not treated properly, it may lead to permanent hearing impairment.

A few medical scientists had carried out surveys to study the epidemiologic links between allergic rhinitis and other airway diseases. What they had found out were, 78% of patients who had asthma were also had allergic rhinitis [Allergy 1983;38:25-9]. They also found out that 99% of adults and 93% of adolescents, who had allergic asthma, also had allergic rhinitis [J Allergy Clin Immunol 1997;99:S138]. Besides, the other study that had been carried out for 23 years was found out that college students who previously had allergic rhinitis had three times higher the possibility to have asthma compared to those students who had not had allergic rhinitis before [Allergy Proc 1994;15:21-5].

Many researches and works had been carried out to study the epidemiologic link between allergic rhinitis and sinusitis. The results had been well documented. The earlier study showed that 53% of children, who had allergic rhinitis, also had sinusitis [J Allergy Clin Immunol 1978;61:310-4]. They proved this from the children abnormal sinus radiographs. Whereas, recent study showed that up to 70% of children, who had allergy and chronic rhinitis, had abnormal sinus radiographs [J Allergy Clin Immunol 1988;82:935-40]. 78% of the patients who had recurrent sinus infection, rhinitis allergy was coming together with their extensive sinus disease. For the children who had otitis media with effusion, 40 to 50% of them had allergic rhinitis [J Allergy Clin Immunol 1997;99:S787-97.]. This was confirmed by positive allergy skin tests or increased serum IgE antibodies to specific allergens test.

Scientist had proposed a model for the development of sinusitis and otitis media. Their proposed model assumes that the earliest cause for sinusitis is not bacterial infection but it is due to the obstruction in the nasal cavity, which hinders the normal movement of air and secretions in and out of sinuses. Virus that causes nasal inflammation is upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) type, which is called rhinovirus. Research had been carried out to study the effect of this virus to the nasal diseases. The result showed that when rhinovirus is inoculated into the nasal passage of a group people, one third of these people would develop sinus abnormities and typical sinus disease symptoms [J Allergy Clin Immunol 1992;90:474-8]. Another study also showed that 87% of healthy adult, who voluntarily went through self-diagnosed colds, had maxillary sinuses illness [Engl J Med 1994;330:25-30].

Fluid inside the sinus cavity must be drained normally to keep the nasal healthy. When nasal being infected by bacteria or virus, or exposure to allergen, dust or chemicals, thicken secretion will be developed and it has higher possibility blocks the narrowed sinus ostia (opening that connect to the sinus cavity). Accumulation of these secretions in the sinus cavity will lead to further obstruction, mucosal swelling and also thicken the sinus mucosa. This will create an anaerobic environment that further favorite the bacterial growth and lead to infection. Congested sinus ostia must be resolved if not, it will lead to recurrent acute and eventually chronic nasal disease. This model also explained why chronic sinusitis is resistant to the antimicrobials treatment alone. To treat the sinusitis properly, antihistamines and corticosteroids have to be used as a combination with the antimicrobials treatment.

A similar model had been developed by scientist to explain the occurrence of otitis media with effusion. 83% of the children had at least once occurrence of acute otitis media by the time they reach 3 years old [J Infect Dis 1989;160:83-94]. This model hypothesizes that nasal inflammation that is caused by allergens or URTIs virus will further cause inflammatory swelling and obstruction of the Eustachian tube. Obstruction of the Eustachian tube will increase negative pressure in the middle area and without improper ventilation; fluids will accumulate in the middle ear. Obstructed Eustachian tube will open occasionally with an effusion and this will suck the inner nasal secretion, which contain bacteria, virus and allergens into the middle ear cavity. Consequently, this will cause acute bacterial otitis media.

From the information above that have been gathered from various scientific publications, we know that common nasal allergy should not be left untreated. This is because it will lead to obstruction, fluid accumulation, bacterial infection and acute disease. If these diseases are not treated properly or successfully, a chronic state of inflammation, nasal congestion, and sinus infection will be developed and it can cause mucosal damage and ultimately, chronic disease. If the disease spreads to the middle ear, it will cause permanent hearing impairment

Asthma in Children: Symptoms and Risk Factors

2008-08-14T23:27:00.001+07:00

Asthma is the leading cause of chronic illness in children. It affects as many as 10%-12% of children in the U.S. and, for unknown reasons, is steadily increasing. It can begin at any age, but most children have their first symptoms by age 5.
What Makes a Child More Likely to Develop Asthma?

There are many risk factors for developing childhood asthma. These include:

* Presence of allergies
* Family history of asthma and/or allergies
* Frequent respiratory infections
* Low birth weight
* Exposure to tobacco smoke before and/or after birth
* Being male
* Being black
* Being raised in a low-income environment

Why Are More Children Getting Asthma?

No one really knows why more and more children are developing asthma. Some experts suggest that children are being exposed to more and more allergens such as dust, air pollution, and second-hand smoke. These factors all are triggers of asthma. Others suspect that children are not exposed to enough childhood illnesses to build up their immune system. It appears that a disorder of the immune system where the body fails to make enough protective antibodies may play a role in causing asthma.

And still others suggest that decreasing rates of breastfeeding have prevented important substances of the immune system from being passed on to babies.
How Can I Tell If My Child Has Asthma?

Signs and symptoms to look for include:

* Frequent coughing spells, which may occur during play, at night, or while laughing. It is important to know that cough may be the only symptom present.
* Less energy during play
* Rapid breathing
* Complaint of chest tightness or chest "hurting"
* Whistling sound (wheezing) when breathing in or out
* See-saw motions (retractions) in the chest from labored breathing
* Shortness of breath, loss of breath
* Tightened neck and chest muscles
* Feelings of weakness or tiredness

Keep in mind that not all children have the same asthma symptoms, and these symptoms can vary from asthma episode to the next episode in the same child. Also note that not all wheezing or coughing is caused by asthma.

In kids under 5 years of age, the most common cause of asthma-like symptoms is upper respiratory viral infections such as the common cold.

If your child has problem breathing, take him or her to the doctor immediately for an evaluation.
How Is Asthma Diagnosed In Children?

Asthma is often difficult to diagnose in infants. However, in older children the disease can often be diagnosed based on your child's medical history, symptoms, and physical exam.

* Medical history and symptom description. Your child's doctor will be interested in any history of breathing problems you or your child may have had, as well as a family history of asthma, allergies, a skin condition called eczema, or other lung disease. It is important that you describe your child's symptoms -- cough, wheezing, shortness of breath, chest pain or tightness -- in detail, including when and how often these symptoms have been occurring.
* Physical exam. During the physical examination, the doctor will listen to your child's heart and lungs.
* Tests. Many children will also have a chest X-ray and pulmonary function tests. Also called lung function tests, these tests measure the amount of air in the lungs and how fast it can be exhaled. The results help the doctor determine how severe the asthma is. Generally, children younger than 5 are unable to perform pulmonary function tests. Thus doctors rely heavily on history, symptoms and examination in making the diagnosis.

Other tests may also be ordered to help identify particular asthma triggers. These tests may include allergy skin testing, blood tests and X-rays to determine if sinus infections or gastroesophageal reflux disease (a gastrointestinal condition that causes reflux of acid stomach contents into the esophagus or even into the lungs) is complicating asthma.

WebMD Medical Reference

How Is Asthma Diagnosed In Children?

2008-08-08T00:15:00.000+07:00

Source: WebMD

Asthma is often difficult to diagnose in infants. However, in older children the disease can often be diagnosed based on your child's medical history, symptoms, and physical exam.

Medical history and symptom description. Your child's doctor will be interested in any history of breathing problems you or your child may have had, as well as a family history of asthma, allergies, a skin condition called eczema, or other lung disease. It is important that you describe your child's symptoms -- cough, wheezing, shortness of breath, chest pain or tightness -- in detail, including when and how often these symptoms have been occurring.
Physical exam. During the physical examination, the doctor will listen to your child's heart and lungs.
Tests. Many children will also have a chest X-ray and pulmonary function tests. Also called lung function tests, these tests measure the amount of air in the lungs and how fast it can be exhaled. The results help the doctor determine how severe the asthma is. Generally, children younger than 5 are unable to perform pulmonary function tests. Thus doctors rely heavily on history, symptoms and examination in making the diagnosis.

Other tests may also be ordered to help identify particular asthma triggers. These tests may include allergy skin testing, blood tests and X-rays to determine if sinus infections or gastroesophageal reflux disease (a gastrointestinal condition that causes reflux of acid stomach contents into the esophagus or even into the lungs) is complicating asthma.

Asthma & Children Fact Sheet

2008-08-08T00:12:00.002+07:00

Source: American Lung Association

December 2007

Asthma is a chronic inflammation of the airways with reversible episodes of obstruction, caused by an increased reaction of the airways to various stimuli. Asthma breathing problems usually happen in "episodes” or attacks but the inflammation underlying asthma is continuous.

* Asthma is the most common chronic disorder in childhood, currently affecting an estimated 6.8 million children under 18 years; of which 4.1 million suffered from an asthma attack or episode in 2006.

* An asthma episode is a series of events that results in narrowed airways. These include: swelling of the lining, tightening of the muscle, and increased secretion of mucus in the airway. The narrowed airway is responsible for the difficulty in breathing with the familiar "wheeze".

* Asthma is characterized by excessive sensitivity of the lungs to various stimuli. Triggers range from viral infections to allergies, to irritating gases and particles in the air. Each child reacts differently to the factors that may trigger asthma, including:

respiratory infections, colds
allergic reactions to allergens such as pollen, mold, animal dander, feathers, dust, food, and cockroaches
exposure to cold air or sudden temperature change
cigarette smoke
excitement/stress
exercise

* Secondhand smoke can cause serious harm to children. An estimated 400,000 to one million asthmatic children have their condition worsened by exposure to secondhand smoke.

* Asthma can be a life-threatening disease if not properly managed. In 2004, 3,816 deaths were attributed to asthma. However, deaths due to asthma are rare among children. The number of deaths increases with age. In 2004, 141 children under 15 died from asthma compared to 684 adults over 85.3

* Asthma is the third leading cause of hospitalization among children under the age of 15. Approximately 32.6 percent of all asthma hospital discharges in 2005 were in those under 15, however only 27.8% of the U.S. population was less than 15 years old.

* In 2005, there were approximately 679,000 emergency room visits were due to asthma in those under 15.

* Current asthma prevalence in children under 18 ranges from 5.7% in South Dakota and Idaho to 11.9% in Delaware.

* Within the last few years, mortality and hospitalizations due to asthma have decreased and asthma prevalence has stabilized, possibly indicating a better level of disease management, such as increased use of inhaled steroids.

* Asthma medications help reduce underlying inflammation in the airways and relieve or prevent airway narrowing. Control of inflammation should lead to reduction in airway sensitivity and help prevent airway obstruction.

* Two classes of medications have been used to treat asthma -- anti-inflammatory agents and bronchodilators. Anti-inflammatory drugs interrupt the development of bronchial inflammation and have a preventive action. They may also modify or terminate ongoing inflammatory reactions in the airways. These agents include inhaled corticosteroids, cromolyn sodium, and other anti-inflammatory compounds. A new class of anti-inflammatory medications known as leukotriene modifiers, which work in a different way by blocking the activity of chemicals called leukotrienes that are involved in airway inflammation have recently come on the market.

* Bronchodilators act principally to dilate the airways by relaxing bronchial smooth muscle. They include beta-adrenergic agonists, methylxanthines, and anticholinergics.

* In July of 2003, The Food and Drug Administration approved a new drug for patients with serious asthma. Xolair, is the first in a new class of therapies that are bioengineered to target IgE (the antibody behind allergic asthma) in the treatment of allergic disease.

* The annual direct health care cost of asthma is approximately $14.7 billion; indirect costs (e.g. lost productivity) add another $5 billion, for a total of $19.7 billion dollars. Prescription drugs represented the largest single direct cost, at $6.2 billion.

* Asthma is one of the leading causes of school absenteeism; in 2003, asthma accounted for an estimated 12.8 million lost school days in children with an asthma attack in the previous year.

* The American Lung Association funds a wide variety of asthma research. The American Lung Association-Asthma Clinical Research Centers (ACRC) network is an American Lung Association-sponsored research program seeking to develop large clinical trials that will provide useful information important to the direct care of people who have asthma. The network, with 20 clinical centers and a data coordinating center, is the largest of its kind. This work involves large numbers of subjects, making the focus of the network different from current federally funded and commercial research. Thus, the ACRC is playing a unique and important role in asthma research.

* Currently the ACRC is conducting the Study of Acid Reflux and Childhood Asthma (SARCA) which will determine if poorly controlled asthma improves when acid reflux is treated with a certain class of drug, proton pump inhibitors. Acid reflux is frequent in people with poorly controlled asthma and can lead to asthma attacks. To find out if you qualify for participation, visit the ACRC section on the American Lung Association website, www.lungusa.org.

Did You Know That Natural Herbs And Vitamins Will Help With Allergy Relief?

2008-07-18T16:10:00.001+07:00

By: Mayur

More than 50 million Americans suffer from allergic diseases. A recent nationwide survey found that more than half (54.6 percent) of all U.S citizens test positive to one or more allergens; among specific allergens, dust mite, rye, ragweed, or cockroach caused sensitization in approximately 25 percent of the population.

This article will provide tips for allergy relief. The information covered below will address the following questions:

*** Why do we develop allergies?

*** What causes allergies?

*** Allergy symptoms

*** Tips to obtain allergy relief

*** Herbs, vitamins & supplements

Allergy Cough And Its Remedy

2008-07-18T16:08:00.000+07:00

Allergy cough is part of the allergy season that comes on the wings of every spring and then some more in the fall. If you are one of those allergy victims you must have experienced the horrible never-ending allergy cough that leaves you gasping for your breath. Cough is the most common allergy symptom for which people seek desperate medical attention and remedies.

What triggers this nasty allergy cough?

The usual seasonal allergy agents such as pollen, mold, animal dander, food products, dust and some medications can be one of the factors. The body induces a cough to clean itself from allergens and airways secretions.

Causes of allergy cough are:

* Viral infection of the upper respiratory tract

* Nasal and sinus allergy

* Esophageal problems (i.e. GERD) and/or stomach problems

* Environmental irritants

Are You Allergic? Anaphylaxis May Kill You

2008-07-18T15:45:00.001+07:00

By Stephen Parker

An allergen is any substance that is recognized by the immune systems and is the cause of an allergic reaction. The substance most often is eaten or inhaled; some are even those caused by a scratch on the skin. Dust, pollen, and pet dander are all common allergens. Food like nuts, sea food, milk products, and fermented foods can be the cause of allergy symptoms in many people.

Giving a comprehensive list of allergens would be impossible. Neither would giving a common list be prudent because allergies are specific to persons. One person may exhibit a skin allergy where as another cat allergy. Some allergies are well known where as others are not. Perfume allergy and deodorant allergies are not so common.

Causative Factors

Common allergic reactions are due to the following causative factors. This list is not comprehensive and is based on statistical data of most occurring allergens. Airborne particles that cause hay fever are grass, weeds, birch trees, pollen, mold spores. Similarly a common list of food items that cause allergy are nuts, sesame, eggs, legumes(peas, beans, soybeans etc…), milk products, wheat, corn, and maize are a few. Insects that cause allergic reactions are bees (sting), wasps (sting) , Cockroach (calyx), Dust mite (excretion), animal hair and dander. Some drugs like penicillin, sulfonamides, salicylates (found in fruits) and local anesthetics produce adverse allergic reactions in some allergic patients.

Excellent Resources On Type Of Allergy, Allergy, Allergy Symptoms

2008-06-27T15:16:00.000+07:00

Excellent Resources On Type Of Allergy, Allergy, Allergy Symptoms: "The sixth leading cause of chronic disease in America is Allergy, with its annual cost exceeding $18 billion."

Air Purifier Review

2008-06-05T18:02:00.000+07:00

by Jason Uvios

These days air purifiers are fast becoming a device that you need to have in your home to ensure living a healthy life. In their ability to purify the air of dust, pollens, animal dander, mold spores, smoke, allergens and microorganisms they are immensely beneficial in reducing symptoms of allergy and alleviating conditions of asthma.

These days there are literally hundreds of models of air purifiers available from different manufacturers. And as the saying goes, the more the choices that harder it is to choose. The best option would be to go through a few reviews before you settle for a particular model. That way you will be able to get the best purifier that suits your needs and inputs from experts who know what actually makes a good air purifier. There are quite a few reviews available on the internet going through which will help you in taking a decision.

Only trust those reviews that list both the pros and the cons of each of the models. They shouldn't be promoting one purifier while trashing the others. In such a case, the reviews have to be biased.

Read more ...........

Air Purifier: Breathe Fresh Air

2008-06-05T18:00:00.001+07:00

By: Barney Garcia -

Air purifier, as the name suggests, cleans the air, which we breathe in. We all are aware of the ever-increasing amount of pollution around us and its adverse affects our health. An air purifier reduces the amount of dirt and germs in the air around us and gives us better quality of life.

Functioning of an Air Purifier

The air may contain various substances that cause irritation to your internal or external organs. The examples of ailments caused by impure air are: asthma, bronchitis, and irritation in eyes, nose or skin. The main job of the air purifier is to remove all the harmful and allergy-causing substances from the air. These are present in the air in the form of dust particles, unsafe smoke from vehicles or other sources and pollen from plants etc.

Kinds of Air Purifiers

Different air purifiers use different systems for air purification. They may use either charcoal absorbents or mechanical filters. The other variants include electronic purifier and Ultra Violet Air Purifier. Ionic Filtration is yet another technique but its use is controversial, as some people believe that it emits negative ions. Buy the air purifier that has HEPA filters, as the concerned authorities certify these filters.

Read more ....

3 Steps To Managing Skin Allergies

2008-06-05T17:57:00.002+07:00

By: David Kane

An effective approach to managing skin allergies has three components. Firstly you must understand the condition, then you must discover if anything is triggering your skin reaction, and thirdly you must look after your skin.

Many people think that allergies only affect the respiratory or digestive systems, but they can also affect your largest organ- your skin. As with other allergies the immune system overreacts to the presence of certain substances and releases inflammation-producing chemicals. Do some research and talk to your doctor. You can be confident of controlling your skin condition better if you are sure you understand what causes it.

The second component in managing a skin allergy is identifying then eliminating the allergens and irritants that start the itching/scratching cycle. There are over three thousand known triggers for skin allergies. Many are natural, but there are plenty of man-made ones too.

Read more ..........

Find An Effective Natural Allergy Treatment

2008-03-03T18:18:00.000+07:00

Sometimes over-the-counter allergy medicines just don't do the trick. If you don't have a health plan with prescription coverage, medicine for relief of allergy symptoms can make a major dent in your wallet. This allergy season think about supplementing your usual medicines with a natural allergy treatment.

Some research has been done in this field that has led to some experts recommending a variety of supplements for allergy sufferers. Keep in mind, though, that this research is still in its infancy so what might work for some people might not work for you. As anyone who suffers from allergies knows, a little relief can be a big deal.

Flavonoid Supplements

Flavonoids are naturally occurring compounds found in vegetables, berries and fruits. One flavonoid, Quercetin, found in onions and apples, has been shown to inhibit histamine release. Histamines cause allergy symptoms like swollen nasal passages, congestion, sneezing and watery eyes. More research needs to be done on this natural allergy treatment. Flavonoids also reduce risk of heart disease, stroke and cataracts.

Butterbur

Some medical studies have shown that an extract from the butterbur plant is an effective natural allergy treatment. This shrub is found in Europe and parts of Asia and North America. The extract seems to have anti-inflammatory and anti-allergy properties but does not block antihistamines. Most studies seem to support the claim that butterbur will help allergy sufferers, but not all studies have come to this conclusion. Talk to your health care professional about the correct dosage of butterbur to use.

Stinging Nettle

Stinging nettle has a long history as being used a natural health remedy. The plant is found in the United States, in mountainous regions and roadsides. A preliminary medical trial has shown that capsules made from freeze-dried nettle leaves did reduce sneezing and itching in people with hay fever. This natural allergy treatment may cause minor gastrointestinal upset in some people. Certain medicines may interact with nettle supplements.

The use of one or more natural allergy treatment has become more and more popular over the years. They can be used alone or in combination with more traditional allergy medicines. The most important thing to do is discuss these alternative supplements with your physician. They will help you determine the best dosages and whether or not there are special circumstances, like pregnancy or drug interactions, that would make taking a natural allergy treatment risky.

Finally The Answers Peanut Allergy Sufferers Are Looking For

2008-03-03T18:15:00.001+07:00

By: Stacey Moore

The fact that the incidence of peanut allergy has doubled in the past five years may be why more and more people must read The Peanut Allergy Answer Book, 2nd Edition, written by award-winning allergist Dr. Michael C. Young. Peanut allergies continue to increase, so the impact of this medical problem, particularly in young children, is enormous.

Since the 2001 publication of The Peanut Allergy Answer Book, there has been groundbreaking research published in the field of peanut allergy and anaphylaxis in medical literature. This research includes new diagnostic tests, new vaccines and therapies, and new information on the history of peanut allergy. There has also been a great increase in public awareness of the societal impact of peanut allergy, in schools and other childcare facilities, in restaurants and in the food and restaurant industry. Read more .............

Fighting Allergens On The Home Front

2008-03-03T17:44:00.001+07:00

By: Wade Gibson

While asthma and allergies are nothing to sneeze at, there could be good news for the families of the 8.9 million American children currently diagnosed with asthma and the millions more who suffer from allergies. They may all be able to breathe easier by fighting dirt and dander at home. Here are hints on how:

• Wash bedding regularly in hot water.

• Avoid feather pillows.

• Put a dust mite cover on your child's mattress and pillows.

• Keep pets out of the bedroom and wash furry pets often.

• Replace heat and air-conditioning filters monthly.

• Use an exhaust fan when cooking.

• Keep curtains and blinds dust free.

• Defeat dust and dangerous allergens with a total filtration system vacuum cleaner.

Read more ...................

ROLE OF NONI IN ALLERGIC VASCULITIS

2007-09-16T19:52:00.001+07:00

Allergy Remedy

By WorldNoni.Org

Allergic vasculitis is hypersensitivity to a drug or foreign agent that leads to inflammation and damage to blood vessels of the skin. Vasculitis occurs because of inflammation and damage to blood vessels. The inflammation of allergic vasculitis is the result of an allergic reaction to a drug or other foreign agent.

Symptoms

skin lesions usually located on legs, buttocks, or trunk
palpable (able to be felt with the fingers) purpura

multiple papules (small, solid, raised skin areas)
purpura (bleeding into the skin)

blisters on the skin
urticaria (hives), may last longer than 24 hours
necrotic ulcers (open sores with dead tissue)

Role of noni

Noni has been reported to have a broad range of health benefits for various diseases and complains.

Major components – Noni contains all the vitamins like Vitamin A , Vitamin B complex, vitamin C, Vitamin E. It contains aall the trace minerals. A number of major components have been identified in the Noni plant such as scopoletin, octoanoic acid, potassium, vitamin C, terpenoids, alkaloids, anthraquinones (such as nordamnacanthal, morindone, rubiadin, and rubiadin-1-methyl ether, anthraquinone glycoside), sitosterol, carotene, vitamin A, flavone glycosides, linoleic acid, Alizarin, amino acids, acubin, L-asperuloside, caproic acid, caprylic acid, ursolic acid, rutin, and a putative proxeronine.

Noni contains many active ingredients that have been shown to suppress allergic reactions. It relieves allergy symptoms by preventing the activation of immune responder cells

Noni contains several active constituents, such as flavonoids, polyphenols, catechins, and caffeine. Catechins such as epigallocatechin, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), and epicatechin gallate are potent antioxidants. By studying mast cells that release histamine, researchers found that EGCG blocks the IgE receptor, which is involved in the allergic response.

Noni contains carotenoids, vitamin C, vitamin E, calcium, potassium, and flavonoids and rutin. It has anti-inflammatory effects

Noni has a powerful effect on raising glutathione levels in the body. Glutathione is a naturally occurring antioxidant that protects cells from the damage inflicted by free radicals. It prevents oxidative cell damage and is involved with immune system function. Glutathione depletion is linked to many chronic diseases.

Noni has been found to enhance T cell function. Noni increases the levels of IL-4. IL-4 enhances the ability of T cells to regulate pro-inflammatory cells, which further suggests that Noni can help reduce inflammation.

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is found abundant in Noni. It appears that vitamin C increases the function of many immune cells, including T cells, phagocytes (which destroy invader cells), and others. As an antioxidant, ascorbic acid can protect cells from reactive oxygen species known to cause tissue damage and disease. Vitamin C has antihistamine properties (Johnston CS et al 1996) that can help relieve allergy symptoms.

Vitamin E. Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin that acts as a free-radical scavenger. It protects cell membranes and prevents damage to membrane-associated enzymes. Studies indicate lower levels of antioxidants such as vitamin E increase the risk of allergies threefold .

Magnesium. Magnesium is utilized by every cell in the body and participates in energy metabolism and protein synthesis. The body vigilantly protects blood magnesium levels, in part because at least 350 enzymatic processes depend on magnesium status for activation. As magnesium levels decline, the incidence of allergies and asthma increases, and magnesium has been used in the acute treatment of asthma attacks. Magnesium directly depresses smooth muscle activity, which may help relieve the broncho constriction seen in asthma. Noni contains this trace mineral in abundant quantity with a chealated form.

How Noni works

The natural integrity of Noni is only part of the reason for its effectiveness. There are two additional reasons contribution to Noni's effectiveness for a broad range of conditions:

1. Unique Combinations of Substances

For a fruit, Noni has an impressive combination of ingredients. It has a rich complement of vitamins and minerals; including A, B vitamins (including the rare B-12), C, E, Iron, calcium, sodium, potassium, zinc and several trace minerals. It also has 17 of 20 amino acids. Terpenes, fungicides, adaptogens, glycosides, polysaccharides and other unique ingredients that even in small amounts can have significant physiological effects can be found in Noni. Studies show that NONI stimulates the immune system, regulates proper cell function, increases the ability of cells to absorb and utilize nutrients, inhibits tumor growth, and regenerates damaged cells. Probably the most unique ingredient is an alkaloid called xeronine. Xeronine has several important functions including regulating the many proteins in the body, activating inactive enzymes and improving cellular function. Noni also contains a substance called proxeronine, which can be stored in the liver according to Dr. Ralph Heinecke. Proxeronine, in turn, can be used to make xeronine, as needed.

2. Synergy of its Substances

The many known, and even some of the unknown substances, come together in a way that supports the needs of many of our internal systems, concurrently. As the word synergy implies, these substances work far better in combination than they do separately. Many of the ingredients in Noni are found in varying amounts in other foods or herbs. There seems to be no known food or herb with either the rich list of substances or the high amounts of key substances all put together in one super food. Noni aids the body's natural healing abilities.

ROLE OF NONI IN ALLERGIC RHINITIS

2007-09-16T19:49:00.000+07:00

Allergy Remedy

By WorldNoni.Org

It is also called Hay fever; Nasal allergies. Allergic rhinitis is a collection of symptoms, predominantly in the nose and eyes, caused by airborne particles of dust, dander, or plant pollens in people who are allergic to these substances.

When these symptoms are caused by pollen, the allergic rhinitis is commonly called hay fever.

Allergies are caused by an over-sensitive immune response. The immune system normally protects the body against harmful substances such as bacteria and viruses. Allergy symptoms occurs when the immune system reacts to substances (allergens) that are generally harmless and in most people do not cause an immune response.

When a person with allergies breathes in an allergen such as pollen or dust, antibodies are produced. When the antibodies are stimulated by pollen and dust, histamine and other chemicals are released. This causes itching, swelling, and mucus production. Symptoms vary from person to person. Very sensitive individuals can experience hives or other rashes.

Hay fever involves an allergic reaction to pollen. A similar reaction occurs with allergy to mold, animal dander, dust, and similar inhaled allergens.

The pollens that cause hay fever vary from person to person and from region to region. Large, visible pollens are seldom responsible for hay fever. Tiny, hard to see pollens more often cause hay fever. Examples of plants commonly responsible for hay fever include:

Trees (deciduous and evergreen)
Grasses
Ragweed

The amount of pollen in the air can play a role in whether hay fever symptoms develop. Hot, dry, windy days are more likely to have increased amounts of pollen in the air than cool, damp, rainy days when most pollen is washed to the ground.

Some disorders may be associated with allergies. These include eczema and asthma.

Allergies are common. Your genes and environmental may make you more prone to allergies.

Symptoms

Coughing
Headache
Itching nose, mouth, eyes, throat, skin, or any area
Runny nose
Problems with smell
Sneezing
Stuffy nose (nasal congestion)
Tearing eyes
Sore throat
Wheezing

Role of Noni –

Noni contains many active ingredients that have been shown to suppress allergic reactions. It relieves allergy symptoms by preventing the activation of immune responder cells

Noni contains carotenoids, vitamin C, vitamin E, calcium, potassium, and flavonoids and rutin. It has anti-inflammatory effects

ROLE OF NONI IN ALLERGIES

2007-09-16T19:41:00.000+07:00

Allergy Remedy

By WorldNoni.Org

Allergies are extremely common. Seasonal allergies (commonly called hay fever) is a common phenomenon. In children younger than 11 years old, allergic dermatitis (inflammation of the skin) is the most common skin condition. Allergies can affect people of all ages, although they tend to develop in childhood or adolescence. The leading risk factor for allergies is exposure to an allergen, even though there is a genetic component to allergies, and newer studies have linked them to obesity in women.

Allergies occur because of an exaggerated immune response to a substance called an allergen. To be effective, the immune system must operate within a narrow balance; a lack of immune response leads to easy infection, while an overactive immune system can lead to autoimmune diseases (in which the body attacks itself) or allergies (in which the body overreacts to otherwise harmless substances).

Common inhaled allergens include pollen, animal dander, dust, mold, and insect parts . Ingested allergens include medications (penicillin, for example) and foods such as milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish, fish, wheat, and soy. People can also be allergic to plants, nickel, copper, and latex.

Symptoms of allergies include the following (NIH 2005a):

Runny nose
Tearing, burning, or itching eyes
Red eyes (conjunctivitis)
Swollen eyes
Itching (nose, mouth, throat, skin, or any other area)
Wheezing
Coughing
Difficulty breathing
Hives
Skin rashes
Stomach cramps
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Headache

The most severe form of allergic reaction is called anaphylaxis. This is a serious condition that results in respiratory distress and swelling of the larynx. It often appears within minutes of exposure to a specific allergen and should be treated rapidly because death can occur within minutes or hours after the first symptoms appear.

Relieving allergy symptoms represents a large and extremely lucrative business for drug companies. Medicines frequently prescribed or sold over the counter for allergy relief include antihistamines, decongestants, and corticosteroids. While these medicines work, they may have significant side effects. Antihistamines, for example, can cause drowsiness, dry mouth, blurred vision, constipation, and many other unwanted effects. Oral corticosteroids taken for more than three or four weeks are associated with significant side effects, including a weakened immune system and many other unwanted consequences.

Fortunately, it is possible, by use of nutritional therapy, to reduce allergy symptoms through more natural methods. Additionally, antioxidants such as vitamin E, vitamin C, glutathione, and coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) defend the body against oxidative molecules that are formed during the allergy response.

What Makes an Allergy Attack

In most allergy cases, the body is first sensitized to a foreign protein (allergen), causing the production of an antibody called immunoglobulin E (IgE). The newly produced IgE antibody circulates in the bloodstream, where it attaches to another kind of white blood cell called a basophil. In addition, IgE binds to mast cells, a type of white blood cell located in the skin and the mucosal lining.

The next time the allergen is recognized, the IgE antibody provokes the release of chemicals that cause a typical allergy attack. These chemicals include histamine, prostaglandins, and leukotrienes. Histamine in particular is an important target for allergy medications. Produced by mast cells, histamine causes localized swelling and inflammation. Many conventional treatments block the action of histamine. Certain nutrients have been shown to depress the activity of mast cells.

Besides the release of histamine, activated mast cells cause inflammation in other ways. During the inflammatory response to an allergen, pro-inflammatory chemicals are released from mast cells. In response to the pro-inflammatory chemicals, leukocytes (white blood cells) are attracted. The result of this cascade is inflamed tissue and increased production of white blood cells—a runny nose and increased mucus secretion in the lungs.

Role of Noni

Noni contains many active ingredients that have been shown to suppress allergic reactions. It relieves allergy symptoms by preventing the activation of immune responder cells

Noni contains carotenoids, vitamin C, vitamin E, calcium, potassium, and flavonoids and rutin. It has anti-inflammatory effects

Noni has been found to enhance T cell function. Noni increases the levels of IL-4. IL-4 enhances the ability of T cells to regulate pro-inflammatory cells, which further suggests that Noni can help reduce inflammation.

ROLE OF NONI IN ASTHMA

2007-09-16T18:59:00.000+07:00

Asthma Natural Treatment

By World Noni Research Foundation (WorldNoni.Org)

BRONCHIAL ASTHMA

Asthma is primarily a disorder of the bronchial tubes, the airways that connect the windpipe (trachea) and the lungs. The bronchial tubes are surrounded by smooth muscle. The tubes themselves are lined with mucus glands and contain inflammatory immune-system cells called mast cells, lymphocytes, and eosinophils. When activated, these cells produce inflammatory mediators such as histamine and leukotrienes, which bind with receptors on cells within the bronchial tubes.

During as asthma attack, a cascade of events is launched that results in the production of histamine and leukotrienes. Leukotrienes are derived from the inflammatory arachidonic acid. These inflammatory mediators cause a host of changes in bronchial tissue: they trigger a dramatic increase in mucus secretion and a simultaneous rapid constriction of the bronchial smooth muscle, which narrows the bronchial tubes and reduces the amount of air that can pass through them. Over the course of the subsequent few hours, inflammatory cells move into the area, capillaries begin to leak fluid, and direct tissue damage occurs, triggering further inflammation and swelling. The net result is wheezing and coughing and eventual trapping of air in the alveoli (a tiny, thin-walled, capillary-rich sac in the lungs, or air sac) and smaller airways. This air trapping is most dangerous to the asthmatic because it progressively limits the amount of air that can be exchanged between the lungs and the blood stream, eventually causing rising carbon dioxide levels and falling oxygen levels. The increased muscular effort required to move air increases oxygen demand, tissue metabolism, and acid production, eventually resulting in exhaustion and, in extreme cases, respiratory collapse and arrest.

OXIDATIVE STRESS AND BRONCHIAL ASTHMA

Higher levels of the antioxidants beta-carotene and vitamin C, along with the antioxidant trace minerals, were associated with a lower risk of asthma. The idea behind nutritional supplementation is to disrupt this inflammatory cascade whenever possible. For example, omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to inhibit the production of arachidonic acid, which reduces the concentration of inflammatory leukotrienes . Other phytonutrients and flavonoids glycosides interfere with other causative factors in the inflammatory cascade, such as inhibiting nuclear factor kappa beta and an enzyme that converts arachidonic acid to leukotriene B4.

Scientists are also beginning to better understand the interaction between allergies, asthma, and oxidative stress. Oxidative stress occurs when highly reactive molecules, known as free radicals, interact with molecules within the body, especially DNA and mitochondrial membranes. Experimental evidence suggests that some pollutants, such as vehicle exhaust, may produce oxidative stress in the bronchial tubes. Studies suggest that natural dietary supplementation with all nutrients and phyto nutrients like cysteine and alpha-lipoic acid, bio flavonoids , glycosides etc can enhance the pulmonary defenses, thus countering oxidative stress.

Antioxidants (vitamins C, E, and A). A number of studies have suggested that consuming antioxidants such as vitamins C, E, beta-carotene, flavonoids, selenium, and other nutrients reduces the risk of bronchoconstriction associated with asthma.

For instance, studies have shown that vitamin C and possibly vitamin E supplementation can alleviate the severity of asthma symptoms. Dietary supplementation with vitamin C and vitamin A has also been associated with reduced susceptibility to asthma attacks. Other studies have demonstrated that vitamin C or E supplementation may be a valuable addition to the treatment of patients with allergic rhinitis (otherwise known as hay fever) and asthma.

Dietary supplementation of vitamin C has also been found to help a specific form of asthma called exercise-induced asthma (EIA). People with EIA are usually symptom free when not exercising. Studies have found that 1 or 2 g vitamin C daily diminished episodes of EIA.

Flavonoids. Flavonoids have antioxidant properties and have been associated with improved lung function. One study demonstrated that a high dietary intake of the flavonoids was associated with a lower prevalence of asthma.

ROLE OF NONI IN BRONCHIAL ASTHMA

Noni acts as an effective and powerful anti-oxidant. It contains all the vitamins and minerals – Vita A, C, E, B1, B2, B6, B12, beta-carotene, Niacin, Biotin, Pantothenic Acid (B5), Folic Acid. Noni is rich with bio flavonoids, flavone glycosides, linoleic acid, Alizarin, amino acids, acubin, L-asperuloside, caproic acid, caprylic acid, ursolic acid, rutin, and proxeronine.

A research group has successfully identified several new flavonol glycosides, an iridoid glycoside from the Noni leaves, a trisacharide fatty acid ester, rutin, and an asperulosidic acid from the fruit. Besides that Noni contains more than 150 other essential phytonutrients that are highly required for our body

Therefore Noni may help to reduce the risk of bronco constriction associated with asthma. Anti oxidant property of Noni helps to reduce the oxidative stress and neutralizes the damaging effect of free radicals.

Hence a long term use of Noni helps for the asthmatic patients a lot.

Morinda citrifolia, natural remedy for asthma and allergy

2007-09-16T18:35:00.000+07:00

Asthma Natural Treatment

A Summary by Mirna Sakina

It is commonly known as Great morinda, Indian mulberry, Beach mulberry, Tahitian Noni, or since recently: Noni (from Hawaiian), Nono (in Tahitian), Mengkudu (from Malay), Nonu (in Tongan), and Ach (in Hindi), is a shrub or small tree in the family Rubiaceae. Morinda citrifolia is native to Southeast Asia but has been extensively spread by man throughout India and into the Pacific islands as far as the islands of French Polynesia, of which Tahiti is the most prominent. It can also be found in parts of the West Indies.

The fruit is one such that more than suffices the requirements of a Nutritional Supplement of great advantage. Though in the ancient cultures this fruit was widely used for its health restorative properties, over the years us popularity diminished due to the unpleasant smell that eminates from the ripened fruit and so humanity lost for a while the amazing gift of Health and Well Being that Nature had endowed it with in the form of Morinda citrifolia.

Here are some researches and findings by the scientists:
1. Dr. Ralph Heinicke of the Pineapple Research Institute in the United States of America,
He was the first who isolated a crystalline material from this fruit Morinda citrifolia that is responsible for the synthesis of Xeronine, which plays the sterling role of helping the Human body properly assimilate Proteins and thus regulate the structure and function of the various Cells of our body. Healthy cells build healthy tissues which in turn build healthy organs and healthy organs contribute to healthy body systems and so helping the individual lead a life of Health and Well Being.

In 1993 Dr. Ralph Heinicke in his research on Morinda citrifolia isolated another component found to be present in Morinda citrifolia — Damnacanthal. This Damnacanthal was shown to introduce normal cell growth in pre-cancer cells.

2. Dr. Mona Harrison MD, formerly assistant dean of Boston University School of Medicine and Chief Medical Officer D.C.General Hospital
She found out that Morinda citrifolia enhanced the function of the Thyroid and the Thymus glands, thus helping the body fight off infections and other problems of the Immune System. She believes that the frequency modulations in the body’s Energy, brought about by Morinda citrifolia, helps to fight depression and also acts as a true Adaptogen - i.e. It enhances the body’s Self Healing Mechanism to restore normalcy rapidly. Further more scientific studies from the 1960’s to 1980’s revealed the Analgesic qualities of Morinda citrifolia and proved that Morinda citrifolia helped the Circulatory, Digestive and Respiratory systems of the body, in addition to improving the texture of the Skin and the growth and repair of Hair.

3. In 1994, Mr. A. Hirazumi, a scientific researcher from the University of Hawaii
Based on the finding of Dr. Ralph Heinicke in 1993, he established the Anti-Cancer activity of Morinda citrifolia on intraperitoneally implanted Lewis Lung Carcinomo Syngenic Mice. Later on a team of Japanese researchers studied the induction of normal phenotypes in RSA-Transformed cells by Damnacanthal from Morinda citrifolia. These initial studies indicate the potential of Anti-Cancer activity of the Morinda citrifolia fruit on laboratory animals and the possible mechanism of its action. Pioneering research work on Morinda citrifolia is being done at the University of Hawaii, Keio University and Osaka University in Japan, The University of Antwerp in Belgium and Rutgers University - NJ. U.S.A.. to name a few. In fact, research on Morinda citrifolia is presently being carried out in over 40 Universities around the globe.

4. It is interesting to note what Dr. Scott Gerson MD has to write about Morinda citrifolia and India:
“Several years ago, I was researching material for a book on Medicinal Plants of India and became interested in a family of plants known as Rubiaceae. Of particular interest was a plant known in Sanskrit as Ach which was attributed special properties by ancient physicians. The fruit of this Ach plant or as we now know it as Morinda Citrifolia has a rich history in India, where it has been used for tens of centuries in the system of medicine known as Avurveda. This holistic medical tradition was established in the north western part of India by people called Aryans who were reputed to be a rather cosmic civilisation. Morinda Citrifolia was especially esteemed by the ancient Aryan physicians because it protected the skin from becoming dry and cracked from the sun. My investigations of the published scientific literature on Morinda Citrifolia yielded more than 100 articles pertaining to this medicinal plant.”

This fruit finds place in our ancient medicinal texts or Ayurveda and Siddha and in Tamil Nadu at one time, this tree was a must to grow in even Temple along with the Tulsi and Bail trees, for it was believed that the Goddess of all Gods made her abode in it.

Morinda citrifoia widespread success is based upon the theory that it acts as an Adaptogen. In essence, Morinda citrifolia contain a natural food supplement that helps “Sick” cells return to normal. If the body is releasing too much or too little of natural substances, the result is weakened or sick cells. An Adaptogen helps regulate the amount of the substance the body releases.”

It is important however to remember that the adaptogens from Morinda citrifolia are food supplements and not a medicine or drug.

However, as seen from many of the testimonials, Morinda citrifolia can help medication to be more effective with smaller doses, thus decreasing the normal side effects from certain medications.”

Continuous research on Morinda citrifolia has established, that Morinda citrifolia in addition to being rich in the content of proxeronine which is used by the body to strengthen and revitalise its cells, is also rich in Vitamin A, B, B2, B6, B12, C & H, Calcium, Iron, Niacin, Folk Acid. Pantothenic Acid, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Zinc, Copper and other minerals like Chromium, Manganese, Molybdenum, Sodium, Potassium, Carbohydrates like Fructose and Glucose and also has the distinction of being the only known Natural Health Product to contain more than 150 isolated Neutraceuticals.

In China, Samoa, Japan, and Tahiti, various parts of the tree (leaves, flowers, fruits, bark, roots) serve as tonics and to contain fever, to treat eye and skin problems, gum and throat problems as well as constipation, stomach pain, or respiratory difficulties. In Malaysia, heated noni leaves applied to the chest are believed to relieve coughs, nausea, or colic.

The noni fruit is taken, in Indochina especially, for asthma, lumbago, and dysentery.As for external uses, unripe fruits can be pounded, then mixed with salt and applied to cut or broken bones. In Hawaii, ripe fruits are applied to draw out pus from an infected boil. The green fruit, leaves and the root/rhizome have traditionally been used to treat menstrual cramps and irregularities, among other symptoms, while the root has also been used to treat urinary difficulties.

Sources: WorldNoni.Org, Wikipedia

Asthma Symptoms: A Former Patient's Personal Experience

2007-08-29T18:45:00.000+07:00

Asthma Symptoms

by Foras Aje

Knowing the symptoms and signs of a certain ailment or disease may very well come in handy towards being able to control it. Asthma is no exception to this fact.

Though it's been years since I had an asthma attack, (thanks to some plain, natural methods of prevention and control), I remember vividly how at the onset of an attack my breathing used to be labored and the wheezing sounds used to begin.

What struck me as peculiar was the fact that a mere yawning and stretching (believe it or not) could trigger an asthma attack for me. Even if I received a friendly pat on the back, that in itself was enough to get me wheezing.

Well, by nature, I've always been inquisitive and I had to do some searching to see what was the cause of my asthma problems and years back I came up with the following information.

According to medical research, Asthma is an allergic inflammation of the lungs. Moreover, an asthma attack can be triggered by chemicals, air pollutants, pollens, molds, dust, animal dander, foods, exercise, and even temperature changes.

However, the pioneers and practitioners of Naturopathy believe that 99.9% OF ALL DISEASES ARE A RESULT OF CONSTIPATION, A CLOGGING UP OF THE BODILY TISSUES!

This produces allergy and asthma symptoms: itchy, runny nose and eyes, blocked sinuses, coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath.

Thank God, I no longer experience such things; nonetheless, if and when I do yawn and stretch or do get the occasional pat on the back, I can't help but smile to myself that I am Asthma Free!

Now, if you may be wondering what tips one can apply to control or dare I say altogether cure asthma and its related symptoms, here are a few tips that could come in handy.

1. Avoid excessive temperature changes.

2. Ensure dust mites are reduced as much as possible in your home

3. Use a humidifier in the cold seasons.

4. Keep fresh air circulating as much as possible in the home.

Now, I save the most important for last:

You have got to give up all processed foods and animal products such as meat, milk, eggs and the like from your diet-plain and simple. These are mucus forming foods and we all know what one physical characteristic of asthma symptoms are: Mucus.

This is a fact that has been in effect in several programs aimed at correcting respiratory health such as the "Breath Retaining Program for Asthmatics" developed by the Russian, Dr. Buteyko. Within weeks of adhering to his advice, many a chronic asthmatic has been able to give up the use of ventolin inhalers.

People react differently but it is safe to say with the tips above, asthma symptoms need not be as lethal or cumbersome as they may have been previously for you.

Here's to free breathing...

Foras.

(Special Note) The responsibility of your use of any suggestions or procedures lies not with the author, publisher or any other party affiliated with this program. This information is not intended as medical advice

Read more ...............

Are Your Asthma And Allergies Caused By A Low Immune System?

2007-08-29T18:40:00.000+07:00

Allergy Asthma

By: Susan Millar -

Many people who suffer from asthma and allergies don't realize it, but a low immune system is very likely at the root of their problems. Medical experts agree that a lowered or improperly functioning immune system can and does result in several diseases such as asthma, allergies, arthritis, psoriasis, lupus, chronic fatigue syndrome and cancer to name just a few.

The body's immune systems first line of defense against disease are barriers that prevent antigens, which are large protein molecules of bacteria, viruses, chemicals and other substances that appear harmful from entering your body. The barriers include your skin, mucus, cough reflex, stomach acid and even enzymes in your tears, which destroy toxins. If the antigen or toxin manages to get past these barriers, then the immune system launches a second line of defense, found in your blood. They are white blood cells, which perform a protective function by seeking out and destroying foreign protein antigens.

If you suffer from a low immune system it is important to avoid things that suppress or act to destroy it, such as a high cholesterol diet, heavy metals (lead, mercury, cadmium), fat, alcohol, fried foods, food additives, obesity, industrial pollutants, pesticides, herbicides, stress, prescription drugs, too much sunlight, tobacco, and radiation.

Unfortunately, there is no "magic bullet" that you can take to quickly repair your immune system, but there are several ways to help build and support it by providing your body with proper nutrition, regular exercise, adequate rest, relaxation and maintaining a positive mental attitude.

Taking the following dietary steps will help protect and build your immune system:

*** Limit saturated and trans fats, food additives and alcohol

*** Take a good quality multi-vitamin/mineral supplement daily

*** Ensure your diet includes adequate protein

*** Take 1000 mg of Vitamin C daily.

*** Eat 3 to 4 servings of vegetables daily.

*** Eat 3 to 4 servings of legumes weekly.

*** Eat 3 to 4 servings of omega-3 fatty acid-rich foods weekly

The length of time required to re-build a low immune system of course will vary depending on your individual situation and environmental exposure to immune system suppressants. This is not an overnight process, for some people it can take three months to two years. Obviously, the higher your exposure has been to immuno-suppressants, the longer it will take to build your immune system. Children tend to heal much more quickly than adults or the elderly.

People with allergies and asthma will find that their asthma and allergy symptoms become less frequent and less severe when their immune systems are strong. It's important to avoid using allergy and asthma drugs, which have toxic side effects and act to lower the immune system. There are natural supplements that safely and effectively eliminate allergy and asthma symptoms.

Read more ..................

Allergy Asthma

2007-08-29T18:38:00.000+07:00

Allergy Asthma

By Jason Gluckman

Of all the diseases related to the respiratory system, asthma allergy is the most prevalent. This condition is usually visible in children and young adults, but the process may progress throughout their lives. Asthma allergy is a lung disease characterized by difficulty in breathing, wheezing, coughing, and the increase in production of mucus during an attack. The symptoms may bring simple discomfort or they may eventually lead to death, depending on the number allergens that affect the patient, causing blockages in the airways.

Cause of Asthma Allergies

The cause of asthma allergy is similar to the causes of an allergic reaction in a person. Allergens include dust, chemicals, scents, odors and changes in temperature. The actual reactions vary from patient to patient. In some cases of asthma allergy, symptoms are triggered by exercise or the emotional state of a person. These symptoms are quite unique.

Smoke is the most recognized cause of allergy asthma, especially for children. Statistics show that a ratio of eight out of 10 children are at risk of developing asthmatic conditions when exposed to smoke. It is believed that as the city becomes more industrialized, people may develop symptoms that are similar to asthma.

Risk Factors

Asthma allergy is not distinct to certain types of people. Anyone of any age, race, weight, height or gender is at risk of acquiring the disease. People who are involved in industries that deal with heavy emissions are at a higher risk of developing asthma.

It is also believed that asthma allergy is a hereditary disorder. A person who has a history of asthma allergy in the family is also at risk.

Treatments

Treatment starts with managing asthma attacks. To do this, a person needs to stay away from allergens that trigger asthma allergy. There are also medicines that can be prescribed by a physician to alleviate some symptoms.

Read more ...................

Allergies And Asthma - Differences And Similarities

2007-08-29T18:35:00.000+07:00

Allergy Asthma

by Mike Herman

Allergies are the most common cause of the inflammation which underlies most asthma particularly in younger sufferers.

Allergy rates are on the increase especially in Western countries (compared to people in less affluent rural parts of the world) and there is a growing body of evidence that strongly suggests that asthma is an environmentally induced disease.

This raises the challenging possibility that we may be able to prevent asthma by altering our environment.

Treating asthma by removing the causes, aka triggers, may prove to be successful when the cause is easy to remove, such as a dust or vapors inhaled at the office.

This is also true when the cause is a pet such as a cat or dog, however the reluctance to not have loved pet commonly prevents this.

An allergy to house dust mites is one of the commonest cause of asthma but getting rid of mites sufficiently to make a significant difference requires such a major and expensive change in lifestyle for the sufferer that it is rarely successful..

Research is currently being carried out to develop future treatments which may be able to modify or diminish the allergic process in the body and help all asthmatics.

Asthma and Allergies

*The cause of the inflammation (of the airway) which underlies most asthma in younger sufferers is one or more allergies.

*More people in western countries suffer from allergies, compared to people in less affluent parts of the world, and allergy rates are on the increase.

Read more............

Allergic To Your Dog Or Cat?

2007-08-17T10:05:00.001+07:00

Pet Allergy

By: Samuel Murray

Pets definitely help us live longer and healthier lives. This is especially true of the elderly and those of us who live alone. Pets make wonderful and faithful companions. They are always there for us. However, this relationship can become strained, and sometimes even be broken when someone in the household develops an allergy to a beloved pet.

Studies show that approximately 15% of the population suffers from an allergy to a dog or cat, and about one third of those with an allergy to cats choose to live in a household with a cat despite the allergy. Some allergy suffers live happily with a pet for a year or two before an allergy starts.

There are sometimes long term health ramifications of repeated allergy flair up's, especially for children. Repeated flair-up's can cause permanent lung damage in children. This should be carefully and thoroughly discussed with your physician. One of the ways to live happily with an animal you are allergic to is to decrease your exposure to the animal. Keep the animal outside if possible.

If the allergy sufferer only has a mild reaction to the animal there are ways for the two of them to live together in harmony, but it takes work. The animal should not be allowed in the allergy sufferers bedroom or on the bed. Keep the animal off of any upholstered furniture in the house as dander can be transferred to upholstered furniture. Use a room purifier to remove airborne animal dander. Remove carpets from the home if possible and replace with wood floors. Wash area rugs on a regular basis with warm water. Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter in order to trap dander. The allergy sufferer should wash his or her face and hands after handling the animal. The animal can be bathed weekly in specially formulated shampoo that removes dander.

In some cases where the above methods and the use of over the counter antihistamines and decongestants do not help, the allergy sufferer may need to seek the help of an allergist. Immunotherapy can be thought of like a vaccination against your allergies. Given on a regular basis as shots, immunotherapy helps your body build up a natural tolerance to specific allergens.

With the use of the above methods you'll be able to live a long and healthy life with your pet!

Read more ..............

Allergic Reactions To Latex Gloves

2007-08-17T10:04:00.000+07:00

Latex Allergy

By: Christopher H. Waters -

The natural rubber latex is a milky fluid which is derived from the rubber tree known as hevea brasiliensis. The gloves made from this natural rubber latex are known as Latex Gloves. These latex gloves can cause allergic reactions due to the proteins released by the latex.

Health Problems Caused by wearing Latex Gloves

For the past few years it can be observed that there is an increasing incidence of allergic reactions among the latex gloves users. According to current estimation up to 17% of health care workers, who are regular users of latex gloves, have developed an allergy to them. The more time the health care workers spend in contact with latex the more they are likely to become allergic patient. The three main types of health problems which can be caused by wearing regular natural rubber latex gloves are 1) irritant dermatitis, 2) allergic contact dermatitis and 3) immediate latex allergy.

1) Irritant Dermatitis: The Irritant dermatitis is the most common disease that is associated with wearing of latex gloves. It is mainly caused by repeated washing of hands and especially wearing of powdered gloves. Dry, itchy, irritated areas on the skin are the main symptoms of this disease. The Irritant dermatitis is not actually a true allergic reaction. The irritation may be caused both because of the powder in the gloves which acts as an irritant and because of the skin which stays moist for many hours during the day as we wear them. Washing of hands may also cause an irritation because of the strong scrubbing agents, soaps and detergents.

2) Allergic Contact Dermatitis: In case of allergic contact dermatitis which is also known as chemical sensitivity dermatitis the hands, wrists and even forearms develop a red, itchy rash, blisters, sores and cracks. This disease is an allergic reaction of the skin which is caused by the chemicals inside the latex gloves. The chemicals which are mainly responsible for the disease are the residues which were not completely removed during manufacturing process. The more one is exposed to these harmful chemicals the more he is likely to react with them.

3) Immediate Latex Allergy: The most common symptoms of this disease are skin redness, rash, hives and eczema. Sometimes more severe symptoms can be life-threatening such as respiratory symptoms such as stuffy nose, sneezing, red itchy eyes, swollen face, scratchy throat, asthma and anaphylaxis. One is more likely to develop an immediate latex allergy as long as he is exposed to the proteins released by the latex gloves.

Read more ...................

A Remedy For Seasonal Allergies

2007-08-17T09:58:00.000+07:00

Allergy Remedy

By: Mark Dodd

Are you one of the millions that suffer from allergies? Are you looking for information on allergy remedies? If you are a chronic victim of the distressing effects of allergies then it’s high time you found an effective allergy remedy. There are several allergy remedy medications available on the market.

In order to effectively treat your allergies, you need to find the allergy remedy most aligned with your symptoms and needs. You have several avenues to choose from when searching for an allergy remedy. These avenues include: home remedies, allergy medication, environmental modifications, and a consultation with an Allergist.

Let’s start with home remedies. Home allergy remedies were used before allergy medications surfaced on the medical scene. Be wary of many home remedies. Many of these remedies are based on “old wives tales”.

However, there are some steps you can take at home that do work. For example, if you have an allergy to pollen you can minimize its effects by washing your clothing and hair when come home. Make sure to do this before you go to bed, so that you won’t spread any of the pollen onto your bedding.

Allergy medications are a wonderful allergy remedy. You can use over the counter antihistamine pills, lotions, and ointments. If you have a chronic allergy you can consult your physician for a stronger prescription allergy remedy. Nasal sprays are also a great tool against allergies. They act as a direct allergy remedy to your nasal passageways.

There are a few environmental modifications you can make as an allergy remedy. Wash bedding in hot water to remove dust mites. Use mattress and pillow covers to fight against dust mites. Keep your home clean and carpets vacuumed.

If you have severe allergies that can’t be managed with basic allergy remedies then head to your physician or allergist. They can take you through a series of allergy testing and provide the best treatment options for your situation. This may involve removing the allergy culprit from your environment, food plate, or clothing drawer. They can provide prescription allergy medication to knock your allergy out cold.

Read more ..................

A Quick Guide To Food Allergy Treatment

2007-07-10T17:43:00.000+07:00

Food Allergy Treatment

By Allen Matthews

This article has been written for those readers who have already been diagnosed with a food allergy. If you are worried that you may suffer from a food allergy, then your best course of action, is to contact your Doctor or GP and have them help determine whether or not you have a food allergy. They will do this by taking a series of tests to help gauge your reaction. Remember to bring a detailed case history of your previous reactions with you, so that the doctor has a better idea of your condition.

An allergy to food is when you have an adverse physical reaction to a food item after eating it. The most common food allergy is a Peanut Allergy, which affects from 1% - 1.5% of the population. It is also possible to outgrow a food allergy over time, however with a peanut allergy, this is rather unlikely.

Treatments For Food Allergies

As of today, the only treatment available for someone with a food allergy is prevention. That simply means they must carefully watch what they eat, to make sure that they avoid the food that causes their allergic reaction. Your GP or a professional dietician can sit with you and list what types of food you may need to remove from your diet (moreover, they can show you what kinds of food alternatives you can replace them with).

Sometimes however, being careful, may turn out to not be enough. Especially in the case of a peanut allergy, an unwanted food item (or even food trace) can slip into your meals by mistake (in one well documented case, a peanut allergic school girl had an adverse reaction to peanuts after her chicken sandwich was mistakenly made using a knife that had previously been used to make a peanut butter sandwich). Adverse reactions, such as swelling around the mouth or a severe rash, must be immediately treated with emergency antihistamines.

When it comes to food allergies, the best treatment is to always be cautious, carry a card or a bracelet that details your allergy, and always carry emergency antihistamines.

Read more..............

A Guide To Allergies

2007-07-10T17:39:00.000+07:00

About Allergy

By Ken Marlborough

Allergy is a condition in which the body tends to react due to hypersensitivity to some substance such as food, drugs, drinks, pollution, flowers, and others. An allergen could be anything under the sun that might cause a reaction in one’s body if the body disagrees with that substance. Even a common thing such as sunlight and air might cause sever reactions in some if the skin is susceptible to allergies due to the same.

People suffering from food allergies are many. Although most of these individuals do not have very severe reactions, some might find instant severe reaction to some foods. Some of the allergic reactions are caused due to seafood, regular food such as rice, soy, wheat, nuts, flowers, sunlight, metals and many such items.

Certain allergic reactions that are caused can be given temporary treatment to sooth the itchiness and provide some relief to the patient. However, most allergies have no permanent cure and the individuals suffering from these will need to avoid coming in contact with certain items that might cause reactions.

Itchiness and irritation along with blotches are caused in most reactions. Body lotions can sometimes soothe these although severe ones need to be treated with immediate effect. Drug reactions must be immediately taken care of as they can turn out to be quite severe with delay and might even result in death of the patient if an alternative to stop the reaction is not immediately administered to the patient.

People suffering from respiratory problems such as asthma, sinusitis can use inhalers for temporary relief. Such individuals need to have the medicine on hand at all times in anticipation of an attack due to some reason or other. Other preventive medicines must be taken without fail for avoiding the attacks at inappropriate moments. Antihistamines and decongestants also help with respiratory problems.

Allergies tests must be taken to fist diagnose the problem. Although most of them do not have a temporary cure, allergy shots, supplements and other medication would help in stopping the attacks when least expected. Most allergy medication causes drowsiness and can impair driving. It is usually suggested to rest when on medication because of this. Allergy shots also help a great deal in the long run as they can reduce the chances of attacks drastically if proper care is taken.

Seasonal allergies are most common in children and even in a few percentages of adults. Taking a few precautions at the initial time of seasonal change can help a great deal in avoiding such allergies. Although spring is the most beautiful season, all that pollen in the air might result in respiratory and skin allergies. Children’s immunity system must be strong to be able to encounter these changes in the weather. Vitamins, particular the vitamin C can help a lot avoid respiratory allergies.

One important thing to consider before getting a prescription filled is to find weather the patient can take that medication without further allergy because of that medication, as many are allergic to sulfur and other ingredient in the medication composition.

Read more..............

3 Steps To Managing Skin Allergies

2007-07-10T17:37:00.000+07:00

skin allergies

By: David Kane

An effective approach to managing skin allergies has three components. Firstly you must understand the condition, then you must discover if anything is triggering your skin reaction, and thirdly you must look after your skin.

Many people think that allergies only affect the respiratory or digestive systems, but they can also affect your largest organ- your skin. As with other allergies the immune system overreacts to the presence of certain substances and releases inflammation-producing chemicals. Do some research and talk to your doctor. You can be confident of controlling your skin condition better if you are sure you understand what causes it.

The second component in managing a skin allergy is identifying then eliminating the allergens and irritants that start the itching/scratching cycle. There are over three thousand known triggers for skin allergies. Many are natural, but there are plenty of man-made ones too.

A common man-made trigger is latex, which comes from the sap of the Brazilian rubber tree. The natural proteins and those added in the manufacturing process can trigger an allergic reaction. Most people are aware that this can lead to reactions if you wear latex gloves. However latex is also present in baby pacifiers, balloons, pencil erasers and elastic bands in undergarments. There can also be problems when latex particles become airborne and are inhaled. If you have a latex allergy try to avoid the material and use vinyl or plastic where possible.

Nickel is another trigger. In addition to the obvious nickel-containing metallic objects like coins and jewelry, nickel is also present in everyday objects like scissors, bathroom and kitchen cabinet handles, and zippers. Mascara, eye shadow and eye pencils also contain nickel. Experts estimate that the number of people suffering from a nickel allergy has risen about 40% in the last decade. Much of this is believed to be due to the popularity of body piercing. Some foods also have natural nickel content and people who suffer severe symptoms may need to restrict their diet under medical supervision. At present there is no way to desensitize a person with a nickel allergy. Avoidance is the best strategy.

The third component of effective management is looking after your skin. The easiest thing to do is to keep your fingernails short to reduce the damage caused by scratching.

Managing your skin's condition means firstly moisturizing and softening the skin to ensure it does not dry out. Your doctor may recommend you use topical corticosteroid preparations to control the inflammation.

When you take a bath soak in lukewarm water for 20 to 30 minutes. Do not have hot baths or showers, as the heat will increase skin dryness and itching. You can add oatmeal or baking soda to the bath for a soothing effect, though it does not help moisturize the skin.

Use a mild soap or a non-soap cleanser with neutral pH (pH7). If you wish to add bath oils do so after you have been in the water so that it can seal in the moisture. Do not use bubble baths as they can form a barrier that stops the bathwater moisturizing your skin.

After the bath dry yourself by patting your skin with a soft towel. This helps retain moisture. Immediately after drying your skin apply a lotion or emollient cream to help your skin retain the moisture.

To look after your skin you will also need to avoid situations where you will experience extreme physical contact, heavy perspiration, or heavy clothing. This may mean avoiding some sports. Swimming is permissible if you rinse the chlorine from your skin as soon as you leave the pool, and use a moisturizer after drying yourself.

Follow these three steps and you will be able to control your skin allergy and minimize its impact on your everyday life.

Read more....................

A Brief Information About Dust Allergy

2007-06-26T15:41:00.000+07:00

Dust Allergy

Some people sniffle or sneeze whenever they are in a dusty place. But this is not surprising. Some people are really like this, they are extremely allergic to dust. Dust allergy is regarded as the over reaction of a person’s body to an element in the dust.

These small particles are usually found in the air which people eventually inhale. Now, if your body is sensitive to such allergen, you body will stop to produce histamine.

What are the common symptoms of dust allergy?

The symptoms of dust allergy are just the same as the symptoms that occur with hay fever. It usually includes:

• Itchiness

• Watery eyes

• Runny nose

• Stuffy nose

• Asthma

• Muffled hearing

A person with this allergy need not have to worry because there are treatments available that he can use to battle this type of allergy. Medication treatments like antihistamine, decongestant and benadryl are the common prescriptions advised by a doctor or an Allergist.

If you do not have this allergy, then good for you, but for those who do, you need to know what needs to be done in order to suppress an allergic attack to happen. Follow the listed preventions below for your home to be dust-free and dust allergy-free as well.

• Wash the pillow and your bed sheets regularly using a detergent in hot water.

• Clean your mattresses and carpets weekly.

• Buy an allergy-free mattress.

• Use blinds as a replacement for curtains.

• Spray blinds or curtains with water mist to stop dust.

If you are thinking of frequently cleaning your house, then do it. It would greatly help you a lot in making your house free from dusts and other allergies.

Read more................

Allergy Asthma: Can You Live A Healthy Life?

2007-06-26T15:37:00.000+07:00

Allergy Asthma

By Chelsea Aubin

Most people with allergy asthma know that when the pollen starts falling, things are going to get a little crazy. People with this condition have asthma that is triggered by pollen and particles floating around in the air. There isn't much you can do about this during this time of year but take your allergy medication, and also the inhaler that you may use to control your asthma.

When you have this condition you may notice that you get it during certain times of the year, and that it may have different triggers. Pollen is not the only allergy asthma trigger. There are also other known triggers associated with this condition. You can be allergic to everyday dust found in your house. You could also have problems with mold in the air or even on foods. There are also many other things you can encounter in your everyday life that could trigger you allergy asthma. Allergy Asthma is not something that should be taken lightly as it could quickly develop into a life threatening situation. If you do not find out what triggers your asthma, you could inadvertently walk right into a death trap.

Asthma is something that will never go away. It would also be very hard to keep the dust and pollen out of your life as well so you may ask what you can do about it then. If this person is you, you need to get to a doctor and see if he or she has any suggestions on how to control it. The doctor will most likely prescribe a medication that will help control the attacks. Sometimes after being on the medication for awhile you will never have an attack again. If you can get the medicine you will be able to control it.

You don't have to suffer because it is allergy season. You can control your asthma and still be able to enjoy the great outdoors. If the attacks prove to be that bad, you can ask for a stronger medicine that you can take twice a day to prevent attacks. You can also get an inhaler that you can take once a day, or at the beginning of attacks and feel better in a matter of minutes. The trick is to figure out if it is allergy asthma you have, so you can fix the problem.

Read more...............

Allergies-relief From Allergy - Its Symptoms And Medication

2007-06-26T15:33:00.000+07:00

Allergy Medication

By Dr.Prasad Chandragiri

What is Allergy

An Allergy is a hypersensitive response of the body to certain substances, called allergens. These allergens can be of plant origin such as pollens, animal origin such as dander (scales shed from the skin, hair, or fur of animals), and insect origin such as the stings of bees and wasps, or the dust mites themselves. House dust, smog, smoke, and some strong odors may trigger allergies. Drugs like penicillins and cephalosporins evoke allergic reactions in sensitive patients. Food allergies are also extremely common and vary individualistically from animal sources like eggs, milk, and sea food to plant sources such as eggplant, drumstick, and wheat. Allergens can be inhaled, eaten, injected, or contacted by the skin.

Signs and symptoms of Allergies

The body's defense mechanism is considering simple and otherwise harmless substances to be potentially dangerous and is preparing for battle by producing a particular type of antibody called IgE in large amounts but in a way that on exposure to an allergen for the first time, only its memory remains. However, on subsequent exposure, an allergic response is manifested in the form of signs and symptoms depending on the tissue, organ, or system involved. All these are due to the release of a chemical substance called Histamine by some body cells under the influence of IgE, thus inducing congestion, excessive secretion, and muscle spasms. The most common examples are those of Asthma (a respiratory allergy with wheezing and breathlessness) and Eczema(a skin allergy with eruptions, itching, oozing, etc.)

Causes of Allergies

Although modern medicine claims that allergies and most of the other chronic diseases have a hereditary predisposition to blame, homeopaths and naturopaths all over the world believe that every disease is multi-factorial in origin. Health according to them is a dynamic state of physical, mental, and spiritual equilibrium where a homeostasis is maintained in spite of a continuous influx and interaction of the opposing or negative energies with the life perpetuating ones through harmoniously orchestrated processes that are so subtle that they can hardly be perceived. In simple words, other than one's genes, the lifestyle, diet and regimen, psychological state of a person, and degree of exposure to toxins or irritants, together contribute to giving rise to an allergic personality. Thus logically speaking, it is the immunity at fault and not the allergen. In fact, observations show that in most cases, once an allergic disposition is acquired, the body gradually begins to react hypersensitivity to more and more substances so as to only add to the medical list of allergens. Hence, it can be easily surmised that the remedial measures must be capable of bringing the deranged immunity back to normal rather than expecting and advising the allergic patients to give up or stay away from all the probable allergens.

Auxiliary treatment of Allergies

It has been known for long that natural foods and natural living always pays off good dividends probably because Mother Nature completely shoulders our responsibility, but if it's the artificial that you cherish, then Mother Nature will see that you perish. One doesn't really need to browse through research documents to fathom the truth in this statement. All that one needs to do is to go into retrospect and compare his or her life with that of his or her grand parents. It's not that there were no illnesses then; however, those illnesses were genuinely caused by miasma such as viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites. These days, the number of allergic and auto-immune disorders has gone up to such an extent that they beat all the natural causes.

Following is a list of probable underlying causes that set the background for the development of an allergy.

* Regular exposure to pollutants in air, food, water, etc.

* Sedentary lifestyle which leads to impaired blood circulation and poor oxygenation of the tissues.

* Lack of sleep.

* Injudicious administration of vaccines and allopathic medicines which are after all foreign proteins and chemicals which have the capacity to alter the immunity.

* Frequent negative or overpowering mental states such as depression, anxiety, grief, fear, anger, irritability, despair, jealousy, etc.

* Improper external as well as internal hygiene inclusive of proper bowel/bladder/sexual habits and avoidance of substance abuse in the form of tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs.

Allergies - Food Allergies

2007-06-16T15:21:00.000+07:00

Food Allergy

By: Michael Russell

In this article we're going to focus on one of the most annoying types of allergies, especially to people who love to eat.

You go out to the local pizza parlor, order two slices with extra cheese, sit down at the booth with your pizza in one hand and coke in the other and chow down. A few hours later after you've arrived back home just in time to watch your favorite TV show, suddenly your stomach feels like it's about to erupt like a volcano. You run like a madman to the bathroom just in time to experience what seems to be the complete emptying of your insides.

Welcome to the world of food allergies and intolerances.

Read more....................

Allergies And Asthma

2007-06-16T15:18:00.000+07:00

Cause Of Asthma

by Patricia Davis

Asthma is a chronic lung affliction that is characterized by breathing difficulties. People who suffer from asthma have extra sensitive or hyper-responsive airways. In the course of an asthma attack, the airways suffer irritation and react by narrowing and constricting, resulting in increased resistance to airflow, and obstruction of the flow of air flow through the air passages to and from the lungs. The cause of the inflammation which underlying most asthma in younger sufferers is the result of one or more allergies. Compared to people in less affluent rural parts of the world, a greater number of people in western countries are affected by allergies. Additionally, allergy rates are on the rise. This is a concerning fact, particularly when allergies affect young children.

Read more..............

Allergies The Silent Disease

2007-06-14T18:31:00.000+07:00

By: The Source

Allergies affect approximately 60 million Americans, which means one in every five adults or children suffer from them, and are common in men as well as in women. Thirty-five million people have upper respiratory symptoms, which are allergic reactions to airborne pollen. Around 10 million Americans have allergies to cats and two million present severe reactions to various insect stings.

Food allergies are less common in the family of allergies. About one out of three people pretend to have a food allergy and only about three to eight percent of children younger than three years old, and only one percent of adults really have an allergic reactions to food. Unfortunately, food allergies are blamed for close to 200 deaths every year. Scientists say that allergies have to do with genetics. If one parent has allergies, there are 33% chances that each child will suffer from a form of allergy. If both parents are allergic, it is very much possible (seven cases out of 10) that their children will be allergic, too. If we are to discuss about allergies, we should have in view the fact that allergies usually stay with adults, while children sometimes outgrow them.

An allergy is in fact the response of your body to something that it perceives as a threat. Your body fights the allergen in the same way it would fight a virus or a bacterial infection. We can take as an example the pollens of some plants that are small and light and can be taken away by the winds for miles. Ragweed pollen has been found 400 miles out at sea and two miles up in the atmosphere.

Read more .................

All Information Which You Want To Know About Allergies

2007-06-14T18:30:00.000+07:00

by Justin Foss

Do you know that the sixth leading cause of chronic disease in America is Allergy, with its annual cost exceeding $18 billion. Nearly 50 million children and adults are believed to complicate and even handicap their lives due to allergies.

So what are Allergies ? Allergies make overreaction of the immune system to substances that usually cause no reaction in many individuals. These substances can trigger wheezing, sneezing, itching and coughing. Allergies besides being bothering, many also have been linked to a range of serious and common chronic respiratory illnesses (such as asthma and sinusitis). Additionally, allergic reactions can be even fatal and severe. However, with patient education and proper management, allergic diseases can be controlled, and people with allergies can lead productive and normal lives.

The capacity to become allergic like in eye color, baldness and height, is an inherited characteristic. You are not automatically allergic to specific allergens although you may be born with the genetic capability to become allergic. There are a few factors which must be present for allergic sensitivity to be developed.

Reasons for Allergic Sensitivity Development

1) One or more exposure to allergens to which one has a rogrammed response genetically. 2) The specific genes from parents to their offspring. 3) The length and degree of exposure.

Types of Allergies

Food Allergies - Food allergies are difficult to make out with effort. Even if there exists then there is a difference between intolerances and food allergies, they both cause health problems in susceptible individuals.A wide range of symptoms can be evident from foods. The immune system, respiratory system, and the digestive system can all be affected. Any food additive or food can theoretically cause problems for certain people. Even rice can be a worry for some.

Contact allergies - Not all irritation in skin is allergy-related, but one would suspect allergy to be the usual reason. Skin Rashes, Contact Dermatitis, Hives Urticaria, Atopic Dermatitis and Photosensitivity. Besides these there is also the Nickel Allergy, Fragrance Sensitivity and Cosmetics Allergies.

Inhalant allergies - There are many things which can cause sensitivities or allergic reactions in the indoor environment, whether you are in the work environment, at home, or visiting other enclosed places. These are due to Cats, Indoor Allergens, Dogs, Molds, Dust Mites, Sick Building Syndrome, Formaldehyde, Latex, Indoor Air Pollution and Occupational Allergens.

Chemical allergies - Chemical ingredients in medicine, food and everyday household products can spell danger for those who suffer from allergies. Allergies cause many people become very sensitive to chemicals. These are caused by Formaldehyde Exposure, Secondhand Smoke, Multiple Chemical Sensitivities and Fragrances.

Insect Allergies - The insects most likely to cause strong allergic reactions are yellow jackets, wasps, hornets, ants and honey bees.

The main motive behind publishing the article is to educate others as understanding of the allergies surely can give a potential victim to protect himself to some extent.

Read more ..................

A Stuffed Nose = Possible Allergy

2007-06-14T18:28:00.000+07:00

by Kadence Buchanan

For years, I used to wake up every morning with a stuffed-up nose. I used to think I had the type of body constitution that was naturally susceptible to colds. But I wondered why, despite all my precautions to keep warm before bedtime, I would still wake up with a stuffed-up nose in the morning. I always asked myself, I don't feel like I have a cold but why is my nose stuffy?

I finally discovered the reason why about a year and a half ago. It was an allergy. Apparently, having a stuffed-up nose when you wake up in the morning is a sure sign of an allergy. So it wasn't an all-year-round cold after all. I was surprised. I always thought that allergies only affected the skin, but nothing could be further from the truth.

Ok, so I had an allergy. The next step was to find out the source of my allergy. A doctor can help you by administering a series of tests. The most common medical method is by scraping your skin and dabbing it with some substance in order to see the skin's reaction to it. Among the most commonly tested substances are grass and pollen. Sometimes, doctors can try one substance after another before finding out the source of your allergy.

The alternative to visiting a doctor is taking a simple allergy treatment that is probably available over the counter at your local drugstore.

It was my friend, Eric, who told me about these allergy treatments. As a kid, Eric has his share of allergies, especially during spring and summer when his nose was constantly runny and just wouldn't stop twitching all the time. He carried around a box of tissues everywhere he went and, as such, was the constant butt of what he called an endless stream of jokes.

After enduring those daily taunts and his stuffy nose for several years, Eric finally discovered that he was allergic to hay (he lived on a farm) and as soon as he started taking allergy treatments regularly, his nose problems stopped. And thankfully, so did the teasing of his neighbors and classmates.

Read more .................

Allergies And What Are They?

2007-06-14T18:26:00.000+07:00

By Jeffrey Meier

This probably isn't the first time you've heard of them. Allergies are so stereotyped 20% of Americans have some kind of allergic reflex or another to certain external stimuli whether food, water, or air. But what are allergies? And why do we get them?

Allergies (Stripe I Hypersensitivity) are very a malfunction of our not liable system so that our body becomes hyper sensitized and reacts immunologically to typically non-immunogenic mostlies. The substances that cause our bodies to become this way are called allergens.

In 1906, Viennese pediatrician, Clemens von Pirquet, first traced the term "allergies" after he observed that certain indications of his patients might have been a response to outside allergens, like dust, pollen, or certain foods.

Signs and Symptoms

You can differentiate your allergies if you experience swelling in parts of your body. This is called local or systemic inflammatory response, caused by the potentiality of allergens. For example, if your allergies affect you in the nose, you will experience swelling of the nasal mucosa (allergic rhinitis). During this condition, you will plausibly find yourself performing the "nasal salute" more than unavoidable as itching of your nose will urge you to wipe your nose in an upward position.

On the other hand, if the allergies hit you in the eyes, blooming and yearning of the conjunctiva ofttimes proceeds from. Other common signs of allergies are panting and dyspnoea, bronchoconstriction, and sometimes outright attacks of asthma. You may conjointly experience many rashes, such as eczema, series, and contact dermatitis.

Systemic allergic responses are more serious compared to local symptoms. Depending on the severity of your response, allergies can cause cutaenous reactions, bronchoconstriction, edema, hypotension, coma, and even death.

Hay fever is truly one example of minor allergies caused by airborne pollen. But beside from environmental factors, allergies may also be triggered by treatments.

Why do we get allergies?

Our immune theory is a fit-trained and disciplined bio-weapon that arranges our bodies from harmful substances. Its mechanics are so amazing that it can determine and destroy many different invaders. However, as amazing as our immune system is, it makes mistakes at times. And so we have allergies, which, as we mentioned, results from a hypersensitive not affected system.

The hyper sensitized immune system misidentifies an otherwise innocuous substance as harmful, and then attacks the substance with a degree of ferocity that is greater than required. As a result, we experience problems that can range from mildly inconvenient to uncomfortable to total failure of major organs of the body.

How does the immune system go into a hyper sensitized standing?

There are genuinely several thoughts on that. Some colleges are afraid that allergies are relatively always triggered by protein. Believing persons have faulty genetic codes so that their lymphocytes or the white blood cells (the raw material that your immune scheme is made of) are not able to property distinguish between the threatening and the non-threatening proteins.

So, for sample, when you ingest protein from shellfish, your lymphocytes think that the gob is trying to invade the body. As a result, they produce large amounts of antibodies which leash themselves to mast cells and basophils throughout the body. This is known as the sensitizing exposure and this is the very reason why you suddenly develop allergies.

Read more ................

Early Warning Signs Of Deteriorating Asthma

2007-05-23T18:56:00.000+07:00

asthma symptoms

By Ashi Jas

The people who suffer with asthma generally exhibit a lot of different signs that are indicative of their having an attack. The other symptoms are also there to see like weight loss in children and elderly patients, loss of appetite, general feeling of exhaustion and lethargy, wheezing, frequent coughs and colds and many more such external symptoms.

Normally asthma is not considered to be very serious by the doctors perhaps because of the frequency with which the human population suffers with it. But the possibility that it can turn fatal also leaves us with no option but to identify the early warning signs so that they can be detected early and dealt with efficacy.

Like all other diseases an asthmatic attack also shows several signs before attacking a person in its full fury. The problem lies with the fact that these signs are so often confused with so many other diseases. It is important to understand them to reduce the impact of a full blown attack. Also if the attack has to be avoided altogether these early warning signs have to be taken seriously. All this is well understood by any reasonable person. Then why is it so that so many people fall prey to asthma and they do not even realize it in time?

The main reason attributed to this is that asthma is a disease that can attack anyone at any time. It is true that certain hereditary factors do play an important role in the manifestation of the disease but still many people fall prey to the disease without even having any known history of the disease. So understanding the fact that actually all the people in this world can be potentially at risk is the most important key factor here.

Once when someone knows that he has developed the disease certain precautions can make him lead a near normal life without many complications. The importance of proper treatment cannot be ruled out at all but with proper treatment and certain guidelines for a healthy lifestyle lot of control can be obtained over the frequency and severity of the attacks, most of the times asthma patients develop minor complications only which can be very easily managed with following the usual guidelines and treatments.

But when during the attacks a person starts to feel serious difficulty in breathing or he feels that the level of difficulty has risen while breathing he should immediately pay attention to the warning signs that the body is trying to offer. This is serious matter because many-a-times the patients tend to neglect this till they reach a stage where the attacks can no longer be controlled with normal medications and other precautions. Sometimes the attacks become so serious that the patient needs to be admitted in acute emergency care before they can be controlled. Sometimes admittance to the intensive care unit remains to the only option.

It is a well recognized fact that a human being cannot survive without oxygen for more than just a few minutes. If the difficulty in breathing and feeling of choking persist during an asthma attack for longer durations of time a person may even suffocate to death. Although the incidents of fatality are not very common, still the possibility cannot be ruled out. Each and every sufferer of asthma always has a dagger hanging over his head of this kind of thing happening to him. The good thing is that this is a condition that can be easily avoided if the mind remains open for identifying some early warning signs which go about indicating the worsening of the condition. These can be described as:

1. Cough or wheezing that does not respond to medications: This is a situation that needs serious attention. This is a sure sign of the asthmatic condition of the patient becoming serious. A persistent cough or wheezing may be resultant of excessive work related pressures or may be a resultant of some allergic reactions. But when the medications start to fail it should be taken as an early warning bell. Sometimes the wheezing is so much that the person has difficulty in speaking too.

2. Increased need for inhalers: When the frequency of use of inhalers is noticeably increased it is a sign of worsening of the situations. Some people get addicted to the inhalers and tend to use them more often without even serious difficulty. This situation therefore needs to be identified with discretion.

3. Constant wheezing during sleep: When there is constant noticeable wheezing during sleep it is indicative of worsening of the disease.

4. Persistent high fever or even low grade fever: When there is persistence of fever which either remains unresponsive to the medication or comes back after the effect of medication wears off, it may be an early warning sign of condition deteriorating.

5. Severe pain in the neck or chest: When after just a bit of exertion there seems to be pain in the neck and chest the condition should be reported and checked immediately.

6. Persistent vomiting: This may be because of many reasons but it should not go unchecked.

7. Cyanosis: This is indicative of blue colour of the lips and hands. It is mainly an indication of asthma becoming worse.

Source: EzineArticles.Com

Allergy: Who is at risk and why?

2007-05-23T18:52:00.000+07:00

allergy information

Allergies can develop at any age, possibly even in the womb. They commonly occur in children but may give rise to symptoms for the first time in adulthood. Asthma may persist in adults while nasal allergies tend to decline in old age.

Why, you may ask, are some people "sensitive" to certain allergens while most are not? Why do allergic persons produce more IgE than those who are non-allergic? The major distinguishing factor appears to be heredity. For some time, it has been known that allergic conditions tend to cluster in families. Your own risk of developing allergies is related to your parents' allergy history. If neither parent is allergic, the chance that you will have allergies is about 15%. If one parent is allergic, your risk increases to 30% and if both are allergic, your risk is greater than 60%.

Although you may inherit the tendency to develop allergies, you may never actually have symptoms. You also do not necessarily inherit the same allergies or the same diseases as your parents. It is unclear what determines which substances will trigger a reaction in an allergic person. Additionally, which diseases might develop or how severe the symptoms might be is unknown.

Another major piece of the allergy puzzle is the environment. It is clear that you must have a genetic tendency and be exposed to an allergen in order to develop an allergy. Additionally, the more intense and repetitive the exposure to an allergen and the earlier in life it occurs, the more likely it is that an allergy will develop.

There are other important influences that may conspire to cause allergic conditions. Some of these include smoking, pollution, infection, and hormones.

Daily Precautions For Asthma Patients

2007-05-23T18:39:00.000+07:00

asthma information

By Ashi Jas

Asthma is a chronic disease of the respiratory system and may turn even fatal at times. It is therefore important for the asthma patients to take proper care and precautions regularly. Asthma patients suffer from attacks that enforce the system to breathe with difficulty. Wheezing, choking, gasping for breath and suffocation are the symptoms of asthmatic attack.

The attacks may last up to several minutes and leave a person thoroughly exhausted. There can be severe organ damage due to problem in respiration during the asthma attack. Also the system may suffer from lack of oxygen for a longer duration of time. It is therefore imperative to exercise proper caution and avoid the onset of an attack to the extent possible.

Some easily followed precautions everyday may keep an asthmatic without suffering an attack. These precautions are:

1. An asthmatic needs to follow routines. This is because it is generally seen that people do not suffer the agony of an asthmatic attack if they continue to live their life in a regular way. The problem arises mainly when the people go out of their way and break all the routines. The system thus gets unnecessarily pressured and reacts badly by manifesting the symptoms of the disease in the oddest of ways and without many warning signs. Sometimes the body does give the warning signs but the person may ignore them completely.

2. Daily morning walk does wonders to the system. But in the case of asthma patients the benefit from early morning exercise is enhanced manifold. This is because the early morning is the time when the air is pure and at its best. Exercising the lungs with the early morning air does wonders to the asthmatic lungs and respiratory tract.

3. Daily morning exercise schedule needs to be followed religiously in case of an asthma patient. Not only does this help in exercising the whole system but it also makes a person live a more disciplined and regularised life. This is because if a person gets into the habit of getting up early, in all probability he would try and sleep early too and his routine will automatically be set and fixed.

4. The daily diet of an asthma patient should be kept simple and nutritious. He should take care of not eating heavy meals as they would tax the system unnecessarily. Care should be taken to keep the meals small and frequent if need be, rather than consuming standard heavy meals at set hours. Also the food should be cooked with less oil and spices to keep it easily digestible. The diet should be mainly vegetarian with less of fats and carbohydrates. Sweets should best be avoided at night time. Dinner should be consumed at least two hours before sleeping so that the stomach is almost empty before sleeping. Dietary intake of fruits and vegetables should be enhanced. Snacks should be mainly in the form of fresh fruits and vegetables only and fatty, oily and salty or sweet snacks should be avoided completely.

5. Asthma patients should avoid smoking completely. Smoking fills the system with many toxins and the respiratory system gets flooded with them. These toxins are major irritants to the respiratory tract and create an undue pressure on the system that may be too much for an asthmatic to handle. An asthmatic may get more bronchial spasms and is more likely to be affected with respiratory infections if he continues to smoke.

6. An asthmatic person should also not indulge in drinking too much. This is because drinking causes a person to lose sense and become more prone to breaking disciplines of routine and diets. An asthmatic may become careless with his diet and may tend to overeat to counteract the influence of alcohol if he indulges in drinking too much.

7. Asthma patient’s surroundings should be kept neat and tidy. As far as possible clutter should be completely avoided to steer clear of dust induced allergies that may create an attack. Clutter in the surroundings inhabits several mites and allergy causing organisms. It is therefore necessary that the furniture and other stuff should be arranged in such a way, which allows proper dusting and cleaning on a daily basis.

8. Asthma patients may have difficulty with the atmospheric pollution also. It is very important to assess whether the patient may be allergic to any particular kind of allergen present in the atmosphere around his place of dwelling or occupation. Sometimes certain professions support the excessive usage of one kind of toxin or the other, in which case a change in profession or occupational conditions may remain to be the only option.

9. Asthmatics should also be very careful of not getting mentally excited too much. This is because the mental aggravation may lead to appearance of asthmatic symptoms in patients. On a daily basis it is better not to accumulate taking decisions, whether in the personal life or in the professional life. The work should also be handled as far as possible on a daily basis to avoid excess stress and anxiety.

10. In order to manage asthma it is very necessary to accept the disease and the limitations attached with it in one’s daily life. If proper discipline is maintained a patient can have a long and problem free life.

Source: EzineArticles.Com

Non-Allergic Asthma

2007-05-17T13:22:00.000+07:00

Non-Allergic (intrinsic) asthma is triggered by factors not related to allergies. Like allergic asthma, non-allergic asthma is characterized by airway obstruction and inflammation that is at least partially reversible with medication, however symptoms in this type of asthma are NOT associated with an allergic reaction. Many of the symptoms of allergic and non-allergic asthma are the same (coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath or rapid breathing, and chest tightness), but non-allergic asthma is triggered by other factors such as anxiety, stress, exercise, cold air, dry air, hyperventilation, smoke, viruses or other irritants. In non-allergic asthma, the immune system is not involved in the reaction.

Double trouble: The link between allergies and asthma

2007-05-17T13:18:00.000+07:00

Double trouble: The link between allergies and asthma

James T. Li, M.D.

If you have both allergies and asthma, you may wonder what they have in common besides a maddening ability to make you miserable. A lot, as it turns out. Allergy-induced asthma is the most common type of asthma in the United States; 60% of people with asthma have the allergic type. James T. Li, M.D., a Mayo Clinic allergy specialist answers your questions about the similarities and the differences between allergies and asthma.

What's the link between allergies and asthma?

Simply put, allergies can trigger or induce asthma. For people with allergic asthma, breathing in substances such as pollen, mold, dust mites and animal dander triggers the inflammation and swelling of the airways, leading to symptoms of asthma.

The lining of the nose and the lining of the airways are similar and are affected similarly by the allergic inflammatory process. Allergies are caused by the production of an antibody called IgE. The IgE antibodies cause a cascade of reactions in the body, including itchy skin or scratchy eyes or, for some, tightening of the airways. Simply put, if your immune system produces IgE antibody toward cat proteins, you're said to be allergic to cats. Exposure to cats triggers inflammation and swelling of the lining of the nose, bronchial tubes or both.

If I treat my allergies, will it prevent asthma?

Some studies suggest that treatment of allergic rhinitis actually improves asthma. Allergen immunotherapy (desensitization allergy shots) is a type of allergy treatment that can significantly improve asthma. In addition, if you have allergic asthma, reducing your exposure to the allergic substance can reduce your asthma problems and in some cases, completely control it.

Are allergies and asthma treated differently?

Medications aimed at reducing inflammation are effective for allergic rhinitis, allergic asthma, as well as nonallergic asthma. Corticosteroids for example, reduce inflammation. Intranasal corticosteroids, which you spray into your nose, reduce inflammation from hay fever. Corticosteroid creams applied to your skin reduce the inflammation of eczema. And inhaled corticosteroids, which you inhale into your lungs using an inhaler device, reduce inflammation of the bronchial tubes in asthma.

Another medication, called a leukotriene modifier, also is used to reduce inflammation. Leukotriene modifiers are taken in pill form and are used for both asthma and allergic rhinitis symptoms.

Other medications are clearly more effective for one condition over another. Antihistamines, for example, are commonly used to treat allergic rhinitis but have a very minor benefit for asthma. Bronchodilator inhalers, which open congested airways, are a big part of asthma treatment, though they aren't used to treat allergic rhinitis.

Who's at risk of allergic asthma?

A family history of allergies is the strongest risk factor having allergic asthma. If you have allergies, you're more likely to develop asthma — up to 78 percent of people who have asthma also have hay fever.

Is all asthma caused by allergies?

Though allergic asthma is the most common form of asthma, there are other forms and triggers of asthma, including exercise-induced asthma and nonallergic asthma triggered by infections or cold air or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Nothing to sneeze at

While it may be a manner of semantics to those who suffer from allergy or asthma symptoms, recognizing the relationship between the body's immune system and how the airways react has led to improved treatment of asthma symptoms for many people.

Allergic Asthma

2007-05-17T13:15:00.000+07:00

allergy asthma

Allergic (extrinsic) asthma is characterized by symptoms that are triggered by an allergic reaction. Allergic asthma is airway obstruction and inflammation that is partially reversible with medication. Allergic asthma is the most common form of asthma, affecting over 50% of the 20 million asthma sufferers. Many of the symptoms of allergic and non-allergic asthma are the same (coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath or rapid breathing, and chest tightness). However, allergic asthma is triggered by inhaled allergens such as dust mite allergen, pet dander, pollen, mold, etc. resulting in asthma symptoms.

Typical symptoms and signs of asthma

2007-05-08T22:52:00.000+07:00

asthma symptoms

The symptoms of asthma vary from person to person and in any individual from time to time. It is important to remember that many of these symptoms can be subtle and similar to those seen in other conditions. All of the symptoms mentioned below can be present in other respiratory, and sometimes, in heart conditions. This potential confusion makes identifying the settings in which the symptoms occur and diagnostic testing very important in recognizing this disorder.

The Four Major Recognized Symptoms:

Shortness of breath - especially with exertion or at night
Wheezing - a whistling or hissing sound when breathing out
Coughing - may be chronic; usually worse at night and early morning; and may occur after exercise or when exposed to cold, dry air
Chest tightness - may occur with or without the above symptoms

Asthma At A Glance

2007-05-08T22:42:00.000+07:00

about asthma

Asthma is a chronic inflammation of the bronchial tubes (airways) that causes swelling and narrowing (constriction) of the airways. The bronchial narrowing is usually either totally or at least partially reversible with treatments.

Asthma is now the most common chronic illness in children, affecting one in every 15.

Asthma involves only the bronchial tubes and usually does not affect the air sacs or the lung tissue. The narrowing that occurs in asthma is caused by three major factors; inflammation, bronchospasm, and hyperreactivity.

Allergy can play a role in some, but not all, asthma patients.

Many factors can precipitate asthma attacks and are they are classified as either allergens or irritants.

Symptoms of asthma include shortness of breath, wheezing, cough, and chest tightness.

Asthma is usually diagnosed based on the presence of wheezing and confirmed with breathing tests.

Chest x-rays are usually normal in asthma patients.

Avoiding precipitating factors is important in the management of asthma.

Medications can be used to reverse or prevent bronchospasm in patients with asthma.

What is a peak flow meter?

2007-05-08T22:09:00.000+07:00

A peak flow meter is a hand-held device that measures your peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), or how fast you can blow air out of your lungs. Measuring your peak flow regularly can help you tell whether your asthma is getting worse.

To use a peak flow meter, you will first need to find out your "personal best" peak flow. Take a deep breath and blow as hard as you can into the mouthpiece. Your personal best is the highest reading you get on the meter over a 2-week period when your asthma is under good control.

Source: American Academy of Family Physicians
Taken from: familydoctor.org

Written by familydoctor.org editorial staff

Asthma: How can I avoid allergens and irritants?

2007-05-08T21:42:00.000+07:00

asthma causes

If pollen and mold cause your symptoms, use your air-conditioner and try to keep the windows of your home and car closed. Change the filter on your heating and cooling system frequently.

To keep mold down, clean and air out bathrooms, kitchens and basements often. Keep the level of humidity under 50%. You can do this with an air conditioner or a dehumidifier.

People who are allergic to dust are actually allergic to the droppings of dust mites. To reduce dust mites in your home, wash bedsheets weekly in hot water (above 130°F). Cover mattresses and pillows in airtight covers and remove carpets and drapes. If you must have carpet, you can treat it with chemicals to help reduce dust mites. Try to avoid stuffed animals, dried flowers and other things that catch dust.

Pets can cause problems if you're allergic to them. If you have a pet, keep it out of your bedroom.

Don't allow smoking in your house or car. Tobacco smoke can make your asthma worse.

Source: American Academy of Family Physicians

Written by familydoctor.org editorial staff

Adverse Reactions to Drugs

2007-05-08T21:38:00.000+07:00

allergy reactions

Author: John Collard, Allergy UK Nurse Consultant - November 2006

There are a variety of ways in which people can experience adverse reactions to medications, whether prescribed or ‘over-the-counter’. Most of these effects are not ‘allergy’.

Increased effect of the drug

Some people are more affected by drugs than others; there is a large degree of individual variability. Some people excrete drugs more slowly than others, and levels of the drug may build up over time. This means that a dose of a drug that suits one person might be too much (or too little) for another.
There are unlikely to be toxic effects, as the doses prescribed take account of this variation and allow a wide margin of safety. However, it may be that a sedative that makes someone else sleep for a few hours, might make another person sleep for much longer. This would be an increased effect rather than an allergy or intolerance.

Side-effects

All medications have side-effects because of the way they work. The majority of people get none, or very few, but some people are more prone to them. The most common side-effects are usually nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea (or occasionally constipation), lethargy, rashes, itching, headaches and blurred vision. All the known side-effects from a drug are listed in the patient information. They are listed in order of frequency (most common will be first on the list).
If you suffer a rash and itching after taking a drug it can be hard to decide if this is a side-effect or an allergy. Morphine commonly causes itching but this is not an allergy and the drug can still be used. In children, many rashes experienced while taking antibiotics are thought to be due to the underlying viral illness.

Drug interactions

Many drugs interact in some way with others. Some interactions are so severe that the different drugs are never given together, but many are just ‘warnings’ – there may be some odd symptoms but not in most people. If you are taking more than one drug and experience odd symptoms, check whether an interaction could be to blame (ask your pharmacist or GP).

Contraindications

Some drugs are not supposed to be used in certain illnesses. This may be because they will not be eliminated properly, for example in people with kidney or liver disease; because they may cause problems for the foetus in a pregnant woman; or because they are known to cause side-effects in particular illnesses (for example, amoxicillin often cause a rash when given to someone with glandular fever, but not when used in other conditions).

Allergy

Some people are genuinely allergic to a drug, but this is quite uncommon. Most drug ‘reactions’ are due to the various mechanisms described above.

Some drugs, such as penicillin, some anaesthetics, vaccines and other injections used in, for example, X-ray techniques, are know to be more likely to cause allergic reactions. They are used more cautiously in allergic people. If you suffer a fairly severe adverse reaction to a drug, or a repeated reaction on different occasions, this will normally be considered to be an allergy. This should be recorded in your medical notes and you should not be given the drug again. In each group of drugs, there are some that are less likely to cause allergy problems.

If you suffer a reaction and are not sure what drugs you were given, ask your GP or hospital Doctor for the information (for hospital Doctors, contact their secretary). If you have any trouble getting the information, ask your local NHS PALS organisation to help (see the phone book or hospital / surgery noticeboards).

Blood tests are not usually very helpful in determining drug allergies. Most allergies are very specific – if you react to one antibiotic this does not mean you are more likely to react to other antibiotics, although you should not be given one of the same type. If you are concerned, ask for a small test dose of a new drug before you are given the normal amount. Some drugs such as anaesthetics and vaccines can be checked by skin testing.

If you are allergic to a drug, take responsibility for making sure everyone knows. Health services are still not very good at passing this sort of information on, or looking at it even when it is there. Ask whether the allergy has been recorded in your notes. Volunteer the information to everyone who is involved in your care, even if they don’t ask. Make sure you are given an allergy bracelet in hospital. If your allergy is severe, consider wearing your own allergy bracelet. If you are given drugs to take at home, read the label and contents carefully.

Inhalent sensitivities - Part 2

2007-05-08T21:31:00.000+07:00

allergens

Part 2

Animals
The allergic effect of dogs is due to their dander (material from the fur and skin); in cats the saliva is the problem. Birds’ feathers can cause problems directly, or due to mites living in the feathers. No allergic person should allow their pets access to the whole house, and especially not the bedroom. Restrict them to one area and keep it clean. Filter vacuum cleaners and good air filters will help keep the load down, as will regular washing of dogs (and some cats will also tolerate being washed). High temperature steam cleaning is effective in removing the ‘reservoir’ of allergen in the carpets.

Chemicals
Some chemicals are known to cause allergy-type problems directly – in other words, you start to react to them just like foods and inhaled allergens. The reactions are often quite rapid and fairly severe because chemicals are absorbed into the body much more quickly than foods etc. However any chemical that we inhale or ingest has to be eliminated from the body through our detoxification pathways; these often fail to function adequately in people with immune system problems. The same detox pathways that get rid of chemicals also have to deal with breakdown products from reactions to foods etc. These pathways use vitamins, minerals and proteins to work; the more you react, the harder the pathways work, and the more vitamins and minerals they use. At the same time, people who are allergic to foods tend not to absorb vitamins and minerals from their diet very well. If you become deficient in vitamins and minerals then the detox pathways can’t work effectively, allowing chemicals to build up in the system. Therefore even low levels of chemicals, which would not affect a ‘normal’ person, affect many allergic people.

Reducing the load of chemicals to which we are exposed each day is therefore an important aspect to consider. Not only should you try and avoid chemicals to which you react, but you also need to reduce as far as possible the use of all chemicals in the home, in order to relieve the load on the immune system and detox pathways. So, ideally, everyone in the house needs to do the following:

DON’T SMOKE or allow smoking in the house; if someone in your house just won’t give up, ask them to only smoke in one room and get a good air filter in there.
Don’t use perfume or hairspray.
Switch to un-perfumed deodorants; use sticks/roll-on’s, not sprays (or ideally, nothing)
Use fragrance free shampoo and conditioner.
Use a ‘cleaner’ toothpaste, ie homeopathic, herbal, baking soda (patient only).
Don’t use air fresheners, carpet powder cleaners, scented vacuum bags.
Use oxygen bleaches, not chlorine bleach. Borax can be put down toilet bowls, and for soaking clothes.
Cut down on the use of strong smelling disinfectants. Most people use disinfectants when they only need to clean with soap and water. When a disinfectant is needed use a non-taint, safer type such as Dettox.
Switch to an un-perfumed soap powder of the ‘sensitive skin’ type and don’t use fabric conditioners at all.
Cut down on the use of furniture polishes and spray cleaners; use pump sprays or tins rather than aerosols (or ideally just damp-dust).
Half-used tins of paint, brush cleaner etc. should not be kept under the sink. Eventually the paint dries out in the tin – where does the solvent go? into the air in your house!

In summary, everyone in the house needs to stop using any chemical that is not necessary. Where products do still need to be used, they should be fragrance-free, non-aerosol versions.

Source: http://www.allergyuk.org

Inhalent sensitivities - Part 1

2007-05-08T21:23:00.000+07:00

allergens

This group includes pollens, moulds, animal dander and housedust mites.

Housedust Mites are probably the most important inhaled allergen; reducing exposure to them is the most fundamental aspect of allergen avoidance. They are found in large numbers in most houses in the UK; they require a food source (shed skin scales), warmth, and humidity to survive.

Skin scales are found in abundance in bedding, soft furnishings and carpets. Each night we warm up our beds as we sleep, shed skin and provide moisture through perspiration and breathing (roughly a pint per person per night); therefore high levels of mites are found in bedclothes, mattresses and pillows. Each mite passes very small faecal pellets (about 30 microns); these are extremely dry as the housedust mite needs to conserve as much moisture as possible. These pellets fragment easily into particles, which become airborne very easily, and remain airborne for many hours. They are of a size that our defences find most difficult to keep out of our airways, and they are therefore easily inhaled. As they land on the surface of the airways they set up an immune response; because they will act as a repeated stimulus to the immune system, in the susceptible patient allergy may well develop.

Housedust mite exposure should be reduced even if you do not think it is a particular problem – almost every allergic patient is allergic to them, and this puts a constant ‘load’ on the immune system.

There are several ways of approaching the control of housedust mite exposure:-

The most important area to tackle is the bed. Wash bedding regularly. Mites in bedclothes will be killed if you can hot wash them (60oC and above). Although normal cool washing does not kill mites, it does wash out the allergic component of the pellets that causes the problem, and it will be some time before the levels rise again. Pillows are supposed to be washable but in practice it can be difficult getting them dry, and mattresses can’t be washed at all. Therefore pillows and mattresses hold high levels of mites and every night their pellets are breathed in as we sleep. They should be covered with a special ‘allergy’ breathable barrier cover if possible. The duvet should also be covered in the same way unless it is washable and is regularly washed. Mattresses on slatted bases, which allow good air circulation, are an advantage if possible.

Kill them with high temperature steam cleaning of carpets, mattresses etc (high-temp steam leaves things dry rather than wet); or by freezing (e.g. pillows, soft toys).
Increase ventilation to lower humidity (i.e. have windows open as much as possible). One of the reasons for the increase in housedust mite problems in recent decades is poor ventilation leading to higher humidity, which encourages mite growth. Reducing humidity levels kill mites, and as it also controls mould growth and reduces indoor air pollution (often worse than outdoor pollution).
The best option is a good air filter (and a dehumidifier if the house is particularly damp). There are many air filters on the market that will trap larger particles such as whole pollen grains and mite pellets, but fragmented pellets and pollens, and some mould spores, are of a size (up to one micron) which most easily get through our defences. Up to 95% of the airborne particles in a room will be of this size, and they are also the most difficult particles for an air filter to remove. Filters, which are specifically designed to remove these most difficult particles, are called HEPA filters, and these are the best ones to buy.
Filter vacuum cleaners – the small size of the most troublesome particles means that they pass straight through the coarse filter and dust bag of a normal cleaner and are blown around the room (thus many dust allergic people are worse after vacuuming). Simple measures include getting someone else to vacuum, opening windows wide during vacuuming, and not doing it so often – damp dust instead (but not with a cloth that is too wet, or humidity will rise). Ideally an old vacuum cleaner should be replaced with one that is designed to effectively trap even the sub-micron particles which cause the problems. There are a range of options, from expensive but very effective purpose built machines, through to standard models fitted with special microfilters, to filter material which can be added to your existing vacuum cleaner if you can’t afford a new one. Whichever type you choose, you should be sure that the filter vacuum effectively removes particles down to half-a-micron or so. A more powerful machine will suck up more dust and therefore steadily reduce the ‘reservoir’ of housedust mite left in furnishings.

Pollens and Moulds
Grass pollen is commonly considered; tree and weed pollens are often ignored but as each has it’s own season ranging from January (Hazel) to October (Dandelion). Air filters are effective indoors (pollens are relatively large particles, although fragments are obviously much smaller). Filter vacuum cleaners will trap pollens.

Mould spores are usually ignored but are potent allergens – very few allergic patients are not mould sensitive. Different moulds spore at different seasons, so mould sensitivity (as with pollens) can lead to year long symptoms, usually worse in spring and particularly autumn, in damp weather, when raining or snowing, and in gardens, around compost heaps, and when cutting grass. Measures to reduce humidity, increase ventilation, and good air filters will help tackle mould sensitivity, as may avoiding ‘mouldy’ foods such as blue cheeses, mushrooms and yeasts.

If you have a damp house, particularly where mould is visible on walls and windowsills, it is important to determine the cause and tackle it (either structural faults, or condensation due to inadequate heating or poor ventilation)

Source: http://www.allergyuk.org

To be continued....................

Benefits from asthma drugs - what patients really want

2007-05-01T23:37:00.000+07:00

asthma drugs

Traditionally, trials of new asthma medicines have studied objective outcomes such as improvements in lung function or symptoms, believing these to be important for both the doctor and the patient.

However, some of our preconceived ideas about what patients want are being challenged by studies which show that the benefits which patients experience are often not measured in traditional clinical trials. Lung function is commonly used as the primary endpoint in asthma clinical trials, but it may not reflect changes which are important to patients.

Christine Jenkins (Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, Camperdown, Australia) and her colleagues examined the traditional and patient-focussed benefits achieved by three commonly prescribed classes of asthma drugs. They compared and related the changes in lung function and symptoms with patient-centred endpoints such as quality of life and a global rating of asthma control during treatment with three classes of asthma medication - a long acting bronchodilator, an inhaled preventer and an oral preventer medication.

The study shows that the perceived effectiveness of a drug is dependent on the specific endpoints which are examined.

For example, an inhaled corticosteroid, fluticasone, was superior to a long-acting bronchodilator, formoterol, for clinic lung function and airway responsiveness (the sensitivity of the airways); equivalent to formoterol for symptom control, morning peak flow readings, daytime reliever use, quality of life and patient assessments of asthma control; and inferior to formoterol for night-time asthma prevention.

The study found that in asthma treatment, traditional endpoints do not fully capture patient-centred benefits.

It is important to understand more about the effects of medications that patients value, to appreciate that some treatments may be preferred by patients on the basis of changes which may not be measured in conventional clinical trials.

Patients may be aware of a day-to-day protective benefit which is not reflected in any single functional assessment, and clinical trials should aim to include these measures when assessing new treatments.

Title of the original article:
Traditional and patient-centred outcomes with three classes of asthma medication

http://www.cedos.int.ch

Important facts about Asthma

2007-05-01T23:23:00.000+07:00

about asthma

• Asthma is a medical, physiological condition.
• There is no causal relationship between parenting skills and asthma. Asthma is caused by genetic predisposition and physical factors, not poor parenting.
• Children with asthma often (about 50%) experience a reduction or disappearance of symptoms as they grow into adulthood, but there are no guarantees about any child growing out of asthma or that their symptoms will not return at a later date.
• Often people experience a reduction in symptoms when moving to a different climate, at least temporarily. However, as people become accustomed to the new environment, new allergens (pollens, etc.) can pop up – trading one allergen for another.
• Asthma can kill. The best prevention is well-managed asthma and early detection and intervention in attacks. Under treatment leads to more deaths than over treatment of asthma.
• Exercise is as important for those with asthma as those without. Properly controlled asthma can allow children to participate in most or all activities.
• Coughing is often as much an indication of asthma as wheezing. Some asthmatics cough and wheeze, others only cough.
• Asthma is triggered by emotional upsets.

Indoor Allergens - Top Tips

2007-05-01T23:06:00.000+07:00

allergens

If you are suffering from an allergy to house dust mite, pets or moulds have a look at our top tips that could help ease some of your symptoms.

Allergic reactions to house dust mite cause sneezing, wheezing, runny nose, tight chest and skin rashes, avoidance measures are key as part of a management programme.
House dust mites make happy bedfellows, did you know, it is estimated that 2 million house dust mites live in a double bed. By using anti-allergy bedding covers that have been scientifically tested, you can significantly reduce contact with the allergen.
Using duvets and pillows that contain material in which house dust mites cannot live can play a major part in avoidance.
The house dust mite thrives in a warm moist environment. An electric blanket containing anti-allergy material will not only keep your bed warm, but house dust mites will not thrive in a nice dry bed.
Padded headboards attract and hold dust, vacuum them regularly or opt for a wooden one.
Indoor air quality is often as much as 20 times more polluted than the air outside. Common allergens are house dust mite, mould spores, pet dander, and pollen, and chemical pollutants are pesticides from timber treatments, tobacco smoke and chemicals from household cleaning products.
Keep your home well ventilated by opening windows and by slightly lowering the temperature of the central heating you can greatly improve the air quality and reduce indoor allergens.
Air conditioning is becoming increasingly popular but it is important to remember that these systems must be properly maintained otherwise mould can become established in the system and will be spread around the building by the very action of the air conditioning system itself.
House dust mites can survive at quite low temperatures and up to over 34C, but they need moisture to survive which is why our UK humid climate is so good. Almost all temperatures in our homes offer the ideal environment for house dust mites to live in but you can make your home difficult for them to survive by reducing humidity and taking the following steps: air your bed everyday by hanging your duvet or blankets over a chair, open windows and close doors on all steamy rooms like the bathroom and kitchen.
To further reduce house dust mites and their allergen, vacuum carpets everyday and curtains, and fabric three-piece suites three times a week with a vacuum cleaner that has a Hepa filter.
When replacing your three piece suite try to replace it with a leather or vinyl covered suite.
It is quite fashionable nowadays to use cotton throws over fabric suites. These can be washed at least monthly on a 60-degree wash to kill any allergens gathered in the throw or you could use anti-allergy bedding that can be adapted to make covers encasing the suite.
Soft toys are a favourite place for house dust mites to live in. By removing all but a favourite soft toy from the bedroom at night, you will lessen the house dust mites in your child’s room and bed. Every month, all soft toys should be either placed in the freezer for at least 24 hours and washed (in a pillow case) to remove the dead mites and their allergic droppings or washed at a temperature of 60C.
Pollen can live in the carpet for three months, vacuum regularly with a cleaner equipped with a HEPA filter.
Cat allergy is very common. Cat allergen is very light and sticky and stays around for months even after the cat is no longer around. Cat allergen sticks to carpeting, furnishings and walls, causing a problem for sufferers, regular washing down of walls and paintwork will help keep allergens down.
Steam cleaning can make a great impact using a product that has been scientifically tested to ascertain its efficiency in removing allergens. Vacuuming the carpet after steam cleaning will completely remove dead mites and allergen.
Regularly check and clean bathrooms. Kitchens and bathrooms are ideal breeding grounds for moulds to grow, as are windowsills, check these areas regularly. Rather than using chemical cleaners to remove mould try white vinegar or borax for cleaning, as this will remove the mould without increasing the chemical pollution within the home.
Regularly check fruit in the fruit basket removing any aging fruit as this will be a target for mould.
Indoor houseplants are another source of moulds. Place pea-shingle on top of the soil and this will stop mould spores from settling.
Always use an electrostatic duster or damp dust, as this will stop dust particles becoming air-borne. Dust particles can remain airborne for several hours irritating the nose, eyes and chest.

Source: http://www.allergyuk.org

Allergy Asthma, What Can You Do?

2007-04-30T00:49:00.000+07:00

allergy asthma

By Roger Michaelson

Taken from: Ezine

30% to 35% of all North Americans have allergy asthma. These numbers have increased significantly in the past 20 years. As a result both the sufferer and the sufferers’ family have seen a reduction in both quality of life and productivity. The impact can be devastating and even life threatening.

The allergy asthma population is on the rise yet research is on the decline. That doesn’t make a lot of sense. If you suffer from allergy asthma depending on the level of severity you can try to make improvements on your own or you may have to seek medical assistance.

There are several natural medicines that have shown excellent results for allergy asthma that is considered mild to moderate. Anyone dealing with severe problems needs to consult their doctor. Sometimes changes in lifestyle such as what you are exposing yourself to can help. Other times boosting the immune system or reprogramming it will make all the difference in the world.

Allergy asthma is one of the fastest growing allergies and asthma is becoming the fastest growing hospital admission in children and it is killing hundreds every year.

Allergies in general are growing with 2-5% of children and 10% of adults developing food allergies with many able to resolve themselves with dietary changes and often the use of herbal supplements. A small percentage will be dealing with more life threatening factors that must be addressed immediately. And many dealing with allergy asthma will need to work with their doctors.

Hay fever now affects about 25% of the population and it often leads to sinusitis and although it is often trivialized it is like allergy asthma seriously impairing a person’s ability to function.

Many of you might not realize the eczema can be a result of an allergy. In fact 10% of all eczema is allergy related and like allergy asthma you may need the help of your doctor to find the best approach to reducing it. There are many excellent herbal and natural products that can work well to eliminate eczema and reduce symptoms.

Anaphylaxis is the most serious allergy asthma – this is a reaction that can kill so suddenly those surrounding don’t realize what is occurring until it is too late. Anaphylaxis affects around 2% of the population and what happens is when the allergy strike the air ways are restricted and the person cannot breath thus suffocating.

Thankfully we are becoming much better at recognizing allergies in both children and adults. That means those suffering from allergies, and allergy asthma are getting better diagnosis and thus better treatment. In some cases with a little bit of diligence you can do a lot to help yourself using natural and herbal products. In more severe cases you will have to work with your doctor for the best outcome.

If you believe you have allergy asthma it is important to diagnose and find out exactly what is going on treating it before it gets more serious or even life threatening. There are some excellent asthma medications on the market that help you breathe and they have very few side effects.

So don’t delay if you think you have allergy asthma. You want to deal with it before it affects your quality of life.

What does an allergy mean?

2007-04-29T14:16:00.000+07:00

allergy information

Medical Editor: William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

An allergy refers to an exaggerated reaction by our immune system in response to bodily
contact with certain foreign substances. It is exaggerated because these foreign substances are usually seen by the body as harmless and no response occurs in non- allergic people. Allergic people's bodies recognize the foreign substance and one part of the immune system is turned on. Allergy-producing substances are called "allergens." Examples of allergens include pollens, dust mite, molds, danders, and foods. To understand the language of allergy it is important to remember that allergens are substances that are foreign to the body and can cause an allergic reaction in certain people.

When an allergen comes in contact with the body, it causes the immune system to develop an allergic reaction in persons who are allergic to it. When you inappropriately react to allergens that are normally harmless to other people, you are having an allergic reaction and can be referred to as allergic or atopic. Therefore, people who are prone to allergies are said to be allergic or "atopic."

Austrian pediatrician Clemens Pirquet (1874-1929) first used the term allergy. He referred to both immunity that was beneficial and to the harmful hypersensitivity as "allergy." The word allergy is derived from the Greek words "allos," meaning different or changed and "ergos," meaning work or action. Allergy roughly refers to an "altered reaction." The word allergy was first used in 1905 to describe the adverse reactions of children who were given repeated shots of horse serum to fight infection. The following year, the term allergy was proposed to explain this unexpected "changed reactivity."

Allergy Fact
It is estimated that 50 million North Americans are affected by allergic conditions.
The cost of allergies in the United States is more than $10 billion dollars yearly.
Allergic rhinitis (nasal allergies) affects about 35 million Americans, 6 million of whom are children.
Asthma affects 15 million Americans, 5 million of whom are children.
The number of cases of asthma has doubled over the last 20 years.

Things that can trigger an asthma attack

2007-04-29T14:10:00.001+07:00

asthma causes

Air pollution
Dust
Mold
Pollen
Tobacco smoke
Pet dander
Exercise
Changes in temperature
Some foods
Sulfite (food preservative in red wine, beer, salad bars, dehydrated soups and other foods)
Aspirin, or ibuprofen (brand names: Advil, Motrin, Nuprin)
Heartburn
Sinus infections
Strong emotions
Perfume
Spray-on deodorants
Viruses

Myths, facts, and statistics about asthma

2007-04-29T14:01:00.000+07:00

about asthma

Medical Editor: William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

Before we present the typical symptoms of asthma, we should dispel some common myths about this condition. This is best achieved by conducting a short true or false quiz.

T or F Asthma is "all in the mind."
T or F You will "grow out of it."
T or F Asthma can be cured, so it is not serious and nobody dies from it.
T or F You are likely to develop asthma if someone in your family has it.
T or F You can "catch" asthma from someone else who has it.
T or F Moving to a different location, such as the desert, can cure asthma.
T or F People with asthma should not exercise.
T or F Asthma does not require medical treatment.
T or F Medications used to treat asthma are habit-forming.
T or F Someone with asthma can provoke episodes anytime they want in order to get attention.

Here are the answers:

F - Asthma is not a psychological condition. However, emotional triggers can cause flare-ups.
F - You cannot outgrow asthma. In about 50% of children with asthma, the condition may become inactive in the teenage years. The symptoms, however, may reoccur at any time in adulthood.
F - There is no cure for asthma, but the disease can be controlled in most patients with good medical care. The condition should be taken seriously, since uncontrolled asthma may result in emergency hospitalization and possible death.
T - You have a 6% chance of having asthma if neither parent has the condition; a 30% chance if one parent has it; and a 70% chance if both parents have it.
F - Asthma is not contagious.
F - A new environment may temporarily improve asthma symptoms, but it will not cure asthma. After a few years in the new location, many people become sensitized to the new environment and the asthma symptoms return with the same or even greater intensity than before.
F - Swimming is an optimal exercise for those with asthma. On the other hand, exercising in dry, cold air may be a trigger for asthma in some people.
F - Asthma is best controlled by having an asthma management plan designed by your doctor that includes the medications used for quick relief and those used as controllers.
F - Asthma medications are not addictive.
F - Asthma attacks cannot be faked.

What is Asthma?

2007-04-29T13:48:00.000+07:00

about asthma

Asthma is a chronic disease that affects your airways. Your airways are tubes that carry air in and out of your lungs. If you have asthma, the inside walls of your airways become sore and swollen. That makes them very sensitive, and they may react strongly to things that you are allergic to or find irritating. When your airways react, they get narrower and your lungs get less air. This can cause wheezing, coughing, chest tightness and trouble breathing, especially early in the morning or at night.

When your asthma symptoms become worse than usual, it's called an asthma attack. In a severe asthma attack, the airways can close so much that your vital organs do not get enough oxygen. People can die from severe asthma attacks.

Asthma is treated with two kinds of medicines: quick-relief medicines to stop asthma symptoms and long-term control medicines to prevent symptoms.

More......

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Welcome to my asthma and allergy page

2007-04-29T12:41:00.000+07:00

Allergy and asthma have been parts of my life for sometime.

I had asthma genetically, it was from my mother's father. Then came allergy along with asthma. When I was a kid, around 7-10 years old, I started feeling the disorder. I couldn't stand dust and cold. I would sneeze and my eyes got redden if I was near dust.
And if I was feeling tired, I'd have trouble breathing.

Seeing my suffering, my parents, who were doctors, searched and looked for the cure and treatment against allergy and asthma. I was their guinea pig and it was successful.

This website is dedicated to my experience with allergy and asthma, and the hard work of my parents to treat their patients.