Allergy - Allergies and Asthma - How Are They Diagnosed

When, for a prolonged period, you are exposed to and experience symptoms from an allergen to which you are sensitive, your nose becomes 'primed', that is, ready to respond to irritants or to other allergens to which you are normally less sensitive. This response could trigger an asthma attack. For instance, when you are having nasal symptoms during the ragweed season and you are then exposed to dust, the dust can trigger a worsening of your allergy and asthma symptoms even if you are normally not very sensitive to dust. Allergic Appearance People who have allergies often breathe through their mouths and frequently itch or rub their noses. Allergic children often rub their noses in an upward and outward manner, similar to a salute, which has been called the 'allergic salute'. A crease may be present along the lower third of the nose as a result of the frequent rubbing of the nose to relieve the itch. Dark circles may be present under the eyes, called 'allergic shiners', and the eyes may appear a little red. When the doctor looks inside your nose, the mucus membranes are swollen and 'boggy' and appear pale. If there is an infection in your nose, the appearance is quite different, as the mucus membranes are then reddened. How Allergies Are Diagnosed Allergies are diagnosed by a medical history suggesting a seasonal pattern of a particular exposure that makes asthma and allergy symptoms worse. A review of your overall medical history and present medications allows your doctor to rule out other possibilities that may account for your symptoms. A careful physical examination is also important, looking for characteristic appearance of the inside of the nose and checking for subtle asthma symptoms. Allergy Skin Tests Allergy skin testing is performed to determine if someone is allergic. The doctor who performs the skin tests must carefully correlate the test results to the patient's medical history, as it is possible on occasion to have falsely positive or negative test results. Allergy skin testing identifies whether the specific allergy antibody for the allergen being tested is present on mast cells found in the patient's skin. There are two ways to administer allergy skin tests - the scratch or prick test, and the intradermal test. The prick technique involves placing a drop of an extract of the allergen (such as dust, dog fur, or ragweed pollen) on the skin, typically on the back or forearm. Allergens are placed on the skin in rows so that multiple tests can be performed at the same time. A lancet is then used to gently scratch or puncture the skin to introduce the allergin into the skin. With the intradermal test, the allergen is injected in dilute form just under the skin to create a small bubble. Discover how you can naturally and safely free yourself from the annoying symptoms of allergies. Sign-up to get this FREE allergy and asthma info-kit today. http://AllergyandAsthmaTreatment.com Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_Herrington Allergy - How To Prevent Asthma Asthma is a word which often conjures up a frightening picture of patients fighting desperately to get their breath, so it is understandable that many parents may be wheezy breathing is common in young children usually does not indicate that true asthma is present pr develop. With properly prescribed medical treatment, and by following a few simple self-help hints, most people suffering from asthma can lead to normal or near-normal life. First, get to know your limitation and do not be afraid to admit them. If something bothers you, such as cigarette smoke, say so. Keep a diary about your asthma. Jot down when you get attacks and what brings them on. This can help you and your doctor understand the value of various type of treatment. Keep regular hours and get much sleep as you need. Avoid emotional and physical stress. Do not allow yourself to become an invalid. Take as much exercise as you cope with physically. Swimming is particularly helpful as it teaches breathing control and usually pools are free from dust and pollen. Always carry prescribed medication with you. You will feel more confident and be less likely to get an attack if you know have an inhaler or tablets in your pocket or handbag. Avoid irritants where you can. Do not have carpet, heavy curtain or furniture that harbors dust in the bedroom. Avoid woolen blankets, feather pillows or eiderdowns, and keep the mattress covered. Vacuum the room and mattress daily. If you have asthmatic child, do not be over protective. Preventing him from doing things he enjoy can make the asthma worse. But, do not try to pretend his condition does not exist, as you may overlook a build up to severe illness. Do not acquire furry or feathered pets if you have an asthmatic child. But, if you already such a pet, it is the best not to get rid of it as this may worsen the child's asthma. Fish are fine. Article by Yeaf ZheWei. More free information on Asthma Solution and treatment for asthma that work at => Bronchial Asthma Treatment bronchial-asthma-treatment

Allergy - How To Prevent Asthma

Asthma is a word which often conjures up a frightening picture of patients fighting desperately to get their breath, so it is understandable that many parents may be wheezy breathing is common in young children usually does not indicate that true asthma is present pr develop. With properly prescribed medical treatment, and by following a few simple self-help hints, most people suffering from asthma can lead to normal or near-normal life. First, get to know your limitation and do not be afraid to admit them. If something bothers you, such as cigarette smoke, say so. Keep a diary about your asthma. Jot down when you get attacks and what brings them on. This can help you and your doctor understand the value of various type of treatment. Keep regular hours and get much sleep as you need. Avoid emotional and physical stress. Do not allow yourself to become an invalid. Take as much exercise as you cope with physically. Swimming is particularly helpful as it teaches breathing control and usually pools are free from dust and pollen. Always carry prescribed medication with you. You will feel more confident and be less likely to get an attack if you know have an inhaler or tablets in your pocket or handbag. Avoid irritants where you can. Do not have carpet, heavy curtain or furniture that harbors dust in the bedroom. Avoid woolen blankets, feather pillows or eiderdowns, and keep the mattress covered. Vacuum the room and mattress daily. If you have asthmatic child, do not be over protective. Preventing him from doing things he enjoy can make the asthma worse. But, do not try to pretend his condition does not exist, as you may overlook a build up to severe illness. Do not acquire furry or feathered pets if you have an asthmatic child. But, if you already such a pet, it is the best not to get rid of it as this may worsen the child's asthma. Fish are fine. Article by Yeaf ZheWei. More free information on Asthma Solution and treatment for asthma that work at => Bronchial Asthma Treatment bronchial-asthma-treatment Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Yeaf_Zw Allergy - Guide To Allergy Symptom In this brief article, we will define an allergy symptom and discuss some specific systems and what they mean to you as an allergy sufferer. An allergy symptom is any symptom associated with allergies such as a running nose, itchy eyes, watery eyes, sneezing, itchy skin, and more. We will go into some detail about where a symptom comes from and why they appear as well as a brief discussion about how to cure those symptoms if time permits. What are some of the symptoms? Some of the most common allergy symptoms occur for the seasonal allergies such as hay fever and include the itchy watery eyes, runny nose, and sneezing aspects of allergenic symptoms. Other cases of allergies feature more serious symptoms that can be more harmful and troublesome such as absentmindedness, dizziness, trouble swallowing, nausea, constipation, diarrhea, skin rashes, vertigo, vomiting, and other serious cases of health issues that may spring from how the body deals with the allergen itself. Airborne allergies are, however, the most common form of allergies and tend to feature the most common form of an allergy symptom as well. Most of these symptoms are related to the sinuses as the hay fever and other allergies like hay fever tend to affect those systems of the body. Sneezing, a clogged and runny nose, itchiness in the eyes and throat, coughing, postnasal drip, and swollen eyes (a symptom called "conjunctivitis") are all parts of the airborne allergy symptom repertoire. Why do these symptoms occur? Most times, the allergic reaction is coupled with a portion of the allergen. In other words, if the allergen is known for entering the lungs it will likely attack portions of the body related to the lungs and to breathing. An airborne allergy, thus, will likely attach itself to the breathing apparatus and my cause coughing or the nose to run because of the way it affects the system directly. There are other reasons for this that scientists studying allergy immunology are aware of, but the basics of most allergies are that they are "system attackers" in general. How are the symptoms cured? An allergy symptom can be cured in a number of ways depending on the actual system it affects and how drastically the body is affected. Many people can simply take, for example, an antihistamine for a hay fever type allergy and go about their day while others simply will not respond to the antihistamine. It is essentially a matter of the biological makeup of the allergy sufferer in terms of how they react to certain medications and how much medication is needed to cure the allergy symptom.

Allergy - Guide To Allergy Symptom

In this brief article, we will define an allergy symptom and discuss some specific systems and what they mean to you as an allergy sufferer. An allergy symptom is any symptom associated with allergies such as a running nose, itchy eyes, watery eyes, sneezing, itchy skin, and more. We will go into some detail about where a symptom comes from and why they appear as well as a brief discussion about how to cure those symptoms if time permits. What are some of the symptoms? Some of the most common allergy symptoms occur for the seasonal allergies such as hay fever and include the itchy watery eyes, runny nose, and sneezing aspects of allergenic symptoms. Other cases of allergies feature more serious symptoms that can be more harmful and troublesome such as absentmindedness, dizziness, trouble swallowing, nausea, constipation, diarrhea, skin rashes, vertigo, vomiting, and other serious cases of health issues that may spring from how the body deals with the allergen itself. Airborne allergies are, however, the most common form of allergies and tend to feature the most common form of an allergy symptom as well. Most of these symptoms are related to the sinuses as the hay fever and other allergies like hay fever tend to affect those systems of the body. Sneezing, a clogged and runny nose, itchiness in the eyes and throat, coughing, postnasal drip, and swollen eyes (a symptom called "conjunctivitis") are all parts of the airborne allergy symptom repertoire. Why do these symptoms occur? Most times, the allergic reaction is coupled with a portion of the allergen. In other words, if the allergen is known for entering the lungs it will likely attack portions of the body related to the lungs and to breathing. An airborne allergy, thus, will likely attach itself to the breathing apparatus and my cause coughing or the nose to run because of the way it affects the system directly. There are other reasons for this that scientists studying allergy immunology are aware of, but the basics of most allergies are that they are "system attackers" in general. How are the symptoms cured? An allergy symptom can be cured in a number of ways depending on the actual system it affects and how drastically the body is affected. Many people can simply take, for example, an antihistamine for a hay fever type allergy and go about their day while others simply will not respond to the antihistamine. It is essentially a matter of the biological makeup of the allergy sufferer in terms of how they react to certain medications and how much medication is needed to cure the allergy symptom. Article Source: http://www.findmysearch.com/allergies-resources/ Joel Santoso 2007. For answers to All your frequently asked questions about allergy information resources, please go to: http://www.findmysearch.com/allergies-resources/ Joel Santoso is an Internet Published Author and knows his stuff concerning many information and material that people are search on the Internet Article Source:http://www.findmysearch.com/allergies-resources/ Allergy - Chinese Herbs for the Cold and Flu Season Chinese Medicine has many recommendations for staying healthy and well for all seasons. In the fall, when the weather is beginning to get chilly and the days get shorter, our lungs and our respiratory system become more vulnerable to illness. People with asthma may begin to have more frequent attacks. One is more likely to catch a cold or come down with the flu. In Chinese Medicine, the lungs are ruled by the element of metal. The element of metal is related to the fall. In the fall, the metal element and therefore the lungs are compromised, particularly in people who are susceptible to respiratory conditions anyhow. The Chinese believe that the Lungs (which in Chinese medicine include the entire respiratory and immune system, not just the anatomical organ of the lungs) control the opening and closing of pores on the skin. When the Lungs are weak, the pores on the skin remain open, making the body more vulnerable to external pathogens. These external pathogens are related to Wind, probably because the Chinese noticed a correlation between windy days and cold drafts with people's tendency to come down with colds, flus, allergies, and asthma. They also noticed that people begin to shiver more before they come down with certain conditions, and correlated this with Wind also. They also believed that the neck and back were most vulnerable to attacks from Wind, probably because people often get stiff and achy in that area of the body before they come down with a cold or the flu. I have personally noticed that when I first start feeling as if I am coming down with a cold or the flu, I notice that I get sensitized to any slight breeze or draft in my environment. If at this point I start keeping my neck thoroughly covered with a scarf and keep the back of my body protected, I can usually avoid coming down with a cold or the flu. Even if you are skeptical about this theory, it would certainly do no harm to try this out for yourself. Astragalus is often used to boost immunity and increase resistance to illness in order to prepare for fall. The Chinese believe that astragalus aids the Lungs by closing the pores of the body, preventing pathogens from gaining a foothold in the body. Modern research has also verified the immune enhancing effects of astragalus. Research has shown that it increases phagocytosis and increases white blood cell count. Chinese research has shown it to have a protective effect against the common cold when taken consistently for two to eight weeks. Astragalus is an herb that works best as a long-term preventive measure. It is best to take it as a tea through the cold and flu season to enhance immunity and prevent illness. There is an excellent formula called Jade Windscreen Formula, or Yu Ping Feng San, which includes astragalus, that can often be found in health food stores and Asian markets. It is useful to take throughout the season to boost the body's resistance to colds, the flu, allergies, and asthma. When you already have a full blown early case of the cold or flu, the Chinese believe that since the pathogen is already within the confines of the body, the best thing to do is to open the pores and promote sweating in order to expel the pathogen out of the body. As a result, it is not good to take astragalus or Jade Windscreen Formula while you actually have a cold or the flu. The Chinese believe that an herb such as astragalus, which has a function of closing the pores and reducing sweating, could prolong a cold or flu if you take it while you are sick. In order to open the pores and promote sweating, it is best to take ginger or cinnamon tea, or the Chinese patent formula, Gan Mao Ling. Have hot soups, and take warm baths with three drops of eucalyptus, lemon, or tea tree essential oil. All of these things can help you to sweat your cold out. These remedies are useful when you are feeling stiff and achy, and have a stuffy or runny nose and watery eyes with clear phlegm. Hopefully, by taking the preceding advice you will be able to prevent your cold from progressing or from occurring at all. If your cold does progress to the point of having headache, fever, sore throat, and cough with sticky yellow or green phlegm, a different strategy is necessary. All of these symptoms indicate an infection or an inflammatory response from the body. Mint tea with lemon and honey can be soothing for the cough and the sore throat. The patent formula, Yin Qiao San, which has Forsythia and Honeysuckle in it, can help with these symptoms. Yin Qiao San is also useful for allergy and hayfever symptoms with red itchy eyes and a scratchy throat. The patent formula, Gan Mao Ling, is still useful because it is thought to be anti-viral and anti-bacterial. Gargling with warm, salt water can help with a sore throat. Warm baths with 3 drops of eucalyptus, lemon, or tea tree oil are also still useful because these essential oils are also considered to be anti-viral and anti-bacterial. Of course, if symptoms get severe, it is important to see your doctor. As you can see, the progression to a case of the common cold or the flu is a multi-stage process. The sooner you work on preventing the problem and strengthening your body's resistance the better. In the fall, when the days are getting shorter and chillier, it is important to boost the strength of your body and increase your resistance to illness throughout the season. Of course, if you do get a full blown case of cold or flu, there are still many gentle and safe traditional chinese remedies that can address your condition.

Allergy - Chinese Herbs for the Cold and Flu Season

Chinese Medicine has many recommendations for staying healthy and well for all seasons. In the fall, when the weather is beginning to get chilly and the days get shorter, our lungs and our respiratory system become more vulnerable to illness. People with asthma may begin to have more frequent attacks. One is more likely to catch a cold or come down with the flu. In Chinese Medicine, the lungs are ruled by the element of metal. The element of metal is related to the fall. In the fall, the metal element and therefore the lungs are compromised, particularly in people who are susceptible to respiratory conditions anyhow. The Chinese believe that the Lungs (which in Chinese medicine include the entire respiratory and immune system, not just the anatomical organ of the lungs) control the opening and closing of pores on the skin. When the Lungs are weak, the pores on the skin remain open, making the body more vulnerable to external pathogens. These external pathogens are related to Wind, probably because the Chinese noticed a correlation between windy days and cold drafts with people's tendency to come down with colds, flus, allergies, and asthma. They also noticed that people begin to shiver more before they come down with certain conditions, and correlated this with Wind also. They also believed that the neck and back were most vulnerable to attacks from Wind, probably because people often get stiff and achy in that area of the body before they come down with a cold or the flu. I have personally noticed that when I first start feeling as if I am coming down with a cold or the flu, I notice that I get sensitized to any slight breeze or draft in my environment. If at this point I start keeping my neck thoroughly covered with a scarf and keep the back of my body protected, I can usually avoid coming down with a cold or the flu. Even if you are skeptical about this theory, it would certainly do no harm to try this out for yourself. Astragalus is often used to boost immunity and increase resistance to illness in order to prepare for fall. The Chinese believe that astragalus aids the Lungs by closing the pores of the body, preventing pathogens from gaining a foothold in the body. Modern research has also verified the immune enhancing effects of astragalus. Research has shown that it increases phagocytosis and increases white blood cell count. Chinese research has shown it to have a protective effect against the common cold when taken consistently for two to eight weeks. Astragalus is an herb that works best as a long-term preventive measure. It is best to take it as a tea through the cold and flu season to enhance immunity and prevent illness. There is an excellent formula called Jade Windscreen Formula, or Yu Ping Feng San, which includes astragalus, that can often be found in health food stores and Asian markets. It is useful to take throughout the season to boost the body's resistance to colds, the flu, allergies, and asthma. When you already have a full blown early case of the cold or flu, the Chinese believe that since the pathogen is already within the confines of the body, the best thing to do is to open the pores and promote sweating in order to expel the pathogen out of the body. As a result, it is not good to take astragalus or Jade Windscreen Formula while you actually have a cold or the flu. The Chinese believe that an herb such as astragalus, which has a function of closing the pores and reducing sweating, could prolong a cold or flu if you take it while you are sick. In order to open the pores and promote sweating, it is best to take ginger or cinnamon tea, or the Chinese patent formula, Gan Mao Ling. Have hot soups, and take warm baths with three drops of eucalyptus, lemon, or tea tree essential oil. All of these things can help you to sweat your cold out. These remedies are useful when you are feeling stiff and achy, and have a stuffy or runny nose and watery eyes with clear phlegm. Hopefully, by taking the preceding advice you will be able to prevent your cold from progressing or from occurring at all. If your cold does progress to the point of having headache, fever, sore throat, and cough with sticky yellow or green phlegm, a different strategy is necessary. All of these symptoms indicate an infection or an inflammatory response from the body. Mint tea with lemon and honey can be soothing for the cough and the sore throat. The patent formula, Yin Qiao San, which has Forsythia and Honeysuckle in it, can help with these symptoms. Yin Qiao San is also useful for allergy and hayfever symptoms with red itchy eyes and a scratchy throat. The patent formula, Gan Mao Ling, is still useful because it is thought to be anti-viral and anti-bacterial. Gargling with warm, salt water can help with a sore throat. Warm baths with 3 drops of eucalyptus, lemon, or tea tree oil are also still useful because these essential oils are also considered to be anti-viral and anti-bacterial. Of course, if symptoms get severe, it is important to see your doctor. As you can see, the progression to a case of the common cold or the flu is a multi-stage process. The sooner you work on preventing the problem and strengthening your body's resistance the better. In the fall, when the days are getting shorter and chillier, it is important to boost the strength of your body and increase your resistance to illness throughout the season. Of course, if you do get a full blown case of cold or flu, there are still many gentle and safe traditional chinese remedies that can address your condition. Dr. Farah Khan, DOM is a Doctor of Oriental Medicine practicing in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She offers information and products related to different health conditions at her web site at http://www.yinessence.com. Her e-mail address is farah@yinessence.com. Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Farah_Khan Allergy - Turning Off An Allergic Reaction Wouldn't it be good to have a safe, non-drug technique that you could use to minimise allergic reactions? Well, there is one. It was devised by Dr Jimmy Scott, the originator of health kinesiology, a complementary therapy. It's a simple way to turn off an allergic reaction by tapping acupuncture points. The sooner you start doing this after experiencing symptoms, the more effectively it works. One of the good things about this procedure is that it doesn't matter if you don't know what the offending substance is. As soon as you start to feel an allergic reaction, even if you don't know what it is causing the problem, tap each of these points for about 20 to 30 seconds: 1. Tap beside the nose at the inner corner of each eye 2. Tap on the eye socket bone just below the centre of the eye 3. Tap either side of the breast bone just below the collar bones 4. Tap the sides of the torso, straight down from the armpit and level with the nipple 5. Tap near the lateral corner of the little toe nail at the base of the nail (on the outside of the feet) 6. Tap the centre of the balls of the feet 7. Tap near the lateral corner of the second toe nail (the second toe nail is the one next to the big toe, tap on the side furthest away from the big toe) 8. Tap near the medial corner of the big toe nail (that's the side nearest the other foot) You can tap in any order, and you can tap as many points as you wish at the same time. Other people can help you tap too. The sooner you start the tapping the fewer symptoms you will get. Have a few practices before you really need it. If you're in a public place it may be difficult to tap your feet, so just concentrate on tapping the first four lots on the upper part of the body. I once did this when my sons were young and I attended a play by a theatre company. The theatre company used some coloured smoke, and even though I was sitting well back I started to have an allergic reaction to it - coughing. I knew my sons would die of embarrassment if I got up and had to push past everyone in the row - as luck would have it I was sitting in the middle of a row. So I decided to tap surreptitiously - my children would have died of embarrassment even more if people had noticed their mother tapping her face furiously! Within a few seconds my symptoms started to abate. I was surprised at how effective it was in this far from ideal situation when I couldn't do my normal vigorous and determined tapping. This will not fix your allergies, but it will relieve the symptoms caused by the current exposure. To deal with the underlying process I suggest you contact a health kinesiologist. I'll be explaining more about what's involved in that form of treatment in the next newsletter, but if you want to contact one now, phone 08707 655980 or go to www.hk4health.co.uk