 By Elena Voropay
Allergies have hundreds of causes -- nuts, soy, milk, wheat, pets, dust, mold, ragweed, and pollen are just a few common allergens.Allergies are different from intolerances and work through a complex mechanism of our body's immunity.
The immune system is designed to protect the body from harmful invaders such as germs. Occasionally, it goes awry and attacks harmless or mildly noxious agents, doing more harm than good. This event is termed allergy if the target is from the outside-like pollen or bee venom-and autoimmunity if it is caused by one of the body's own components.
The immune system usually responds only to certain kinds of chemicals, namely proteins. This is a common reason some people may be allergic to protein-containing foods, such as peanuts and wheat. However, non-proteins can trigger the same sort of response, probably by altering a protein to make it look like a target. Removing the offending agent is the first step to treatment. If the allergy is caused by protein gluten, removing wheat-containing products from the diet will help to solve the problem.
If sneezing or scratching is caused by a certain pollen, staying away from the areas where that pollen is predominant in addition to taking control with some anti-inflammatory agents will help. Itching can be controlled with cold packs or commercial topical agents that contain menthol, camphor, eucalyptus oil, aloe, antihistamines, or cortisone preparations. As easy as it may sound, removing the culprits is not that simple. The problem is that sometimes you just don't know what sparks your allergic symptoms as they are found in the places you never suspected. Here are some of them: Stuffed Toys and Pillows
Kapok (a tree native to tropical America, Africa, and the East Indies) has long been used to stuff pillows and pooh bears. The seed pods are used as stuffing for pillows, sleeping bags, and furniture upholstery. Like bird feathers and down, kapok was among allergens suspected in causing allergic reactions in both adults and kids.
However, recent studies have shown that the stuffing isn't the problem -- it's the dust mites and mold. In any humid climates, there's a very good chance that pillows and toys -- no matter what they're stuffed with -- will get contaminated with dust mites and mold. Is throwing them away the only solution? Not necessarily. Try washing them in hot water (130 degrees Fahrenheit) with eucalyptus oil and drying in a hot dryer to kill dust mites.
Pet Dander but No Pets?
Even if you don't have pets, animal dander is likely lurking in your car or home. All public places have this allergy-causing agent, be it movie theatres, shops, or buses. People with pets carry animal dander on their clothes, and deposit it wherever they sit. Then it travels to your clothes, and the reaction starts, if you are allergic to animal dander. Usually the levels deposited are high enough to trigger an allergic reaction, as studies confirmed. The best way to fight allergies from animal dander is to remove the pet from the home and avoid any contact. However if that's not possible, avoid or reduce contact with the animal.
Naughty Weather
It starts while the sun is still shining, but you know there'll be a thunderstorm. The winds stir up both mold spores and tiny particles released by pollen grains causing mold spore counts to go up astronomically, 100 times higher than normal.
As the storm passes through, winds also disrupt the grass pollen grains on the ground, causing them to release tiny particles -- particles that are 1,000 times smaller than the pollen grains. Even though the particles don't show up on any pollen count, a wave of cold air will sweep the stuff off the ground blow it just high enough to hit people in the face.
The tiny particles are inhaled deeply into the lungs and can be very irritating.
Roaches
Roaches thrive in the poorest and best of neighborhoods, regardless of how clean or dirty these may seem. Dead roaches and their feces are often the cause of allergies -- not the roaches themselves.
The pests can even enter your home via your new carpet, couch or any item that has been warehoused. The reason is that roaches thrive in humid and water environments. Keeping home dry, fixing leaks and frequent airing helps eliminate them.
Roach traps and baits, as well as insect sprays, can also come to the resque, but spraying should occur only when no one is at home. Before you or your child returns home after spraying, make sure that your home has been aired out for a couple of hours. Also, it's important to clean up the area where roaches have been found. Sealing foods in tight-lidded containers, vacuuming and sweeping after meals, and taking out the garbage frequently to avoid roaches. |
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