Cockroach allergy problems can play a significant role in people with asthma.
People with a sensitivity to cockroaches often develop a rash if one of these insects crawls over their skin.
Direct contact with these insects is not generally the main problem.
Cockroach infestations cause a high level of feces and body parts from dead insects, as well as saliva. Long term exposure can eventually cause some people to become sensitive to cockroach contamination, causing an allergy.
This is a similar problem to dust mite allergies, the main difference being that cockroaches are physically bigger (and more discussing) than dust mites.
This is particularly a problem with inner-city children who are more likely to live in an infested home. Many hospital visits dealing with an asthma attack can be attributed to cockroach allergens.
In some areas, most homes have a cockroach problem. A house can harbor thousands or even hundred’s of thousands of insects, generating a very large amount of air-bourn allergens within the home.
If you see just a single insect, you can be almost certain that it represents hundreds or thousands of others, hidden in cupboards, in walls, under the sink, behind the fridge etc.
The insects or their eggs can hitch a ride into your home with groceries, second hand furniture and other items brought into the home. In some areas they may simply crawl in from the outside.
Apartment buildings are worse, since once one unit gets infested, the insects can easily find their way into other units.
The best way to deal with a cockroach allergy is to get rid of the insects. Hire a professional pest control company, and if possible, stay out of the house for several days to minimize your exposure to the toxic chemicals used to exterminate cockroaches.
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You have probably experienced the upper respiratory or skin symptoms of an allergic reaction at some point in your life. In fact, an estimated 1 in 3 people suffer from allergies. Sometimes, your allergies can be so frequent and draining that you require allergy shots to help you get through your day. Although everything from food to insect bites can stimulate an allergic reaction, one of the most common causes of allergies are airborne particles.
First, it is important to understand why allergies occur. Essentially, an allergic reaction is solely the result of your immune system’s overreaction to a common, non-harmful item. The immune system is “plastic,” or easily adaptable. As you encounter pathogens, your immune system develops antibodies to recognize and attack these invaders. Sometimes, though, these antibodies can be targeted to regular things in your environment, such as dust. Then, every time you encounter dust, your antibodies attack.
When your immune system believes it is under attack, it releases many chemicals such as histamine into your body. Normally, these chemicals help you fight a true invader. However, if your body is not actually under attack, the histamine can cause the painful, irritating symptoms of an allergic reaction. Common airborne particles that can be mistaken for invaders include:
-Dust mites -Animal dander -Mold spores -Pollen -Air pollution
As your immune system overreacts to one of these substances, you can suffer from a debilitating allergic reaction. Normally, airborne allergens affect your upper respiratory system as this is where you are first exposed to the particles. You can develop symptoms such as:
-Runny nose -Red, itchy eyes -Watery eyes -Congestion -Sneezing -Scratchy throat -Itchy nose
Allergies can make you feel miserable. If your symptoms are frequent and severe, you may want to take allergy shots in order to help reduce your immune system’s response to airborne allergens. However, it can be difficult and costly to seek this medical care every two to four weeks. Thankfully, though, you can find a health insurance plan that fits your needs. To find the right health insurance plan for your needs, contact a California health insurance agent from Catherine Michaels Insurance Services today.
You get the effects of allergies when your system over-reacts to certain substances found within the environment that are usually harmless. The miserable feeling that they cause is still with you as long as the condition exist.
When a person breathes in these substances called allergens, your body releases chemicals and histamines to counteract them. Often this will cause itching, swelling, runny nose and in cases that are more serious even hives or a rash. Different things may occur from person to person.
There are many allergens in the air that may come in contact with people’s eyes, or they can also be inhaled. The results often affect the skin, eyes, and your breathing. Many get allergy reactions from indoor or outdoor particles. Mold spores are a common carrier both indoors or outdoors, they can be located anywhere damp conditions occur. The outdoor molds are in the ground; compose piles or any damp vegetation area such as wet leaves or grasses.
The allergies from animals normally come from the dander that animals shed. Some people also react to other things from animals if touched.
Dust particles are carriers of many tiny particles such as pollen, mold, fibers and even insect mites. Dust mites seem to found in higher concentrations within bedding, mattresses and your box springs. Washing bedding often in hot water, vacuum mattress and box springs can reduce the effects of these mites.
There are several other allergy-producing items within our environment that can cause people various reactions. Just to name a few of them such as smoke, powders, fumes, trees, grass, and detergents for example can create the condition you least desire.
If common sense controls you have tried do not seem to solve your condition, then you should consult a doctor for further testing. Testing can be done to determine just which things are causing your reactions. Simple skin test is the most common method. Several different allergens are exposed to the skin and the reactions are noted. In some cases, blood testing may be required.
Many items can be easily treated and controlled. There are many different over the counter medications to help control the problems caused by allergies. The cases that are more severe may require injections under the directions of your doctor.
The last thing that you want to have happen when you are out enjoying company with friends is to have an allergy attack. If you are anything like me, taking allergy pills can make you drowsy and tired. Instead, when you are shopping around for allergy pills to take, try to look for ones that advertise non-drowsy formulas on the box. Also, it helps to be aware of the fact that in some situations, even though the box may indicate that the allergy pills are non-drowsy, it may still make you feel tired and/or lethargic.
Most people experience problems with their allergies during the beginning of the spring around the month of March or during the autumn around late September. The reason for this is due to the fact that these are two different times of year when there are different plants, trees and flowers that are beginning to bloom. For many people, allergies are worse during the spring time because this is when all of the pollen is being released into the air. If you live in states such as North Carolina, it may come as a shock to wake up one morning and see your vehicle caked in yellow from all of the pollen in the air. Can you imagine? You are actually breathing that into your lungs! It’s no wonder that people have a hard time breathing or find themselves sneezing uncontrollably. That being said, what can be done about it short of taking drugs all of the time?
For starters, if you struggle with allergies, the first step that you can take is to make sure that your living environment is as clean as you can muster. This means making sure that your carpets are vacuumed at least several times a week, that your bed linens are washed in hot water at least once a week and that you make sure to wash your hair in the evenings prior to going to bed. The reason for taking a shower and washing your hair at bedtime is because this rids your body of any allergens that may have been in the air. If you were outside all day or over at a friend’s house where they might have had a dog or cat or tons of dust, a lot of that actually gets trapped in your hair, which then gets transported to your bed onto your pillow as you toss and turn at night.
If you can help it, get rid of carpeting in your home and opt instead for hardwood floors as these do not attract dust and allergens as do carpets. If you have pets, make sure that you wear a mask and regularly brush them out several times a week (make sure you do this outside). If you do plan on going somewhere or running errands, pay attention to the time of day and do what you have to do in the early morning before traffic becomes heavy or in the later evening (when things have had a chance to settle down). On really high pollen days, opt to work out indoors at the gym versus at the park. Taking precautions such as these can greatly reduce your symptoms during the allergy season.
To clearly explain what the cause of allergy is to you, let me start with this one of the numerous examples of allergic reactions. A household animal, dog, was brought into a house. After three month the dog was brought in, mum begins to experience itchy nose and throat and episodes of sneezing. One of the children in the house also develops chest tightness and coughing, especially when the dog is in her bedroom. The rest of the household (dad and the rest of the children) have no reaction (allergy symptoms) to the presence of the dog irrespective of the degree of contact they have with the dog.
What happened was that, mum and one of the children in the house (in which dog was brought) were allergic or developed allergy toward a foreign substance on or in the dog. Thus, the manifestation of the allergy symptoms in the mum and one of the children. But dad and the rest of the children are not allergic or did not develop allergy to the presence of the dog. Foreign substances (such as that from the dog) are called antigen. Antigens are substances capable of triggering or causing production of antibodies.
The antibodies are produced from immune system. Immune system is a body’s organised defense system against foreign invaders (antigens), especially infectious agents. Antigens may lead or may not lead to an allergic reaction and the consequent allergy symptoms. Any antigen that causes allergy symptoms (or allergic reactions) is referred to as allergen. The function of immune system in our body is to mobilize its defensive components to the site of invasion or infection in order to destroy the intruders, the foreign substance (antigen or allergen if it causes allergy or allergy symptoms). The immune system destroys antigens or allergens in two ways. When the immune system components have contact with the antigens or allergens, they respond by producing antibodies or immunoglobulins (Ig) – the first way. There are five types of these antibodies – IgG, IgM, IgA, IgD, and IgE.
The function of the antibodies in the destruction of the invaders is to attach themselves to the surface of the foreign substances and thereby make the foreign substance easier for the immune cells to destroy- the second way immune system functions to destroy invaders. The function of the immune system described above is a normal process in everybody. In a person that is not allergic to an antigen, the antibodies are produced in normal quantities to successfully fight the foreign substance and there is no any development of any allergy symptoms. However in allergic person, IgE is produced in excessive amount in response to the same antigen and this result to the development of allergy symptoms. Not that the foreign substance or the antigen or the allergen will generally cause allergy in the human body, not that the substance is harmful by itself, it is just that in some people, in the process of immune systems getting rid of the antigens, there is overproduction of IgE antibody. Such people are said to be allergic to the substance. Overproduction of the IgE is called hypersensitivity.
A person who is allergic to an antigen or allergen doesn’t start manifesting allergy symptoms or allergic reaction immediately he or she is exposed to the allergens for the first time. It takes times, months to years, before one starts showing the manifestation of the allergy symptoms. The period between the first exposure to the allergen and the manifestation of the allergy symptoms is called sensitisation period. During the sensitisation period IgE is being overproduced. Also during this period, as the IgE is produced, the IgE will be coating certain explosive cells that contain degrading chemicals. After the sensitisation period, another exposure to the allergen (such as dog dander or allergen cited above) leads to reaction of the allergen with the immune cells already coated or sensitised with IgE. This results into the cells releasing the various chemicals they contain, such as histamine. These chemicals, in turn, cause inflammation and the typical allergy symptoms. This is how the immune system becomes exaggerated and move to cause an allergic reaction when stimulated by an allergen in individuals which are allergic to the allergen.