Smoke from Oak Flat Fire could cause problems for allergy sufferers

Smoke from Oak Flat Fire could cause problems for allergy sufferers
ORCA expects the fire to be contained by August 31. read more

Read more on NewsWatch 12 Medford – Klamath Falls

Allergy season in full bloom

Allergy season in full bloom
The allergy season in Northeast Wisconsin is in full bloom. And the worst may be still ahead. FOX 11’s Mark Leland explains why.

Read more on FOX 11 Green Bay

Food Allergy Insomnia

In the meantime the doctors will likely switch baby to a soy based formula, unless of course you decide to breastfeed. If you do decide to start breastfeeding baby remember that if he is sensitive or allergic to cow’s milk then you are going to have to avoid all dairy intake as well so that baby does not get it through your milk. 
When your baby is allergic to cow’s milk, their immune system will see the protein in the cows milk as a danger and they will try to fight it off, which is where all of the problems come in and baby is very fussy and unable to sleep. Your infant having a milk allergy does not mean that they are lactose intolerant and it may not stay with them for the rest of their lives as they could very well outgrow it within a few years.
Even if you baby is allergic to milk that does not mean that by age four, the issue will not have resolved itself  and the child will then be able to properly process milk products but for now, milk is not going to work. Of course, this can not be an assumption that you make on your own as baby will have to see the doctor first. If your baby is allergic to cow’s milk, which is in plenty of infant formulas, there will be other symptoms present too such as shortness of breath and stomach upset which may or may not include vomiting. Although food allergies are rarely a cause for insomnia in adults, it can sure cause baby many sleepless nights until the culprit is found. 
Do you have a baby that cries all night and does not sleep? Perhaps you can relate perfectly to this, you are exhausted from running back and forth all night trying to comfort your wailing baby. It seems no matter what you do, the baby will not sleep. You may have even called your mother or mother-in-law and asked for their advice in which case you may have been told that you have a colicky baby on your hands. This may not be the case at all and what the real issue at hand is something that can be cleared up right away. Your baby may have insomnia due to food allergies. At this point, there is a very good chance that your baby is allergic to milk products.

Managing Food Allergy Practical Tips

Allergies are so common for which 20% of Americans have some kind of allergic reaction or another to certain external stimuli whether food, water, or air. This probably isn’t the first time you’ve heard of them.

Allergy is categorized as different types, but perhaps the most common is food allergy. As its name suggests, this type of allergy is triggered when a reaction occurs after contact with a particular food to which you are sensitized. ‘Sensitized’ means that you have taken this food before. As the food enters the body, your immune system – your body’s natural defense – sees the food substance as harmful foreign substance and mounts an attack against the protein. It produces a specific type of antibodies called IgE to “fight off” the proteins. This action of your own body’s immune system is what triggers an allergic response.

Allergy caused from allergic response can range from mild or moderate to severe, including symptoms like swelling of the face and tongue, rash called “hives” (like nettle rash), breathing difficulties, runny nose and eyes, swelling of the throat, abdominal pain and bowel disturbances, nausea and vomiting and could to life threatening collapse (anaphylaxis).

Practical Tips to help & manage Food Allergy

1.    Plan ahead. If you can, write a list of foods that you can tolerate and try to get some recipes that incorporate these. You may also consult your dietician and discuss or ask for any advice/help about special dietary alternatives or recipes that won’t trigger your allergy. Also, try your local libraries for recipes or contact allergy specialists for more information on sensitivities or recipes.

2.    If you are eating out, telephone the host or chef in advance and explain your needs. See if they will allow you to supply your own food. If not, perhaps they can adapt the menu for you. Always make it a point to discuss everything beforehand so you won’t get tempted to eat anything you shouldn’t.

3.    Take extra supplies whenever you go out. You might take longer than you originally planned so carrying a spare packed lunch or goodies with you can be a big help not only to stave off your hunger but also to keep you away from restaurants selling foods that may trigger your food allergy.

4.    It helps if you keep a food and symptom diary so when you have a reaction, you can pinpoint what triggered your symptoms. This also helps when you make your list of tolerable foods.

5.    Make everyone aware if you have a life-threatening allergy. That way, you don’t have to rely on yourself whenever you find yourself in a situation where you extremely tempted to eat foods you’re allergic to. Also, in case you unknowingly ingest foods that trigger your allergy, there would be someone there to help you.

6.    Freeze and bake so you have stocks of allowed foods and don’t have to bake every few days. This will make a wider selection of choice, too.

7.    If you’re going abroad, obtain some Allergy translation cards so you are able to show them in different countries. Also, one of the first things you ought to do in a foreign place is to find out where the nearest hospital or doctor is in case of an emergency.

Egg Allergy: Causes & Cure

A person can be very fond of an egg and on the other hand another person is allergic to egg. An egg is not at all bad but if a person is allergic to an egg, it means that the body’s immune system overreacts to proteins in the egg. Living with an egg allergy means you have to be aware of what you’re eating and read food labels carefully when you buy stuffs from shops. This label requirement makes things a little easier than reading the ingredients list — instead of needing to know that the ingredient “ovoglobulin” comes from egg protein, you should be able to tell at a glance which foods to avoid.  Every time something made with eggs enters the digestive system of a person with an egg allergy, the body thinks that these proteins are harmful invaders. The immune system responds by creating specific antibodies to that food, which are designed to fight off the “invader”. These antibodies — called immunoglobulin E (IgE) — triggers the release of certain chemicals into the body, one of which is histamine. So when a person with an egg allergy eats a food that contains eggs, the immune system unleashes an army of chemicals to protect the body. The release of these chemicals can affect the respiratory system, gastrointestinal tract, skin, and the cardiovascular system — causing allergy symptoms like wheezing, nausea, headache, stomachache, and itchy hives.

Egg allergy usually first appears when kids are very young, and most kids outgrow it by the time they’re 5 years old. It usually happens within minutes to hours after eating eggs. Most reactions last less than a day and may affect any of three body systems: -

Skin – in the form of red, bumpy rashes (hives), eczema, or redness and swelling around the mouth;

Gastrointestinal tract – in the form of belly cramps, diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting;

Respiratory tract – symptoms can range from a runny nose, itchy, watery eyes, and sneezing to the triggering of asthma with coughing and wheezing.

A few people may have a very strong reaction called anaphylaxis. This severe allergic reaction causes swelling of the mouth, throat, and airways leading to the lungs, resulting in breathing difficulty. In addition, there is a dangerous drop in blood pressure, which can make someone dizzy or may quickly lead to shock.

With severe allergic conditions its better to consult an allergist. Allergists diagnose, monitor, and treat allergies and related conditions like asthma, eczema and hay fever. You may need to find an allergist if you’ve experienced food allergy symptoms, if your allergy specialist or general practitioner wants to refer you for further allergy testing, or if you’ve moved and need an already diagnosed allergy monitored or treated. In some cases, you may be limited by a scarcity of allergists in your geographic area or by your health insurance. Much of the time, however, you’ll have a choice of allergists in your geographic area. You’ll want to look for many of the same things you’d look for in any medical practitioner: an organized and well-run practice, willingness to answer your questions, and an appropriate background with respect to credentials, certifications, and continuing education. The best place to find allergists are through your general practitioner and through family, friends, or other acquaintances that are currently seeing, or have previously seen, an allergist. Your may have a list of allergists, online resources can also help you make a decision, allows you to search allergists in a given geographic area and will provide you with free reports on board certifications, disciplinary actions, hospital affiliation, and education — all things you’ll want to know about before you settle on a practice.

The allergy specialist will want to know —how often you have the reaction, the time it takes between eating a particular food and the start of the symptoms, and whether any family members have allergies or conditions like eczema and asthma. The allergy specialist may perform a skin test on you. This test involves placing liquid extracts of egg protein on a person’s forearm or back, pricking the skin a tiny bit, and waiting to see if reddish raised spot forms, indicating an allergic reaction. Some doctors may also take a blood sample and send it to a lab where it will be mixed with some of the suspected allergen and checked for IgE antibodies. Treating egg allergy might seem simple — you just don’t eat eggs. But so many foods are made with eggs and egg products that it can be really hard to know. If you have a severe egg allergy — or any kind of serious allergy — your doctor may want you to carry a shot of epinephrine with you in case of an emergency.

Tips On Fighting Food Allergy Reactions

Allergies to food are commonly dealt with by the avoidance of the allergy-causing food. When the allergen (the one that causes allergic reactions) has been recognized, the patient is then advised to eliminate it from his or her diet. This is achieved by revolutionizing the food prepared and reading carefully food labels on food products. A specific instruction when ordering food also helps avoid allergic mishaps when eating out.

All this cautiousness is due to the fact that there are individuals out there that are highly allergic in which even a tiny amount of allergens can cause major symptoms. Plus, there are also food preparations that contain some common food allergens which the average person would not usually link together.

To prevent exposure to foods that you may be allergic with, self-awareness is very important. You should know the food culprits that are causing these uncomfortable reactions. Knowledge can help you and your physician in formulating a management plan for your allergy. You should also make it a routine to scrutinize food labels when checking for possible food allergens included in the ingredients. During eat outs, do not hesitate inquiring about the ingredients of the meal you are planning to order.

Another precautionary measure, especially for those who manifest severe allergic symptoms when exposed to a food allergen, is the wearing of necklaces or bracelets provided by a medical institution to alert other people about your allergies in case of an accident, for example, to a state of unconsciousness.

Patients are also advised to constantly bring with them epinephrine self-injectibles which are prescribed by their physicians. Their physicians will instruct them how to self-administer the medication during an episode of allergic reaction.

If symptoms seem to be getting intense, emergency medics should be called to help transport the individual to the nearest hospital. Severe and sudden allergic reactions are also called anaphylactic reactions. Anaphylaxis may be fatal if not treated quickly.

Other than epinephrine injections, there are still other medications that can be prescribed by the physician to deal with allergic reactions to food. These medications would include bronchodilators, antihistamines, corticosteroids, and adrenergic agonists.

Bronchodilators relieve symptoms that are associated with difficulty of breathing. It basically dilates the bronchial air passageways of the respiratory tract that have become inflamed due to the allergic reaction which eventually helps the patient breathe normally. Highly allergy-sensitive individuals should carry with them fast-acting bronchodilators if they also experience asthmatic attacks from time to time that may be triggered by the allergic reaction.

Antihistamines alleviate symptoms like sneezing, runny nose, hives, rashes, and gastrointestinal discomforts. And corticosteroids lessen the severity of skin irritations and other inflammation caused by the allergic reaction. Antihistamines can be available in syrup or chewable tablet for easy access when a sudden allergic episode occurs.

Adrenergic agonists are utilized during emergency treatment for anaphylactic reactions. Results are immediate and highly effective. Adrenergic agonists typically alleviate symptoms of angioedema, cardiovascular collapse, bronchospasm, and hives.

In addition to medications that fight off symptoms of food allergies, there are treatments that are causing quite a stir in the medical world although there are not enough studies that have been conducted to prove that these treatments are effective.

One these revolutionary treatments includes the desensitization of the patient by administering injections of small amounts of the food allergen on a regular basis. This treatment claims that it can eventually make the patient endure the food allergen in the long run. Another is the introduction of a diluted substance that contains the food allergen underneath the tongue thirty minutes before the actual food intake. This treatment works in a way that it will defuse the symptomatic manifestations of the consumed food allergen.

Lastly, bear in mind that there is no cure to food allergies. All the aforementioned are only there to help alleviate the symptoms of allergic reactions.

Basic Guide To Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis

A person will never know if they are allergic to a certain type of food unless they have eaten the food allergen itself. It takes a certain amount of food for the reaction to take place and trigger a symptom.

Food allergy and anaphylaxis are closely related, but they have their own defining differences that will be discussed as you read on.

Plus, a person can also develop allergic reactions to foods that are closely related to the original food allergy he or she has. Say, an allergy to oysters can also lead to an allergic reaction when the person eats shrimp, crabs, or fish.

In food allergy, the individual’s immune system reacts in two ways. The body may respond through the use of mast cells. These mast cells can come about at just any part of the human body but its favorite spots make itself known to the world is in the throat, lungs, eyes, skin, and especially the organs of the gastrointestinal system. The other type of response is through the body’s release of immunoglobulin E antibodies that travel through the blood system. It then eventually causes the discharge of the body chemical histamine which then causes the activation of allergic reactions in the common body sites previously mentioned.

On the other hand, anaphylaxis is derived form the Greek words ana and phylaxis, which subsequently means back and protection. It is the abrupt allergic response that is much more intense than the common allergy which can be lethal to the sufferer. Chief causes of anaphylaxis include insect stings, skin contact to latex, medications, and food. Anaphylaxis may also be idiopathically caused or, in lay man’s terms, unknown causes.

Like in food allergy, anaphylaxis involves the reaction of the different body sites; the only difference is the intensity of the response and only a small amount of the allergen is needed for the reaction to take place. The time span before signs and symptoms become evident ranges from within a few seconds up to a few hours after allergen exposure.

Anaphylaxis can come about following the intake of food, skin contact, or even as simple as inhalation of the food aroma. The life threatening type of anaphylaxis is called anaphylactic shock. In anaphylactic shock, only a tiny amount of the food allergen is needed to cause death to the sufferer within moments of exposure.

Individuals who are in danger of undergoing an anaphylactic reaction are those who have a history of allergy to food, asthma, and eczema. They are more likely to experience an anaphylactic response that can be fatal. Another population group who are also at risk of anaphylaxis, through the evidences of current studies that have been conducted, is teenagers who are afflicted with a certain type of food allergy. This is due to the fact that teenagers have frequent tendencies to eat out, are daring and experimental in their endeavors, and are more likely to fail to identify symptoms of anaphylactic reaction. Moreover, teenagers have tendencies to forget to carry with them essential medications which can either be caused by self-consciousness common to their age group.

Symptoms of anaphylaxis may be similar to that of food allergies. Basically, an incident of anaphylaxis initially starts with an itchy or irritating sensation, and some individuals experience a metallic after-taste. Anaphylactic symptoms may also include hot flashes or sudden warm feeling, inflammation of the throat and oral cavity, hives, dyspnea or labored breathing, low blood pressure, diarrhea, gastric irritations, and fainting or loss of consciousness.

Furthermore, there are cases wherein the symptoms fade away for a moment but then come back within a few hours; this incidence is known as biphasic reaction.

To prevent food allergy and anaphylactic reactions, careful scrutiny of food labels, diet modifications, specific instructions in food orders in restaurants, and certain medications can be of great help in reducing the incidence of any type of reaction. Moreover, a consultation to the physician is advisable for an efficient management plan and if allergies seem to run in families because it can also be hereditarily caused.

Basic Guide To Eczema And Food Allergy

Eczema is a type of skin ailment that usually comes with itching, skin thickening and scaling. Most often, eczema appears on the knees, arms, elbows and even on the face.

When this type of skin ailment affects children, especially those who have a clear skin, parents are not able to distinguish its cause at once.

Usually, parents perceived that food allergies are the source of their child’s eczema. However, there are numerous experts who find this belief to be untrue. Instead, these experts advise parents not to limit the diet of their child without consulting with a pediatrician first.

An example of eczema relating to food allergy was the case of a five month old baby who suffers from severe eczema. According to the mother, the baby is intolerant to lactose early on, even the formulas of lactose free appear to be incompatible to her baby. Hence, she decided to shift to soy.

The soy shows a good reaction on the baby’s skin. However, after sometime, the eczema appeared again.If you are in the position of the mother, would you think that the soy caused the eczema to the baby? Would you prefer to use again the lactose free formula?

As what has been mentioned in the previous paragraph, eczema usually appears and vanishes, leaving the child with clear eczema free skin for a couple of weeks. That makes the triggering factor of eczema hard to be determined.

This is the exact thing experienced by the mother in the presented case.

Though it is true that the controversy about food allergies as a triggering factor of eczema do not die away until now, the relationship of a lactose free formula to the baby’s eczema do not show a good reason.

According to the experts, the baby might catch the allergy from milk proteins, or if not from the soy proteins. They reject lactose, a sugar, to be the reason.

Shifting to lactose free formula can be her option. But experts affirmed that lactose do not include a formula that would cure the baby’s eczema. If ever it does, it is certainly a coincidence.

Lactose may develop other symptoms, like or instance fussiness, diarrhea or gas.

If you have the same case, it is suggested that you visit your baby’s pediatrician rather than rely on hearsay. You can cite to your baby’s pediatrician that you are suspecting the baby to be allergic on soy formula including those that are milk based.

Your pediatrician will tell you whether these formulas really worsen the eczema. Hypoallergenic formula like Alomentum or Nutramigen can be prescribed.

The pediatrician might also advise allergy testing. This is done through blood testing.

Now, if you really observe that the food or even drinks your baby had taken has worsen his eczema, then you can just simply avoid them. But clarify it with your pediatrician; he is more knowledgeable about food allergies.

Note that there are also some children who both have eczema as well food allergies. But these two do not tend to affect one another.

The best thing about this case is to know the treatments for eczema. Follow the prescription of the pediatrician; this will assure you that you are applying the right medication for your baby.

Determine properly the triggering factor. Usually, pediatricians prescribe moisturizers, or topical steroids.

An Overview Of Food Allergy

Isn’t it annoying when you smell the delicious aroma of a meal only to find out that it has an ingredient to which you are allergic? Ah! The demise of every person with food allergies! It is no fun to watch other people devour food that seems so delicious but you can’t take part of the experience. How many times have you encountered comments like, great food isn’t? And sometimes you just can’t bear to admit you are allergic and just smile as if you knew how it tasted.

Then you try to ask questions, what is food allergy? What are causing these annoying symptoms? What’s happens inside the body during allergic reactions? Ah! Understanding one’s own health condition will better help them accept and overcome whatever’s bothering them.

To start with, food allergy is unusual reaction to certain type of food allergen. An allergen is the substance or thing that causes the allergic reactions. Exposure to the allergen sets off the alarm in the human immune system which consequently releases antibodies to fight off the invasion of the perceived foreign body that is the food allergen. It then causes the symptoms you would see when you are in a state of allergic reaction.

The aforementioned is just an overview of the whole picture. Looking more closely, allergic reactions undergo two courses of action. The initial course is the release of immunoglobulin E or IgE by the immune system into the blood stream. IgE is a food-specific antibody and a protein that is the body’s immune defense against the food allergen.

Following the initial response is the attachment of the IgE to the mast cells. These mast cells are present in body tissues specially locations of the body where allergic reactions are common. These locations may include the lungs, skin, nasal and oral cavities, and the gastrointestinal system.

As for the food itself, you may have noticed that you are not just allergic to one type of food. There are instances that you experience an allergic reaction to oyster and then later you found out that you are also allergic to crabs and other seafoods. This occurrence is what medical professionals call cross-reactivity, wherein an individual can be allergic to closely related or similar types of foods.

The only way to deal with this unfortunate mishap is to try as best as you can to avoid the foods that set off allergic reactions in your body. There is no cure to food allergy but there are medications out there that can alleviate its symptoms. With the help of a medical health professional, you can be assisted in the ways you can avoid exposures to food allergens. Nutritionists may teach you alternative ingredients or foods to replace the food that will be eliminated from your diet. Also, make it a habit to check food labels for possible ingredients that you may be allergic with and do not hesitate to warn the restaurant employees, like the waiter, about your food allergy to prevent any unwanted accidents.

Individuals who are highly allergic are advised to put on medical alert necklaces or bracelets which declare your condition. As for the medications, some patients who are very vulnerable are also advised to bring with them at all times a self-injectible epinephrine, which is prescribed by the doctor, that can be of great help during sudden attacks of allergic reactions before seeking out for the assistance of an emergency team.

Other medications are antihistamines, bronchodilators, and corticosteroids. Antihistamines help improve symptoms of rhinitis, hives, rashes, and gastrointestinal problems. Corticosteroids alleviate the severity of inflammations of the skin and in other areas of the body. While bronchodilators are utilized to open up air passages of the respiratory tract that has become inflamed which would have resulted to breathing difficulties.

To understand more about your food allergies, you can consult your physician. There are also comprehensive books in the market that can be easily understood by just about anybody that has complete information about food allergies and how to fight it.

How To Manage Child Food Allergy

As a parent, it is very important for your child to have everything. You would want everything to be the best for your child and this is why most parents work very hard in order to give their children their needs and their wants. You work hard in order to give your child the best possible living conditions, nutritious and delicious foods, enroll them to the best schools, and you also want them to have the best toys that they can play with.

As you can see, it is quite natural for you as a parent to want the best in everything for your child in order for them to grow up healthy as well as happy. However, there comes a time where your child gets sick. Today, there are numerous cases of child food allergy that can severely affect your child’s way of life.

With a child food allergy, you have to take care and closely monitor what your child eats. Because they still don’t have an idea about what foods they can eat and what foods they cannot eat, it is very necessary that you should always keep an eye out for your child.

However, if they are now going to school, you have to consider that their classmates may eat food that their child is allergic from. You have to realize the fact that your children just might want to taste it. And, with you at the office, working very hard for your child, you can’t always keep an eye out for your child and tell them that they can’t eat the food.

First of all, allergies are triggered by histamines. Although histamines are normally found in animal dander, and in pollens, it can also be found in certain foods. In fact, some people are allergic to a lot of foods that they have to know what they are eating. You also have to know how allergies work in order to fully understand how you can manage it.

Allergies are triggered when your child ingests histamine. Histamines are normally considered to be harmless in the human body, however, when a person is allergic to it, the white blood cells or the immune systems overreacts and attacks the histamine.

This also triggers the body to experience sneezing, runny nose, and swelling in different parts of the body. This is considered to be your body’s self defense when they encounter an alien object in your body.

There are severe cases of allergies that some children experiences that can really affect their life. In some cases of allergy attacks, you may need to take your child to the hospital. This is why it is very important that you should identify what kind of food is allergic from.

Usually, child food allergy is triggered by histamines in peanuts and in shellfish. Although they may develop allergy to other kinds of food, peanuts and shellfish are the main triggers of allergies.

It is also a great way to keep track of their diet in order for you to identify the causes of allergy attacks in your child. However, it is best that you should consult their pediatrician where they will perform a series of tests that can be used to identify what kind of allergens triggers your child’s allergy attacks. To do this, your pediatrician will do a series of lab examination that will include skin tests to determine the causes of the allergy.

By doing this and by knowing about what kind of food your child is allergic to, you will be able to manage the food they eat and give them a more normal life to live.

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