Archive

Posts Tagged ‘Pollens’

Feb
16



A cat’s food allergy is a difficult thing to assess. Once it has been determined that a food allergy is the problem, the diet of the cat needs to be examined. Cats can be irritated by sarcoptic mange (scabies), fleas, and inhalation allergies (seasonal pollens for example) but a food allergy has been cited as one of the itchiest afflictions for a cat. Store-bought cat food tends to be seriously processed. Food colorings and a general lower quality of ingredients can play into this. A recent diet change can be also be the culprit. Most interesting however, is the fact that the determination of a food allergy can only really take place if all fleas are eradicated from the pet. A flea bite can at times produce a similar allergic reaction that of a food allergy.

There are several other factors that need to be discerned before a food allergy can be the “arrived upon” diagnosis. Cats will display their discomfort through unkempt hair, continual scratching of infected, crusty skin and possibly even recurring ear infections. Food allergies produce similar results to sarcoptic mange, and flea reactions, but they are a form of atopy. Atopy is characterized by irritation to areas of the body that hasn’t been in direct contact with the allergen. This is why it is very important to determine if the atopy is food related or inhalation related. Pollens, dust, and dust mites can all provide atopic dermatitis similar to that of a food allergy.

After eliminating the other potential irritants, the diet cat’s can now be adjusted. The next step is a hypoallergenic food trial. This is a four to eight week period of time where foods are fed to the cat in order to determine which produces the allergic reaction. During this period of time, if a food doesn’t bring about an adverse reaction, it is a good idea to adopt that food to the pet’s regular diet. Some suggest home cooking as a solution. The test diet can have home-cooked servings of chicken, fish and even tofu added as part of the attempt to determine the food allergy of a cat. There are also specialized foods available for purchase that help a cat owner determine food allergies. A cursory search of the Internet shows that there are specialized cat foods available in order to “mix-up” your cat’s diet and determine what works and what doesn’t work. Common meat products such as herring, turkey and chicken are available.

Sometimes a longer diet trial is needed. The ideas of a continuing inhalant allergy or a fresh round of scabies still being the culprit are things to consider. Furthermore, one has to be completely sure that the food that they are feeding to the cat is the only food that the cat is taking in. A cat’s food allergy is hard to determine, but with patience, and proper trial and error, it can be determined and your pet can be healthy in a relatively short amount of time.

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Feb
08



If you are allergic to a pollen you may be allergic or react to certain foods such as apples, celery, nuts, melons or bananas. Numerous studies have confirmed the reports of people who have pollen allergies reacting to certain foods. The most well described and studied of the food-pollen syndromes is the oral allergy syndrome (OAS) or as it is also called “the burning mouth syndrome” because of the typical reaction noted by affected people. After eating a food that cross reacts with a pollen to which you are allergic, burning or tingling sensations begin in your mouth. Itching, pain, swelling and difficulty swallowing or breathing may occur. True anaphylaxis resulting in total body collapse from shock and death if not reversed has rarely been reported.

Typical pollen allergy symptoms such as runny nose and congestion, itchy watery eyes, and wheezing are also commonly reported. Other symptoms described include nausea, stomachaches, headaches, diarrhea and chest or throat tightness. Very few people are aware of these associations. Most doctors, except a few allergists and gastroenterologists, do not explore patients allergy history in the context of possible food reactions. Educating people about these types of conditions is one of the primary goals of “the food doc”, Dr. Scot Lewey, a practicing gastroenterologist (stomach-intestine specialist).

Ragweed pollen has been shown to be associated with these type of reactions after people eat bananas and fruits in the gourd family such as watermelon, honeydew, and cantaloupe. Pollen from Mugwort, another weed also known as Sagebrush, in the Artemisia family, has been associated with allergic reactions to celery, carrots, fruits in the Rosaceae family (apples, cherries, peaches) and those in the Gourd family (melons). Pistachio, persimmon, peanuts, almonds, sunflower seeds, hazelnuts, lettuce, camomile tea, and honey have also been reported to cause reactions in some people who are Mugwort pollen allergic.

Birch tree pollen is associated with numerous food cross reactions including celery. Cross-reactivity between celery and Birch pollen occurs more in central Europe whereas in Southern Europe celery and Mugwort reactions are more common. A Mugwort-Birch-Celery-Spice syndrome has also been described. People allergic to both Birch tree and Mugwort weed pollen may react to spices like pepper and paprika in addition to celery, carrot, and mango. Birch pollen is strongly associated with food reactions to Rosaceae family fruits (apples, apricots, peaches, pears, cherries), tree nuts (walnut, hazelnut, Brazil nut), legumes (peanut, various beans and peas), members of the Parsnip family (parsnip, parsley, anise, cumin, caraway, coriander) and the potato-nightshades (potato, tomato, peppers).

House dust mite, a serious allergen for many people, cross reacts with mangos, shellfish, bananas, melons, tomato, avocado, papaya, pineapple, peaches, Kiwi fruit and various spices. Kiwi, an unusual fruit in a class by itself, may elicit a reaction in people allergic to Birch trees, Mugwort weed pollen, and latex. The Latex-Fruit Allergy Syndrome is characterized by allergy to foods in the Rosaceae family including almond (classified as a fruit not a nut) and plums, as well as other fruits such as passion fruit, papaya, pineapple, mango, melons, and bananas. It is also associated with reactions to spices such as dill, ginger, and oregano and the nightshades, potato and tomato and chestnuts.

A few articles in scientific literature have reported associations of specific HLA gene patterns to pollen allergy and fewer still have noted HLA DR and DQ gene pattern associations with food-pollen cross-reaction syndromes. HLA DQ genetics are well known in celiac disease. There is also limited published data associating certain DQ patterns with microscopic colitis, collagenous colitis and non-celiac gluten sensitivity. HLA typing may be clinically useful in evaluation and elimination diet recommendations for suspected food allergic, intolerant or sensitive individuals. This type of information will be one of the goals of thefooddoc.com website. A table that lists the common pollens and foods that have been reported to cross-react with those pollens will be posted on the site very soon.

Though extensive research has been done and many of the protein structures contributing to these cross-reactions is known, little is known about these reactions by most of the lay public and many doctors. Seasonal pollen allergies may be associated with more severe reactions. Those with documented cross-reactions or prior OAS reactions may be at increased risk and certain HLA gene or DQ patterns may be associated. People with known or suspected pollen allergies should be aware of these possible food reactions. If you would like further help sorting out if you are intolerant or allergic to certain foods please visit http://www.thefooddoc.com in the near future to undergo a free online assessment and sign up for the online diet symptom diary, updates, and access the free educational content.

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Jan
28



Aspirin is the useful medication which is used in the patients for treatment by reducing the inflammations and pain. Originally it is derived from the plants extracts. Nowadays, aspirin is prepared up synthetically. numerous of alike artificial, non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory medicine with alike properties are as well available.

Well Aspirin allergy might occur due to various reasons from mild to the severe allergic reaction to aspirin could occur. The common Symptoms that may occur are flushing, blocked, itchy rashes, soft noses and sometimes severe difficulty while breathing or could cause asthma, generally in an hour of intake of the tablet. The treatment is possible but the Testing for the aspirin allergy is very difficult as why the allergic reaction to the aspirin and identical correlated pain-killers take place is very uncertain. Whereas there are no such dependable blood test and skin allergy test that has been confirmed to be so useful for excluding or confirming allergy to these medicine. The common and only method to do is to do the graded open confront under the strict checkup supervision. The Challenge checkup is not forever necessary but might sometimes be recommend to confirm that the sensitivity exist, or to show the security of the unrelated drug.

Most of the patients experience from the nasal polyps, aspirin allergy and asthma, a situation commonly known as aspirin triad. Most of the Aspirin allergy develops in the later years of life, even if previously it has been well tolerated. Frequently asthma is the later beginning as well and every sufferer might not be that allergic to the inhale allergen like the dust mite, moulds, animals and the pollens. Most of the Patients with this state produce the increased amount of leucotrienes. The Leucotrienes are the inflammatory chemical that is produced by the white cells which could increase the inflammation of the nose, lungs, and sinuses and may trigger up on the gooey noses and wheezing, As a result it worsens up to asthma and in the form of accelerated polyp growth.

If the aspirin has problematic results in the patients there are other medicines that might also be supportive we also come over the asthma medication known as the anti-leucotrienes as for example accolade, Singular that could also be used up in this circumstances. Unluckily, they are at present very expensive. The Side-effects of the aspirin desensitization could result in Stomach Irritation, bleeding at elevated doses, ulceration and Tinnitus “ringing of the ears are rare”, easy bruising are the common form.

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Jan
23



Grass allergy is one of the most common and prevalent form of allergy that affects people with histories of it during certain seasons.

Grass allergy normally occurs all throughout the spring season and during the onset or ending of the summer season. Grass allergy is somehow directly linked to hay fever, because their symptoms and causes are somehow similar to each other.

Grass allergy can also take the form of an inhalant kind of allergy similar to asthma. It is noted that in the United States alone, about 30% of overall yearly allergy reported or recorded is in the form of grass allergy.

Grass allergy is caused by an allergen that invokes discomforting reaction upon body contact.

Cause of grass allergy

The most usual allergen or substance that cause or triggers grass allergy is pollen. Pollens are very tiny and small particles of ovulation structures owned by plants.

During your primary education and even in your previous Biology classes, you have encountered the word pollen on subjects related to the proliferation or reproduction of plants’ flowers.

Take note that pollens are so tiny and light that they can stick to the tiny feet of butterflies. Pollens are most of the time flying or are carried out in the air especially during summer and spring when trees, flowers, and mostly, grass pollinate.

Because pollens are so light weight and they are carried over through the air, people can inhale them. Inhaling pollen can cause or trigger adverse reactions to the person.

Symptoms of grass allergy

Manifestations that indicate the onset of grass allergy are usually identified with breathing disorders.

The most common symptom of grass allergy is severe or constant dry cough. Usually these cough will occur with sore throat. It can never be mistaken for a common viral colds or cough.

The person with grass allergy also experiences difficulty in breathing. It s because the air passages are narrowed or constricted as a result of the body’s defense mechanism against grass pollen.

It can be noted that since the air passage constriction is a body defense mechanism, it is not dangerous. The danger occurs when the person experiencing it panics and feel a thriving discomfort.

Itchiness which can appear in several areas of the body can also occur at the onset of a grass allergy attack.

In rare occasions, fever can also be detected. However, in such occurrences, immediate help from doctors and medical practitioners should be sought to detect the presence of complications.

Fevers indicate the presence of viral and bacterial attacks in the body and should therefore be immediately attended at to avoid further complications.

Treatment and prevention of grass allergy

The most effective treatment for grass allergy is also its most potent prevention. That is, to avoid the grass allergy causing allergens, which are usually grass pollen.

To avoid exposure to grass pollen or the possibility of grass pollen inhalation, people with histories are advised to stay indoors especially during summer and spring when grass pollens are carried out in the open air.

Doctors also advise such people to install a working air conditioner in their home and room to make sure the ventilation is good and the probability of air contamination with grass pollen is reduced.

Otherwise, medications are available both through prescription and over the counter. Allergy shots can immediately relieve and soothe the symptoms. Antihistamines are also usually prescribed to curtail grass allergy development among patients.

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Mar
27
allergies or cold


Every year millions of Americans suffer from seasonal allergy. However, a certain percentage of those who suffer from seasonal allergies dismiss it as chronic cold. To better understand this, we need to define and differentiate it from the common cold.  

Unlike colds that occur during winter or usually when there is a sudden change in temperature, allergies are caused by allergens. This causes an allergic reaction on the bodily function of a human sensitive to that particular allergen which is not experienced by the average individual.     

Allergic rhinitis can be classified as perennial and seasonal.  Perennial allergies happen any time of the year as long as the individual is exposed to the allergen such as house dust mites and pet dander.  Seasonal allergies on the other hand happen at the same time every year or during particular seasons, hence the term. These are caused by pollens of flowering plants which are transported thru the air during the process of pollination.  

When a person has colds, he starts to sneeze then later begins to have runny and congested nose. Sneezing is less common after the initial phase. If one has allergies, symptoms happen at the same time. Sneezing is more frequent coupled with runny nose and watery eyes. Itching of the nose and eyes are particularly bothersome in allergies. In several cases though, this develops into allergic rhinitis and asthma. And unlike colds that usually last from 7 to 10 days, allergies continue until the person is no longer exposed to the allergen.  

Ragweed allergy, also known as fall allergy or hay fever, is the most common seasonal allergy. This occurs from mid August until October. About 75% of allergic individuals develop become allergic to ragweed pollen.  Ragweed thrives in vacant lots and roadsides. Studies also mentioned that that most of those allergic to ragweed also develop allergic reactions to other pollens. Thus it is not surprising that they develop allergic symptoms during spring and summer when pollen grains from flowering trees and grasses are present in the air.   

The nasal discharge of people who have colds is usually yellowish which means that it is caused by an infection. Sometimes colds are also accompanied by fever. Those who suffer from seasonal allergies do not usually have fever, and since it is not caused by any viral or bacterial infection, the nasal discharge is clear and watery.  

Whether the sickness is caused by a cold or is a sesonal allergy, it still takes a toll on one’s health. In both cases there is a loss in appetite and sleeping problems also occur that disrupts how a person conducts his normal activities. Prevention is still the cure. Proper information too helps in the diagnosis of the ailment so that the appropriate medication can be taken.



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