Some of us have problems with allergies.We suffer from seasonal allergies aggavated by the pollen in the air.The best way for us to avoid allergies is by building a strong immune system and vital force.There are many natural treatments including constitutional homeopathy that can help with that, along with good nutrition and exercise. Inheritance does play a link, as one in three people whose parents experience allergies will have allergies as well.
Over the counter antihistamines are prescribed as the usual treatment. These can cause dehydration of the mucus membranes that form the mucus associated with allergies. Antihistamines do decrease the mucus production; however, they can damage the tissues as well.

Nasal Irrigation with a neti pot
Some people have found relief using nasal drainage with salt to restore tone to the nasal passages. A neti pot can be used to inhale salt water to heal inflamed tissues. Using warm water with a small amount of added salt, nasal irrigation cleanses the passageways. Used in Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years, nasal irrigation can relieve chronic sinus problems as well as acute allergy relief. Oprah Winfrey recently became aware of the benefits and demonstrated a neti pot on her show.

Nutritional advice for allergy relief
Nutritionally, Pantothenic acid, vitamin B5, is thought to help reduce allergy reactions, along with any other anti-inflammatories, such as quercetin or L-glutamine. Pantothenic acid stimulates production of antibodies. Fruits high in citric acid, like lemons and oranges, can break up mucus. Omega-3 fatty acids also help by reducing inflammation in the body. Vitamin C helps your body to produce adrenal hormones to fight stress and reduce the histamine response that causes allergy flare-ups.

Homeopathic Allergy Medicines

Many homeopathic remedies treat acute allergic flare-ups. For lasting relief, constitutional homeopathic care is needed. When all else fails, homeopathy offers acute remedies to treat the symptoms of hay fever and allergies.

Lancet (October 18, 1986) published a study by Dr. David Taylor-Reilly, a professor and homeopath at the University of Glasgow in Scotland, in which twelve homeopathic remedies were effective in reducing hay fever symptoms.
Some of the common remedies are Allium cepa, Euphrasia, Arsenicum, Pulsatilla, Nux vomica, Sabadilla and Dulcamara. Homeopathic eye drops are also available.

It is recommended to avoid contact with known allergens and to bathe before sleep to limit re-exposing yourself all night. The later in the day you begin exposure, the less the symptoms will be; researchers are now discovering. Avoid exposure during allergy season, and work on building a strong immune system and vital force the rest of the year. That way, you can avoid or reduce your allergies the coming season.

Older teens are more likely to be allergic to the same things as one or both of their parents, results of a new study suggest.

A child’s development of allergies to specific things like cats, dogs and grass is likely to reflect both exposure to common allergens and a degree of added risk determined by their parent’s specific allergies, the researchers suggest.

It is well accepted that a family history of allergy is a risk factor for allergy in children. However, it is unclear whether children will be allergic to the same things as their parents or whether they will just be more prone to allergies in general.

To find out, Dr. Rana Tawil Misiak from Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit and colleagues studied 316 teenagers, who were 18 years old, and their parents. They found that having one or both parents with a specific allergy to any of six offending agents (such as dog, cat, ragweed, or grass) boosted the likelihood of the teenage son or daughter having that same allergy.

Teens whose mothers were allergic to cats were roughly two times more likely to be allergic to cats compared to teens whose mothers did not sneeze at cats. This was also true for grass and mold.

Likewise, teens whose fathers were allergic to dogs were nearly three times more likely to be allergic to dogs compared with teens whose fathers were not allergic to dogs. This was also true for grass and dust mites.

These results, reported in the latest issue of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, suggest that it is possible to pass on specific allergies to your kids, the researchers say.

Doctors could use this information, they point out, in counseling. “Parents often inquire about whether their children will have the same allergies that they do, especially when making decisions about a family pet or another aspect of their home environment,” Misiak and colleagues explain.

Here are the common allergies:

Allergic Rhinitis, Sinusitis, and Rhinosinusitis

Inflammation of the nasal mucous membrane is called rhinitis. The symptoms include sneezing and runny and/or itchy nose, caused by irritation and congestion in the nose. There are two types: allergic rhinitis and non-allergic rhinitis.

Allergic rhinitis: This condition occurs when the body’s immune system over-responds to specific, non-infectious particles such as plant pollens, molds, dust mites, animal hair, industrial chemicals (including tobacco smoke), foods, medicines, and insect venom. During an allergic attack, antibodies, primarily immunoglobin E (IgE), attach to mast cells (cells that release histamine) in the lungs, skin, and mucous membranes. Once IgE connects with the mast cells, a number of chemicals are released. One of the chemicals, histamine, opens the blood vessels and causes skin redness and swollen membranes. When this occurs in the nose, sneezing and congestion are the result.
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House Dust Mite

Seasonal allergic rhinitis or hayfever occurs in late summer or spring. Hypersensitivity to ragweed, not hay, is the primary cause of seasonal allergic rhinitis in 75 percent of all Americans who suffer from this seasonal disorder. People with sensitivity to tree pollen have symptoms in late March or early April; an allergic reaction to mold spores occurs in October and November as a consequence of falling leaves.
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Pollen from flowers

Perennial allergic rhinitis occurs year-round and can result from sensitivity to pet hair, mold on wallpaper, houseplants, carpeting, and upholstery. Some studies suggest that air pollution such as automobile engine emissions can aggravate allergic rhinitis. Although bacteria is not the cause of allergic rhinitis, one medical study found a significant number of the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus in the nasal passages of patients with year-round allergic rhinitis, concluding that the allergic condition may lead to higher bacterial levels, thereby creating a condition that worsens the allergies.

Patients who suffer from recurring bouts of allergic rhinitis should observe their symptoms on a continuous basis. If facial pain or a greenish-yellow nasal discharge occurs, a qualified ear, nose, and throat specialist can provide appropriate sinusitis treatment.

Non-allergic rhinitis: This form of rhinitis does not depend on the presence of IgE and is not due to an allergic reaction. The symptoms can be triggered by cigarette smoke and other pollutants as well as strong odors, alcoholic beverages, and cold. Other causes may include blockages in the nose, a deviated septum, infections, and over-use of medications such as decongestants.

Rhinosinusitis: Clarifying the Relationship between the Sinuses and Rhinitis

Recent studies by otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeons have better defined the association between rhinitis and sinusitis. They have concluded that sinusitis is often preceded by rhinitis and rarely occurs without concurrent rhinitis. The symptoms, nasal obstruction/discharge and loss of smell, occur in both disorders. Most importantly, computed tomography (CT scan) findings have established that the mucosal linings of the nose and sinuses are simultaneously involved in the common cold (previously, thought to affect only the nasal passages). Ear Nose Throat Surgeons, acknowledging the inter-relationship between the nasal and sinus passages, now refer to sinusitis as rhinosinusitis.

The catalyst relating the two disorders is thought to involve nasal sinus overflow obstruction, followed by bacterial colonization and infection leading to acute, recurrent, or chronic sinusitis. Likewise, chronic inflammation due to allergies can lead to obstruction and subsequent sinusitis.

Other medical research has supported the close relationship between allergic rhinitis and sinusitis. In a retrospective study on sinus abnormalities in 1,120 patients (from two to 87 years of age), thickening of the sinus mucosa was more commonly found in sinusitis patients during July, August, September, and December, months in which pollen, mold, and viral epidemics are prominent. A review of patients (four to 83 years of age) who had surgery to treat their chronic sinus conditions revealed that those with seasonal allergy and nasal polyps are more likely to experience a recurrence of their sinusitis

One reason for the development of allergy may be malfunction of the respiratory epithelium, which allows allergens to bind to, enter and travel through the epithelium. Two studies by Finnish research groups on this subject have recently been published in two international biomedical journals (1) Allergy, and (2) Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

Research on the mechanisms of allergy has focused on the understanding of aberrant immunoresponses. Only lately the role of epithelium as the first line of defense against allergens has been realized. So far, we do not know why and how allergens are transported through the epithelium.

The research groups of the Helsinki University and Helsinki University Central Hospital in collaboration with several other Finnish research groups aimed to clarify what happens in the epithelium immediately after allergen exposure, before the allergic reaction develops. They used birch pollen allergen (Bet v 1) exposure and showed that this allergen binds to, enters and travels through conjunctival and nasal epithelium of allergic patients but not of healthy subjects within one minute after the exposure. An allergic reaction developed when the allergen reached mast cells under the basement membrane.

During the research it became evident that during spring, in allergic patients the birch pollen allergen Bet v 1 changed the expression of hundreds of genes of the nasal epithelium compared to samples taken during winter; and of these genes several were connected with protein transport and regulation of cytoskeleton. An astonishing finding was that the immune response of in healthy controls to pollen exposure was strong, and hundreds of genes changed their expression during winter and spring; however, many of these genes were related to the function of the immune response.

“We were able to describe a mechanism whereby birch pollen allergen Bet v 1 travels through the epithelium of allergic patients but not of healthy subjects. This kind of transport mechanisms are used by several viruses and bacteria when invading the epithelium and infecting patients”, explains Professor Risto Renkonen (Haartman Institute, University of Helsinki and HUSLAB, Helsinki, Finland).

A systems biological approach was used in these studies, where data obtained concomitantly by several different methods is collected into a massive data warehouse allowing one to start analyzing the roles of different proteins and their networks in the pathogenesis of allergic reactions.

Reductionistic analyses, i.e., work focusing on one or only a few molecules are gradually replaced by systems approaches. The ability to discover new, etiologically relevant disease mechanisms is the major motivation for unbiased explorative approaches. The drawback of such top-down experiments is that they are very expensive and produce much more raw data than hypothesis-derived approaches thus generating an overflow of data. However, the urgent need to develop in silico data managing and analysis environments has been recognized by several research groups and biocompanies.

The increased attention on the H1N1 (swine) flu is coming at an interesting time in Maine. We are wrapping up our flu season, and are still seeing occasional reports of Influenza A and B in the area, while budding trees and blooming flowers are also wreaking havoc on the sinuses of Mainers across the state.

The following listed are symptoms for each:

BROADVIEW, Ill., April 30 /PRNewswire/ — If you are among the 60 million Americans who suffer from asthma or seasonal allergies (according to the Asthma And Allergy Foundation of America) and are dreading an upcoming long drive, you have better chances of enjoying a comfortable ride than you may know.

Most cars built since 2001 come factory-equipped with a cabin air filter that is designed to clean and protect the air inside the vehicle. It prevents pollutants such as ozone, particulates, pollen, dirt, dust and soot — that aggravate any respiratory condition — from entering the car through the heating and air conditioning vents.

“Over time, however, cabin air filters can get clogged and actually multiply the dangers from these pollutants when the heating and air conditioning system blows them around inside the car with no avenue for escape,” said Ramon Nunez, spokesman for Purolator Filters NA LLC. Purolator supplies high quality automotive filters to the North American aftermarket.

Simply checking and replacing your car’s cabin air filter every 12,000 to 18,000 miles is the easiest and least expensive way to ensure that you are not inhaling irritants and allergens that will compromise your driving comfort or that of your passengers.

A cabin air filter may also be called a pollen filter, air-conditioning filter, passenger compartment air filter, interior ventilation filter or dust filter.

Normally, the cabin air filter is located in the cabin air intake, under the dash or even behind the glove box. Replacing it can take anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour, depending on its location and how difficult it is for a do-it-yourselfer or a technician to reach, Nunez said.

Approximately 45 million vehicles in the United States have cabin air filters, according to Nunez. Refer to your owner’s manual or check with your technician to see if your vehicle has one.

Children are especially vulnerable to seasonal allergies, so be prepared, expert says

SUNDAY, April 5 (HealthDay News) — Spring can be challenging if your child is one of the more than 35 million Americans with hay fever. But a bit of preparation can help the youngster enjoy being outside, one expert says.

This involves three steps, explained Dr. Clay Stallworth, a pediatrician with MCG Pediatric Primary Care Associates and MCGHealth Children’s Medical Center in Augusta, Ga.:

• Know if your child has allergies and what causes them.
• Find out when plant pollination will occur.
• Begin treatments before symptoms appear.

Allergies tend to run in families. If both parents have allergies, their children have a 75 percent to 80 percent chance of developing allergies, Stallworth noted. The risk drops to 40 percent if one parent is allergic. Children usually develop seasonal allergies at 5 to 6 years old, but they can develop them at any age, even as adults, he added.

Signs of allergies include:

• Sneezing more often than usual
• Eyes that continually water
• Cold symptoms that last more than 10 days without fever
• Repeated ear and sinus infections
• Prolonged loss of smell or taste
• Frequent throat clearing or hoarseness
• Persistent coughing

The best way to prevent allergies is to limit exposure, and Stallworth outlined some ways to do that:

• Schedule outdoor activities for late afternoon or after a heavy rainfall, when pollen levels are lower. Pollen index levels fluctuate from day to day, but you can find out what they are by checking local weather reports.
• Close windows and doors and use air conditioning instead of window fans. Air conditioning helps filter out pollen particles.
• When landscaping, choose plants that don’t aggravate allergies.
• Don’t mow lawns or rake leaves when children are outside because these chores can stir up pollen.
• Don’t hang clothes or sheets outdoors to dry because they’ll pick up pollen that will be brought indoors. Pollen can also be brought indoors by people or pets.

And women closest to traffic were 63 percent more likely to develop the disease, study says.

WEDNESDAY, April 1 (HealthDay News) — People exposed to high levels of traffic pollution have an increased risk of rheumatoid arthritis, a new study suggests.

Researchers analyzed the records of 90,000 women in the Nurses Health Study and used special software to measure the distance between each woman’s home and the nearest major roadways. The results showed that women who lived within 50 meters (164 feet) of interstates or primary, multi-lane roads were 31 percent more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis (RA) than those who lived more than 200 meters (656 feet) from a major roadway. Women who lived within 50 meters of the largest roadways had a 63 percent increased risk.

“Even after accounting for the effects of age, race, sex, socioeconomic status and cigarette smoking, the increased risk for women located near major roads remained substantially higher,” Jaime Hart, a research fellow in the Channing Laboratory at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, said in a hospital news release.

The study was published online in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives.

It’s believed that genetic factors account for less than 50 percent of rheumatoid arthritis risk, and that environmental factors such as cigarette smoke may increase the risk of developing RA, according to the researchers.

“This, coupled with prior research that suggests air pollution from traffic can cause systemic inflammation, prompted us to study whether there was a direct relationship between air pollution and the risk of RA,” Hart said.

Further research is needed to determine the exact effect that specific, measured levels of pollution have on the risk of developing the condition.

You take food to enable you to live and be nourished. But what if the food that you take will be the cause of your death? What if you are allergic to your favorite food?

Most people experience allergy symptoms only as a minor annoyance. However, a small number of people are susceptible to a reaction that can lead to multi-organ failure, shock or even death.

“Anaphylaxix is the most severe allergy reaction and is potentially life threatening. It is rare. The symptoms may vary from hives, tongue swelling, and vomiting, to shock. If you are at risk, avoidance is the best form of treatment,” said Dr. Rosa Ong at the 18th medical forum, ‘Allergic Emergencies’ sponsored by the Association of Asia Brewery Medical Scholars and the TanYan Kee Foundation.

“If you have history of serious allergic reaction, always have an epinephrine kit available and a consultation with an allergist is vital.” Advised Ong, the forum’s resource person and the association’s past president.

The most common causes of anaphylaxis are medications like Penicillin, Cephalosporin, insect stings, food like peanuts, treenuts, fish, eggs, milk, soy, wheat; vaccines, animal proteins like horse serum; hormones; latex; preservatives, and x-ray (dye).

Symptoms of an anaphylactic reaction may occur within seconds of exposure, or be delayed up to 15 to 30 minutes, or even an hour or more after exposure. Symptoms includes flushing, itching, hives, a feeling of ‘impending doom’, anxiety, rapid and irregular pulse, followed by throat and tongue swelling, difficulty in swallowing and breathing. About 25 percent of the time, there will be  a drop in blood pressure, lightheadedness, or even loss of consciousness,” Ong said.

Once you think that you might have had an anaphylactic reaction, seek emergency care. If the acute reaction has been treated, you should follow-up with your doctor and see an allergist. If you suspect that you are with someone who is having an anaphylactic reaction, call emergency services immediately. Place a conscious person lying down and elevate the feet if possible. Stay with the person until help arrives. If trained, begin CPR if the person stops breathing or doesn’t have a pulse,” Ong said.

“Food allergy is not common, but can be serious. It differs from food intolerance, which is far from common. Children can outgrow their food allergies, but adults usually do not. It is treated primarily by dietary avoidance.

In adults, the most common foods that cause allergic reactions are shellfish, such as shrimp, lobster and crab, nuts from trees; fish; eggs; peanuts – a legume that is one of the chief food to cause anaphylactic reactions. While in children, eggs, milk, peanuts, fruits, particularly tomatoes and strawberries are the ones that cause allergic reactions.

Peanut allergy is the most common cause of death from food allergy. It affects 1.3 percent of the population worldwide. It can be characterized by more severe symptoms, such as gastrointestinal, skin and respiratory symptoms, than other food allergies and by high rate of symptoms on minimal contact.

source: Philippine Star
Health&Medicine

Americans spent $11 billion on doctors’ bills, prescription drugs and other treatments for allergies in 2005, according to government statistics released on Wednesday.

Avid golfer Justin Timberlake’s dream of hitting the U.S. Open course at Torrey Pines, California was ruined by his allergies.