| An allergy is a hypersensitive response by the body's | | | | respiratory system and are quite bothersome. |
| immune system normally attributed to environmental, | | | | Lifestyle suggestions: |
| substances, foods, or drugs. The typical allergic | | | | |
| response can include some or all of the following: | | | | 1. Do not smoke or use other tobacco products. |
| runny nose, sneezing, itchy eyes, dark circles under | | | | Avoid airborne triggers including pollution and |
| the eyes (especially in children), congestion, asthma, | | | | chemicals, and stay away from smoking areas. |
| rashes, stomach aches, vomiting, diarrhea, bloating, | | | | 2. Consume a healthy diet that supports the immune |
| headaches, fatigue, fever, or anaphylactic shock, a | | | | system. Don't eat highly refined foods, wash fruits |
| serious allergic reaction which can result in death. An | | | | and vegetables thoroughly before eating, reduce |
| adverse reaction to any substance, especially | | | | saturated and hydrogenated fats and replace with |
| wheezing or difficulty breathing, should be reported | | | | olive oil, high-oleic safflower oil, and omega-3 oils |
| to a healthcare practitioner; if it's accompanied by | | | | 3. Drink plenty of purified water: one-half your body |
| hives, call the doctor immediately. | | | | weight in ounces per day. If you weight 100 lbs., then |
| While difficult cases may take time, proper diagnosis | | | | drink 50 oz. Or more every day to help flush allergens |
| and tracking of allergic responses can often lead to | | | | out of your system. |
| control prevention of undesirable symptoms. Some | | | | 4. Remove any blankets, pillows, stuffed animals, |
| allergies are simple, such as dog and cat dander, while | | | | drapes, or rugs that can be dust catchers or harbor |
| others occur only if a combination of allergens is | | | | dust mites. Replace with good-quality hypoallergenic |
| present. Confounding the effort to identify allergens | | | | products. If removal or replacement isn't possible, |
| are the multiple points of entry to the body; allergens | | | | wash frequently I hot water, or occasionally put the |
| may enter via the eyes, nose, mouth, or skin. | | | | stuffed animal the freezer overnight to kill dust mites. |
| Here are the four general categories of allergens that | | | | 5. Change air filters regularly and have heating and air |
| affect people most: | | | | conditioning ducts professionally cleaned. |
| Prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) products: | | | | 6. Use chemical cleaners carefully and cautiously. It |
| Drug allergies and drug reactions are fairly | | | | may be prudent to use gloves and a respiratory |
| commonplace today with the advent of so many | | | | mask when using cleaners; if latex gloves irritate your |
| new types of drugs. While most drug reactions are | | | | skin, use vinyl. |
| not life threatening, some individuals experience an | | | | 7. If the dog or cat is a problem, get rid of the |
| anaphylactic reaction (generalized swelling, breathing | | | | animal. If that's not possible, do what you can - stay |
| difficulties, and a drop in blood pressure), which can | | | | away from the animal, or at least keep it out of the |
| be fatal. Most individuals and parents of children older | | | | rooms you spend the most time in. |
| than seven generally know if they have allergies to | | | | 8. During allergy seasons, stay indoors, especially on |
| medications. The obvious solution is avoiding drugs | | | | windy days, and away from any areas with a dense |
| and the family of similar drugs when medical attention | | | | plant growth. |
| is required. It's especially important that a drug or | | | | 9. Invest in an air-purifier system for your office, |
| sensitivity is recorded in your permanent medical | | | | home, and especially your bedroom. |
| chart. | | | | Allergies diagnosis may be further complicated by a |
| Chemicals: Environmental chemicals and foods | | | | viral, bacterial, or yeast infection that can mimic |
| additives, including pesticide residues, are two major | | | | symptoms of allergens. In some cases, both |
| sources of chemical allergies. Some chemicals may | | | | problems may be causing symptoms. Because |
| actually weaken the immune system's ability to | | | | knowledge of the various immune and non-immune |
| function optimally, further complicating allergic | | | | system triggers are still far from complete, it may be |
| symptoms. | | | | necessary to try various treatments in combination |
| Environmental allergens: Pollen, mold spores, fungus, | | | | before the right treatment for any individual can be |
| grass, poison ivy, dust mites, animal dander and hair | | | | identified. Severe allergies that can cause serious |
| or the protein residue from salivary licking of hair, and | | | | health problems should be documented in you medical |
| insect bites are hard to pin down and eliminate. Most | | | | records. |
| of these triggers produce reactions that affect the | | | | |