Detecting The Allergen That’s Making You Sick
There are two ways to detect an allergen that is making you sick: through skin-prick testing, considered by many experts to be the gold standard, and through immunoglobulin E blood testing. Unfortunately, according to Dr. Robert Reinhardt, MD, associate professor at Michigan State University and senior director of medical and regulatory affairs and quality management at Phadia, U.S., Inc., both of these types of tests are underused by physicians who are more likely to simply prescribe medications to treat allergy symptoms.
Skin-prick testing involves first abrading the skin with a needle and then placing a series of drops of allergen extracts such as pollen, dander, molds, etc., onto the place where the skin was pricked. Then, you’ll wait 15 minutes to see if a reaction develops in comparison to a positive control and a negative control .
Specific IgE testing, , can help your healthcare provider diagnose the allergens that are causing your symptoms. IgE is an immunoglobulin, a protein that acts as part of our immune system, detecting foreign substances such as bacteria and allergens. IgE tends to overreact in response to an allergen; this results in an allergy.
Food Allergy: Home Remedy Or Emergency Room
Overview
Food allergies can be deadly, but not all physical reactions to food require a visit to the emergency room. Knowing when to call 911 and when you can treat a reaction with things in your home could save your life, as well as some money.
As many as 15 million Americans have food allergies, according to Food Allergy Research & Education. And these numbers are rising. Between 1997 and 2011, food allergies in children increased by 50 percent, and now they affect one in every 13 kids. Their prevalence is alarming, as are their potential effects.
When Is It An Emergency
Every three minutes, someone goes to the emergency room because they have a severe allergic reaction to food. This results in about 200,000 visits per year. If you experience any of the following symptoms, get help immediately, as anaphylaxis can happen in a matter of minutes or even seconds:
- wheezing or high-pitched breathing
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When To See A Doctor
In case of severe or persistent symptoms, it is best to seek medical attention.
Consult your veterinarian regarding your pets diet in the event of a possible food allergy.
Seeing your dog in such discomfort can make you feel terrible. While it is recommended to take your pet to a vet for proper diagnosis and treatment for allergies, there are several home remedies that can help your dog feel better and possibly alleviate some of the symptoms.
Easy Home Remedies For Allergies You Can Make At Home
by San Tan Allergy & Asthma | Jun 21, 2020 | Allergies
Springtime offers a fresh breath of warm sunshine and a feeling of hope to many people, especially those who hate the frigid winter cold. Unfortunately, the warmer air and growing flowers also usher in a whole host of pollen spread. While it is vital to plant growth and reproduction, pollen is dreaded by those who suffer from seasonal Mesa allergies. Chandler allergists typically see a large influx of patients in the early spring every year, when pollen in the air begins to increase. Here we have some tried and true home remedies that help tremendously with decreasing the allergic response to pollen.
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Allergy Symptoms And Signs
Allergies are exaggerated immune responses to environmental triggers known as allergens. Allergies are very common, and about 50 million people in North America suffer from allergies. One of the most common forms of allergy is allergic rhinitis , which produces symptoms like:
- nasal congestion,
- Houseplants
How Is Allergic Rhinitis Diagnosed
If you have minor allergies, youll probably only need a physical exam. However, your doctor may perform certain tests to figure out the best treatment and prevention plan for you.
A skin prick test is one of the most common. Your doctor places several substances onto your skin to see how your body reacts to each one. Usually, a small red bump appears if youre allergic to a substance.
A blood test, or radioallergosorbent test , is also common. The RAST measures the amount of immunoglobulin E antibodies to particular allergens in your blood.
You can treat your allergic rhinitis in several ways. These include medications, as well as home remedies and possibly alternative medicines. Talk to your doctor before trying any new treatment measure for allergic rhinitis.
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Clean Curtains And Blinds
Curtains and blinds are also a common place for dust and other allergens to accumulate, so do your due diligence to make sure these are cleaned regularly. About twice a month, gently vacuum curtains and drapes using a brush attachment at the lowest suction setting.
A hairdryer on the cold setting can also be a great way to remove debris from delicate fabrics, but make sure you are vacuuming after so you are not just blowing dust onto other areas of your bedroom. If you have blinds, use a duster or dust rag to clear away dust that can build up between blind panels.
Quick tip: Place air purifiers in every bedroom to regularly filter out airborne allergens that may latch onto your curtains or blinds, in order to reduce your exposure to them as you sleep.
Household Changes To Help Your Cats Allergies
If your cat has seasonal allergies, you can make a few simple changes at home to help him feel better.
Keep your cat indoors when the pollen count is high.
Also, keep your home allergen free. Vacuum and wipe often, and change your HVAC filters monthly.
In addition, consider purchasing an air purifier to remove dust and pollen from the air.
Make sure your cat is flea free. Flea allergies are common in cats, and all it takes is one bite to trigger the allergic response.
Is your cat itchy and scratchy around his mouth? If his food dish is plastic, he might be allergic to the bowl. Try switching to glass, metal or ceramic.
Switch cat litter. Some cats are sensitive to chemicals and scents in many cat litter brands. Find a bag of low dust, chemical free brand and give it a try.
Do you like to cook? Try a home-cooked diet for cat allergies. Often limiting ingredients in a cats diet helps allergy symptoms.
PET | TAO Limited Ingredient Recipe is the perfect food for allergic cats.
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Recruit A Cleaning Detective
Recruit your favorite cleaning detectives and have them investigate different areas of the house to determine what needs cleaning up. After inspecting a room, they can list out if a bed is unmade or if thereâs a toy on the floor, for example. This is a fun and creative way to have children help create a chore list and identify messes.
Since weâre exposed to allergies almost every day, itâs important to stay on top of allergy prevention, especially if you or a family member are prone to allergic reactions. Leaving allergies unattended can be problematic as symptoms can worsen over time, so keep a close eye on how exposure to allergens may be affecting a loved one.
If the above allergy-proofing tips did not eliminate your or your familyâs allergy symptoms it may be time to take an indoor and outdoor home allergy test, or speak with your healthcare provider to discuss options.
Replacing Filters In The Home
Now would be a great time to ask your home care provider or another family helper to replace the filters in your parents home with high-efficiency particulate air filters. These filters can greatly reduce the amount of allergens in the air in your parents home by trapping pollen, dust, and pet dander. Most hardware and general stores carry HEPA filters so if you can pick up the correct size for your parents home, it should be fairly easy to swap out the old filters for new, fresh ones. You might also want to consider changing them more often when pollen counts are especially high.
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Drink Lemon Juice To Tackle Allergic Reactions
Lemon contains the flavonoid hesperetin and vitamin C. Both these compounds have antihistamine properties and can help prevent an allergic reaction. One case study found that a woman who was sensitive to a variety of substances from detergents, dust, and pollen to perfumes experienced relief from symptoms when she had lemon juice. Interestingly, the lemon juice worked in half an hour and cleared symptoms of not only eye allergy but also nasal allergy.78
Home Remedies For Seasonal Allergies
Is your child suffering from a runny nose, sneezing, and itchy eyes? Help them feel better with these natural allergy remedies you can try at home.
Allergies happen when your immune system overreacts to a certain trigger, such as pollen from weeds, grasses, or trees. As a result, the body makes antibodies and histamine, which are released into the blood stream to fight off the foreign substances. This starts an inflammatory reaction that causes symptoms like sneezing, sore throat, congestion, runny nose, and itchy eyes.;
Anyone can experience allergiesbut they generally start after age 3, peak in late childhood or the teen years, and subside in adulthood. Depending on your location and allergen, symptoms may begin in February and last until the end of September. Medications such as antihistamines and steroid nasal sprays can provide relief, but some natural DIY methods may also be worth a shot. Here are some of the best home remedies for seasonal allergies to try yourself.
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Limit How Much Pollen You Let Inside
As much as you can, keep the windows closed if you have air conditioning to avoid pollen being blown inside. Take off your shoes outside, or have a mat at the door where you can wipe your feet. Keeping inside temperatures cool also helps prevent humidity. Humidity creates the perfect environment for mold and dust mites.
How To Help Reduce Symptoms
Allergies cannot be cured entirely, but there are ways to reduce and contain their symptoms. For example, over-the-counter allergy medicines such as Allegra and Zyrtec have been shown to reduce symptoms and help allergy sufferers resume normal uninhibited lives. EpiPens are used to treat severe allergy symptoms in emergency situations such as anaphylactic shock.
An EpiPen is an injection of epinephrine and can help when someone shows severe symptoms such as wheezing, hives, low blood pressure, and a closed or closing airway passage. Those with severe allergies to food, insects, and other allergens should keep an EpiPen on or near them at all times in the event of accidental exposure.
Keeping a clean home will help reduce allergy symptoms, as this reduces the potential for mold, dust, and mildew growth. Regular cleaning, vacuuming, and disinfecting of surfaces eliminates allergens. Professional carpet cleaning is also recommended, as certain allergens embed themselves deep into the fiber and cannot be removed by a normal vacuum.
The best way to alleviate allergy symptoms is avoiding the allergen as much as possible. For example, do not eat certain foods or be around certain animals that you know cause symptoms. If you are having allergy-like symptoms but cannot pinpoint the exact cause, a doctor can perform certain tests to find your exact allergy and recommend a necessary course of action.
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Control Indoor Allergens To Improve Indoor Air Quality
Allergy and asthma control begins at home. Many people with allergies stay indoors when pollen and mold is high. But dust mites, pet dander and even cockroaches can cause problems indoors.1
The;Environmental Protection Agency recommends three ways you can improve indoor air quality2:
- Control your contact with indoor airborne allergens
- Ventilate your indoor areas well
- Use air cleaners to clean indoor air
Eight out of 10 people in the United States are exposed to dust mites. Six out of 10 are exposed to cat or dog dander. Cockroaches cause allergic reactions in people who live in the inner cities or southern parts of the United States.;3
Better air quality in your home, office, school;and car can reduce allergy and asthma triggers.
Relief Tips For Pet Dander
The allergens from cats and dogs come from the saliva or their actual dander or skin and not so much from their fur. The ultimate thing to get allergy relief is not to have a pet at all, but in case if you cant then try to keep your pet out of the bedroom. Never allow the animals sleep in the bed with you because mostly you have fabrics in your room. Keep your pets in areas where you dont have carpets.
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Natural Remedies For Seasonal Allergies
At this time of year, many people are suffering from seasonal allergies. The symptoms can include itching, sneezing, congestion and runny nose, headaches, red or watery eyes, and so on. They can vary from mild to severe, acute to chronic.
Seasonal allergies, sometimes referred to as hay fever, result from exposure to spores or pollen released into the atmosphere by fungi, grasses, trees, and other plants. That plant material is mistaken for an invasive protein by your bodys immune system, leading to the production of chemicals like histamine. ;Histamine attempts to attack or expel the invader, resulting in the bothersome symptoms described above. Those who experience seasonal allergies are also intolerant to certain foods which they cannot easily digest. The poorly digested food is often regurgitated back into the respiratory tract leading to many of the allergy symptoms noted above. ;The big food culprit is dairy products followed by eggs, poultry, red meat, bread/wheat, certain nuts, and alcohol. With the immune system becoming increasing compromised with continued consumption of the biggest food culprits, the person become more sensitized to other food triggers and environmental triggers.
1) Hydration through Water
When the respiratory and digestive systems are dehydrated, the immune system will cause a rebound effect leading to nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, and/or coughing. ;Do the following in order to optimize your hydration:
2) ;Saline nasal rinses
- wounds
Treating Allergies On The Skin
For allergic reactions that cause skin symptoms, including those associated with allergens found in animal saliva, poisonous plants, drugs, chemicals and metals, additional treatment options include:
- Topical corticosteroid creams or tablets. Corticosteroids contain steroids that reduce inflammation and itching. Mild forms of these creams can be found online, and a doctor can prescribe stronger versions.
- Moisturizing creams. Emollient creams with soothing ingredients, such as calamine can treat skin reactions.
- Bite or sting medication. Medication targeted to reduce allergic reactions to insect bites or stings have a similar effect to other allergy medications.
- Ice pack. Applying an ice pack wrapped in cloth to the area for 10- to 15-minute intervals can reduce inflammation.
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Keep The Bedroom An Allergy Safe Zone
According to Dr. Reinhardt, the most important place to get rid of allergens is in the bedroom. Most people spend six to 12 hours in the bedroom sleeping, so it is important to make this a “safe zone.” But removing allergens is sometimes easier said than done.
Let’s say you have a pet dander allergy. Depending on the severity of your symptoms, this might mean that you just need to keep your pet out of the bedroom, or you may need to regularly deep-clean the room thoroughly to get rid of residual pet dander, including all of your bedding. Steam cleaning and dry cleaning may be necessary. If these measures fail, and your allergies don’t improve, it may be necessary to find a new home for your pet if you’re really sufferinglet your healthcare provider be your guide.
Removing other allergens may be easier : dust mites, for example, can be controlled by diligent cleaning, again, especially in the bedroom. This includes curtains, blinds, and all bedding. Some sources recommend encasing your bedding in a plastic or rubber wrapping. It is also important to dehumidify your home, since dust mites thrive in humid environments.
Will We Be Walloped By Flu Season This Year
To be on the safe side, if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, dont take any herb unless prescribed by your doctor, says Los Angeles otolaryngologist Murray G. Grossan, M.D., who specializes in natural care for sinusitis and allergies. Here are;6 effective natural allergy remedies that may help curb your sniffling and sneezing: 1. Stinging nettleGardeners may consider stinging nettle a pesky weed, but the mineral-rich green;plant is one of the best herbal cures for runny nose and itching eyes. Because its active ingredient, scopoletin, is a natural antihistamine, nettle extract helps prevent hay fever symptoms such as sneezing, nasal congestion and itchy, watery eyes, according to a 2009 University of Miami study published in Phytotherapy Research. The beauty of this herb is that it doesnt speed you up or dial you down, Steelsmith says. You feel normal on it, but the antihistamine effect is great. How to take it: I recommend freeze-dried nettle in capsule form, Steelsmith says. Take two 300-milligram capsules, 3-4 times daily.You can also brew 2-3 teaspoons of dried leaves in a pint of hot water to make nettle tea. Watch out: Dont pick it yourself. As the name implies, the plant has tiny thorns that sting and cause a nasty rash.
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