(source: Wikipedia)

True to all disease and illnesses – prevention is the best cure. For “asthmatics”, or people with an asthma condition, they can choose to live a healthy lifestyle and enjoy more years free of asthma attacks.

Proper diet and exercise is a must. Although an appropriate exercise plan should be discussed with a doctor to avoid triggers, and a dietician or nutritionist can come up with the right diet plan. Smoking is definitely a no-no for those with lung asthma.

Be aware what triggers an asthma attack – and avoid it. Involve the family so they can make the necessary adjustments like cleaning more often or replacing the carpet with hardwood floorings.

Stick with your treatment. Be disciplined and you’ll be worry free.

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When children with allergies reach school age, they are more exposed to allergens and bacteria that can trigger symptoms. The most common are nasal allergies, where symptoms include runny nose and sneezing. This is usually triggered by pollen from plants and trees, dust and mold.

Once your allergic child starts school, take time to talk with the teachers and the school’s nurse. If your child is allergic to certain foods, you may also want to talk with the person in charge with the canteen. Ask them to inform you of any symptom or changes in your child’s performance, which may be associated with his condition.

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Certain jobs expose you to environments where molds thrive like logging, baking, mill work, carpentry, plumbing, gardening, house cleaning, carpet washing and furniture repair. People allergic to molds should take caution, or prepare doctor recommended remedies just in case symptoms start to show.

Mold or fungi grow both indoors and outdoors, and is related to moisture. Molds grow where moisture is, and is not dependent on seasons, unlike pollen which is more concentrated during spring to fall.

Mold spores spread when the molds ripen. It is usually seen in dark, moist, humid rooms like the basement, bathroom, under the kitchen sink, and ceilings if the roof has leaks. It also grows in carpets and walls. Rooms should be well ventilated to allow moisture to evaporate. Carpets, ceilings, walls and floors should always be kept dry, and make sure clothes placed in cabinets are totally dry.

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.

Sea foods are now in high demand as people that are into weight management programs and those with cholesterol problems are avoiding meat products. However, allergic individuals will have to avoid sea foods and sea food products. The good news is that some individuals are allergic to only a certain species of fish, which means they can still eat other sea foods without any allergic reactions.

The three major sea food groups are: mollusca which include snails, mussels, oyster, clams, squid and octopus; anthropoda which include lobsters, crabs, prawns, shrimps, crayfish and lobster; and chordate such as cod, tuna and salmon.

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Milk products that lead to milk allergy include products that contain milk proteins that trigger the reaction. This means allergic patients should avoid the following:
- milk
- yougurt
- butter
- cheese
- cream

Patients should also check product ingredients that contain milk proteins:
- whey
- casein
- caseinate
- natural butter flavor
- lactic acid
- natural or artificial flavors
- sodium caseinate
- sodium lactate

Processed foods also contain milk or by-products of milk, like the following:
- bread
- biscuits
- cookies
- cakes
- soy cheese
- soups
- potato chips
- creams
- margarine

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Milk allergy manifest in the skin, the respiratory system or gastrointestinal tract. It may show as rashes in the skin, or the patient may experience difficulty in breathing and swallowing, vomiting or constipation.

Milk allergy and lactose intolerance are not at all related. Milk allergy occurs as an immune system reaction to milk proteins which does not manifest in non-allergic persons. Lactose intolerance, on the other hand, is a hypersensitivity that comes from a lack of lactase, an enzyme that is needed to digest sugar in milk. Usually, lactose intolerance occurs when a person took in too much milk, however, allergic patients show symptoms of allergy even if the amount of milk taken in is minimal.

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Egg allergy usually occur in children, and is eventually outgrown. But a small percentage remain allergic, and avoidance of foods, and even other non-food products, that contain egg is the best option, especially for those who manifest dangerous symptoms. For those whose symptoms are tolerable, like rashes, they are able to take in a little amount of products containing egg.

The current flu vaccines are developed using eggs, and allergic patients may react to the shot. If a patient cannot tolerate the vaccine, the family members should have a flu shot to decrease the person’s probability of having the flu.

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