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Archive for the ‘Types of Allergies’ Category

The trouble caused from a dairy allergy can range from annoying to life threatening. Understanding the symptoms of such an allergy can help reduce the chances of having a reaction.
A dairy allergy is really an adverse reaction to the proteins in cow’s milk. This response is usually seen as affecting the digestive tract, the skin, or the breathing of the person affected.

A person who has a dairy allergy might experience:
•    diarrhea
•    stomach pain
•    constipation
•    vomiting
•    rashes
•    sneezing, wheezing or lung congestion
•    anaphylactic reactions
•    colic (in infants)

Some people say they have a dairy allergy when in fact, they have a condition called lactose intolerance.
Lactose intolerance has many of the symptoms of diary allergy, but it is in fact a food sensitivity issue stemming from their body’s lack of production of the enzyme lactase. Lactase is necessary to digest the sugar in milk and doesn’t have to do with an allergic sensitive to proteins in dairy products. What this means for the sufferer is that lactose intolerance occurs when the person has consumed much more dairy products than it would take to cause the same effects on a person with a milk allergy.

For someone with a true dairy allergy there, can be more problems than simple discomfort such as anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis is a severe life-threatening reaction in which the sufferer might have difficulty breathing and a sudden drop in blood pressure. Anaphylactic shock can result and without immediate medical attention, this can cause death.
For most people with dairy allergy simply avoiding foods containing milk products can keep them healthy. This means having no food containing yogurt, whey, casein, butter, butter flavoring, cheese and cream. Also, watch for products which list lactic acid as an ingredient since this often contains the proteins which will cause a dairy allergy reaction. Even some processed food products listed as non-dairy might actually contain enough milk proteins to cause a problem.

There are many food replacements for those suffering dairy allergy such as those containing:
•    Rice milk
•    Soy milk
•    Oat milk
•    Almond milk

Many fruit juices and replacement foods have calcium added so these can be a reliable source of this dietary need. Being watchful of what a sufferer eats can eliminate most symptoms of dairy allergy. If accidental ingest of dairy occurs antihistamines can be taken for those suffering a typical reaction such as rashes or congestion.

Sinus allergies are nothing to sneeze at! If you’ve ever had the runny nose, itchy eyes, headache, and sneezing you’ve know the agony of sinus allergies. Understanding exactly what’s causing all this trouble can be the first step to finding some needed relief.

When most people talk about the sinus they’re referring to the nasal cavities, respiratory tract, and nose. The cavity just behind the nose is actually a very busy part of the body as the cilia and mucus along the inside wall trap and remove dust and pathogens from the air every time a breath is drawn. The cilia move the mucus along down the nasal cavity to the pharynx where it can be eliminated. This all works fine unless sinus allergies strikes.

An allergy occurs when your body’s immune system reacts to environmental substances as if they were harmful. Hay fever is an allergic reaction many people have to common allergens in the air during seasonal changes like spring plant or summer tree pollen. When you’re allergic to something air born that cavity behind your nose goes into overload. An inflammatory response can mean sneezing, itching, and much more mucus than can be easily eliminated from one poor overworked nose.

Sinus allergies are a very common, but certainly not easy to live with for very long. It’s a smart idea to find medications to relieve symptoms of sinus allergies as soon as possible. Because the allergy and inflammation has sent the normal workings of the nose and sinus cavity into high gear, an infection quickly becomes a possibility. The sooner relief is found for your sinus allergies the less chance of this type of infection commonly referred to as a ’secondary infection’ can develop.

Sometimes relief for a sinus allergy can be found with over the counter medications. Read all instructions for such medications carefully and take only the amounts listed. Drink a lot of water since allergy tablets often dry out the sinus.

If your sinus allergies persist for several weeks a doctor can prescribe stronger medications called antihistamines which work to control the body’s allergen response. A doctor might also prescribe a corticosteroid spray which can work very quickly to calm all that sinus allergy activity down.

If you could stop coughing you could concentrate. Worse it seems everyone is looking around. They’re trying to find the source of that nagging sound, but there’s no way to control it. Every breath seems to send your throat into a fresh spasm of coughing. It’s bad enough to have the itchy watery eyes, running nose and stuffy head, but this persistent coughing has got to stop. Why on top of all the other symptoms do you have to have throat allergies? Changes are good that if you have this nasty little cough you’re having an allergic reaction that’s impacting your whole body. Throat allergies as well as the running nose and other symptoms are all part of the same package. Your body is sensitive to something in the environment whether it’s something you’re breathing in or something you’ve ingested and your body is trying to expel it from your system. That’s why your throat is itching and that’s why all that nasty mucus is being created.

If your cough is producing mucus as much as you might want to surpassing it isn’t a good idea. This is called a productive cough and its clearing the mucus from your lungs and sinus area so that it can be eliminated from the body. Of course this very same mucus is what’s making your throat and you so miserable in the first place. To sooth throat allergies you might try home remedies, over-the-counter medicines, or visit a doctor to get a prescription for stronger medication.

A typical home remedy for throat allergies is a soothing tea. Some teas also contain antihistamines which can bring relief from some of the itching and mucus production. Over-the-counter medications containing antihistamines will also manage the itching and mucus production, but be sure to take this medicine with water as it can make your mouth and throat dry. There are also medicated throat drops which can help with the coughing.

Throat allergies should be taken seriously and if the symptoms persist a doctor can prescribe medications. These medications usually also included antihistamine, but will be a bit stronger than those purchased over the counter.

Soy allergy is fairly common food sensitivity. Some sufferers of soy allergy have fairly mild symptoms, while a rare few can have severe physical reactions. Most common soy allergy reactions are:

• Sinus congestion
• Swelling
• Canker sores or fever blisters
• Stomach ache, gastrointestinal problems, or diarrhea
• Itching
• Hay fever type symptoms

Severe reactions can include:

•    Skin conditions such as acne or eczema
•    An asthmatic reaction
•    Anaphylaxis

Most commonly soy allergy is treated by avoiding foods that contain soy. This can be more difficult than a non-sufferer might suspect since soy has become an important food staple worldwide. Soy protein is added to some broth that’s used in canned chicken and tuna. Soy flour can be found in hamburger buns and in hydrolyzed vegetable protein so even buying something as common as a burger and fries means making inquiries about ingredients first. The same thing goes for other food containing flour that might be soy based such as doughnuts, pancakes, breads, or biscuits.

Naturally soy protein can be found in soybeans, soy nuts, soy sprouts and anything made from these sources. Anyone with a soy allergy should avoid edamame, mso, natto, soy milk, soy sauce, tamari, tempeh, tofu, soybean butter, shoyu sauce and anything else containing the soy protein that triggers a reaction.

If soy is accidentally ingested most common aids such as antihistamines are usually effective in treating the resulting symptoms. If a more severe action like anaphylaxis should be the result, then medical attention is needed immediately. Anaphylaxis can result in the soy allergy sufferer have a sudden increase in heart rate, sudden weakness, difficulty breathing, sudden drop in blood pressure and unconsciousness. If the sufferer isn’t given proper treatment as soon as possible this can result in death.

Soy allergy that begins in infancy or childhood might be eventually be outgrown by the sufferer. For most adults mild to moderate symptoms are the only problems experienced. Most soy allergy sufferers can tolerate up to 400 mg of the protein before having a response, but the best bet is to avoid entirely if possible.

For most people peanuts are merely a delicious and wholesome snack, for others especially young children they represent a constant threat to health. The symptoms of peanut allergy range from merely annoying to life threatening. In fact, while food allergy related deaths are rare peanut allergy is one of the most common food allergies to cause death in the U.S. The reason some individuals are allergic is due to their immune system reaction to the proteins found in peanuts. Symptoms of a peanut allergy will show up in various ways as the body overacts to these proteins and releases certain chemicals such as histamine into the blood. Since the body of someone with peanut allergy sees these proteins as a threat it will try to eliminate them.

Symptoms of peanut allergy reaction will be found in the:
• Skin
• Eyes
• Nose
• Nasal passages
• Lungs
• Stomach and intestinal tract
• Blood vessels throughout the body

Most people with peanut allergy only suffer from mild reactions such as rashes, itching or watery eyes, itchy nose or runny nasal passages, diarrhea or constipation, or congested lungs. For these relatively mild irritations, an antihistamine can offer some relief. Antihistamine can be found in over-the-counter medications or can be prescribed by a doctor.

A much more serious reaction the body might have to a peanut allergy is called anaphylaxis. This reaction affects the entire body and can be life threatening. A sufferer having an anaphylaxis reaction may have difficulty breathing and a sudden drop in blood pressure. Some of the symptoms to watch for in anaphylaxis are:
• Trouble swallowing or breathing
• Vomiting or diarrhea
• Swelling of the tongue or lips
• Sudden dangerous dip in blood pressure
• Loss of consciousness

Anaphylaxis reaction to peanut allergy can occur in minutes or hours of ingestion and must be treated as soon as possible. A blood test can show if a person is suffering from peanut allergy. If the allergy is discovered the best course of treatment is usual to avoid all foods containing peanuts or peanut oil. Because of the risk of a serious reaction monitoring peanut allergies is important especially in the case of children with this health concern.

An allergic reaction to the sulfonamides drugs is often referred to as “Sulfa allergy”.  Sulfonamides are some of the original antibacterial drugs.  It’s important to note that antibiotic sulfonamides are different structurally form non-antibiotic sulfonamides.  The antibiotic form is the more likely to trigger a sulfa allergy reaction.
The number of people affected by sulfa allergy is roughly the same as those who have similar reactions to other drugs such as penicillin.  People who have other issues such as immune problems which can cause them to metabolize drugs more slowly are more likely to have an allergic reaction.

Some sulfa allergy symptoms are mild while some reactions can be life threatening. Sulfa allergy can adversely affect various blood cells. This reaction results in fewer white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets.  This can leave a patient with increased risked for anemia, or infections. Sulfa allergy can react within the lung cause a pneumonia type illness. When a patient is suffering from asthma or heart issues this allergic reaction can worsen the condition and this can prove to be life threatening. Just as serious is the reaction which can occur in the liver and kidney.  Patients with a sulfa allergy can develop a type of hepatitis or kidney failure.

Skin reactions can be mild or dire. Skin rashes or hives can range from relatively benign rashes to the more life-threatening toxic epidermal necrolysis. Anyone taking this medication and experiencing a rash should try to avoid sunlight since this can exacerbate the problem. There is no way to pre-diagnosis a sulfa allergy. The only way to confirm someone is allergic is to careful monitor any course of this treatment for any signs of trouble. Once it is determined by a health care professional that a sulfa allergy is occurring the usual precaution is discontinue its use immediately.  Naturally, the next step is to treat the symptoms of the sulfa allergy especially in those with the more serious or severe conditions.

If a medical professional believes sulfa drugs are the most beneficial for a patient who shows a reaction there might be an attempt to desensitize the patient to the medication.  This is done by giving the patient small doses over time until they are able to have a full dose without a sulfa allergy reaction.

Almost everyone has a favorite season. Most people look forward to the crisp chill of the fall air, snuggling under a warm blanket during the first winter storm, the clean smell of the rain after a spring shower or the exciting first splash into a cool swimming pool on the first hot day of summer. For those with seasonal allergy there is no such nostalgia. They look forward to a certain season with all the optimism of a patient waiting for the dentist.

Depending on what your body reacts to seasonal allergy can cause a lot of suffering.  An allergy develops when the immune systems mistakes something in the environment for a foreign body and tries to eliminate it from the body by release the same antibodies it would normal use to kill off bacteria or viruses. The result is misery for the sufferer since the substance the body has misidentified as an attacker is destined to bloom once every year.
Spring and summer are among the most common times for season allergy because of the number of plants bloom and going to seed during this time. Spring time trees that cause allergy are found almost everywhere such as the: Alder, Ash, Aspen Maple, Elm, Olive, Pine, Juniper, and Willow to name a few. Spring time grasses like the Bermuda, Johnson, Orchard, Salt grass and Timothy are just as plentiful.

In the summer time season allergy suffers must endure the weeds and grasses including ragweed, pigweed, sagebrush, and tumbleweed, Bermuda, red top, and sweet vernal. Ragweed will linger into the fall and mold will pick up giving those with seasonal allergy something to sneeze at, while dust and mold spores will follow sufferers indoors for the winter.

The most common symptoms most sufferers of seasonal allergy will experience are: coughing, itchy or water eyes, running nose and clogged nasal passages, and sneezing. Over-the-counter remedies with decongestants and antihistamines are available the year round for seasonal allergy sufferers. For those suffering the full range of seasonal allergy symptoms the best bets are those medications containing both antihistamine and a decongestant. If the symptoms persist for more than a few weeks, it might be time to find help from a doctor who can prescribe a stronger course of treatment.

Penicillin is a type of antibiotic that’s derived from the Penicillum fungi.  Its beneficial uses have been around for awhile and for many people, they have proven to save life and health from such conditions as staphylococcus or other bacterial infections.  For others, however Penicillin can prove to be more dangerous than the conditions it’s used to treat. People with penicillin allergy can find themselves in a very uncomfortable or even life-threatening state because of this antibiotic.

People who suffer from penicillin allergy have symptoms including:

•    Rashes
•    Hives
•    Itchy or water eyes
•    Swollen tongue or lips
•    Swelling of the face, hands or feet

Another more severe reaction to penicillin allergy is called anaphylactic shock. Symptoms of anaphylaxis are:
•    Difficulty breathing
•    Vomiting
•    Dizziness
•    Swelling of the lips or tongue
•    Rapid or weak pulse
•    Sudden drop in blood pressure
•    Skin taking on bluish hue
•    Loss of consciousness

In the case of this type of rare reaction to penicillin allergy the sufferer must have medical treatment as soon as possible since anaphylactic reaction can result in death without prompt care. The treatment for this severe reaction is usually an injection of epinephrine.

While anaphylactic reaction isn’t common many milder forms of penicillin allergy are fairly routine.  People who have penicillin allergy often also react to other related antibiotics as well.  Anyone who’s had a reaction to penicillin should avoid these other types of antibiotic as well. These medicines include:
•    Cephalexin
•    Cepfprozil
•    Cefuroxime

Care should be taken and, even if the sufferer had only a mild reaction it’s important that any treating medical profession always be informed of this allergy.
Mild symptoms of penicillin allergy such as rashes, hives, itchy nose or skin, or swelling can be treated with over-the-counter medications, which contain an antihistamine.  Of course, any reaction no matter how mild should be immediately discussed with a doctor and most often a different drug will be prescribed.  Avoiding penicillin or any drugs in the same family of antibiotics is best when dealing with a penicillin allergy.

For most people eggs are a healthy food source, and at only 70 calories, eggs are a good source of protein. It’s this very protein however that for some individuals makes the egg a deadly food choice. The protein in egg whites or yolks can cause a mild to severe egg allergy reaction for some adults and children.
Egg allergy is more common in children and young people than adults. Mild reactions are those usually associated with food allergies such rashes, watery eyes, stomach and intestinal issue like diarrhea or constipation, a running nose, or a sore throat.

A more serious reaction to egg allergy is called anaphylaxis. This type of reaction is life threatening and anyone suffering from anaphylaxis symptoms should receive medical treatment at once. Symptoms of anaphylaxis included: vomiting, swelling of the lips or tongue, difficulty breathing, swelling of the throat, extreme drop in blood pressure and a loss of consciousness. Reaction to egg allergy usually demonstrates fairly soon after digesting anything containing the egg protein.

The most common treatment for egg allergy is to avoid anything containing eggs. This can prove harder to do than might first be believed. Many common processed foods or restaurant offerings contain eggs. Anything containing egg whites, egg yolks, dried eggs, or egg powder must be avoided which is difficult since these foods are used for some many ingredients including: globulin, albumin, fat substitutes, apovitellin, livetin, lysozyme, meringue powder, ovalbumin, ovoglobulin, ovomucin, ovotransferrin, silica albuminate, simplesse, and vitelin. If these names don’t sound familiar, a quick trip through the grocery aisles and a glance at the labels of most foods stuff will show how prevalent their use is in processed foods. The egg protein that triggers an egg allergy reaction can even be found in pretzels, tartar sauce and even some wines.

Some flu vaccines are made by using eggs to incubate the vaccine and this can cause an egg allergy reaction. Sufferers of this condition should always let medical professionals know of their egg allergy before receiving any type of vaccine as a precaution.It’s very important when dealing with an egg allergy to remain vigilant about what ingredients are in food and to monitor for reaction to any accidentally ingested egg foodstuffs.

From time to time someone sneezing and wheezing will be overheard saying they’re suffering from ‘cold allergies’ and they’ll let everyone know it’s no fun. The question is of course whether there’s any such thing or if the sufferer has

simply confused two different conditions with similar symptoms. Cold allergies are no doubt one of two conditions with symptoms that affect the nasal passage and upper respiratory tract.

The difference is a cold is caused by the body’s response to bacteria and an allergy is really the body’s confusing something in the environment for bacteria or infection. While someone who’s confused about their symptoms might label their suffering as cold allergies no one is actually allergic to a cold which is what their statement would really mean.

A cold is actually acute viral rhinopharyngitis or coryza. These are big, tough names for what’s usually a fairly mild infectious disease. In fact, the common cold is the least likely infection to lead to death a human being can catch. That doesn’t mean it’s not thoroughly unpleasant to have the runny nose, nasal and chest congestion, coughing, sneezing, sore throat, muscle aches, and loss of appetite a cold can cause the sufferer.

Some colds will also cause a small fever usually no higher a few degrees above normal. The only good news is a cold peaks in symptoms after just a few days and usually runs its course completely in 7 to 10 days after onset. If a suffer takes sufficient care of their cold there’s relatively little chance of it developing into something more serious, but smokers should watch for secondary infections and more severe symptoms since the immune system is compromised by their habit. Infants and young children who develop a high fever with a cold should be taken to a doctor.

The allergy half of the ‘cold allergies’ has similar symptoms such as nasal congestion, sneezing, an itchy runny nose, a scratchy throat and in some cases chest congestion. Allergies will seldom cause fever, but might linger for weeks or until the cause of the allergy is removed. Another place you might see the words cold allergies is the sign over the aisle in a grocery store where the over-the-counter medicines are found. Both colds and allergies can be treated with antihistamine and decongestants. If more serious symptoms such as difficulty breathing, very high fever, swelling of the tongue or lips, drop in blood pressure, or other serious problems occur then medical help should be found as soon as possible.