Allergies Unplugged

SWOLLEN EYES. A DRIPPY NOSE. STUFFY SINUSES. ITCHY RASHES... IF THIS IS THE STORY OF YOUR LIFE, HELP IS AT HAND. READ THIS ARTICLE AND GET ON TOP OF THOSE WHEEZES AND SNEEZES AND OTHER BOTHERSOME SYMPTOMS THAT HAVE BEEN TROUBLING YOU FOR YEARS.

The word allergy comes from the Greek allos (which means waste and eragon (which means energy spent on defense). An allergy wastes energy normally reserved to defend the body.

Fact. The most common allergies-hacking and wheezing, itching eyes and sneezing-will affect one in three of us, at some time or the other, in our lives. Asthma and skin rashes affect large chunks of the population. Allergies due to pollution, dust mites and insect bites are on the rise.

Allergies, specially eczema and asthma, tend to run in families. Scientists have now identified an allergy gene, which controls the body's allergic response. However this isn't the whole story-features like the environment and lifestyle play an important part too.

If you inherit an allergic tendency, being exposed to an allergen, specially in the first year of your life, can greatly increase your chances of developing an allergy in your childhood and teens. However childhood allergies can be outgrown. But adults can find themselves sneezing incontrollable about something that never affected them before.

• Allergy Alert
• The Five Allergen Families
• What's Your Poison ?
• Away With Allergies ( Medicines )
• Alternatives Remedies
• For An Allergy Free Future

ALLERGY ALERT

An allergy happens as an overreaction by the body's immune system which is sick 'n' tired of a substance which once did it no harm.

On contact with the substance, large amounts of antibodies and specialized white blood cells, which normally protect you from bugs, are released into the bloodstream. These hook onto the mast cells found in the skin, nose, lungs and intestines.

Mast cells can produce huge amounts of histamine and other powerful chemicals, causing itching, sneezing and swelling, even of the lining of the airways. Allergies can also cause dizziness and upset tummies and make you feel fatigued and fluey.

How to tell if you're a victim

Symptoms include:

• itchy, red, watery eyes

• blocked or runny nose

• uncontrollable sneezing

• headaches and disturbed sleep

• wheezing or asthma attack

• a scratchy throat

• hives

It's an allergy, not a cold if

• The phelgm is white, not yellow
• There is no fever
• There is no body ache
• It doesn't respond to cold medication
• It disappears in another environment

TOP

THE FIVE ALLERGEN FAMILIES

TOP

WHAT'S YOUR POISON ?

Here are 12 of the most common allergens, in alphabetical order, and what to do about them.

1. COSMETICS can cause swollen eyes, itchiness, flaky skin.

How to beat it

• Throw away all cosmetics that appear crumbly, smelly or are over a year old.
• Use hypo-allergenic cosmetics if you have a problem.
• Take a air dye and depilatory patch test each time you use a product.

2. DUST MITES are the most common form of allergy. The dust-mite is a microscopic beastie that feasts on the skin scales produced by the entire animal kingdom, to no ill effect. Its droppings waft around straight into your nose. So if you can't stop sneezing when you awaken, suspect dust mites in your bed. Other signs are a runny nose, coughing, asthma, but very few eye symptoms.

How to beat it

• Vacuum soft furnishings, curtains and carpets twice a week and mattresses fortnightly.
• Encase your mattresses and pillows in plastic.
• Wash bed linen-and soft toys if they'll stand it-at a high temperature of at least 130⁰ F to kill mites. If you want to use warm water to avoid damaging fabrics, blend 4 parts eucalyptus oil and 1 part dishwashing fluid. Add 75 ml of this mixture to the wash for a 30-minute soak, followed by a normal laundry cycle.
• Have your AC's serviced regularly.
• Substitute carpets and Chattai with parquet, linoleum or tile which should be wet mopped.
• Dust with a damp cloth.

3. FOOD causes diarrhea, hives, swollen or itchy lips, nausea, cramping, breathing difficulties or a red itchy rash within an hour to a day of exposure. Allergy triggers are milk protein, wheat gluten, shellfish, nuts, chocolates, eggs, citrus fruit, soy, preservatives, colouring and additives.

How to beat it

• Figure out which food is the culprit and steer clear of it.
• If you're not sure what's in your food, ask.

4. INSECT STINGS Your body can react with a headache, weakness, nausea general itching, hives, wheezing, difficulty in breathing or loss of consciousness. Seek medical help if your whole body reacts, say if you get sting on the toe but hives appear around your neck and you have trouble breathing.

How to beat it

• If you know that you are allergic to bites and stings carry antihistamine tablets. Pop one the minute you are bitten.
• Ask your doctor to make you a kit with a syringe loaded with a steroid wyslone epinephrine and instructions on how to take it.

5. LATEX allergies cause hives, an itchy rash, a runny nose, sneezing or bronchial spasms. They're nothing to fool around with either, because in extreme cases death can occur.

How to beat it

• Tell your dentist and all your doctors about your allergy, because they use latex gloves.
• You won't be able to use a latex condom, so you'll have to tell your partner or she'll wonder why.
• She'll also need to know that polyurethane condoms may not be as effective as latex in preventing STDs or pregnancy.

6. MEDICATION Painkillers, aspirin and some anti-inflammatory can jump start rashes. Reactions to sulphur, penicillin and B12 injections are also common.

How to beat it

• If in doubt check out your pills and potions with your doctor, who can offer a substitute.
• Whenever you take an injection make sure that your doctor has a rescusitation kit.

7. MOULD Another word for these allergies is fungus. Mould grows like crazy at humid temperatures in damp corners or lofts, in stale food, decaying leaves and grass, wood, leather, hay. Damp spots between the toes, in the groin and under the breasts also create a warm haven, resulting in inflamed skin, itching and scaling. Mould can cause your nose to run, too.

How to beat it

• Keep the house as dry as possible.
• Make sure that your bathrooms are well-ventilated, frequently cleaned and wiped dry.
• Clean AC filters periodically and keep the drip pan clean and dry.
• Move plants outdoors.
• Trim bushes, trees and shrubs to avoid excess shade.
• Remove wet leaves from around the house.
• Throw away food that has grown green or mouldy.
• Never wear damp clothes. Wash, dry and press before use.
• Synthetics can be irritating. Try a blend of 40:60 and use cotton underwear and socks.
• Avoid highly perfumed soaps and bubble baths.

8. OCCUPATIONAL HAZARDS If your symptoms lessen on weekends, it's your workplace that's making you vulnerable.

How to beat it

• Try to keep air circulation at an optimum in your office. Fans and open windows will help.
• Clean AC's regularly and try to run 365 days, 24 hours a day, to prevent mould build up.
• Keep the interiors clean, free from dust, specially from paper, and indoor plants.

9. PETS Pet fur, saliva, skin scales, pet dander and urine permeates the air and dust of the house in which the animal lives and can cause watery eyes, itchy skin, wheezing.

How to beat it

• Keep furry and feathery friends outside as much as possible.
• Don't let animals in bedrooms or in areas where you linger a while.
• Wash dogs and cats about once a week to reduce up to 90 per cent allergens in the air.

10. POLLEN They are light and airborne and waft from weeds, grass and trees in the garden around the house. A common villain is the parthanium grass found in Bangalore and Pune, a.k.a. "Congress grass" because the stalks are topped with little white "caps", and triggers off a miserably runny nose, itching or burning. Pollen from flowers is innocent, because it is too heavy and sticky to go blowing in the wind.

How to beat it

• Limit outdoor activities to early morning or just after the rains when the pollen count is at its lowest. It is highest on a hot windy day.
• Keep lawns trimmed to an inch or less.
• Stay away from heavy bushes and shrubs.
• Close windows during unsafe periods.
• Consider using house and car AC's that filter out recycled air.
• Use light weight curtains that can be washed, instead of blinds that are pollen-catchers.

11. POLLUTION Air pollution from traffic and factory fumes trigger off asthma and other respiratory irritations, specially in the cold season when the cold air rises. Ozone, a gas formed when the sun meets small particles, and sulphur dioxide in these fumes, all inflame the body's airways. Exhaust fumes appear to reduce the protective effect of the invisible hairs which line the nostrils. The most polluted cities in India are Mumbai, Calcutta and Delhi.

How to beat it

• Keep bus and car journeys to a minimum when symptoms are bad, and consider taking a train.
• Try to avoid getting stuck in jams by timing yourself to stay out of peak hour traffic.
• Keep car windows closed and consider an air conditioner which helps re-circulate air, but see that it is serviced regularly.
• Keep the interior of your car dust free with a vacuum cleaner or a duster.
• Sit in the aisle in a bus.
• Wear a mask if you ride a two wheeler.
• Wear wraparound sun glasses to protect your eyes.

12. STRESS Emotional disturbances can cause you to break out in hives or upset your digestion.

How to beat it

• Try meditation, deep breathing, yoga, relaxation exercises, hypnotherapy or biofeedback techniques.
• Consult a psychotherapist.

TOP

AWAY WITH ALLERGIES

Finding out what you're allergic to and cutting down your exposure to it, is your best way to reduce allergies. Otherwise you need a sledgehammer approach through medication. Do consult your doctor about frequency, side effects, and products.

TOP

ALTERNATIVE REMEDIES

• To relieve itching boil Neem leaves in water. Sieve, cool in the refrigerator and pour on affected parts.
• Place your head over the bowl, drape a towel over your head and inhale.
• To relieve congestion put three drops of eucalyptus and three drops of camphor oil in a bowl of steaming water. 
• To ease insect bites and stings use a aw onion as a poultice to draw out toxins or dab vinegar on the affected part.
• To relieve itching use a few drops of lavender, evening primrose oil or cammomile in a cold compress.

TOP

FOR AN ALLERGY FREE FUTURE

• Diet A poor diet could make you more vulnerable to asthma and other allergies. More fruit and green veggies, rich in vitamins C, E and beta carotene can boost your immune system and reduce allergies. So can magnesium.
• De sensitization. After discovering by skin prick tests what causes the allergy, injections are given in diluted doses of the allergy causing substance, which are gradually increased.
• Immunology involves investigating how mast cells react when they come into contact with an allergen. A new tablet that inhibits production of leukotriene which constricts airways during asthma attacks will be available soon.
• Vaccinations to stop allergic reactions are being researched.
• Prevention It is now thought that unborn babies could become sensitized to allergens in the womb and if proved, it may be possible to prevent this happening through the mother having a healthy diet and reducing her exposure to pollution and infections.

TOP

Close Window