Allergies:
For itchy or watery eyes, your doctor may add eyedrops. There are many choices. Some such as naphazoline (Albalon, Naphacon-A), olopatadine (Patanol) and levocabastine (Livostin), contain antihistamines; others such as phenylephrine (prefrin) and tetrahydrozoline (Visine original eyedrops) include decongestants. There are also eye-drops, such as cromolyn (Opticrom) with mast-cell stabilisers.
Finally, a group of potent asthma drugs called leukotriene antagonists may relieve certain specific allergies. Monetelukast (Singular) helps reduce hay lever symptoms in children, and zafirlukast (Accolate) may be particularly good for those allergic to cats, although both are mainly used as asthma preventers.
ANAPHYLAXIS
Anaphylaxis is an acute allergic reaction most commonly triggered by food such as peanuts or medications such as penicillin. It represents a medical emergency.
Symptoms include:
If you are known to get anaphylaxis when exposed to certain allergies you should always carry adrenaline to inject yourself in an emergency. Epipens are preloaded syringes of adrenaline that are available on prescription.
In the case of children, it is important that a written first aid plan is developed and made available to all those involved in the children's care.
In all cases of anaphylaxis and even suspected anaphylaxis, call for help immediately on 000 (Australia) or 111 (New Zealand).
Procedures
If your allergies are mild, a nasal wash can help clear mucus from your nose. Buy a saline solution at a chemist or make your own (1 teaspoon of salt per 500 ml of warm water). Bend over the sink, pour some solution into your palm, inhale it through one nostrill, then spit it out and blow your nose gently. Repeat with the other nostril.
If your symptoms persist or you have them all year despite medications, immunotheraphy may be the best solution for you. Rather than just treating your symptoms, as many drugs do, this approach affects in the first place. You will need to consult your doctor for the injections as often as twice a week initially, and then every two to four weeks. The injections contain tiny amounts of allergens;
the dose is gradually increased, usually over the course of two to three years or sometimes longer. This allows your immune system to gradually become desensitised to a particular trigger, easing your symptoms and lessening your need for medications.
Lifestyle changes
Where allergies are concerned, prevention is still the best treatment. There's lots you can do help keep your symptoms at bay.
FOOD ALLERGIES AND INTOLERANCES
Certain foods--namely, nuts, shellfish and strawberries--seem to cause most acute reactions. If you're allergic, their effect usually is apparent within a short time of eating them. A scratchy throat, itchy mouth, vomiting, stomach cramps, hives, rash and swelling of the face, hands, feet or genitals may be signs of an allergic reaction. If it's severe, breathing difficulties and a systemic breakdown (called anaphylactic shock) can develop within minutes, a true medical emergency.
Food allergies
If you're highly sensitive, even touching a surface containing trace amounts of the food can overwhelm your body, causing severe allergy symptoms. Peanuts are particularly lethal and the leading cause of food allergy fatalities. Their effect is compounded because peanut proteins are found in unlikely places, such as potato chips, hot chocolate, sphaghetti sauce and ice cream.
Food intolerances
A second from of food sensitivity is better termed a 'food intolerance', no histamine is involved and antihistamines and allergy injections won't help, intolerances produce a wide variety of symptoms include fatigue, joint pain, congestion, bloating and diarrhoea. Because symptoms may appear as long as three days after eating the food, finding the culprits can be difficult. The usual suspects include dairy, gluten and citrus.
Doing a food elimination diet is a good way to ferret out trouble-makers. The process takes about three weeks. Begin by eliminating the following for a week: dairy products, eggs, gluten (wheat, pasta, barley, oats or rye), corn and citrus. If you feel better and chronic symptoms improve, then you probably do have some food intolerances. Return one food group every three days, noting if symptoms reappear. At the end of the three week reintroduction period, you should have a good idea of the dietary culprit (or culprits) behind your symptoms.
Treatments
The best treatment is prevention, so try to avoid foods that cause symptoms. Highly allergic people may take antihistamines as a prevention before dining out, for example, but this may dampen early warning signs of a bad reaction. If you are prone to severe reactions, such as from peanuts, you will need to carry adrenaline (epinephrine) with you to give yourself an injection at the first sing of trouble. The drug is sold by prescription as an Epipen. You should also have an antihistamine on hand. With severe reactions, every minute counts: you may not have time to wait for an ambulance.
Instead of standard drugs, try supplements with quercetin, a plant pigment found in apples (500 mg two or three times a day). It can block allergic reactions to pollen and reduce inflammation in the airways. Naturally oriented physicians also recommended stinging nettle, a native weed long used in folk medicine (250 mg three times a day). Look for capsules that contain the freeze-dried herb, or an
extract standardised to contain 1 percent plant silica.
For itchy or watery eyes, your doctor may add eyedrops. There are many choices. Some such as naphazoline (Albalon, Naphacon-A), olopatadine (Patanol) and levocabastine (Livostin), contain antihistamines; others such as phenylephrine (prefrin) and tetrahydrozoline (Visine original eyedrops) include decongestants. There are also eye-drops, such as cromolyn (Opticrom) with mast-cell stabilisers.
Finally, a group of potent asthma drugs called leukotriene antagonists may relieve certain specific allergies. Monetelukast (Singular) helps reduce hay lever symptoms in children, and zafirlukast (Accolate) may be particularly good for those allergic to cats, although both are mainly used as asthma preventers.
ANAPHYLAXIS
Anaphylaxis is an acute allergic reaction most commonly triggered by food such as peanuts or medications such as penicillin. It represents a medical emergency.
Symptoms include:
- Sudden onset of constriction of the airways. This makes breathing difficult
- itching of the face and throat
- flushing of the skin, hives, swelling of the face
- abdominal pain
- nausea and vomiting
- increasing difficulty in breathing
If you are known to get anaphylaxis when exposed to certain allergies you should always carry adrenaline to inject yourself in an emergency. Epipens are preloaded syringes of adrenaline that are available on prescription.
In the case of children, it is important that a written first aid plan is developed and made available to all those involved in the children's care.
In all cases of anaphylaxis and even suspected anaphylaxis, call for help immediately on 000 (Australia) or 111 (New Zealand).
Procedures
If your allergies are mild, a nasal wash can help clear mucus from your nose. Buy a saline solution at a chemist or make your own (1 teaspoon of salt per 500 ml of warm water). Bend over the sink, pour some solution into your palm, inhale it through one nostrill, then spit it out and blow your nose gently. Repeat with the other nostril.
If your symptoms persist or you have them all year despite medications, immunotheraphy may be the best solution for you. Rather than just treating your symptoms, as many drugs do, this approach affects in the first place. You will need to consult your doctor for the injections as often as twice a week initially, and then every two to four weeks. The injections contain tiny amounts of allergens;
the dose is gradually increased, usually over the course of two to three years or sometimes longer. This allows your immune system to gradually become desensitised to a particular trigger, easing your symptoms and lessening your need for medications.
Lifestyle changes
Where allergies are concerned, prevention is still the best treatment. There's lots you can do help keep your symptoms at bay.
- Stay indoors during peak pollen periods. Hot, dry and windy weather spurs high counts. Levels tend to be lowest on rainy, cloudy or windless days.
FOOD ALLERGIES AND INTOLERANCES
Certain foods--namely, nuts, shellfish and strawberries--seem to cause most acute reactions. If you're allergic, their effect usually is apparent within a short time of eating them. A scratchy throat, itchy mouth, vomiting, stomach cramps, hives, rash and swelling of the face, hands, feet or genitals may be signs of an allergic reaction. If it's severe, breathing difficulties and a systemic breakdown (called anaphylactic shock) can develop within minutes, a true medical emergency.
Food allergies
If you're highly sensitive, even touching a surface containing trace amounts of the food can overwhelm your body, causing severe allergy symptoms. Peanuts are particularly lethal and the leading cause of food allergy fatalities. Their effect is compounded because peanut proteins are found in unlikely places, such as potato chips, hot chocolate, sphaghetti sauce and ice cream.
Food intolerances
A second from of food sensitivity is better termed a 'food intolerance', no histamine is involved and antihistamines and allergy injections won't help, intolerances produce a wide variety of symptoms include fatigue, joint pain, congestion, bloating and diarrhoea. Because symptoms may appear as long as three days after eating the food, finding the culprits can be difficult. The usual suspects include dairy, gluten and citrus.
Doing a food elimination diet is a good way to ferret out trouble-makers. The process takes about three weeks. Begin by eliminating the following for a week: dairy products, eggs, gluten (wheat, pasta, barley, oats or rye), corn and citrus. If you feel better and chronic symptoms improve, then you probably do have some food intolerances. Return one food group every three days, noting if symptoms reappear. At the end of the three week reintroduction period, you should have a good idea of the dietary culprit (or culprits) behind your symptoms.
Treatments
The best treatment is prevention, so try to avoid foods that cause symptoms. Highly allergic people may take antihistamines as a prevention before dining out, for example, but this may dampen early warning signs of a bad reaction. If you are prone to severe reactions, such as from peanuts, you will need to carry adrenaline (epinephrine) with you to give yourself an injection at the first sing of trouble. The drug is sold by prescription as an Epipen. You should also have an antihistamine on hand. With severe reactions, every minute counts: you may not have time to wait for an ambulance.
- Avoid mowing grass or raking leaves, which can stir up moulds and pollens.
- Change and shower after being outdoors. Pollen collects on skin, hair and garments. And don't hang clothes outdoors to dry.
- Consider ducted or well-filtered vacuum cleaning systems. Carpets trap allergens so vacuum often. Better yet, have hardwood or tile floors. Air cleaners may also help.
- Forego house plants. They can trap mould and other allergens, so decorate with discretion.
- Avoid feather pillows and down bedding. Encase pillows, mattresses and quilts in mite-proof covers.
Instead of standard drugs, try supplements with quercetin, a plant pigment found in apples (500 mg two or three times a day). It can block allergic reactions to pollen and reduce inflammation in the airways. Naturally oriented physicians also recommended stinging nettle, a native weed long used in folk medicine (250 mg three times a day). Look for capsules that contain the freeze-dried herb, or an
extract standardised to contain 1 percent plant silica.
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