May 31 2008
Risks of Allergies at Home
• 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.
• Bedroom- the beddings, furniture and carpets are areas where dust mites live. Laundry hamper can be source of allergens too.
• Nursery- toys are abundant in the nursery like plastic and rubber toys, also stuffed toys. Dust mites can also be present in those toys.
• Living room- rugs, upholstered furniture, picture frames and curtains, are the placed where dust mites can grow. Cleaning regularly is the trick and if possible, vacuum more often
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.
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.
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.