Allergies – Causes and Effects of Allergies
What is an Allergy
Allergy is a reaction that occurs in individuals who are sensitive to certain substances such as cosmetics, animal hair, pollen food, medication or to certain climactic conditions like heat or sunshine that in others may be harmless. An allergic reaction may come about anyplace on the body: in the eyes, on the epidermis, the lungs or the digestive tract. Although an allergy can arise at any time, symptoms suffered in childhood tend to let up with time and many go away completely. An inclination to allergic reaction is mostly genetic, while the character of the allergy might be different from generation to generation.
The Genetic Factors
Allergies, such as asthma, nasal allergy, hay fever, eczema and some types of allergic headaches incline to run in the family. One family member might suffer from asthma whereas another might suffer from eczema. Allergists have noticed a heritable inclination in acquiring allergy. When both parents suffer an allergy, every one of their children holds approximately a 75 % probability of acquiring one as well. When only one parent suffers from an allergy, chances are 50 % or less.
Food Allergy
Some allergies are caused by foods which contain or release histamine during the chemical transformation process. Such foods include tuna or other canned food. Others which stimulate such allergy are food additives like coloring, preservatives and flavor enhancers. Allergy is basically the result of defective reaction of the system’s immunity, which responds to an allergen with the fabrication of antibodies as though the substance were harmful. Today, 1 in 12 children under the age of 6 show signs of food allergy and 1 in 25 have a verified food allergy present.
Histamine Effects
Firstly, an allergic reaction increases the permeatation of the minor blood vessels making the fluid component of the blood serum escape into the tissues. Such a condition brings on blisters, puffiness, and irritation of certain tissues like the nose, the eyes or the epidermis.
Secondly, it causes muscle spasm, particularly in the bronchi. This brings on heavy respiration and asthmatic attacks. In intense instances, sensitivity to insect stings, a nonhuman antitoxin serum or penicillin may bring on an anaphylactic reaction (unexpected shock) that may be life-threatening.
Approximately 15% of the population in the U.S. suffers from some allergy or other. However, why a specific allergy develops is yet a medical enigma. Although allergies cannot be completely cured, there is available treatment which can build up resistance to certain allergens.
Allergies – The Sneezing Sickness
I’ve suffered from an allergy to dust, sawdust, and fine particles, ever since I graduated from high school. Shortly after I graduated, I moved with my mother into a small cottage. For some reason, shortly after starting to live in that place, I started getting sneezing fits, runny nose, eyes, stuffed up and itchy nose. My condition became so bad that I went to be examined by the local doctor. His diagnosis was that I was allergic to dust, and fine particles. I expected him to prescribe an effective medication to make my symptoms go away but instead, his recommendation was to remove all the dust from the environment where I lived.
So I helped do a lot of vacuuming and general cleaning in the house, to try to get rid of as much dust as possible. It didn’t really work well so when I had a bad attack, I used over the counter allergy medication called Dimetapp. It seemed to stop the sneezing fits and the itchy and stuffed up nose but one side effect was, it made me really sleepy.
Part of the problem might have been that my mother had a habit of shaking out the bed linen, before making up my bed. In particular she would shake out, or snap the sheet before arranging it on the mattress. This seemed to shake out what ever lint or loose material that was attached to the sheet and always seemed to make my condition worse.
When I moved to my work location accommodation, my allergies improved, except when I was close to where a chain saw was cutting wood. The sawdust seemed to make me experience many of the same symptoms as the laundry dust had in the house.
I have learned that it is thought that the dust in a room does not really cause the allergy symptoms. There is a point of view that dust mite insects living on the grains of dust are actually responsible for causing the person’s discomfort.
The house mites, like all living things eat, and then eliminate their waste. The mite’s eliminations contain various protein type substances. When you breathe these in or they come in contact with your skin, your body makes antibodies. Your antibodies release a chemical known as histamine. Histamine produces all my nasty sneezing and stuffed up runny nose symptoms.
Because my mother also had allergies, it is thought that, I also carry the predisposition to the discomfort of allergies as having allergies is thought to be a hereditary condition.
That doesn’t really explain why I get all the same symptoms in a place where there is sawdust in the air. Any time I am around fine particles of sawdust my condition flares up. That is one reason why I would not want to work In a saw mill, or plywood plant where there are fine wood particles floating all over in the air as I would always be a sneezing worker.
I find that by staying away from areas contaminated with these fine particles, my condition has almost completely disappeared.
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i always sneeze from dust at work then i get drowsyDo Air Purifiers Remove Cooking Odors From Your Home?
What do you think? Do air purifiers remove cooking odors from your home or work space? And what about cigarette, cigar and pet odors?
These are all good air purifier questions, but there’s no simple answer. Removing cooking and other unpleasant odors depends upon the type of air purifier you buy, how powerful it is and even where you place it.
To begin with, when asked, “Do air purifiers remove cooking odors?” I have to respond that an air purifier in the upstairs bedroom, no matter what kind or how effective, will do little to remove the odor of fish frying on your stove in the downstairs kitchen.
Basically, there are about half a dozen different types of air purifiers and they come in various sizes and shapes. The two main types of air purifier systems are mechanical purifiers such as high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters and electrostatic filtration systems like an ionic purifier. They each have their own advantages and disadvantages and some are more effective than others at removing odors.
Activated carbon filters and ozone generator air purifiers are the most effective systems available for removing cooking odors. However, neither is particularly effective at reducing airborne allergens. Activated carbon is simply charcoal that’s been treated with oxygen.
The process opens up million of small pores between the air purifier carbon atoms, greatly increasing the surface area of the filter pad. The air purifier filter then works like a sponge to remove odors and soak up harmful gases. A charcoal air filter does need to be changed on a regular basis, but, for the most part, they’re not particularly expensive.
Many activated carbon air purifiers are combined with HEPA technology, which is 99.9% effective at eliminating airborne allergens down to 0.3 microns in size. Three tenths of a micron is pretty small, since there are over 600 microns in the period at the end of this sentence.
Ozone air purifiers also remove odors effective, but are not very good at removing allergens. However, ozone generator air purifiers are very controversial. Many experts believe ozone generators are harmful to human health. The State of California, for example, issued a warning that “People should avoid using indoor air cleaning devices that produce ozone.”
This is because ozone is the primary chemical found in smog and long term exposure to it can cause eye, throat and nose irritation, as well as permanent lung damage.
Most ozone generator marketers say there’s no need to worry, because you don’t have to run the device all day and can put it on a low setting. But that still doesn’t eliminate the problem. It’s like someone telling you, even though cigarette smoke is bad for your health, if you only take a few puffs a day, you’ll be okay.
So, back to the original question, “Do air purifiers remove cooking odors?” When you take everything into consideration, a HEPA air purifier system combined with an activated charcoal filter is your best bet. With this type of air purifier system, you can effectively remove offensive cooking, tobacco and pet odors, plus reduce airborne allergens.
And you can do it all without any risk to your health – only benefits.
Sinus Pressure – The Allergy Connection
How many times have you heard someone say: “I think I’m coming down with a cold.”? No doubt many times. In fact, most of us have
Bad Breath and Allergies
Got bad breath and allergies at the same time? There’s nothing new with that. Bad breath and allergies are closely related in a way that the other is caused or triggered by the other. Yes, people who are suffering from allergies may tend to develop bad breath.
Let’s find out how bad breath and allergies are related.
Bad breath is in the first placed caused by the buildup of bacteria in the mouth. This too is caused by a number of factors, and one of the most common is dryness of the mouth.
According to some studies, a dry mouth serves as a perfect hub for the odor-causing bacteria. It is in this condition actually where bacteria causing bad breath thrive and grow in numbers. The bacteria typically settle on the side, back and top of the tongue, and the more their number is, the more intense the bad breath. Well, the connection between bad breath and allergies emerge as allergies can cause mouth dryness. The idea behind this is that people who are suffering from allergies may tend to intake medications that may temporarily leave a disgusting odor into the mouth. Most of the medications prescribed for allergies may also trigger dryness of the mouth, then creating a perfect environment for bacteria to thrive and proliferate. If this happens, bad breath no doubt occurs.
Several experts have further noted that bad breath and allergies in closely linked in a way that when a patient takes an anti-allergy medicine, chances are the medication may alter the saliva production. The less saliva you have, the dryer your mouth is. It is interesting to note and understand that our saliva typically contains oxygen which in turn keeps our mouth fresh and clean. Now, the production of saliva is altered due to certain anti-allergy medications, the more the oral bacteria develop. The bacteria are anaerobic, meaning they can’t thrive and produce volatile sulfur compounds that cause bad breath in the presence of oxygen. So when you have less saliva in your mouth, the lesser the oxygen is present, the creating an environment perfect for the odor-causing bacteria to buildup.
Another idea that may explain the connection between bad breath and allergies is the idea on post nasal drip. Post nasal drip is a said to be the formation of mucus into the back portion of the person’s tongue. This happens when an area in the person’s soft palate is opened and this is so common with people who have allergies. The mucus is actually the portions where the bacteria live, and when the mucus is discharge it creates a foul smell, and even a foul taste. Worse, the oral bacteria will feed upon the discharge, creating their own stinky waste products. This condition which is usually common among allergy patients is what adds problem to bad breath.
So that’s basically how bad breath and allergies are closely related. If you want to eliminate bad breath, the start eliminating allergies.
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allergiesWhy Honeywell Air Purifier 17000
Honeywell 17000 HEPA air purifier is regarded as one of the best. This kind of air cleaner puts into use true HEPA Air cleaner technology. This type of cleaner also delivers results that are very much comparable to an industrial mode of cleaning. The advantages of this HEPA cleaner include;
• Reduces up to 99.4% of bacteria & germs
The Honeywell air cleaner is incredibly efficient in getting rid of germs and other minute particulate germs that may cause respiratory diseases such as asthma and bronchitis. It gets rid of more than 90% of these microorganisms.
• New Permanent Lifetime True HEPA vacuum filter
It has a good vacuum filter that is intact and permanent unlike other air cleaners. You do not have to replace the filter as it uses a technology known as true HEPA technology that ensures durability and efficiency of the air purifier. In short its design allows it to work for a lifetime without major replacements.
• QuietCare technology for ultra quiet operation
The Honeywell air cleaner 17000 also employs or puts into use a modern technology by Quitecare. This kind of technology limits the amount of noise pollution that is emitted by the HEPA air purifier especially when operated at its highest or maximum level.
• 3 speeds with filter clean monitor
It has tree adjustable speeds and allows you to work with your desired level. This is particularly useful for people who get irritated by the humming noise that comes from these air cleaners when operated at maximum speed.
• Recommended for medium rooms
This kind of Honeywell air cleaner is highly recommended for medium sized rooms and offices. This is due to its effective working range.
The Honeywell 17000 HEPA air purifier is a quality product. It has excellent reviews from satisfied customers who think that it does what its manufactures claim it can do. It can have an effective range of up to 300 sq. feet. But can also be used in larger houses to the same effect.
It also has some very convenient handles which means that these equipments can easily be moved from one place to the other.
Honeywell 17000 air purifier is designed in such a way that it creates an excellent and safe surrounding for an individual by cleaning and eliminating a number of contaminants.
Just like any other electronic equipment the Honeywell 17000 air cleaner has its own limitations. These disadvantages are mostly found in other Honeywell air purifiers too. They include among others;
1. Its noise levels can get to irritating points. Even though it has a quitecare technology that controls noise levels, this air cleaner can get a bit noisy especially if operated at maximum speed.
2. Just like any other Honeywell air purifier this one too contains an air filter that consists of a carbon pre-filter that may require to be replaced once in a while.
Dirty Furnace Filters
Being honest, we don’t take care of our furnace filters regularly, and do we believe that our filter will last for ever without changing or cleaning it? So what can go wrong with our furnace when we do not maintain our filters correctly? If the filter gets choked up with dust and other elements there are many things that go wrong and not just the break down of the furnace, there can be health issues and even your house could burn down.
Firstly when your filter is not maintained correctly you will find your energy bills will increase as the furnace needs blow harder to force air though. More serious issues with blocked up filters are health concerns, as the furnaces will blow though the dirty filters which has collected the duct, viruses and diseases and transport them back around the house which will lead to your family in haling these toxins. So if you feel your family are always sick check your filter and see if it requires changing or washing.
Beyond this stage is when the more serious issues happen, with continued use and over heating due to lack of air passing though the furnace, the hear exchange may warp or crack. If this happens noxious carbon monoxide fumes may leak into your house which could result in your family dying due to inhaling thee toxins.
Another possibility is that a fire could start due to the furnace filter being blocked, so think is it worth the risk of losing your entire home due to a dirty filter?
So spend a few minutes to check your furnace filter today to ensure it is clean and un blocked and stop anything happening to you and your family
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Individuals with Asthma and Allergies will often have Allergic Rhinitis. This is often called allergies or hay fever. It is caused by your bodies immune system when it overreacts to particles in the air that you are allergic to. Your immune system reacts by causing symptoms such as sneezing and a runny nose. The particles that the body reacts to are called allergens. This is a fancy description to an allergic reaction.
People with Allergic Rhinitis can have the following symptoms:
1. You will have a tendency to sneeze multiple times, especially after you wake up in the morning.
2. A runny nose and post nasal drip is common. The post nasal drip is caused by allergies to something around you.
3. Your eyes can be red, watery and itchy.
4. Often, your ears, nose, and throat are itchy and can be sore.
5. Some individuals will have an allergic reaction that looks like dark circles below the eyes.
Common allergens are the following: Trees, grasses and weeds from outdoors. Indoor problems can be caused by dust mites, cat and dog animal dander, cockroaches, and mold spores. When you are at work, it can be the following: wood dust, chemicals, computer out-gassing, paper dust particles and thermal paper from fax machines. The changes in temperature and the seasonal change can also trigger Allergies.
The only form of treatment is avoidance of the allergen that causes the allergic reactions. Talking with your Doctor can also help find ways to treat your symptoms. Keeping your home clean and allergen free is a big plus for lowering your symptoms. HEPA rated Air Cleaners can also help keep the air clean and help with your symptoms. If you are having severe reactions, it is best to contact your Doctor immediately for treatment.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact us or visit our website
Allergies, Adrenal Exhaustion, Fatigue and Gut Permeability – How it All Fits Together
Allergies have become one of the most prevalent problems of our modern age; most people seem to have some form of allergy. What exactly is an allergy how is it manifest, what causes it and what can we do about it?
What is an allergy?
To most people allergy is hay fever, or some symptom experienced after eating some specific food. Allergies can be of two types, environmental such as hay fever, usually a reaction to pollen, or a food allergy, a reaction to a food item. Reactions can vary from itchy eyes, running nose to anaphaxtic shock which can involve the swelling of the airways which can be life threatening.
What cause an allergy or food sensitivity?
Gut Permeability.
The major source of toxic material is via the Gastrointestinal Tract (GIT). The intestinal wall is covered with mucus which protects if from attack. If there is damage to the intestinal and/or food is not properly digested, incompletely digested food will enter the bloodstream. This condition is called Gut permeability, or leaky Gut syndrome. What amounts to microscopic “holes” develop in the GIT wall allowing incompletely digested particles into the bloodstream. All the blood from the GIT goes to the liver first where special immune cells called Kupper cells destroy the foreign material. When a person is eating more than 2 or 3 meals a day (snacking) the Kupper cells cannot cope and the liver is overloaded resulting in an overflow into the main blood stream. The immune system will identifies it as an enemy and the immunes system is called into action. This is seen in live Blood Analysis. This requires large amounts of energy resulting in tiredness and sleepiness after a meal. Over time the immune system becomes “allergic” to the substances and histamine is released producing the all too well know symptoms of an allergy. Eventually the nervous system is affected resulting in depression and other nervous system symptoms. The Adrenals become exhausted and the brain is affected with symptoms like poor memory. The Hormones slowly become unbalanced. Women will often show some signs of hormone imbalance. Excess toxic material produced has to be neutralized by the liver requiring large amounts of vitamins, minerals and amino acids (from protein), and have to be eliminated via the skin, bowel, and kidneys. Nutritional deficiencies result and toxins accumulate causing joint and muscle conditions. So you can see every body system is affected.
The Digestive System is the key.
Many people do not realize that about 70% of the immune system actually exists in the GIT. Poor digestion causes incomplete breakdown of food. Just like on a production line, you need to have the material from one stage properly processed before it goes to the next stage. If digestion has not started in the mouth by proper chewing, the stomach has a hard time dealing with the food. If the stomach has not done it’s job properly because we have been stressed while eating, the Intestines have poorly digested food come in and so it goes. The mucus lining may be removed or thinned because of low calcium (a component of mucus). So nutrition comes into it. Chemicals in our food will damage the lining, so can the wrong bacteria. Good bacteria protect the lining. Antibiotics will kill them, and these drugs are mycotoxin, meaning toxins produced by fungi. Not all the fungi can be removed during the processing of the drug resulting in a fungal infection developing.
Allergies in Children
Acidophilus bacteria consumed by the infant from the birth canal during the natural birth process sets up residence in the immature intestines, and Bifidus Bacteria from the mother’s breast milk in the colon, protecting the lining. Caesarean birth, formula feeding, and chemical ingestion means these essential organisms are not as prevalent as they should be.
Detecting GIT damage
GIT Inflammation and Gut Permeability that results from it can be seen in both live and dried blood (HLB), as can other effects of histamine such as increased immune activity. Liver stress is evident. Fungal infections are also common, causing damage to the GIT and overloading the liver and immune system.
What can we do about it?
It is common to use herbs to suppress the immune system so that less histamine is produced. This can help the symptoms, but is only a band aid treatment. The naturopathic way is to identify and remove the cause. Every system of the body is stressed and needs relief, repair and rebuilding.
As we have discussed, allergies are caused by gut permeability which affects every system of the body. A program must be implemented which will kill off any infections such as fungal infections, and rebuild the damage to the body, especially the digestion and elimination channels. This requires a properly qualified health professional who understands the above issues.
There are things you can do:
1. Improve your digestion.
o Eat slower, chew more and eat in a relaxed environment.
o Do not eat while stressed.
o Do not drink with, just after, and before meals (1/4 glass of water to take supplements is OK). To prevent dilution of digestive juices.
o Do not do heavy exercise just after a meal. A relaxing walk is very beneficial for digestion.
o Use herbs called bitters to stimulate digestive secretions
o Take acidophilus and Bifidus, friendly bacteria to increase the good guys.
o Use vegetable based digestive enzymes
2. Achieve and maintain good elimination to Reduce toxic load
o Make sure that bowels are working well to prevent taking toxins back into the bloodstream.
Proper elimination consists of a good easy bowel movement after every meal.
o The quickest way to stop a reaction is to take an enema to reduce the toxic load.
o Drink at least 2litre of purified water per day.
3. Reduce the load by finding out what you are allergic to and avoiding them.
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amino acids for adrenal fatigueBenefits of Electrostatic Furnace Filters
Over time the advances of air filtration and filters for furnaces have been vast, and the latest one is the electrostatic filters, here will explain some of the benefits of using these filters.
Save you money
Electrostatic filters will stop dust from coating the heating system and the coils of air conditioning units, and this will stop your appliance from failing. By keeping your appliance clean you will stop your furnace from over working to maintain the heat in your home, this will then hep reduce your heating bills over time. Also electrostatic filters are permanent and not disposable and can be easily cleaned and reinstalled and this again is a cost saving over time.
Allergy Relief
By using your electrostatic filter you can reduce the amount of dust, pollen and mold spores and this will help reduce the number of asthma and other related illnesses.
Environmentally Friendly
As these filters are for life, therefore we don’t need to buy additional filters to replace the others. So we do not need to add to the stock piles of rubbish filling up our lands and this alone is enough for the environment.
Easily maintained filters
Instead of us changing our filters on a regular basis, with these filters we only need remove clean and wash them and then replace, no more buying a new filter and then replacing it every time you clean it.
So before you go the local shop or dealer and buy the cheap fibreglass furnace filters consider thinking about investing in an electrostatic filter for your furnace and you will see the saving in money and cleanliness of your home over time.