Is It a Cold or Allergies?

If the spring and summer seasons leave you sneezing and wheezing, you may suffer from allergies. Colds, on the other hand, are more likely to happen at any time (but are more common in the colder months). Although cold and allergy produce similar symptoms, colds usually last only a week or two. And although both can cause nose and itchy eyes, colds and other viral infections can also give you a fever, aches and pains, color and mucus. Cold symptoms often worsen as the days pass, and then gradually improve, but allergies begin immediately after exposure to the offending allergen and last as long as the exposure continues. If you are not sure whether your symptoms are caused by a cold or allergies, talk to your doctor. Dealing with allergies So once you know you have allergies, how do you deal with them? First and foremost, try to avoid things that you are allergic to! If you have a food allergy, how to avoid foods that trigger symptoms and learn to read food labels to make sure you do not consume even small amounts of allergens. For people with environmental allergies, keeping your own house dust and pet dander and watch the weather for the days when the pollen is high can help. Switching to perfume and color without detergents, cosmetics and beauty products (you can see listed as non-allergenic ingredients on product labels hypoallergenic). If you are taking medication, it is important to follow the instructions carefully and make sure that your doctor is aware of nothing gives you an allergist (such as plans or prescriptions). If you have a severe allergy, you may want to consider wearing a medical emergency ID (such as a MedicAlert bracelet), which will explain allergies and who to contact in an emergency. If you have been diagnosed with allergies, you have lots of company. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) reported that more than 50 million Americans are affected by allergic diseases. The good news is that physicians and researchers are working to better understand allergies, improved methods of treatment, and possibly prevent allergies completely. Arabic to English BETAChinese to English BETAChinese (Simplified to Traditional) BETAChinese (Traditional to Simplified) BETAEnglish to Arabic BETAEnglish to Chinese (Simplified) BETAEnglish to Chinese (Traditional) BETAEnglish to FrenchEnglish to GermanEnglish to ItalianEnglish to Japanese BETAEnglish to Korean BETAEnglish to PortugueseEnglish to Russian BETAEnglish to SpanishFrench to EnglishFrench to GermanGerman to EnglishGerman to FrenchItalian to EnglishJapanese to English BETAKorean to English BETAPortuguese to EnglishRussian to English BETASpanish to English

How Do Doctors Diagnose and Treat Allergies?

If your family doctor suspects that you may have an allergy, he or she may refer you to an allergist, a person who specializes in the treatment of allergies, new tests. The allergist will ask you questions about your own allergic symptoms (such as how often they occur and when), and whether any family members have allergies. The allergist will also carry out tests to confirm an allergy, they depend on the type of allergy, and a person's skin can have a test or a blood test. The fullest possible to prevent allergic reactions is to stay away from the substances that cause them (called avoidance). Doctors can also treat allergies using certain drugs and plans. Avoidance In some cases, such as food allergies, avoiding the allergen is a vital necessity. That's because, unlike allergies to airborne particles in the air that can be treated with medication or plans, the only way to treat food allergies is to completely avoid the allergen. For example, people who are allergic to peanuts should avoid not only peanuts, but all foods that may contain even tiny traces of them. Avoidance can help protect the population against the non-food and chemical allergies, too. In fact, for some people, the elimination of exposure to an allergen is enough to prevent allergy symptoms and they do not need to take drugs or go through other treatments for allergy. Here are a few things that may help you avoid allergens airborne: Keep animals of the family of certain parts, such as room and bathe if necessary. Remove rugs or carpets your room (hard surfaces do not collect dust as far as carpets). Do not hang heavy curtains, and get rid of the other elements that allow dust to accumulate. Clean frequently (if your allergy is severe, you may be able to get someone else to do your dirty work!) Use blankets and pillows to seal mattress if you are allergic to dust mites. If you are allergic to pollen, keep windows closed when the pollen of the season at its peak, change your clothes after being outside, and not mow lawns. Avoiding wetlands, like basements, if you are allergic to mold, and keep the bathrooms and other mold-prone areas clean and dry. Medicines Medications such as pills or nasal sprays are often used to treat allergies. Although drugs can control allergy symptoms (such as sneezing, headaches, or a stuffy nose), they are not a panacea and can not do the tendency to have allergic reactions disappear. Many effective drugs are available to treat allergies, and your doctor can help you determine those who work for you. Another type of medication that some people with severe allergies should have on hand is a stroke of adrenaline (pronounced eh - puh-neh - frin), a fast-acting medicine that can help offset an anaphylactic reaction. The product comes in an easy-to-carry container that looks like a pen. Epinephrine is available by prescription only. If you have a severe allergy and the doctor thinks that you have to be transported, he or she will give you instructions on how to use it. Lance Allergy shots are also called allergen immunotherapy. By receiving injections of small amounts of an allergen, your body can gradually develop antibodies and undergo other changes in the immune system. These changes will help block the reaction caused by the substance to which you are allergic. Immunotherapy is recommended only for specific allergies, such as allergies to things that you could breathe (as pollen or pet dander) or insect allergies. Immunotherapy does not help with certain allergies, such as food allergies. Although many people find the thought of allergy shots troubling, shooting can be highly effective, and it does not take time to get used to them. In many cases, the more a person receives allergy shots, the more they help the body to develop antibodies that fight allergy. Although the plans do not cure allergies, they tend to increase the tolerance of a person when exposed to the allergen, which means fewer and less severe symptoms. If you are severely allergic to bites and stings, talk to a doctor to venom immunotherapy (shots) to an allergist. Arabic to English BETAChinese to English BETAChinese (Simplified to Traditional) BETAChinese (Traditional to Simplified) BETAEnglish to Arabic BETAEnglish to Chinese (Simplified) BETAEnglish to Chinese (Traditional) BETAEnglish to FrenchEnglish to GermanEnglish to ItalianEnglish to Japanese BETAEnglish to Korean BETAEnglish to PortugueseEnglish to Russian BETAEnglish to SpanishFrench to EnglishFrench to GermanGerman to EnglishGerman to FrenchItalian to EnglishJapanese to English BETAKorean to English BETAPortuguese to EnglishRussian to English BETASpanish to English

What Are Allergies?

Allergies are abnormal immune system reactions to things that are typically harmless to most people. When you are allergic to something, the immune system mistakenly believes that the substance is harmful to the body. (Substances that cause allergic reactions, such as certain foods, dust, pollen from plants or drugs, are called allergens.) In an attempt to protect the body, the immune system produces IgE antibodies to that allergen. These antibodies then cause some cells in the body to release chemicals into the bloodstream, one of which is histamine (pronounced her - tuh-meen). The histamine then acts on a person's eyes, nose, throat, lungs, skin or digestive tract and causes symptoms of allergic reaction. Future exposure to the same allergen triggers this antibody response. This means that whenever you come into contact with this allergen, you have an allergic reaction. Allergic reactions can be mild, such as a runny nose, or they may be serious, such as difficulty breathing. An attack of asthma, for example, is often an allergic reaction to something that is breathed into the lungs of a person who is vulnerable. Certain types of produce multiple allergic symptoms, and in rare cases, an allergic reaction can be very serious, this severe reaction is called anaphylaxis (pronounced: ah-nuh - fuh-lak sis). Some signs of anaphylaxis are difficulty breathing, difficulty swallowing, swelling of the lips, and throat and other body parts, and dizziness or loss of consciousness. Anaphylaxis usually occurs minutes after the onset of exposure to a product, such as a peanut, but some reactions can be delayed as long as 4 hours. Fortunately, anaphylactic reactions do not occur often, and they can be treated successfully if medical procedures are followed. Why do people get allergies? The tendency to develop allergies is often hereditary, which means it can be transmitted through your genes. (Thank you, Mom and Dad!) However, just because a parent or sibling could have allergies, it does not mean that you are going to do too. A person usually does not inherit an allergy, the risk of having allergies. What are the things that people are allergic to? Some of the most common allergens are: Food. Food allergies are more common in infants and often disappear as the child gets older. Although some food allergies can be severe, many simply boring cause symptoms like itchy rash, a stuffy nose, and diarrhea. Most experts agree that food allergies that people are most often allergic to milk and other dairy products, eggs, wheat, soy, peanuts and nuts, seafood and the. Bites and insect stings. The venom (poison) in bites and insect stings cause allergic reactions in many people. These allergies can be severe and can cause an anaphylactic reaction in some people. Suspended particulate matter. These are often called allergens from the environment, and they are the most common allergens. Some examples of suspended particles in the air that can cause allergies in people are mites (tiny bugs that live in house dust); Mold spores; Phanères animals (flakes scaly skin, and dried saliva your pets); And pollen from grass, the ragweed and trees. Drugs. Antibiotics-drugs used to treat infections are the most common types of medications that cause allergic reactions. Many other drugs, including over-the-counter medications (those that can be purchased without a prescription), can also cause allergic reactions. Chemicals. Some cosmetics or detergents can cause people to exit an itchy rash (hives). Generally, this is because the person has a reaction to the chemicals in these products. Dyes, household cleaners, and pesticides used on lawns or plants can also cause allergic reactions in some people