Jul 02 2008
Diagnosis of allergic diseases
A patient may undergo certain tests to determine the specific allergens to which the patient is allergic to. A skin test or blood test may be done, depending on the condition of the patient.
Skin testing is also called puncture or prick testing. Allergen samples are introduced to the patient’s skin. Only a small amount is placed to avoid a full blown allergic reaction. Usual area for skin test is inside the forearm. Within 30 minutes, an inflammatory reaction will occur if the patient is allergic to the substance. Allergists interpret the reaction.
If a patient has had a history of a life threatening allergic reaction, a blood test is preferred.
Though hay fever is rarely ever fatal, its accompanying symptoms cause great discomfort. Here are some useful tips on coping with hay fever during ragweed season, which usually starts around August and ends in mid-October.
• Attic- many discarded items are found in the attic. Old things that are full of dust are the ones stocked in the attic. Molds are also likely to grow on old items but if the attic is well ventilated, the risk of growing molds is lesser.
The Allergy New Zealand is a non-profit organization working to provide education, information and support to people afflicted with allergies. Originally known as Allergy Awareness Association Inc. it started in 1981 as a small self-help group, until it grew bigger and became a national organization and in 2001, it was called Allergy New Zealand. Volunteers increased tremendously and now its goal is to be one of the major patient support groups in New Zealand. The organization wants to make life healthy, safe and comfortable for those with allergies. The main office is located in Auckland and they get their funds not from the government but from community grants, membership fees and fundraisings.
Normally, allergies are treated with medication to control the symptoms. But actually these medications are just there to contain the symptoms leaving the allergy disease source getting worse. Allergy is a chronic disease which means that allergic reactions can happen over and over again. Untreated allergy may lead to a more serious disease which of course we don’t want to happen. When you have allergies, it’s not only your health that is affected but every aspect of your human being. Fortunately, you can now neutralize the source of your allergy with drug-free, natural under-the-tongue immunotherapy drops. They are custom formulated to the kind of allergen you have allergic reaction.
The first thing to consider in treating an allergy is to eliminate the allergen that causes the allergic reaction. The good news is that there are effective medications that can be prescribed by physicians. One is antihistamine. Obviously, it opposes the effects of histamine, the chemical in our body responsible for the allergy symptoms. The topical nasal steroids, different from anabolic steroids used by athletes to enlarge their muscles, are anti-inflammatory. The cromolyn sodium is a nasal spray for allergic rhinitis. Decongestants on the other hand are used to re-establish drainage of the nasal passages. Lastly is the immunotherapy which is a sequence of allergy shots and has more potential of prolonging the reduction of allergy symptoms.
The most dangerous food allergy is brought by anaphylaxis. It is a vicious allergic reaction and different parts of the body may be involved simultaneously. Just like any other allergic reactions that are less serious, anaphylaxis can come about after exposure to an allergen. But usually, it does not occur during first exposure. Anaphylaxis can be triggered by any food and the most common are nuts, sea foods and dairy products. The symptoms can be severe in just 5 to 15 minutes. However, life-threatening reaction can happen in hours. Injectable epinephrine is used to treat this kind of allergic reaction and prompt treatment is critical to survival.
There are so many ways to prevent and provide relief to allergies. However, we cannot deny the fact that still the best weapon for your battle against allergies is good nutrition. Prescribed and over-the-counter medicines will just help you contain the allergy symptoms. But good and proper nutrition will work to make your immune system strong so that in the process you can avoid allergy attacks. The chemical which we can account the allergy symptoms in our body is called histamine. Vitamin C lowers the histamine level and it can be found in certain fruits and vegetables. Bioflavonoid and vitamin B5 strengthen the immune system of the body and they can be found also in fruits and vegetables.
Allergy symptoms can be treated with medicines. However, there are ways to avoid allergy triggers at no cost. When you have allergy to pollen, always keep the windows closed and it would be better to use air conditioning instead of fans because they will just stir up dust. When you are using air conditioning, regularly filter the air. Cheesecloth can be used to cover the vents for better filtering. Mold growth can be prevented if the humidity in the house is kept lower than 50%. If you can not avoid having pets, it would be better if they are outside the house. Always keep the inside and outside of the house spick n’ span.
When you have allergy, it means that you are oversensitive to some types of chemical materials called allergens. Allergens can cause allergical reactions and there are four types of allergical reactions.