What Triggers Allergies?

Season change is generally a warning sign to seasonal allergy sufferers that the days of puffy eyes, runny noses, and uncontrollable sneezing is right around the corner. Allergy sufferers are usually knowledgeable when it comes to combating seasonal allergies, but could staying away from allergy triggers help ease the symptoms?

Keep antihistamines close by, stay indoors when pollen counts are high, and  invest in a nasal spray are common tips throughout allergy season, but steering clear of the following allergy triggers might make for a less congested turn of the season:

• Take caution when consuming fruits. Spring and summer fruits can contain fruit pollen, causing in increase in allergy symptoms.

• Limit the use of hair sprays, gels, and serums. Many hair products cause stickiness, allowing pollen to gravitate, and remain, in the hair until the next wash.

• Leave the flowers in the garden. While flowers can brighten up any room, bringing a possible allergen into the home can cause a spike in symptoms.

• Maintain a cool environment. Humidity in the home can mass produce dust, resulting is sneezing, coughing, and watery eyes. Running a humidifier for a few hours each day could be beneficial. 

• Shower before bed. Showering before bed is a great way to wash away any pollen or outside allergen that may have settled on clothing and skin.

Avoiding allergy triggers is a great help to those who suffer as the seasons change each year. If allergies worsen, be sure to seek medical attention.

Surprising Seasonal Allergy Triggers

     The rapid plunge into warm and dry weather has seasonal allergies on everybody’s radar. Allergy symptoms consist of sneezing, runny nose, watery or itching eyes, skin rashes, and common cold-like symptoms. To control these symptoms, many doctors prescribe seasonal medications or even yearly medical regiments to control allergy attacks. While we wait for a good rain to wash away access pollen, it’s good to understand allergy triggers.

     Surprisingly, summer fruits are allergy agitators. Grass or ragweed allergy sufferers are advised to take precaution when eating peaches, pears, and melons when these fruits are in season. Baseball parks also irritate allergy sufferers. The dust and dirt from the field may contain high levels of spores, causing allergy symptoms to surface. The more people in the park, the more dust and dirt travels. Be aware and take precautions such as carrying allergy medications in case of an attack.

     As the evening approaches, be sure to remain downwind during those late night camping adventures or bonfires. Smoke inhalation weakens the body’s immune system causing allergy symptoms to worsen. Lastly, on those beautiful summer days, think about the way heat traps pollen and diesel bringing allergens closer to the ground. It’s a good practice to always check the weather report for air quality. If quality is low, take precautions. Don’t forget to also check the pollen count!

Caring For Kids In A Gluten-Free Environment

Celiac disease is a condition that damages the lining of the small intestine and prevents it from absorbing parts of food that are important for healthy living. The damage is caused by a reaction to eating gluten, which is found in wheat, barley, rye, possibly oats, and hidden in foods that you wouldn’t have even guessed. While the disease can begin at any age, it usually appears during early childhood. In the midst of kids being picky eaters, restricting their diet further can make meal planning more difficult. Below are a few tips to help care for a child with celiac disease.

      1.      Monitor junk food. There are now gluten-free Oreos, s’mores, cake mixes, and donuts. Just because these foods do not have wheat in them, that doesn’t mean they are healthy choices. They are compatible for a gluten free diet and give opportunity to have a treat.

      2.      Monitor iron intake. Kids on gluten-free diets are at elevated risk for iron deficiency because a great source of iron is usually found in wheat flour. Newly diagnosed people suffer from iron deficiency because of intestinal damage. Red meat, dark meat poultry, beans, baked potatoes, and shrimp are good iron-enriched foods to try.

      3.      Stock the pantry with gluten-free essentials. A quick lunch or easy dinner can always be prepared by keeping gluten-free pasta, soy sauces, and a bag of chickpea flour for breading chicken or fish in the cabinets.

      4.      Plan for playdates and birthday parties. Kids with celiac disease can’t enjoy a standard slice of pizza or piece of cake. Before outings, contact the host and ask what kinds of food will be served. If possible, volunteer to bring a dish so that there will be something gluten-free on the menu.

      5.      Make sure the school has a 504 plan. 504 plans are written agreements between families and the school to ensure that appropriate accommodations are made to suit the student’s nutritional needs. Sample plans are available online.

Excerpt from: US News

Spring Has Arrived & Brought Allergies Along For the Trip

Did the polar vortex intensify pollen counts? The answer is yes! Now that winter is over, adults and children are trading in winter coats for tissue boxes because allergy season is in full force. Unfortunately, since this record setting winter was brutally cold, allergy season has arrived earlier and more severe. When trees undergo a wet winter, mold develops causing them to release high amounts of pollen. With high pollen counts in the air throughout the country, and flowers blooming, allergy sufferers are urged to prepare for a rough couple of weeks, and worse, possibly months.

Allergy sufferers begin to notice watery eyes, congestion, runny noses, sinus headaches, and sneezing. Common combat solutions?

             ·         Place air purifiers in the home

             ·         When pollen counts are high, use the air conditioners, keep windows closed

             ·         Shower before bed, remove access pollen off of the body

             ·         Use neti-pots to clear nasal passageways

In addition to using home remedies to fight allergy symptoms, don’t forget to check expiration dates on allergy medication and nasal sprays, and keep a ready stock. There is also a new allergy medication, Oraiair, made up of freeze-dried grass that helps with allergies (ask doctor before use). If over the counter medications don’t work, visit the doctor and let them prescribe a medication based on specific symptoms.

Don’t Let Peanut Allergies Stop the Fun

According to FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education), researchers estimate that 15 million Americans have food allergies and one in every 13 children is affected. Milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, wheat, fish and shellfish are eight foods that account for 90 percent of allergic reactions.

Peanut allergies are on the rise, especially in children. They can result in difficulty breathing, loss of consciousness, or fatal reactions. Peanut butter and peanut oil aren’t the only foods to avoid. Many ethnic foods, such as Chinese, Mexican, Thai, and Vietnamese contain traces of peanuts. Candy, especially chocolate, some cereals, granola, some veggie burgers, and many health food bars also contain peanuts. Caregivers and parents should be cautious since there is no proven way to prevent the allergy, just blood and skin tests to detect it.

Peanut allergies are typically diagnosed within the first two years, though they can develop at any age. The symptoms may include, but are not limited to, tingling of the mouth, hives, swelling of the tongue or throat, abdominal cramps, or vomiting and diarrhea. Anaphylaxis is the most serious. When this occurs, blood pressure drops quickly and the individual loses consciousness.

To help avoid allergic reactions, caregivers and parents should monitor children’s food closely. Be sure to carefully read food labels and teach children not to eat other’s cooking if the ingredients are unknown. Packing snacks and lunches for school may also help reduce the chances of children coming in contact with peanut stricken foods. In severe allergic cases, parents, caregiver, and teachers should be fully educated on how to administer an EpiPen. An EpiPen is a shot of epinephrine which reverses anaphylactic shock and helps control serious reactions.

Parents and caregivers should develop, and keep, a written plan with recommendations from their child’s health care provider that helps others recognize the symptoms of an allergic reaction, how to administer treatment, and who to contact in case of emergency. All allergies, including peanut, can be 100 percent controlled with monitored observation and attention.

Idea from: March of Dimes- Peanut Allergies