Showing posts with label allergy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label allergy. Show all posts
Parents who suck on their infants pacifiers may protect their children against developing allergy
Sunday, April 27, 2014
Swedish researchers at the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden, report that a simple habit may give significant protection against allergy development, namely, the parental sucking on the babys pacifier.
Allergies are very common in industrialized countries. It has been suggested that exposure to harmless bacteria during infancy may be protective against the development of allergy. However, it has been difficult to pinpoint which bacteria a baby should be exposed to, and at what time and by which route this exposure should ideally occur.
Swedish researchers at the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, now report that a simple habit may give significant protection against allergy development, namely, the parental sucking on the babys pacifier.
In a group of 184 children, who were followed from birth, the researchers registered how many infants used a pacifier in the first 6 months of life and how the parents cleaned the pacifier. Most parents rinsed the pacifier in tap water before giving it to the baby, e.g., after it had fallen on the floor. However, some parents also boiled the pacifier to clean it. Yet other parents had the habit of putting the babys pacifier into their mouth and cleaning it by sucking, before returning it to the baby.
It was found that children whose parents habitually sucked the pacifier were three times less likely to suffer from eczema at 1.5 years of age, as compared with the children of parents who did not do this. When controlled for other factors that could affect the risk of developing allergy, such as allergy in the parents and delivery by Caesarean section, the beneficial effect of parental sucking on the pacifier remained.
Pacifier use per se had no effect on allergy development in the child. Boiling the pacifier also did not affect allergy development in a statistically proven fashion.
No more upper respiratory infections were seen in the children whose parents sucked on their dummies, as compared with the other children, as evidenced by diaries kept by the parents in which they noted significant events, such as infections.
Saliva is a very rich source of bacteria and viruses, and the researchers believe that oral commensal microbes are transferred from parent to infant when they suck on the same pacifier. When the composition of the bacterial flora in the mouth was compared between infants whose parents sucked on their pacifiers and those whose parent did not, it was found to differ, supporting this hypothesis.
According to "the hygiene hypothesis", the development of allergy can be attributed in part to a paucity of microbial stimulation during early infancy.
"Early establishment of a complex oral microflora might promote healthy maturation of the immune system, thereby counteracting allergy development", says professor Agnes Wold who led the study.
The study, which is published in the scientific journal Pediatrics, was performed by a team that consisted of paediatricians specialized in allergic diseases, as well as microbiologists and immunologists. The research team has previously conducted large-scale studies on the gut microbiota in relation to allergy development and showed in 2009 that a complex gut microbiota very early in life reduces the risk of allergy development.
What Are The Most Common Allergy Symptoms and How to Fight Them
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Are your eyes watery? Is your throat itching? Is your nose constantly running and you are sneezing?....& you feel .....your world is messed up.... These are most likely symptoms of an allergy attack. In fact, these are the most common allergy symptoms.
Allergy
What is an allergy?
An allergy ers to an exaggerated reaction by our immune system in response to exposure to certain foreign substances. It is exaggerated because these foreign substances are usually seen by the body as harmless and no response occurs in nonallergic people.
In allergic individuals, allergy symptoms are triggered by an overly sensitive immune system response. When you inhale tiny, airborne mold spores, your body recognizes them as foreign invaders and develops allergy-causing antibodies to fight them.
Allergy
What is an allergy?
An allergy ers to an exaggerated reaction by our immune system in response to exposure to certain foreign substances. It is exaggerated because these foreign substances are usually seen by the body as harmless and no response occurs in nonallergic people.
In allergic individuals, allergy symptoms are triggered by an overly sensitive immune system response. When you inhale tiny, airborne mold spores, your body recognizes them as foreign invaders and develops allergy-causing antibodies to fight them.
After the exposure has passed, you still produce antibodies that "remember" this invader, so that any later contact with the mold causes your immune system to react. This reaction triggers the release of substances such as histamine, which cause itchy, watery eyes, runny nose, sneezing and other mold allergy symptoms.
Additional allergy symptoms include skin rashes, swollen lymph nodes, and a plethora of other uncomfortable conditions indicating that you are allergic to something in your environment. It could be seasonal allergies, food allergies, or just dust allergies. Either way, you should speak to your Doctor about undergoing medical testing if these symptoms persist. Either you are suffering from allergy symptoms, or you are merely sensitive to certain irritants in your home like smoke or may be cleaning chemicals etc.
Additional allergy symptoms include skin rashes, swollen lymph nodes, and a plethora of other uncomfortable conditions indicating that you are allergic to something in your environment. It could be seasonal allergies, food allergies, or just dust allergies. Either way, you should speak to your Doctor about undergoing medical testing if these symptoms persist. Either you are suffering from allergy symptoms, or you are merely sensitive to certain irritants in your home like smoke or may be cleaning chemicals etc.
For most of the peoples, allergies are seasonal and mild, requiring nothing more than getting extra tissue or taking a decongestant occasionally. For a few others, the allergy is to a known food, and as long as they avoid the food, no problem.
But for legions of others adults, allergies are so severe it interferes with their quality of life. The allergens -- whatever it is that sets off the symptoms -- may affect them more severely than others and may be harder to avoid. Defining "severe" allergies, and pinpointing how many people are affected, is difficult even for allergists.
The prevalence of allergic conditions has increased significantly over the last two decades and continues to rise. Approximately 10% to 30% of individuals in the industrialized world are affected by allergic conditions, more than 50 million people in the United States alone and this number is increasing. -- the poor souls who sniffle, sneeze, and get all clogged up when they face there nemesis the allergen (or allergens) that set them off. But for legions of others adults, allergies are so severe it interferes with their quality of life. The allergens -- whatever it is that sets off the symptoms -- may affect them more severely than others and may be harder to avoid. Defining "severe" allergies, and pinpointing how many people are affected, is difficult even for allergists.
Allergy-producing substances are called "allergens." Examples of allergens include pollens, dust mites, molds, animal proteins, foods, even medications and better home insulation is also to be blamed although it keeps you safe from nasty weather like rain or snow and helps to maintain a stable environment friendly temperature & humidity but it also keeps air trapped within your house, thereby making it easier for allergic contaminants to bother you.
No matter what the reason, you need to get medical information if you believe that you are suffering from the symptoms of allergy. Once confirmed, follow the below steps to either control or entirely eliminate your allergic reactions:
1. Most people suffer allergy symptoms because of pets. Pets can be your best friends but, if you have allergies or asthma, they can also be your worst enemy. Pets shed dander, a combination of dead skin cells and hair (or feathers), which can trigger allergic reactions in people who are sensitive to the allergens. If you are suffering allergic reactions because of pet hair (dog allergy or cat allergy are the most common), then start by not allowing your pet(s) to sleep on your bed, or even in your bedroom. Next, make certain you bath your pet often, and vacuum your home at least twice a week.
2. Many individuals also suffer from symptoms of allergy due to dust mites. Start by wrapping your pillows and mattress with a plastic cover. This will kill the tiny creatures inhabiting these areas. If this will be too uncomfortable (having plastic over your bed and what not), then at least wash your sleeping items in very hot water with lots of detergent. or you can use pillow and mattress covers made from a tight-weave fabric that keeps out dust and mites. Avoid carpet, upholstered furniture, and heavy drapes that collect dust. Avoid furniture covered with fabrics. Also vacuum all your furniture and carpet at least once per week.
3. A lot of people are unaware that they are having allergy symptoms because of food. The most common food allergies are from eggs, chocolate, and nuts. If you are able to identify the food giving you allergy symptoms, then try to find alternative substitutes. Instead of chocolate, for instance, choose potato chips.
4. If you are one of many who suffer an allergic reaction to bad water, then try staying indoors as much as possible during rainy/windy days. If you must venture outside, then take antihistamines to reduce your allergy symptoms.
5. If you want to entirely eradicate an allergy symptom, you can seek out sensitization injections. Although they take years to work, these injections will gradually reduce your symptoms to allergy until they are no more. Unfortunately, they are expensive and very time-consuming. You will have to come in for an injection almost every single month for three to five years.
In fact almost everybody suffers from allergic reactions to some substance in the air and environment. First you need to identify the allergic contaminant. Then, you must either remove it or decrease it.
1. Most people suffer allergy symptoms because of pets. Pets can be your best friends but, if you have allergies or asthma, they can also be your worst enemy. Pets shed dander, a combination of dead skin cells and hair (or feathers), which can trigger allergic reactions in people who are sensitive to the allergens. If you are suffering allergic reactions because of pet hair (dog allergy or cat allergy are the most common), then start by not allowing your pet(s) to sleep on your bed, or even in your bedroom. Next, make certain you bath your pet often, and vacuum your home at least twice a week.
2. Many individuals also suffer from symptoms of allergy due to dust mites. Start by wrapping your pillows and mattress with a plastic cover. This will kill the tiny creatures inhabiting these areas. If this will be too uncomfortable (having plastic over your bed and what not), then at least wash your sleeping items in very hot water with lots of detergent. or you can use pillow and mattress covers made from a tight-weave fabric that keeps out dust and mites. Avoid carpet, upholstered furniture, and heavy drapes that collect dust. Avoid furniture covered with fabrics. Also vacuum all your furniture and carpet at least once per week.
3. A lot of people are unaware that they are having allergy symptoms because of food. The most common food allergies are from eggs, chocolate, and nuts. If you are able to identify the food giving you allergy symptoms, then try to find alternative substitutes. Instead of chocolate, for instance, choose potato chips.
4. If you are one of many who suffer an allergic reaction to bad water, then try staying indoors as much as possible during rainy/windy days. If you must venture outside, then take antihistamines to reduce your allergy symptoms.
5. If you want to entirely eradicate an allergy symptom, you can seek out sensitization injections. Although they take years to work, these injections will gradually reduce your symptoms to allergy until they are no more. Unfortunately, they are expensive and very time-consuming. You will have to come in for an injection almost every single month for three to five years.
In fact almost everybody suffers from allergic reactions to some substance in the air and environment. First you need to identify the allergic contaminant. Then, you must either remove it or decrease it.
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