The Disadvantages Of Allergies
Food Allergy Guide
There is a great chance that everyone may acquire food allergies and food intolerances. Oftentimes, there are people who do not now that they have allergies. When they eat foods that give them unwanted reactions, they wonder.
About 33% of individuals claim that they acquired food allergy or they just control their food intake because a member of the family is believed to have affected by food allergy. There are about 5% of children who are diagnosed of food allergies. Among other types of allergies, 4% of the cases of food allergies are on teens and adults.
Some people mistakenly identify a food allergy as food intolerance. As a result, the cases of clinically proven prevalence of allergies to food and the public perception about the problem are affected. A food allergy happens when the immune system mistakenly identifies a protein as harmful for the body. As a result, abnormal reactions occur. Food intolerance and food allergy may have similar symptoms. However, the immune system is only responsible for the symptoms of allergy to food. For example, if a person is allergic to milk, he experiences adverse reactions due to the ingestion of milk. On the other hand, a person who is lactose intolerant experiences the inability to digest or absorb milk.
Insect Sting Allergy Guide
Wearing bright colored clothes and scented cosmetics can be a good catch for insects. Therefore, avoidance is necessary. In addition, an individual can prevent getting insect stings by avoiding outdoor garbage and keeping an insecticide available. A recommended treatment for an individual with insect allergy is an allergy shot. An allergy shot can also prevent the occurrence of anaphylaxis in the future. Insect stings can cause a severe allergic reaction affecting the entire body. This severe allergic reaction is often termed as anaphylaxis.
Normal reactions to insect stings include pain, swelling, and redness on the area. Oral antihistamine like Benadryl, can reduce itching, swelling, and hives. Ice packs and pain relievers can be used as a part of pain management. During an anaphylaxis reaction, the following symptoms can be observed difficulty breathing, hives, swelling of the face, throat or mouth, wheezing or difficulty swallowing, restlessness and anxiety, rapid pulse, dizziness, or a sudden drop in blood pressure.
Cat Allergy
Allergic reactions may be caused by pets like cats and dogs, plants like pollen that causes pollen allergy symptoms. Saliva contains the major allergens. The fur has proteins because the animal licks itself. Skin and urine are the sources of proteins that cause allergies. Proteins float because the material to which it sticks has dried.
Allergic reactions to cats are more common as most cats lap oftentimes and people like to hold them, as well. Urine of rodents may trigger hypersensitivity to some people.
Latex Allergy Facts
Medical equipment, gloves, and condoms with latex content are some of the products people with latex allergy should avoid. They are very offending products which will trigger allergic reactions. The most common symptoms of latex allergy are itchy skin rashes, cough, dyspnea, asthma, eye tearing and irritation. Allergic reactions caused by latex may range from mild to severe symptoms. Mild symptoms include itchiness and development of skin rashes. The most severe form of allergic reaction is called anaphylaxis. It is a life-threatening condition. It can cause difficulty of breathing due to tightening of airways, hives, low blood pressure, and gastrointestinal problems.
As part of treatment and to avoid allergic reactions, latex products must be removed. Antihistamines and epinephrine can relieve allergic reactions. If you are allergic to latex, you must wear a MedicAlert bracelet to give awareness to the people around you. You should never forget to bring your emergency epinephrine kit wherever you go. People who are sensitive to latex should avoid latex-containing products to prevent allergic reactions to occur.
Poison Ivy Allergy Overview
Poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac are plants which have an abrasive sap called urushiol. Skin contact with urushiol results in allergic dermatitis which appears in a few hours or days after exposure. Objects and pets lying about at home may carry some urushiol on the surface.
Urushiol does not degrade even after the death of a poison plant. Its leaves, stems, and roots all have this component. Skin absorption of urushiol tends to be very rapid. Inhaling urushiol particles in the air is probable during poison plant combustion. Respiratory tract irritation occurs upon breathing in of smoke from burning poison plants. The allergic reaction observed is primarily due to airborne urushiol. Most regions, except for Alaska, Hawaii, and the Southwest deserts, have conditions that allow for the proliferation of poison plants.
Vines of poison ivy grow in the Eastern, Midwestern, and Southern parts of the country. Whereas, poison ivy shrubs grow in the northern and western areas. The three leaflets present in a poison ivy plant make it easier to be identified. Poison sumac generally occurs as a woody shrub. This plant also has stems with about 7 to 13 leaves arranged in pairs. Unlike harmless sumac, poison sumac have bunches of green berries hanging down its shrub. Harmless sumac can be identified with red berry clusters hanging erect on the shrub. Poison sumac grows abundantly in wet, swampy places.
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