Allergy Relief Options

Allergy symptoms can include sneezing, postnasal drip, runny nose or hives and allergy sufferers are always seeking ways to obtain relief from a lot of familiar symptoms. Fortunately there are various allergy relief options available for those people who suffer, or suspect that they suffer, from allergies.

The most effective way for allergy relief is by drastically reducing, or simply avoiding, any contact with the specific things that create the problems. People who suffer from mold allergies should avoid places where mildew and mold is present (basements, etc). Likewise, people who have pet allergies should significantly reduce close contact with any pets. The best approach to relief for food allergy sufferers is to totally eliminate all foodstuffs from their diets that cause allergies.

Natural remedies (also called home remedies) are good relief options that are effective, affordable and in most cases, very safe. Many households already have ingredients available for home remedies.

For example, if hives develop due to allergic reactions, oatmeal can provide relief - place oatmeal in a bowl and pour 1 cup boiling water over it, allow it to set for about 30 minutes and then strain. Let the oatmeal water cool down and then apply it to the hives with cotton or a cloth. Antihistamines occur naturally in green tea and provide effective relief of other allergy symptoms - drinking other teas helps a person to remain cool, calm and collected.

Even though there are various natural remedies to treat or manage allergy symptoms with, many sufferers rather go for over-the-counter and prescription products because it is more convenient. A doctor can prescribe allergy medications in cases where severe or extreme symptoms are present and any pharmacy can provide the prescription medication.

Other medications, like products bought over-the-counter, provide effective allergy relief options without having to obtain a prescription from a doctor - these treatments can be more affordable, particularly for people without healthcare insurance. These products are available from supermarkets, drug stores, department stores and discount stores.

Allergy relief options depend entirely on individual circumstances and a remedy or medication that works for one person may not be effective for another person - there can be irritating and painful side effects and often natural remedies are better and safer alternatives to consider. The best option remains limiting exposure to or removing the allergy source.

Food Allergies - Milk, Soy and Egg

Food allergies happen when a person's immune system believes that something he or she ate is harmful to the body. In an attempt to protect the body, the immune system produces antibodies, called immunoglobulin E (IgE), to that food. Those antibodies then cause mast cells (allergy cells in the body) to release chemicals, one of which is histamine, into the bloodstream. The histamine then acts on a person's eyes, nose, throat, lungs, skin, or gastrointestinal tract and causes the symptoms of the allergic reaction.

Milk Allergen

Beta-Lactoglobulin is the major whey protein in ruminants and pigs. Human infants can develop an allergenic response to cow milk proteins. Beta-Lactoglobulin is the primary antigenic component that stimulates the immune hypersensitivity response in the infant. Symptoms are similar to lactose intolerance.

Small amounts of milk protein can pass through the breast milk and may cause allergic signs and symptoms in some infants. Cow's milk allergy (CMA) affects about 2-7.5% of infants.

Curds and Whey

The two main components are whey and casein, and an individual may be allergic to either or both. The casein is the curd that forms when milk is left to sour, and the whey is the watery fraction which is left after the curd is removed.

The whey proteins are altered by high heat, and so the whey sensitive person maybe able to tolerate evaporated, boiled or sterilized milk and milk powder. Goat's milk is tolerated by only 40% of children who are allergic to cow's milk.

Allergic reactions have been described according to 3 types. Usually reactions occur due to the intake of moderate to large amounts of cow's milk.

Type 1 - Symptoms start within minutes of intake of small volumes of cow's milk. Mainly causes skin problems, eczema or urticaria (hives). May involve respiratory (runny nose, wheezy chest) or gastro-intestinal (vomiting and diarrhea) symptoms.

Type 2 - Symptoms start several hours after intake of modest volumes of cow's milk; mostly symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea.

Type 3 - Symptoms develop after more than 20 hours, or even days after intake of large volumes of cow's milk. Symptoms include diarrhea, with or without respiratory or skin reactions.

With a doctor's supervision, removing milk products from a child's diet can help determine if illness is caused by it. Calcium supplements or other food products can be determined by a dietician to help make up for no milk. After all, milk may be present in in foods where you least expect it.

Most children will outgrow their cow's milk allergy. 40% at age 4 and 60% at age 6. Some may acquire the allergy later in life. Food intolerance is different from a food allergy. Lactose intolerance is quite common and may cause children to feel gassy, bloated and have diarrhea.

Egg Allergen

Hen's egg is one of the more frequent causes of food hypersensitivity in infants and young children. Studies have shown that Ovomucoid is a major allergen of egg white. Ovomucoid comprises 11% of egg white protein.

It has been demonstrated that Ovomucoid and not Ovalbumin, is the dominant antigen and allergen in egg white protein in human beings. It appears to be allergenic in minute quantities and because of its hardy physical characteristics, it may remain in the body in an allergenic state for years.

These properties make Ovomucoid a suitable marker protein for the presence of egg residues ( egg white) in food products.

People who have an egg allergy may experience anaphylaxis - a severe allergic reaction that causes swelling of the mouth, throat, and airways leading to the lungs, resulting in an inability to breathe. In addition, anaphylaxis causes a dangerous drop in blood pressure, which can make someone dizzy or pass out, and may quickly lead to shock. For people who are especially sensitive to eggs, the air fumes or getting egg on the skin can cause an anaphylactic reaction, so eggs should be kept out of the home completely.

Soy Allergen

Although the incidence of allergy to soybean proteins is quite low in comparison with other major food proteins, the gradually increasing consumption of soybean products makes the identification
and characterization of major soy allergens a focus of investigation. Delayed allergic responses to soy are less dramatic, but are even more common. These are caused by antibodies known as immunoglobulins A, G or M (IgA, IgG or IgM) and occur anywhere from two hours to days after the food is eaten.

Two soy proteins have been identified as antigenic. Soy belongs to the legume family, which include navy beans, kidney beans, string beans, black beans, pinto beans, chickpeas (garbanzo or chichi beans), lentils, carob, licorice and peanuts. Many people are allergic to more than one legume. If your doctor is unable to identify which soy product is causing your allergy, it is best to avoid them all.

Soy allergy is more common in infants. The average age at which the allergy manifests is 3 months but the majority of infants outgrow it by the age of two. Although adults do suffer from soy allergy, it is rare.

Symptoms of soy allergy are many and may include:

-Acne and other skin conditions, like eczema
-Swelling
-Nasal congestion
-Anaphylaxis
-Asthma
-Canker sores or fever blisters
-Colitis and other gastrointestinal problems, including diarrhea
-Conjunctivitis
-Shortness of breath
-Fever, fatigue, weakness and nausea
-Low blood pressure
-Itching
-Hay fever
-Hives

Some food products usually contain soy, or are manufactured on machines that may have soy residue on them. The way that the soybean is grown, harvested, processed, stored and prepared in the kitchen can all affect its allergencity. Hidden soy exists in thousands of everyday foods, cosmetics and industrial products such as inks, cardboard, paints, cars, and mattresses.

The majority of children with food allergies such as milk and egg are outgrown by the fifth birthday. However, peanut, tree nut, fish and shellfish tend to be life-long. These foods are also commonly associated with more severe allergic reactions.

Sinus Versus Allergies - Are All Colds Allergies Or Sinus Infection?

Many a times the person suffering from a cold and running nose need not be suffering from sinus infection but it could also be due to allergies. At times, it can be very hard to detect if sinusitis is due to allergy or an infection.

In allergies there is a clear nasal discharge accompanied with sneezing. There will itchy sensation on the nose, dry cough, and watery eyes. Rubbing the itchy nose many a times with hand leaves a mark known as the "allergic salute". Sometimes dark circles under the eye are also common symptoms that point to the fact that it is an allergy. If the cold come around the same time every year then it is more likely an allergy. Many a time the status of the cold changes with a change in environment, it can become better or worse, like moving in from out, change of place, home or work place etc. It has been seen that chronic infection does not cause fever but an inflammation from allergy can cause fever. If one or more courses of antibiotics do not treat the predicament, then allergy is much more likely. Coexisting with people, having asthma or eczema, one will likely get the allergy. As long as the trigger is present in the environment, the allergic reaction will continue. People with allergies have hypersensitive mast cells that sound the alert in response to relatively harmless particles such as pollen and dust.

The inflammation, or swelling, of the tissue lining the sinuses is called Sinusitis. Generally, sinuses are packed with air, but when sinuses are blocked and crammed with fluid; germs like bacteria, viruses, and fungi can breed and result in an infection. A sinus infection always begins with a cold and last for more than 10 to 14 days. Sometimes the person can suffer from fever, facial pain, or facial swellings. In sinus infection, the mucus discharge is much thicker and darker in color. Sinus can be due the common cold, allergic rhinitis, nasal polyps, or a deviated septum, which is actually a change in the nasal cavity.