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What Can Help With Allergies

Helps Fight Allergies: Greek Yogurt

How Antihistamines Help with Allergies — From the makers of ZYRTEC®

Greek yogurt is a protein powerhouse and makes a tasty, healthy dessert. Because its high in probiotics, it can also help you enjoy springtime without the coughing and sneezing. Probiotics help lower inflammation and allergic responses in the body. Next time youre reaching for your allergy medicine, try whipping up a fruit and yogurt parfait instead!

Working Out Opens Up The Nose And Lungs

Exercise helps with allergy relief by opening up the very places that allergies cause such a disturbance. Allergies are good for closing up a persons nose and causing breathing problems. Luckily a good workout session can cause the lungs and the nose to open up and relieve the sufferer of some of the discomforts that the allergies cause. It can also help complement any medication that you may be taking, such as Aerospan RX, for the best possible results.

Find Out How Functional Medicine Can Help

In functional medicine, when you want to heal a patient, you start with the diet, explains Dr. Z. Schedule a consultation to learn more about how Dr. Z and our team of functional medicine practitioners can help you improve your gut health, boost your immune system, and get at the root cause of your allergies.

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Do Masks Help With Allergies

If you suffer from seasonal allergies, choosing to wear a mask might be a blessing in disguise. Since masks can help keep smaller, viral particles at bay, they also do a good job of keeping you from inhaling allergens, like pollen. Common allergen particles are actually much larger than virus particles, sometimes hundreds of times larger. So no matter what kind of mask you have, it should offer a decent level of protection.

Makes Allergies Worse: Some Fresh Fruit

Symptoms of Allergies (+ 4 Natural Home Remedies!)

Fresh fruit is full of vitamins and minerals, but it could also lead to allergy symptoms. Many fruits contain a protein on their skin that is similar to pollen. When you bite into the skin, it releases in your body and can cause your throat to itch. Luckily cooking the fruit or blending it up in a smoothie should get rid of the problem.

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Elimination Diet Whats That

While the elimination diet is called a diet, there are no weight-loss benefits to it. Instead, what it does is help you figure out what food allergies you may have by taking away specific food items from your typical menu and then later reintroducing them. You usually have to completely stay away from these food items for two to four weeks.

Aside from typical allergens, food can cause the manifestation of allergic symptoms like eczema, itching, tingling sensations in the mouth, and swelling in the lips and other areas. The severity of the symptoms varies, and can even result in abdominal pain, trouble breathing, and nausea.

The goal of the elimination diet is to cleanse your body of any traces of specific food items and check if theres a reaction when its reintroduced into your diet.

Sadly, cheese is a big allergen and something you should consider avoiding if youre planning on trying the elimination diet. Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on Unsplash

In my case, I have severe eczema. One of my triggers is stress , and another big trigger for me is certain types of food. After my doctor recommended that I try the elimination diet, I was told to avoid all types of food that began with the letters ch.

Its important for me to mention that my doctor was a little unique in this sense. Most physicians usually recommend categories to eliminate, so you probably wont end up with the no ch diet unless you go to the same doctor I went to.

How Do Antihistamines Work

Allergies come from an abnormal immune-system response. When you come into contact with an allergen , your immune system mistakes it for a threat. As part of its response to that perceived threat, it releases a chemical called histamine.

Histamine helps fight invaders like parasites. But when you have an allergy, your immune system overreacts to something harmless. This action directly causes allergy symptoms.

Antihistamines block histamines effects, which keeps histamine from causing allergy symptoms and the inflammation thats tied to the histamine response.

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Are You Really Struggling With Allergies

Stay out of the pollen and talk to an eCare medical provider anytime, anywhere 24/7 for nonurgent health issues, including cough, sinus discomfort and sore throat.

An allergy happens when the immune system reacts to a substance, such as pollen, and releases histamine, a chemical found in some of the bodys cells. After histamine is released, symptoms appear in the nose, sinuses, eyes, throat and even ears, skin and stomach. Many times the result is a runny nose, sneezing, headaches, itchy and watery eyes and sore throat.

If youre struggling, there are some things you can do to reduce your reactions and also soothe your symptoms, according to Rachel Alexander, APRN, Norton eCare:

1. Limit your time outdoors. Pollen counts are highest in midday, early evening and when its windy.

2. Use air conditioning both in the car and in your home. Consider a HEPA filter for your home.

3. Shower in the evening to wash the pollen off before bedtime. Be sure to thoroughly wash your hair. The steam from the shower is sometimes beneficial in relieving symptoms.

4. Use a saline rinse to clear pollen from nasal passages. There are several varieties out there, from neti pots to special sprayers and even electronic devices. Talk to your health care provider about the best options for you.

5. Keep pets out of your bedroom if they have been outdoors. This reduces the amount of pollen in your sleeping area.

6. Dry clothes in a dryer, not outdoors on a clothesline.

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How To Identify What Youre Allergic To

New allergy testing can help find targeted treatment

Identifying substances that you are allergic to is a critical part of allergy treatment. This way, you can avoid them in the future.

There are many different types of allergies, so ask your doctor about the best allergy tests for diagnosing your symptoms. Most often, allergists perform skin prick tests. These involve injecting tiny amounts of several common allergens to see if they provoke a reaction. Skin prick tests are different from allergy shots.

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What Antihistamine Is Right For You

You can buy many different brands and forms of antihistamines without a prescription.

  • Some work for only 4 to 6 hours, while others last for 12 to 24 hours.
  • Some are combined with a decongestant, a drug that dries up your nasal passages.

Ask your health care provider what type of antihistamine and what exact dosage is right for you or your child. Make sure you understand how much to use and how many times a day to use it. Be sure to read the label carefully. Or ask your pharmacist if you have questions.

  • Some antihistamines cause less sleepiness than others. These include cetirizine , desloratadine , fexofenadine , levocetirizine , and loratadine .
  • Do not drink alcohol when you are taking antihistamines.

Also, remember:

  • Store antihistamines at room temperature, away from heat, direct light, and moisture.
  • Do not freeze antihistamines.
  • Keep all medicines where children cannot reach them.

Heres How Your Gut And Your Allergies Could Be Linked

If youre up on your health and wellness news, you know that gut health has been linked to both physical and mental health and that probiotics are one of the most popular ways to boost your microbiomethe collection of bacteria living in your gut. In fact, it often seems like probiotics are recommended to help treat virtually *every* health issue, from acne to digestive troubles to depression. So why not seasonal allergies too? Heres what experts have to say on the topic.

How Allergies and Your Gut Are LinkedIf you have allergies, you probably already know that allergies and your immune system are linked. But what may surprise you is that the connection between your gut and seasonal allergies is actually quite strong. We live because of air, food, and water intake, explains Gregor Reid, Ph.D., chief scientist for the soon-to-be-launched Seed. The gut is considered the center of our immune system, which also spans our airways, skin, and other parts of our bodies. This system was built from birth by microbes that taught the immune cells to know the differences between part of the family and foreign invaders, Reid says. Pollen, for example, is like one of those invaders for some people, and the system detects it and responds by trying to flush it out. Thus, sneezing watery eyes and nose. This set of symptoms is also known as allergic rhinitis.

Acknowledgements by: By Julia MalacoffPhoto: HBRH / Shutterstock

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How To Give Your Dog Probiotics

First of all, we should note that some commercial dog food formulas contain added probiotics. However, if your dog needs an additional boost, the number of live cultures in the dog food is not enough.

In such cases, you need to consider supplements. Luckily, there are different forms of probiotic products powders, capsules, liquids, soft chews, and treats. This gives you the freedom to choose which option is best for you and your pup.

You can also use some natural sources of probiotics like yogurt and kefir. For optimal results, add a supplement product to your dogs regimen and occasionally enrich its meals with a natural probiotic.

Helps Fight Allergies: Red Apples

Pin by Edith on Health/recipies

An apple a day keeps the allergist away. Red produce like apples contains a compound called quercetin. This compound is responsible for the red color and works as a natural antihistamine in your body. It helps to calm down the cells that react to allergens in the air. If youre not a fan of red apples, other varieties can help too.

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I’m A Pharmacist And This Is The Allergy Medicine I Recommend

Over 50 million people in the U.S. suffer from allergies each year, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. And even though allergies are the sixth-leading cause of chronic illness in this country, there is still no cure for them, the organization notes. Allergic reactions happen when a person’s immune system reacts to a foreign substance for many folks, that means avoiding triggers like pet dander, mold, and pollen from grass, weeds, and trees.

Allergic reactions can vary widely. Sneezing, runny nose, coughing, itchy eyes, hives, and rashes are all common in allergy-sufferers. In more severe instances, people can suffer from asthma attacks, low blood pressure, and trouble breathing.

Because it’s impossible to avoid allergens entirely, many people turn to remedies and medications to help alleviate their symptoms and prevent more severe reactions. But what do pharmacists recommend? Read on for their top picks for specific situations.

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Ten Ways To Control Allergies Without Medication

The best way to control allergies without medication is to avoid them altogether, but thats not always possible, or realistic. Some allergens like pollen are tiny, which means they can travel long distances and cover a lot of ground, surfaces, skin and hair. So, unless you have severe allergy symptoms that require medication, there are a lot of ways you can alleviate your symptoms and get back to doing the things you love, including:

  • Saline nasal irrigationA nasal rinse clears mucus from your nose and can ease allergy symptoms. Not only can it reduce nasal drip, but it can also wash out any bacteria or allergies youve inhaled.
  • HEPA filtersA high-efficiency particulate air filter is a mechanical filter that works by forcing air through a fine mesh that traps harmful particles like pollen, pet dander, dust mites and tobacco smoke. Replace HEPA filters monthly for best results.
  • Try ProbioticsProbiotics may help reduce allergy symptoms when taken during allergy season. Some strains of beneficial bacteria have been shown to regulate t-cells , which can help produce a stronger immune response to common allergens.
  • Take vitamin CVitamin C acts as a natural antihistamine by reducing the amount of histamine your body produces in response to an allergen. It might help reduce mild symptoms like congestion, runny nose, sneezing and watery eyes. The recommended dose is 2,000 milligrams per day.
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    Herbal Medicines And Allergies

    Asteraceae is a family of flowering plants, including many common species, and some are used in herbal medicines. Pollen from plants in this family is a common cause of hay fever, asthma and dermatitis.

    Plants from the Asteraceae family include:

    • plants grown for their flowers chrysanthemums, dahlias, sunflowers, marigolds, safflower and daisies
    • edible foliage plants lettuce, safflower, chicory and artichoke
    • weeds ragweed, mugwort, sagebrush, wormwood, feverfew
    • plants used in some herbal medicines echinacea, dandelion, chamomile, feverfew, milk thistle and wormwood.

    Echinacea can cause severe allergic reaction , asthma attacks, severe hives and swelling in some people, and this can occur when the first dose of echinacea is taken.

    Pollen from plants in the Asteraceae family can also cause an allergic skin reaction on contact. The pollen can be found in herbal medicines, shampoos, cosmetics and massage oils, and includes pollen from plants such as the:

    Sensitisation to pollen of plants from the Asteraceae family has also been linked with allergic reactions to other substances that are similar. This is known as cross-reactivity and has caused allergic reactions to:

    • plant-derived herbal medicines echinacea, royal jelly, bee pollen extracts and chamomile
    • foods celery, honey, sunflower seeds, carrot, lettuce, watermelon and nuts.

    Allergies A Cold Or Covid

    5 household fixes to help relieve seasonal allergies | Problem Solved

    Allergy symptoms are similar to the symptoms of the common cold and some of the symptoms of COVID-19, and sometimes its hard to tell the difference. Symptoms of allergies include:

    • Runny nose or nasal congestion
    • Itchy, watery eyes

    You wont have aches or a fever with allergies.

    Allergy symptoms include itchy eyes, itchy nose, itchy throat, Dr. Ruff says. If its a sore throat because you just woke up in the morning and theres drainage, that could be allergies, but if you have a sore throat all day, probably not allergies. If youre not sure, ask your doctor or get tested for COVID-19.

    Keep in mind that most schools require students to report any symptoms they may be experiencing, including a runny or stuffy nose and sore throat. While these could be from allergies, your child may need to stay home and do remote learning until he or she starts to feel better.

    If you cant get your childs allergy symptoms under control, the safest thing for them is to actually stay home, because its really hard to tell the difference between allergies and COVID, Dr. Ruff says. And it could still be both. The school is not going to know, and they will ask you to stay home.

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    Who Develops Asthma Or Allergies

    Asthma and allergies can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, race or socioeconomic factors. While its true that asthma and allergies are more common in children, they can occur for the first time at any age. Sometimes allergy symptoms start in childhood, disappear for many years and then start up again during adult life.

    Although the exact genetic factors are not yet understood, there is a hereditary tendency to asthma and allergies. In susceptible people, factors such as hormones, stress, smoke, perfume or other environmental irritants also may play a role.

    I wonder how many other people out there are going about their lives, maybe even pushing themselves like I was, unaware that they have asthma or another respiratory condition.

    Brooke C.

    Diagnosis Of Pollen Allergies

    If you have allergic symptoms that seem to appear at certain times of the year, you should visit your doctor, who will ask some questions about your allergic reactions. You can also discuss your record of your symptoms. To diagnose your allergy, your doctor may refer you to a clinical immunology/allergy specialist.

    Clinical immunology/allergy specialists can test for allergies using a number of methods depending on the type of potential allergy. To test for an allergy to pollens, the clinical immunology/allergy specialist may use a skin prick test or a blood test for allergies. The results will be interpreted and considered together with your clinical history.

    is available on the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy website.

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    Consider Nasal Washing With Sinus Rinses

    Sinus rinses are a popular allergy treatment that you can do at home, working well with antihistamines and nasal sprays. The neti pot may be one of the most recognizable sinus rinse products.

    A neti pot can be picked up at any local drugstore or online, and typically comes with packets to mix with warm, distilled water to create a saltwater solution. Using the pot to pour the solution through your nasal cavities, you can flush out gunk and allergens to reduce swelling and ease symptoms.

    What Causes Seasonal Allergies

    Home Remedies for Allergic Conjunctivitis

    Airborne agents , such as pollen, grass, mold, cedar, ragweed, or even some chemicals, are breathed in. Once they enter our bodies, these allergens start to wreak havoc. The immune system mistakenly sees the pollen as a danger and releases antibodies that attack the allergens and release a chemical called histamine into the nose, eyes, and lungs. Histamine is intended to attack harmful agents and remove them from the body. One of the main things that histamine does is cause inflammation.

    The good news is there are many natural remedies you can try to control your allergy symptoms:

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