Treating kids' cough and cold symptoms: Homeopathic remedies and natural supplements don't work.
The Truth About Peanut Allergies
Peanuts are one of the top allergy-causing foods out there. Let's crack this crunchy culprit open and get to the truth. Can you outgrow a peanut allergy? It's possible. Around 20% of people do.Is there a way to help your baby avoid getting a peanut allergy? Maybe. Ask your doctor if it's safe for you to start feeding your baby food with peanuts in it when she's four to six months old.
Is there a cure for peanut allergies? No. But researchers are testing treatments that show promise, like a skin patch and a powder you take by mouth.
Should I always carry two epinephrine shots with me? Yes. This medicine can save your life if you have a severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. Follow your doctor's directions on how soon you should use epinephrine. Typically, you use it as soon as you have symptoms like trouble breathing or hives. Then you have to call 911.
Should you avoid eating tree nuts, too? Maybe. Up to 40% of people with a peanut allergy are also allergic to at least one tree nut, like almonds, cashews, or walnuts. Talk to your doctor or allergist if you're not sure. ","publisher":"WebMD Video"} ]]>
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Peanuts are one of the top allergy-causing foods out there. Let's crack this crunchy culprit open and get to the truth. Can you outgrow a peanut allergy? It's possible. Around 20% of people do.Is there a way to help your baby avoid getting a peanut allergy? Maybe. Ask your doctor if it's safe for you to start feeding your baby food with peanuts in it when she's four to six months old.
Is there a cure for peanut allergies? No. But researchers are testing treatments that show promise, like a skin patch and a powder you take by mouth.
Should I always carry two epinephrine shots with me? Yes. This medicine can save your life if you have a severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. Follow your doctor's directions on how soon you should use epinephrine. Typically, you use it as soon as you have symptoms like trouble breathing or hives. Then you have to call 911.
Should you avoid eating tree nuts, too? Maybe. Up to 40% of people with a peanut allergy are also allergic to at least one tree nut, like almonds, cashews, or walnuts. Talk to your doctor or allergist if you're not sure.
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The Most Common 'inhalant' Allergies
by NAOMI COLEMAN, femail.Co.Uk
One quarter of the British population suffers from 'inhalant' allergies caused by environmental factors such as pollen, pets, house dust mites and moulds.
Such allergies are a reaction by the immune system to a normally harmless substance.
This is because the immune system is designed to fight off foreign bodies. When it can't find infection to fight, it looks for something else such as an allergy to react against.
People who are born with allergies inherit them genetically. People who develop an allergic reaction later on in life usually have a genetic predisposition to allergies. Alternatively, allergies are triggered by a lowering of the immune system at times of illness.
Here, we look at the causes of four common 'inhalant' allergies, how they affect you and how to manage your symptoms.
HAY FEVER:
Hay fever is a common allergy suffered by one third of the population. It is caused by reactions to airborne allergens.
Allergens are found in grass pollens, tree pollens (oak, elm, ash, birch or hazel), and certain mould spores - fungal organisms that appear as black or green spots and grow in moist conditions.
How it affects you? Classic symptoms include frequent sneezing, a runny or blocked nose, dry throat, itchy eyes and headaches caused by inflammation of the linings of the nose or eyes.
Additional symptoms include disturbed sleep, inability to concentrate, lethargy and depression. If left untreated, hay fever can develop into asthma.
What can you do? Monitor pollen forecasts - a high pollen count is considered to be around 50. If pollen counts are high, remain indoors or at least limit your outdoor trips, especially in the countryside. If you do venture outside, try to remember to wear sunglasses to prevent eye irritation.
When indoors, keep windows closed - especially in the mornings when pollen is being released. Try and keep windows in the car closed while driving and avoid mowing the lawn or raking leaves.
PET ALLERGIES:
We are actually allergic to the proteins and enzymes contained in the saliva of a pet, rather than the animal itself. When a cat or a dog licks or scratches itself, skin cells drop off the animal and become airborne. These allergens settle in bedding, carpets and furnishings. How it affects you? Runny eyes, nose, itching and wheezing. Sufferers also experience swelling of the airways - especially the throat and lungs. They may develop rashes - usually swelling with wheals - fluid-filled raised areas of skin.
What can you do? The fitter the animal, the less allergy-causing the animal will be. An unfit pet is likely to develop a skin condition which means it will scratch and shed the skin cells.
To combat this problem, wash and groom your animal at least twice a week. It is important to keep furry animals out of the bedroom and lounge as allergens settle in bedding, carpet and furniture.
DUST MITES:
Dust mites are microscopic creatures that survive on humidity and warmth. Usually found in mattresses, bedding and upholstery, they thrive on human skin cells for food.
They digest our skin cells and excrete them as faecal particles which settle in our mattress, pillows and carpets. Female dust mites excrete 20 particles a day, lay up to two eggs and live for five months.
How it affects you? If you suffer from eczema where the skin is inflammed and alive, dust mites will exacerbate your condition. Breathing in dust mites faecal particles will cause wheezing, nasal blockage and sneezing.
What can you do? Line your mattress and bed linen with barrier covers made from polyolefin - this will stop the dust mites entering or exiting. Use a HEPA filter (a special filter that retains faecal particles) on your vacuum. Vacuum carpets at least once a day.
MOULD SPORES:
Mould spores are fungal organisms that appear as black or green spots that grow in damp conditions. They are in damp washing, fruit, cheese, around house plants, in the seal of the fridge or behind wallpaper - anywhere that's humid.
How it affects you? Mould spores can cause chronic sinus problems, respiratory symptoms and coughing.
What can you do? Apart from stripping the room of wallpaper and repainting the walls to seal them, ventilate the house. When cooking, always open the windows and shut the doors. Don't leave washing hanging around and dry out the bathroom after use.
{"status":"error","code":"499","payload":"Asset id not found: readcomments comments with assetId=109924, assetTypeId=1"}Best OTC Allergy Medicines Of 2023, According To Experts
Some allergy medicines like antihistamines can cause side effects, such as:
Corticosteroids, which come in several forms, can also cause side effects, such a unpleasant taste, nosebleeds, nose irritation from nasal spray use, mouth or throat irritation or oral yeast infections from inhalers, and cataracts, glaucoma or infections from eye drops.
To prevent side effects from allergy medicines, speak with your health care provider to determine the right medication and dosage for you, and to monitor use if needed.
Will Allergy Medicine Make Me Drowsy?Allergy medicines, specifically antihistamines, can cause drowsiness. Some antihistamines, typically referred to as first generation antihistamines, create a blood-barrier effect that occurs when the drug crosses from the blood to the brain, which can cause sedation. Non-drowsy antihistamines, or second generation antihistamines, are less likely to cause this effect.
Antihistamines may also affect a person's ability to drive and a child's ability to learn due to the potential drowsiness they can cause. Consult your health care provider if you or your child are taking antihistamines to make sure they're safe to use.
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