Questions About Hay Fever? - 7 Answers That Can Help

Each year hay fever affects over 23 million people in the United States. And that number is based only on the people who check in with a health care professional. So it is pretty clear that this is a huge health issue.

Knowing the answers to these 7 frequently asked questions can help you manage allergic rhinitis more effectively.

Is there a difference between hay fever and allergic rhinitis? No, they are terms that are often used interchangeably for the same condition. Rhinitis being the more clinical name for hay fever is the swelling of the nasal tissues in some people that is caused by exposure to airborne irritants such as mold spores as well as tree, grass, and weed pollen.

What are the symptoms for hay fever and how do they differ from a cold? This is a frequently asked question and a great one because the symptoms for the two conditions are very similar.

Sneezing, coughing, congestion, post nasal drip are common to both conditions. However, it is the duration of the symptoms that gives the best indication.

Cold symptoms tend to run their course in 5 to 10 days. Allergy symptoms can last for months. And by consulting a physician about symptoms that last more than several weeks, they are often able to determine which you have by the condition of lining of the nasal cavity.

Which kind of pollen causes the most trouble, and when does that season start? Probably the most potent of all pollen is that of ragweed. This plant usually starts to pollinate in late summer and often continues until it is killed by frost in late November or early December (depending on the climate where you live).

Will a physical move to another part of the country help? The problem with moving to another part of country to escape is that the wind can take these light-weight allergens hundreds of miles from where they originate. So trying to run away from them is not likely to work.

When does pollen season end? It depends largely on where you live and the type of pollen. Tree pollen is usually the first to emerge and can do so as early as January in warmer regions.

Grass pollen follows and last from mid spring to late summer. And finally weed pollen goes airborne in late summer and can last until early December or frost, whichever comes first.

Is medication a short or long term solution? The answer to this question really depends on the type of medication. The first type is designed to control the symptoms and generally include antihistamines that are designed to dry up the additional mucous the body makes in an attempt to flush out the allergens.

The second type of medication is designed to reduce the body's initial reaction to the allergen, which if successful, reduces the need for the medicines that control symptoms.

Then there are allergy shots. This is a slow process that meets with mixed results for different people. The idea is to gradually inject increasing amounts of the allergen into the body. The hope is that the body will become desensitized and will be less likely to overreact with symptoms.

Can an air purifier really make a difference? An air purifier with HEPA or high efficiency particle arresting filtration is one of the most consistent recommendations in the allergy management plan.

Reducing exposure to the irritant is still the best way to manage allergies, and a HEPA can remove airborne particles that are as small as.3 microns in size. A cleaner with multiple sized filters, and variable filtration speeds is one of the most effective ways to stay on track despite hay fever.

Let the Hay Fever Air Purifier clear indoor air for you all year round. Equipped with HEPA filtration, it can remove seasonal pollen and other chronic indoor irritants 24 hours every day. See it now at http://purerair.com/hay_fever_air_purifier.html

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Ask The Experts! Talking About Allergies Again!

I know I have talked about it before, but regular carpet and upholstery cleaning is an important part of managing and controlling those allergies! Allergens like pollen or pet dander are not mysterious evil forces; they are simply contaminants that can be controlled within a household environment. Regular vacuuming can be effective for reducing the exposure to these contaminants for those who suffer from minor allergies. For those like some of my own family members, managing allergens in the household environment simply requires action that is a bit more aggressive.

My recommendations include:

1. Make sure you have a properly fitted electrostatic filter in your furnace. (Those paper filters only catch about 15% of the airborne contaminants blowing through your HVAC system, and all the air in your home travels through that filter 3 to 4 times every hour!).

2. Vacuum your carpets twice each week, and your upholstered furniture once each week with a HEPA filtered vacuum. Perhaps this sounds like common sense, but I cannot over emphasize the importance regular vacuuming. Like it or not, everything that is blowing around outside is finding its way inside our homes. Regular vacuuming is our first line defense that costs nothing but a few moments of our time.

3. Consider quarterly carpet cleaning. Unlike those rental machines, our technicians use powerful truck mounted equipment that produces very high pressure, and extremely powerful suction, not to mention water above 200 degrees at the jets. What that all means to you is cleaning power far and above that which you can do on your own. If done properly and professionally, you simply cannot over clean a carpet, and for allergy sufferers, that regular cleaning will have you breathing easier.

4. Have your air ducts cleaned. All those contaminants have a safe home inside your air ducts unless we go in after them. All the other protections are going to be less effective if the air in your home is constantly travelling through contaminated duct work. Air duct cleaning not only removes pollen and pet dander, but household dust, dust mites and their waste, bacteria, viruses, mold, mildew, and a host of other irritants. Those ducts are a dark, damp, climate controlled space where contaminants thrive. So call the experts for a very special, thorough Spring cleaning.

Members of my own family are allergy sufferers, and we do these things because we care about how they feel. Some things are out of our hands, but I want to make every effort to remove allergens and contaminants in our home, providing the cleanest, healthiest environment possible.

If you have questions about creating and maintaining your own healthy home, we are here to help. Give us a call at 402-573-0400, or find us on the web at http://www.cleaningomaha.com/

Scot Morris is owner and president of Specialists Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning in Omaha. He provides top quality carpet and upholstery cleaning services to customers in the Omaha metro area, that are always 100% guaranteed. Mr. Morris is an expert in the cleaning industry, and is dedicated to providing services and education that help people maintain healthy homes.

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The Truth About Lactose Free Ice Cream Revealed

We all enjoy the flavor and texture of a good ice cream for dessert. But what about the lactose that is in the milk products that go to make up the ice cream? If you are intolerant to lactose, or even worse, if you have an allergy that could mean that ice cream is off your diet.

It does not have to be that way however, because there are several producers that have lactose free in their product range. Surely, that will means that ice cream will still be OK.

Checking for lactose

Now we need to do that task that has to be done by all people who have to be careful which foods they eat. Read the labels. Check the ingredients and nutritional information. It may take a little searching but you should be able to check if there is lactose present in what is marketed as lactose free.

For example in one list of ingredients that belongs to a product labelled as lactose free with a chocolate flavor are the following:

Ingredients: milk, cream, sugar, corn syrup, cocoa (processed with alkali) guar gum, locust bean gum, carrageenan, lactase enzyme*.

*Ingredient not in regular ice cream. Contains: milk

Note that this product is made from milk and cream. The added lactase enzyme helps with the digestion of lactose in the milk, but there is still some lactose present. This may not be a problem for some who are lactose intolerant, but others may still be affected by the small amount of lactose that may not have been broken down by the lactase enzyme.

That's when it may be necessary to investigate if there are any that are made to contain zero levels of lactose.

Zero lactose

These may be from a variety of plant based milks, and depending on the type of milk substitute used, the consistency, flavor and color variations will mean that the eating experience is different from that of regular ice cream.

Rice, soy and coconut are among the options for basis of a lactose free dessert. To produce a creamy consistency and to provide sweetness in the flavor, additives and large amounts of sugar may be used. Flavors such as chocolate can also be added to enhance the taste and make these alternatives more palatable.

If you can tolerate small amounts of lactose then those that have lactase added may be your preferred option. Those with a more serious intolerance or allergy may need to steer clear of these and go for the ice creams made from milk substitutes.

Neville Dinning is a researcher and educator with an interest lactose free foods. For more information on lactose free ice cream, visit http://lactosefreenow.com/.

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All That You Need To Know About Strawberry Allergy

Those red strawberries look very delicious and tempting but you know it can wreck-havoc if you have a strawberry allergy. Do you even know why your body reacts to red strawberries? Here is some vital information.

Strawberries belong to the rose family and are grown widely in temperate regions. There are four varieties of strawberries namely, wood strawberry, beach strawberry, meadow strawberry and a variety called fragaria moschata. Here is an amazing fact; the seeds of a strawberry are actually on the outer side of the fruit.

Strawberries are rich in different kinds of proteins. These are found to cause allergic reactions in humans. Our immune system has been designed in such a way that it protects any foreign substance from invading the body leading to allergies. Some of the proteins found in strawberries are identified as harmful to the body system and the immune system triggers off an allergic response. At first consumption, there may be no reactions. But subsequent ingestion of the fruit can cause mild or severe symptoms. The immune system has already started the process of producing immunoglobulin E antibodies to neutralize the proteins. Repeated consumption of strawberries makes the antibodies stimulate body cells to produce histamine. Histamine causes muscle cramps, thinning of the blood vessels.

Research has not been able to prove as to why some people are allergic to strawberries while the others can relish it without thinking of the side effects. But it has identified a particular protein which gives the fruit its red color as the allergy reactor. These proteins are absent in the white variety of strawberries and people who ate these did not have any allergic reactions. Another fact that researchers have discovered is that people who are allergic to birch pollen have similar reactions to red strawberries.

Some symptoms of strawberry allergies are

Hives

Rashes

Itchiness

Inflammation of the tongue, mouth and throat

Runny eyes and nose

Abdominal discomfort, vomiting and diarrhea

Anaphylaxis

For people who are fond of eating strawberries for fear of allergic reactions, there are certain tests which can be conducted by professional allergists. A simple test is by scratching a needle with the strawberry allergen on a small part of your skin. If you are allergic to it, then that part of the skin becomes reds and a small bump may appear after around 15-20 minutes. You may experience some itchiness too. This indicates that you have strawberry allergy.

Studying medicine, Betty has had the privilege of having access to practical experience and medical study. Lately she has been studying about the effects and treatments of fruit allergies, providing solutions with the use of alternative healthy lunch recipes using substitution methodology.

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What You Need To Know About Wheat Intolerance

There are people who have wheat intolerance due to the allergic reaction that occurs when wheat is introduced in the diet. More often than not, it can be seen as early as childhood when a baby categorically becomes sick when eating foods with wheat or drinking wheat - based fluids. However, wheat intolerance is not generally considered as a form of allergic reaction to wheat. It is usually not associated to sudden appearance of allergic reactions which can be attributed to other factors since there are certain underlying conditions that can define the true range of the intolerance to wheat products.

According to statistics, at least one out of seven individuals can experience wheat intolerance. Since the symptoms for this condition varies a lot and may manifest several days after consuming the product, proper diagnosis can be difficult. Technically speaking, wheat intolerance is basically an allergic response to wheat based products. However, there or other parts of the immune system that can be involved other than what are affected when true wheat allergies manifest. Some of the symptoms for wheat intolerance are comparable with mastisis symptoms although among the most common indication includes:

*Sudden headache, stomach cramping and bloating
*Diarrhea or constipation, flatulence,
*Chronic fatigue
*Arthritis
*Skin rashes
*Eczema
*Low resistance to infection among others.

The symptoms for wheat intolerance may start from mild flatulence to vomiting and severe stomach cramps. Even older people may develop intolerance to wheat because experts believe that the genetic makeup of human bodies do not evolve as fast as agricultural products do. Today, wheat production or often based on scientific methods in order to increase the harvests. Sometimes when the genetic structure of wheat is altered in order for farmers to shorten their waiting time before harvesting, the complex molecular structure of wheat is also altered making it difficult for some people to digest proteins from these agricultural products. There are cases wherein it spreads to other similar products like rye, barley, and oats.

There is no best treatment for recovering from wheat intolerance except avoiding the product altogether. However, depending on how serious the condition is, gradually introducing the wheat in the daily diets using small portions may help train the body to recognize the protein structure of wheat so that it can digest it. On the other hand, this is not recommended for those who serious intolerance to wheat because it can lead to a more serious condition when the symptoms become severe.

If you are suspecting your child to have wheat intolerance, the best way to find out is through food elimination diet. You can start a regimen of introducing certain food groups you suspect of causing the allergic reaction and eliminating it from the list once your suspicion is cleared. This will help you determine if a true wheat allergy is present or there are other types of food that cause the allergy. This way, you can avoid introducing wheat to your child's diet if your suspicion is confirmed that wheat intolerance is the cause of the allergic reaction.

Learn more about wheat intolerance and how to treat its symptoms. Find out about mastisis symptoms and how to deal with it properly.

Original article