Article Date: 11/2/2005

Text Area 1: What do dust, cats, peanuts, and cockroaches have in common? Believe it or not, they all can cause allergies. Allergies are one of the major causes of illness in the United States. In fact, up to 50 million Americans have some type of allergy.

What are allergies?

An allergy is a reaction of the immune system to a substance that is harmless to most people. If you have an allergy, your immune system treats the substance (or allergen) as an invader. As a result, you can have symptoms that can range from annoying to possibly harmful.

The immune system of an allergic person attempts to protect the body by producing antibodies. The antibodies then cause mast cells to release chemicals into the bloodstream to defend against the allergen. One of the chemicals produced is histamine.

The release of these chemicals causes allergic reactions which can affect your eyes, nose, throat, lungs and skin as your body attempts to get rid of the allergen. Each time you are exposed to the same allergen your body will have the same allergic reaction.

Who gets allergies?

The tendency to develop allergies is often passed down through your genes. This doesn’t mean that if you have an allergy every member of your family will have allergies too. And a person usually doesn’t inherit a particular allergy, just the likelihood of having allergies. But a few children have allergies even if no family member is allergic. These children will likely be allergic to more than one substance.

Airborne Allergens

Some of the most common things people are allergic to are airborne. These allergens are:

• Dust Mites – This is one of the most common allergens. Dust Mites are microscopic insects that live all around us and are present year-round in most parts of the United States.

• Pollen – This is another major cause of allergies. It is mostly referred to as hay fever. Trees, weeds, and grasses release pollen into the air, causing people with these allergies to develop symptoms. Pollen allergens are seasonal, and pollen counts measure how much pollen is in the air so people can determine how bad their symptoms might be on any given day.

• Molds – Molds, a common allergen, are fungi that develop indoors and out in warm, moist environments. They can be found outdoors in areas with poor drainage and indoors in dark, damp, poorly ventilated places. Mold can affect people with allergies year round.

• Pets – Allergens from pets comes from their fur dander. The particles can become airborne and work their way into fabrics in the home.

• Cockroaches – They are a major allergen in inner-city homes. They may be a major cause of asthma in inner-city children.

Airborne allergy symptoms can include sneezing, itchy eyes, nose and throat, nasal congestion, and coughing. If a person has these symptoms, as well as shortness of breath and wheezing, the allergy may have progressed to become asthma.

Food Allergens

• Cow’s Milk – Infants, children and adults can have an abnormal immune system reaction to the proteins found in cow’s milk.

• Eggs – This is one of the most common food allergies in infants and young children. It is hard to diagnose because eggs are used in many foods (in some cases they’re “hidden” ingredients) that children eat. The allergy usually starts when a child is very young but most outgrow it by the age of 5.

• Fish and shellfish – The proteins in fish can cause several types of allergic reactions, including diarrhea and vomiting. Other reactions are itching and dryness of the skin.

• Peanuts and tree nuts – Peanuts are one of the most severe food allergens, often causing life-threatening reactions. Half of the people who are allergic to peanuts are allergic to tree nuts, such as almonds, walnuts, pecans, sunflower and sesame seeds, and cashews.

Food allergy symptoms can include itchy mouth and throat, hives (raised, red, itchy bumps), rash, runny, itchy nose, and abdominal cramps with nausea and vomiting or diarrhea.

Other Allergens

• Insect Stings – Being stung by an insect usually means swelling, redness, and itching at the site of the bite. But for those with insect venom allergy, an insect bite can cause severe symptoms.

• Medicines - Medications that are used to treat infections (antibiotics) are the most common types of medicine that cause allergic reactions. Other medications can also cause allergic reactions, including over-the- counter medications.

• Chemicals – Some household detergents, cleaners and pesticides can cause people to break out in an itchy rash. Cosmetics can cause an allergic reaction in some people. The chemicals in these products are usually what cause the reaction.

What are the signs and symptoms of allergies?

The type and severity of allergy symptoms vary. Symptoms can range from minor to major seasonal problems (pollens, molds) to year-round problems (dust-mites, food).

Airborne Allergy Symptoms

This type of allergen can cause allergic rhinitis. It reaches its peak in the early 20s and can often disappear between the ages of 40 and 60. The symptoms can include:

• Sneezing

• Itchy nose and/or throat

• Nasal congestion

• Coughing

Symptoms often include itchy, watery, and/or red eyes (allergic conjunctivitis). If a person has allergic rhinitis and allergic conjunctivitis as well as wheezing and shortness of breath, the allergy may have progressed to become asthma.

Food Allergy Symptoms

Symptoms of food allergies can include:

• Itchy mouth and throat

• Hives

• Rash

• Runny, itchy nose

• Abdominal cramps with vomiting or diarrhea

Insect Venom Allergy Symptoms

Being stung by an insect that one is allergic to can cause:

• Throat Swelling

• Hives

• Breathing Difficulty

• Nausea and/or diarrhea

Extreme Allergic Reactions

If one has an extreme sensitivity to an allergen, they can experience anaphylaxis, or anaphylactic shock. This is a sudden, severe reaction that involves various systems in the body (skin, respiratory tract, cardiovascular system). Severe symptoms require immediate medical attention. They can include:

• Difficulty Breathing

• Swelling of the face, throat, lips and tongue

• Rapid drop in blood pressure

• Dizziness and/or lightheadedness

• Unconsciousness

• Hives

• Tightness of the throat

• Nausea and/or vomiting

• Abdominal pain

• Diarrhea

Anaphylaxis can happen almost immediately after being exposed to the allergen or up to two hours after exposure if the allergen is food. Various areas of the body can be affected.

How are allergies diagnosed?

Some allergies are easy to diagnose because the pattern of symptoms after exposure to certain allergens is easy to follow. Other allergies are less obvious because the symptoms are similar to other conditions.

Skin tests are performed by allergists to diagnose most environmental and food allergens. They can be done in two ways:

• A drop of the allergen in purified liquid form is dropped on the skin and the area is pinched with a small pricking device.

• A small amount of allergen is injected under the skin. The area is checked after 15 minutes for a reaction. If a lump surrounded by a reddish area appears, the test is positive.

If symptoms are severe a blood test may be used to diagnose the allergy to avoid exposure to the allergen.

Even if these tests show positive for an allergen, symptoms must occur to have a definitive diagnosis.

How are allergies treated?

It is possible to relieve allergy symptoms, but there is no real cure for allergies. The best way to control them is to reduce or eliminate exposure to the allergens. If this isn’t possible, medications that include antihistamines and inhaled or nasal spray steroids can be prescribed. You can buy antihistamine medications over the counter. In some cases, an allergist may recommend allergy shots (immunotherapy) to help desensitize you.

What does injectable epinephrine do?

If you are extremely sensitive to any foods or insect venom and symptoms are severe, your doctor may recommend that you carry injectable epinephrine to counteract any allergic reactions. This is in a container that looks like a pen. The device administers epinephrine through one injection in the thigh. An injectable epinephrine prescription usually includes two auto-injections and a “trainer” that contains no needle for you to use to practice using the device.

Anyone who has had to take injectable epinephrine should go immediately to an emergency medical facility where additional treatment can be given if needed. A second wave of symptoms can occur several hours following the initial attack.

 

Article Date: 11/2/2005

Text Area 1: What is Asthma?

Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease that can affect you for the rest of your life. Asthma attacks can vary from mild to life-threatening. The disease is divided into two types, allergic (extrinsic) asthma, and non-allergic (intrinsic) asthma.

Allergic (extrinsic) asthma is caused by an allergic reaction and is the most common form of asthma. It is reversible to some extent by medication. Inhaling allergens such as mold, pollens, pet dander, and dust mites can set off an asthma attack.

Non-allergic (intrinsic) asthma is caused by factors not connected to allergies. Non-allergic asthma attacks are caused by factors such as anxiety, stress, exercise, cold air, hyperventilation, smoke viruses or other irritants.

What are the symptoms?

The most common symptoms for allergic and non-allergic asthma are coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath and chest tightness. During an asthma attack, the sides of the airways in your lungs become inflamed and swollen. The muscles around the airways tighten, and less air passes in and out of the lungs. Excess mucus forms in the airways, which clogs them even more.

How is it diagnosed?

Asthma is difficult to diagnose. Regular physical exams, lung function tests, and discussions with your physician on your personal and family medical history help to reach a correct diagnosis.

How is it treated?

Asthma sufferers are prescribed medications that may be either inhaled or in pill form. They are divided into two types - quick relief and long-term control. Quick relief medications are used to control immediate symptoms of an asthma attack. Long-term medications are used to lessen the frequency and severity of attacks over time. Attacks can be avoided by removing the triggers in your environment and by avoiding these same triggers in other places.

 

Article Date: 1/15/2004

Text Area 1:

Regular exercise is good for your body and when you’re pregnant, exercise may be especially important for you and your baby.

 

Some women who have certain medical conditions may have to take special precautions during pregnancy, so check with your doctor about your exercise routine. 

 

How Exercise Helps

Exercise during your pregnancy has many benefits such as helping your body get ready for labor and childbirth. You can increase your energy and build up good muscle tone. Having a baby takes a lot of stamina, so being in good shape can really help.

 

Regular exercise also may help you in the following ways:

• Reduce backaches, constipation, bloating and swelling
• May help prevent or treat gestational diabetes
• Increase energy levels
• Improve mood
• Improve posture
• Promotes good muscle tone, strength and endurance
• Helps you sleep better

 

Weight gain comes with any pregnancy. In general, you can expect to gain 25 to 30 pounds. Your heart will have to pump more blood, and you’ll use about 20 percent more oxygen when you rest and even more when you exercise. Regular exercise can help your body meet these new demands.

 

Getting Started

The first step before beginning any exercise program is to check with your doctor. Even if you participated in a regular exercise program or sports before you got pregnant, talk with your doctor to make certain that the program is still appropriate for your new status. You may need to make modifications to your existing program.

 

Your goal should be to exercise three or four times a week for at least 20 minutes per session. Start slowly and work up to your goal over three to four weeks.

 

Walking is an excellent exercise for nearly everyone. It gives you a moderate aerobic workout while putting less stress on your joints than some other forms of exercise such as jogging or high impact aerobics. Best of all, you’ll just need a good pair of well-fitting walking shoes, comfortable clothing, and a safe place to walk.

Article Date: 1/7/2004

Text Area 1:

You’re coughing, running a fever and ache all over. Is it a bad cold or the flu?

Colds and flu are both highly contagious and have many symptoms in common, but the flu is a serious illness that may have life-threatening complications.

Symptoms of Colds and Flu

Colds

• Fever: Rare in adults and older children. Can be as high as 102ºF in infants and small children.
• Headache: Rare
• Muscle Aches: Mild
• Tiredness & Weakness: Mild
• Extreme Exhaustion: Never
• Runny Nose: Often
• Sneezing: Often
• Sore Throat: Often
• Cough: Mild hacking cough

Flu

• Fever: Usually 102ºF, but can go to 104ºF. Fever lasts 3-4 days.
• Headache: Sudden onset and can be severe.
• Muscle Aches: Usual, often severe.
• Tiredness & Weakness: Often extreme. Can last 2 or more weeks.
• Extreme Exhaustion: Sudden onset, can be severe.
• Runny Nose: Sometimes
• Sneezing: Sometimes
• Sore Throat: Sometimes
• Cough: Usual, can become severe.

The flu may be far more dangerous than a cold and may lead to pneumonia. Both are caused by viruses, but not the same ones.

Cold symptoms appear within one to three days of being exposed to the cold virus. Flu symptoms come on abruptly and may be quite severe including high fever, cough, headache, and muscle and body aches. Gastro-intestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea are more common in children than adults.

How viruses are spread

Influenza viruses spread through the air when a person with the flu coughs, sneezes or speaks. Other people then inhale the viruses. Once the virus enters the nose, throat or lungs, they start to multiply and symptoms of the flu appear. You also may be exposed to flu viruses by touching a surface such as a door handle or telephone and then touching your mouth or nose.

You may be contagious and able to spread the flu virus even before you start showing symptoms. Adults can transmit the flu virus one day before showing symptoms and up to seven days after getting sick. Children may be contagious for a longer period of time.

Preventing the flu

The best prevention is to get a flu shot in the fall. If you didn’t get your flu shot this year, there are still steps you can take.

• Avoid coming in contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home if you are sick, if possible.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Don’t use your hands since you will just transmit the virus to what you touch. If necessary, use your forearm or sleeve when coughing and sneezing.
• Wash your hands. Frequent hand washing using soap and water remains one of the best ways to keep from picking up viruses and from spreading them to others.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with your hands since this can spread viruses you’ve picked up from surfaces around you.

What if you get the flu?

If you do get the flu, the best advice is to get plenty of rest, drink lots of liquid and avoid using alcohol and tobacco. You can take over-the-counter medicines to relieve symptoms of the flu.

CAUTION: Do NOT give aspirin to children or teenagers who have flu-like symptoms, especially a fever. In some cases, this has caused a serious complication known as Reye’s syndrome.

Some people are more at risk of developing complications of the flu. These include young children and people older than 50. Other at-risk groups include:

• Residents of nursing homes or chronic care facilities
• People with chronic disorders such as diabetes, heart, lung or kidney disorders
• People with a weakened immune system including those with HIV, leukemia or taking medications following an organ transplant
• Women who are pregnant and in their second or third trimester
• People who work in a healthcare facility

If you fall into one of these groups and develop symptoms of the flu, call your doctor immediately.

If you develop complications including trouble breathing, a very high fever, a severe sore throat, a cough that produces a lot of green or yellow mucus, or you feel faint, call your doctor.

There are some medications that may help shorten the flu’s duration and intensity. These include neuramidase, rimantadine and amantadine. Some of these medications only work with certain types of influenza viruses. To be effective, these need to be taken no later than 24 to 48 hours after you first develop symptoms.