highmaintenance asked:


My allergies are peanuts, nuts, soy, latex, and other seeds and fruits. I am sensitive to toxins/chemicals in the air such as off-gassing from new rugs. Wondering if there is anyone who deals with something like this, and how would you travel? We’re planning a 14 hour drive, and I don’t want to miss it, but I don’t want to go and be completely stressed out the whole time. Please answer only if you have similar conditions (you or a family member). Thank you.

T asked:


Has anyone tried a good medication for seasonal allergies, over the counter that will help with itchy eyes, stuffiness etc. caused by pollen in the midwest. Thanks!

RFM asked:


My friend got skin allergies after drinking vodka the other night. She is not a drinker and perhaps it was her first time to drink such. She said that her whole body is itching.

Anybody knows remedies for this? thanks.

Candy C asked:


I have bad allergies. I’ve been on every prescription medication/nasal spray know to man and none of them help. Does anyone know of any possible home remedies that might work. I heard humidifiers help, and saline nasal spray to flush the sinuses….any other suggestions?

Neelima Reddy asked:


Itchiness, watery eyes, runny nose, sneezing, and redness are some of the common symptoms that majority of the people experiences as allergy symptoms.

The most effective way to fight against particular allergen is immunotherapy or allergy shot, but some people will get frightened to get allergy shot.

Allergy shots hold a little amount of substance that fights against the particular allergen. For example, if the person is allergic to pollen, a small amount of substance called pollen will be added to the shot.

A small amount will be given so that the body will get used to fight against the allergen and if the body comes in contact with that substance next time, body will be familiar with that.

Who are not eligible to take allergy shot?

Allergy shots are not safe for everyone. Although most of the people experienced positive results from these shots, they are not suitable for all. People who are suffering from asthma, heart attack, and respiratory problems, pregnant women, and children under age of five are not recommended to receive allergy shot.

Alternatively, certain individuals are experiencing some side effects such as:

• Feelings of shock when the shot is initially injected

• Lightheadedness

• Nausea

So, for these reasons, the patient should stay in the doctor’s office for at least fifteen to twenty minutes after receiving the shot.

Benefits of allergy shots:

• Allergy shots improve allergic rhinitis, hay fever, bee sting allergies, drug allergies, and eye allergies.

• In some cases, allergy shots improve asthma symptoms also. The most common reaction to allergy shot is swelling at the place where the shot is given.

The success of this immunotherapy varies from person to person depending on the severity of the person’s allergy and the number of substances the person is allergic to.

In addition to the traditional allergy shots, there are new approaches to immunotherapy procedures to treat allergies.

Oral immunotherapy works similar to the allergy shot. In this method, increasing doses of allergen will be given to slowly build up the patient’s tolerance. The only difference with oral immunotherapy from allergy shot is with oral immunotherapy extract of allergen is used as drops. In this method, generally the drops are placed under the tongue and then swallowed.

Intranasal immunotherapy method involves intranasal administration of grass and house dust mite allergen extracts, which reduces the nasal symptoms such as “nasal allergy”.

The side effect with intranasal immunotherapy is nasal irritation. When compared to the traditional allergy shots, intranasal immunotherapy has no long lasting benefits.

Rush immunotherapy involves quick build up to the maintenance dose of extract. In this method of treatment, during early phase increasing doses of allergen will be given every few hours rather than a few days. Since there is a great risk involved with this rush immunotherapy, this should be done in hospital under close supervision.

Some people will experience severe reaction to the allergy shot, which is called “anaphylaxis”. In case of bad reaction with this shot, physicians will do appropriate treatment to stop this reaction.

Since allergy shots are not good for everyone, talking to the physician before taking this shot is more advisable. Visit Allergy Symptoms

Lyle asked:


ies of various types make millions of people’s lives miserable everyday and the allergies control at least some aspects of the sufferer’s lives. This is unnecessary since measures can be taken to keep your allergies under control. There are different types of allergies, determined by what causes the allergy. The most well known allergies are dust mite allergy, mold allergy, hay fever or pollen allergy and pet allergy.

Each of these different types of allergies creates a different reaction within the sufferer and has different sources, but allergy control measures can be applied to all of them. There are a variety of measures that you can put into effect, but they are intended to be back up measures for the allergy control products that it is advised you buy. There is a very large selection of products available currently. These products will help to reduce the allergic reactions of the sufferer by a large margin.

When focusing on the bedroom, there are eight main product types which are manufactured to decrease the effects of allergies. The bedroom should be the first area to be re-equipped since it is in there that the allergy sufferer spends a large portion of their time and it should be a refuge from the effects of allergies as opposed to aggravating the suffering. The different types of products are roughly divided into two groups, bedding products and air products.

In the group of bedding products there are the categories comforters, pillows and mattress pads. Comforters come in a variety of types and a variety of fills including down and a fiber fill. Most people with an allergy problem would automatically avoid down, but it is warmer than a fiber filled comforter, but you need to ensure that the comforter is hypoallergenic. People believe they are allergic to feathers, but they are in fact allergic to the dust and protein that attaches itself to the feather so if the down has been properly cleaned then it is not a problem. Fiber filled comforters are preferred by those in warm climates or during summer.

There are is a wide range of choices for people who would like a hypoallergenic pillow , whether it is foam, natural or synthetic. This choice is dependent on what you require from your pillow and your level of allergy. Mattress pads were the greatest thing ever invented by the bedding industry for an increase in comfort and support. Some of mattresses are created for hygiene, some are created for softness and some mattress pads are for back and joint support, but for allergy sufferers the important factor is whether they are hypoallergenic. The feather beds provided by Pacific coast are created to be an allergy control product. They come in every size to suit you and they are incredibly comfortable.

In the group of air products there are Air Purifiers, Dehumidifiers, Humidifiers, Steam Cleaners and Vacuum cleaners. These products all cater for different needs and different types of allergies. A dehumidifier would be the best option for a person suffering from a mold allergy, but a humidifier would be beneficial to a person with sinus troubles as a result of their allergies.

Dehumidifiers and humidifiers perform opposite functions, but they still perform well as allergy control products. Dehumidifiers lower the humidity level of the area around it in order to inhibit the occurrence of mildew, mold and damp. They are essential for any allergy sufferer who wishes to stop mold spores from growing within their house or in the basement and also wishes to keep the level of humidity low enough to ensure that dust mites are kept at bay.

Humidifiers come in two types, warm mist or cool mist humidifiers. These will both keep the air around them hydrated to a comfortable level to ensure that your allergies are not exacerbated. Warm mist humidifiers are more useful in cooler climates while cool mist humidifiers are better used in a warmer environment. The determining factors are ease of cleaning and noise levels.

Air Purifiers are very important allergy control products. They should be used in with either a humidifier or dehumidifier in order to get the best from them. A good quality HEPA air filtration device is an indispensable element to ensuring that an allergen free and healthy home is maintained. Air filters literally filter out harmful pollen and particles that will cause an allergic reaction in you. In order to ensure that you can select a high quality product we have circumspectly chosen the finest air purifiers to present for you to select from out of the numerous products we have tested.

Steam Cleaners often look like a vacuum cleaner but that is where the similarity ends. The use of a steam cleaner ensures that you can sanitize, deep clean and deodorize in one simple procedure without using any of the chemicals that can be found in supermarket cleaning equipment. For allergy sufferers, there is the built in benefit that the heat of the steam penetrates deep down into any material being cleaned and therefore the dry steam instantaneously kills any and all dust mites, viruses, molds, and fungi that may be there.

A HEPA vacuum cleaner is a highly effective allergy control product that will suck up all the allergens and dust which have become settled onto furniture floors and carpets. These settled allergens are the ones which keep getting stirred up and therefore consequently inhaled by people due to movement within a room.

One allergy control product will help you to lower the allergen level in the area of your bedroom, but it is recommended that you utilize a combination of products in order to bring the allergen level to it’s lowest possible point and therefore bring your allergic reactions to an absolute minimum.

Cindy Heller asked:


When medications fail to adequately control allergy symptoms and avoidance of the trigger is not easy or possible, an allergist may recommend immunotherapy or “allergy shots”. This treatment consists of a series of injections containing small amounts of the substances to which a person is allergic. After a course of allergy shots, 80 to 90 percent of patients have less allergy symptoms, and in many cases their allergies have completely resolved. Allergy shots can be given for allergic rhino-conjunctivitis (nose and eyes), allergic asthma and insect sting allergies.

Are allergy shots experimental therapies?

No. Allergy shots have been given for nearly 100 years and are FDA approved therapies. Numerous well-designed medical studies show the efficacy of allergy shots.

And allergy shots do not contain steroids, which can have adverse long-term side effects.

How do allergy shots work?

Unlike allergy medicines, which act only to “cover up” allergic symptoms or prevent them temporarily, allergy shots fix the underlying problem of allergies. This occurs because the body treats the injection much like a vaccine, resulting in the production of infection-fighting antibodies against the pollen, dust, mold or pet dander. The body then stops producing as much allergic antibodies against the triggers, and therefore won’t have as much, or any, allergic response when exposed to the allergens. These changes can last for many years even after stopping allergy shots. Recent studies show that allergy shots can also prevent people from developing new allergies, and reduce the risk of developing asthma in children with nasal allergies.

How are allergy shots given?

The method of immunotherapy consists of starting at a small dose that will not cause an allergic reaction, with slowly advancing the dosage until the person becomes tolerant to large amounts of the extract. These injections are initially given once to twice a week until a maintenance, or constant dose, is achieved. This usually takes approximately 3 to 6 months. Once the maintenance dosage is reached, the allergic symptoms are largely resolved in most patients. Thereafter, the injections are given every two to four weeks.

How long must I take allergy shots?

Therapy is continued for 3 to 5 years total, after which the patient continues to get benefit for another 5 to 10 years or longer, even after the shots are stopped. If the shots are stopped prior to a total of 3 years, the allergic symptoms typically return more quickly.

What are the risks of allergy shots?

The risks of immunotherapy consist of the possibility of experiencing an allergic reaction to the allergy shot. Most allergic reactions consist of mild to moderate swelling and itching at the site of the injection. These reactions occur frequently, but rarely require any change in treatment. A large swelling may require an adjustment of the immunotherapy dosage or a change in the frequency and amount of the shots.

Less commonly patients experience whole-body allergic reactions, sometimes called “anaphylaxis”. Most of these reactions are mild and consist of itching of the skin, hives, or runny nose. Others are more severe and can present as cough, chest tightness, wheezing, throat tightness, shock and rarely can be life-threatening.

For this reason, it is normally required that patients remain in the physician’s office for 20 to 30 minutes after the injection since most reactions occur during this time. These reactions are typically easily reversed with medicines such as injectable epinephrine and anti-histamines.

Should I take allergy shots?

Obviously, this is a question that only you and your doctor can answer. There are many reasons to consider allergy shots:

- Medicines don’t work: Many patients go to the allergist because they still have symptoms despite having tried numerous allergy medications, with little to no relief of their symptoms. Sometimes allergy shots are the only therapy left for these patients.

- Go for the cure: Other patients like the idea of a “cure”, and opt for allergy shots for that reason. Remember, immunotherapy is the only treatment for allergies that fixes the underlying problem of the immune system, much like a vaccine.

- Don’t like medicines: Some patients experience severe side effects from medications, or don’t like taking medications on a daily basis - the idea of a “once a month shot” is a better option for them.

- Cost of medicines: Medications can be expensive, and since allergy symptoms typically return soon after medications are stopped, patients may require medications for many, many years. Allergy shots can alleviate much of the need for medications and can be a significant cost savings measure in the long run.

Sven Ullmann asked:


For allergy sufferers life can become miserable if they come into contact with whatever it is they are allergic to. Allergy control products in conjunction with allergy treatments or by themselves are effective in bringing relief to the allergy sufferer. allergy control products come in many forms and are more user friendly than ever before. If you are an allergy sufferer and have never before used allergy control products or have used them in the past and found them too expensive or unreliable then now is the time to see what progress has been made in the field of allergy control products.

Research and surveys have shown that the number of allergy sufferers world wide is on the increase. In a recent U.S. survey it was found that fifty-four percent of Americans are allergic to at least one pathogen. That’s over half of all Americans surveyed! Consumer demand has demanded better products and the industry has responded. Air purifiers were once expensive to buy, cumbersome and difficult to operate and maintain. Now though, a wide variety of less expensive and easy to maintain air purifiers are available and most importantly, they actually perform quite well.

Dust mites, human hair and shedding skin can all contribute to allergies. Many people have suffered for years not even knowing that the bed they slept in was the source of their misery. Now though allergy resistant sheets covers and pillow cases can bring relief and peaceful sleep to those who suffer from those allergies. allergy resistant fabrics also bring relief inside the home. Drapes and bed covers and carpeting are all available made entirely of allergy resistant fabrics. For allergy sufferers the fabrics that are so necessary to every day living can also bring misery. allergy resistant fabrics end the suffering.

Allergy sufferers who are chemically sensitive life can be pure hell. We live in a world of chemicals. For them the adage (better living through chemistry) is truly a farce. For many chemically sensitive people their home has become a torture chamber. Allergy resistant paint and chemicals of all sorts are now available that can free them from their misery. These products actually work very well and the money spent on these products is money invested well. The price has come down as quality has gone up on allergy resistant products. Now chemically sensitive people have the option of living a free and normal life.

If you are an allergy sufferer. No matter what you are allergic to there now is help. There is a wide range of products available and chances are there is something there you can use. Some allergy resistant products operate by helping your body cope with whatever it is you are allergic to while others effectively limit or eliminate all together whatever it is you are alergic to from your immediate environment. Many people have found it difficult to completely eliminate allergens from their whole home but have been very successful in creating an allergy safe room in their house. An allergy free zone to retreat to find relief if it is needed.

On the medical front great strides have been made in allergy relief products. A broader understanding of allergies and how pathogens effect the allergy sufferers has paved the way for new and better products. There are natural products available that for many people who have tried them appear to work. The medical establishment for years collectively scoffed at herbal remedies and now the facts speak for themselves. Herbal remedies for some people do work. It is up to each individual allergy sufferer to seek out what is best for them as there is no cure all. What works for one may not work for another but their is help out there.

Robert asked:


nderstand that you have allergies and know what things prompt your allergic sensitivities, but do you know what is happening to your body to cause an allergic reaction? This edition of the Allergy Control Products series on “The Secret to Living with Allergies” covers the basics of allergies, allergen exposure, allergic reactions, allergic threshold and allergen load. With this allergy information in mind, you may find it easier to control your allergies and improve your health. Step 1: What are Seasonal vs. Perennial (or Indoor) Allergies? Allergic individuals have reactions to substances called allergens, and your body’s reaction can vary. Inhalant allergies can affect the nose (allergic rhinitis), the eyes (allergic conjunctivitis) and the chest (asthma). Allergic rhinitis can occur on a seasonal basis or year round. Seasonal allergies are triggered by pollens, trees, molds, and grasses or other sources. You may hear about hayfever, which is a typical seasonal allergic rhinitis condition. Perennial allergies (or “indoor allergies”) involve allergic responses to indoor allergen sources such as dust mite allergens, cat dander or indoor molds. There can be a single allergen source that causes your allergic symptoms, such as a reaction to cat dander, or the problem may stem from a combination of multiple sources (dust mites and pet dander, for example). Step 2: Understanding Allergen Load and Allergic Threshold Allergic responses to indoor allergens may not always be as dramatic as reactions stemming from seasonal allergies. An indoor allergy sufferer may experience a variety of symptoms from chronic nasal congestion, runny nose or sneezing to a more severe condition such as asthma. Exposure to all allergens, from seasonal to indoor sources, factors into the severity of your reaction. Ongoing indoor allergy exposure, which results in chronic allergy symptoms, can worsen reactions when exposed to seasonal allergens. As you are exposed to additional allergen sources, your allergen load increases and triggers higher allergic responses. Your “allergic threshold” relates to your level of allergic sensitivity to any allergen source. Your “allergen load” is the total exposure at a given time to the allergens to which you are sensitive. Think of your allergic threshold as a glass, which can overflow with too much liquid. A small glass (low threshold) can be easily filled and overflow while a larger glass (high threshold) can tolerate a greater amount of liquids. In this analogy, allergens such as pollens, molds, dust mite allergens or pet dander are the liquids, and there may be one or many types of these liquids that cause the overflow. Reducing the number and amount of the liquids can stop the overflow. Similarly, reducing your allergen load by decreasing the amount and variety of allergens that you encounter will prevent an overflow or the resulting reaction. In order to obtain allergy relief, it’s important to take steps designed to stop the overflow of allergy exposure in order to decrease your allergic reactions. Step 3: The IgE Antibody: Understanding What Causes Allergic Reactions to Occur For an allergy sufferer, an allergic response begins with exposure to an allergen. Allergy symptoms may not begin immediately, as the time in which an individual becomes increasingly sensitive to an allergen source will vary. The period of sensitization can vary greatly, from a few weeks to decades. Many people do not become sensitized until after years of exposure. Allergies may seem to come “out of the blue,” but the truth is that your sensitivity may have been growing for some time until ultimately, exposure causes allergy symptoms. Your body is equipped with a type of cell called a mast cell. Mast cells are present in the nose and airways. As the body becomes sensitized over time to a specific type of allergen (such as cat dander), it produces antibodies such as an IgE antibody. Immunoglobulin E antibodies, or IgE antibodies, are specific to particular allergens. For allergy sufferers, these IgE antibodies accumulate with exposure to allergens and attach to the mast cells. Typically, antibodies are considered as the body’s defense mechanism when fighting against infection. However, for allergy sufferers, the immune response occurs when exposed to an allergen that many people can tolerate without difficulty. For an allergy sufferer, the IgE antibodies recognize the allergen when exposure occurs and are produced against these allergens. Each time exposure occurs to these allergens, the allergen particle connects with the IgE antibodies causing an allergic reaction. The mast cell releases chemical mediators, such as histamine and leukotrienes, causing the familiar symptoms of sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes and/or tightness of the airways. Step 4: Keep Allergy Exposure Down to Minimize Allergic Reactions Once IgE antibodies accumulate, the result is an allergic sensitivity to an allergen source. The degree of sensitivity and resulting reaction vary. A highly sensitive allergy sufferer will react and have symptoms with every exposure. People with lower sensitivity require higher exposure to trigger symptoms. Again, this sensitivity relates to an individual’s allergic threshold. Keeping exposure to allergens that easily exceed your allergic threshold is important for minimizing allergic reactions. Equally important is keeping your allergen load low, which requires minimizing your total exposure to allergen sources in order to prevent the ‘overflow’ and avoid triggering symptoms.

Amy asked:


My head hurts, it feels like there is a lot of pressure and some light headedness. My eyes are burning and I’m having trouble focusing them, my nose burns and I’m sneezing a lot. If it weren’t for all the pressure I am feeling I would assume allergies (I am allergic to dust) But I’ve never felt a pressure build up with allergies before. What is the best OTC allergy medication to take? I used to use flonase but its been a long time since I’ve needed anything.