Treatment of Allergies by Logan Rokwild Does your head feel like it’s stuffed with old socks? Do you feel like you can’t stop itching your eyes and is your nose running like a leaky tap? Don’t worry you’re not alone. You are probably one of the 20 million Americans who suffer from hay fever or seasonal allergic rhinitis. So what could have set off this allergic reaction? More importantly, how can allergies be prevented or controlled? The bad news is that for many people allergy season lasts all year round. But wait! The good news is that a combination of preventive medicines, avoidance of allergens and allergy shots or vaccines can minimize the discomfort from the symptoms of allergies. Minimize Exposure The first step is to minimize exposure to the allergens that trigger off your allergies. These maybe pollen, mold, animal dander. Complete avoidance, although the best treatment, is an extreme solution and can be quite difficult to achieve as it may offer only temporary relief. A person may be sensitive to one allergen but over time may become sensitive to more such irritants. So the next best thing to do would be to avoid places where you know that allergen is present. For e.g. if you’re allergic to dogs, stay away from homes with dogs. Reduce exposure to mold allergens by making sure your garden is mowed and raked, your bathrooms and basements are as dry as possible (you could use a dehumidifier), and control the moisture levels in the house through central air-conditioning. Of course keeping your house clean will prevent dust mites, pollen, animal dander and insects from bothering your allergy prone system. You could try using an air-purifier to cleanse the air of these contagions. Make your home a no smoking zone. Avoid using hairsprays and rooms fresheners as even strong fragrances can set off an attack. Using Medication Your doctor may advise you to take an antihistamine. An antihistamine, like the name suggests is able to counter the effect of histamine, the chemical that is released by the body and causes the allergy symptoms. These drugs have had proven success in alleviating the common symptoms of an allergic reaction. You may be given an over the counter or a prescription decongestant like a nasal spray or drops. These will ease congestion, swelling, excessive secretions of the nose and sinus. Alternatively your doctor may recommend prescription anti-inflammatory steroid drugs if you have severe symptoms. Allergy shots are also available to help your body cope better with allergens. Small mounts of allergens are injected into the body to sensitize it to the allergens and help the body to learn how to deal with them. more effectively. This mode of treatment it is also termed as immunotherapy or allergy desensitization. However, this treatment can take over a year before it shows results. Logan writes about various topics. This article is free to re-print as long as nothing is changed, the bio remains, all hyper links remain intacked and the rel="nofollow" tag isnt added to any links. Thank-You Did you know that natural herbs and vitamins will help with allergy relief? by Mayur Vibhakar More than 50 million Americans suffer from allergic diseases. A recent nationwide survey found that more than half (54.6 percent) of all U.S citizens test positive to one or more allergens; among specific allergens, dust mite, rye, ragweed, or cockroach caused sensitization in approximately 25 percent of the population. This article will provide tips for allergy relief. The information covered below will address the following questions: 1.Why do we develop allergies? 2.What causes allergies? 3.Allergy symptoms 3.Tips to obtain allergy relief 4.Herbs, vitamins & supplements Most individuals with allergies are not sensitive to just one substance but a host of them. There is an endless list of allergy causing substances present in our food, drinks, the air, and the clothes we wear to name a few examples that can trigger an allergic reaction. Why do we develop allergies? The exact cause of allergic reactions is still under debate. Heredity seems to play an important role according to some researchers and being exposed to allergens at certain times when the body's defenses are low or weak, such as after a viral infection or during pregnancy, also may contribute to the development of allergies. Allergies are the immune system's exaggerated response to a foreign substance. Exposure to what is normally a harmless substance, such as pollen, causes the immune system to react as if the substance is harmful. Substances that cause allergies are called allergens. What causes allergies? Allergies may be caused by any of the following. NOTE: this is just a partial list; there are countless substances that may cause an allergic reaction. The only way for someone to know whether they're allergic to a particular substance is to get tested by an allergist. 1.Mold 2.Animal Dander 3.Latex 4.Certain Foods (EX: Nuts) 5.Insect Venom 6.Medications (EX: Penicillin) 7.Pollen 8.Dust Mites What are allergy symptoms? Allergy symptoms can be categorized as mild, moderate or severe (anaphylactic). Mild reactions include local symptoms (affecting a specific area of the body) such as a rash or hives; itchy, watery eyes; and nasal congestion. Mild reactions do not spread to other parts of the body. Moderate reactions include symptoms that spread to other parts of the body. Symptoms may include itchiness that spreads or difficulty breathing. A severe allergic reaction, known as anaphylaxis, is a life-threatening emergency in which the body's response to the allergen is sudden and affects the whole body (systemic). Anaphylaxis may begin with severe itching of the eyes or face and within minutes progresses to more serious symptoms including swelling, which could result in difficulty swallowing and breathing; abdominal pain; cramps; vomiting; diarrhea; hives; and angioedema (hives in the throat). Mental confusion or dizziness also may be symptoms, since anaphylaxis causes a quick drop in blood pressure. Tips to obtain allergy relief Dust often to control mites - By dusting surfaces and washing bedding often, you can control the amount of dust mites in your home. Vacuum often - Although cleaning can sometimes trigger allergic reactions, with dust in the air, vacuuming once or twice a week will reduce the surface dust mites. Wear a mask when doing housework and consider leaving for a few hours after you clean to avoid allergens in the air. You can also make sure your vacuum has an air filter to capture dust. Reduce pet dander - If you have allergies, you should avoid pets with feathers or fur like birds, dogs and cats. Animal saliva and dead skin, or pet dander, can cause allergic reactions. Avoid pollen - Keep windows and doors closed. Use an air filter and clean it regularly or run the air conditioner and change the filter often. Avoid mold - Mold spores grow in moist areas. If you reduce the moisture in the bathroom and kitchen, you will reduce the mold. Clean moldy surfaces. Dehumidifiers will also help reduce mold. Herbs, Vitamins & Supplements Herbs, vitamins and other supplements can help by boosting the immune system and/or provide allergy relief. Herbs that may help by boosting the immune system 1. Echinacea 2. Garlic Vitamins that may help by boosting the immune system 1.Vitamin A 2.Vitamin C - Very effective at fighting allergies. It is a powerful antioxidant. It promotes immune functions and is natural anti-histamine. 3 Vitamin E - It fights allergies. It is a potent intercellular anti-oxidant. 4.Green tea - Contains EGCG, a potent antioxidant more powerful than vitamin C & E Other supplements (1) Bioflavonoids such as Quercetin work well with Vitamin C as an anti-histamine to tackle allergens. Obtaining allergy relief involves a 2 pronged attack. 1. Avoid allergy triggers such as the one's mentioned above 2. Boost the immune system by using herbs, vitamins and supplements If the above don't work than medications such as antihistamines, decongestants or a combination of both are available over-the-counter or by prescription to treat allergy symptoms. Nasal sprays such as topical nasal steroids and cromolyn sodium also can be used to treat allergy symptoms. Immunotherapy and allergy shots are recommended for relief needed over a long period of time. Obtaining allergy relief through natural means such as taking the herbs and vitamins recommended above is the best route to take without incurring side effects, however, if the allergy is severe and debilitating than prescription or over the counter medications may be needed. PREVENTION IS THE BEST MEDICINE., Keep your immune system healthy so chances of developing disease are reduced. For more information please visit http://www.innervibrance.com/allergy_relief/ Mayur Vibhakar is a health professional and editor of innervibrance.com, a site dedicated to achieving optimal health through natural means. Subscribe to the informative health articles and receive health improving tips, natural product reviews and relevant health information. Website ==> http://www.innervibrance.com/green_tea_benefits/ Subscribe ==> http://www.innervibrance.com/newsletter/ mailto:greenteainfo@innervibrance.com Mayur Vibhakar may be contacted at http://www.innervibrance.com Search FAXTS powered by FreeFind Are Allergy Shots Effective? by Harold Miller Itchy, watery eyes, runny nose and sneezing are all common symptoms which a vast majority of us experience as allergy symptoms at specific times throughout the year. Many individuals do everything in their power to avoid allergies including changing their diets, staying indoors or taking vitamin supplements. These may contribute to fighting allergies, but there is another effective way to do so. Immunotherapy or allergy shots are gaining popularity. Getting an allergy shot can be scary for some people, so we thought it would be best to fully explain allergy shots and address some common concerns. How Do They Work? Allergy shots contain a small amount of the substance which you are allergic to. If you are allergic to pollen, a small amount of pollen would be added to the shot. The amount is small enough so that it does not cause you to suffering from allergy symptoms, but enough so that you body gets used to fighting the allergen. Therefore, the next time your body comes in contact with that substance, it will be familiar with fighting it off and you will most likely not suffer from allergies. Are Allergy Shots Safe For Everyone? Although most people will have positive results from allergy shots, they are not right for everyone. Allergy shots are not recommended for individuals suffering from severe heart problems, asthma or other respiratory problems. Also, children under the age of 5 should not be exposed to allergy shots for safety reasons. What Is The Procedure? Once you have decided that you would like to get allergy shots, you will receive a shot 1 or 2 times a week for about 6 months. Afterwards, your maintenance shots will require you to get one shot a month, year round for about 3-5 years. Once you have received allergy shots on a regular basis for a couple years, you can discuss it with your doctor and they may tell you its okay to stop getting them at that point. What Are The Side Effects? Although allergy shots are effective for many individuals in eliminating allergy symptoms, certain individuals may experience some harmful side effects. Some people may experience feelings of shock when the shot is initially injected, others may feel light-headed or nauseated. For this reason, doctors are required to keep patients in their office for at least 20 minutes after receiving each shot in order to ensure the patient’s safety. Some people swear by allergy shots while others criticize the effects or claim they don’t work effectively. If you are considering receiving immunotherapy, contact your doctor to discuss. Your doctor will give you more insight in order for you to determine if this is something you really want to do. Harold Miller used to suffer from allergies until he took it upon himself to get educated. While Harold still has the occasional bout, he has learned many ways to improve his allergies and as a result enjoys serving as a contributing editor at http://www.allergyrelief101.com – a site dedicated to providing information on forms of allergy relief, dehumidifier options, allergy friendly vacuum cleaners and more. Harold Miller used to suffer from allergies until he took it upon himself to get educated. While Harold still has the occasional bout, he has learned many ways to improve his allergies and as a result enjoys serving as a contributing editor at http://www.allergyrelief101.com – a site dedicated to providing information on air purifiers, information about allergy relief, dealing with dust mites and more. 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