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Archive for the ‘Allergy And Sinus’ Category

How To Install A Home Water Purifier

03 Nov



Installing a home water purifier is easier than you think. In fact, some water filters systems don’t even require installation. For example, you can buy a pitcher water purifier. This is probably the least expensive type of water purifier available. You just fill the pitcher with tap water, and a filtering system in the filter cleans your water. Pitcher type filters are among the most commonly used water purifiers today.

You can also buy fluoride filters that often simply attach to your sink. These filters help remove metals from your water and other toxic contaminants, like arsenic, lead and fluoride. You can also buy filtration models that fit under your sink. Now these you will likely have to install. Fortunately most come with their very own installation kit, reducing the amount of work you have to do substantially! Here are some basic steps to follow to set up your under the counter water filtrations system:

1. Remove the water filtration system from the box it comes in (that part is easy!).

2. Turn off your sinks water using the shutoff valve (this is usually located beneath the sink).

3. Disconnect the cold water line from the shutoff valve. You may need to use a wrench to loosen the nut that holds the tube to your sinks faucet.

4. Place the water filtration unit under the cabinet by the wall that is closest to the cold water line. Using a magic marker or pencil you can mark where you’ll need to drill holes to mount the bracket that will hold your filter.

5. Drill the screws in place that hold the filtration cartridge.

6. Connect your water purifiers to your sinks water line.

7. Connect a line that goes from the purifier to your tap.

Now, your instructions may vary slightly based on the type of water filtration unit you have. Usually however you can get by with a wrench, possibly a drill and a screwdriver. Once you have your filter in place you can slowly turn your faucet back on and check to make sure that all connection points are tightly sealed off (so no water leaks). It’s really that easy!

Faucet Mounted Water Filters

These are by far the easiest to install and don’t require you use any tools. If you primarily want to make sure you have clean drinking water in you home and don’t want to invest in a cartridge filtration system, a faucet mounted water filter will work just fine. All you need to do to install them is unscrew the aerator on your sinks spout and attach the filter to it. Usually is screws on. You will have to replace the filter cartridges in this type of filter regularly. Some find a faucet mounted unit may slightly decrease the pressure of water, but this really isn’t too much of an inconvenience for most people.

Facts About Home Water Filtration Units

You should remember that a sink specific water filtration unit will remove particles and contaminates only from the water in the sink that has the filter attached. Most people select the kitchen sink as the ideal sink for a filtration device. Why? This is where you do your cooking, wash your food and where many people get their drinking water. Some people prefer to have a separate filter for the bathrooms in the house where they wash their hands and brush their teeth. Fortunately many faucet mounted versions are very inexpensive, thus having one installed at each sink is usually not too much of a problem!

If you decide to clean all of the water in your home you can opt for a whole house water filtration device. Installation for a whole house water filter is a bit more complicated than installation for an under the sink or faucet unit. You can usually however, still install the product on your own using the instructions and installation kit that comes with most units. Remember, when you filter the water coming into and out of your home, you enhance your body’s health and well being. Our bodies are made up of 90% water after all. We might as well give our bodies the best water we possibly can!

 
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All You Need To Know About Allergy Shots

29 Oct



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.

 
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Suffering From an Autism Food Allergy?

28 Oct



An autism food allergy is a very serious problem. In fact, autism induced by allergies has recently been identified and occurs when a child’s diet influences his or her autism symptoms. The children who are at the highest risk of an impact from an autism food allergy are those who have regressive autism. Regressive autism is the form of the disorder that occurs when the child’s first symptoms appear at around the age of two after having developed normally until then. Other autistic children at risk are those with behavioral and neurological problems in conjunction with serious digestive problems.

Kids with an autism food allergy struggle to digest essential food proteins such as gluten and casein. Gluten is a protein found in many kinds of grains, such as wheat, and is frequently added to food products during the manufacturing process. Casein is a protein found in milk and is also added to other foods as they are manufactured.

Some children with food allergies are unable to properly digest gluten and casein. These proteins are digested only partially and leave a byproduct to which the children react in a very similar way to the drug morphine. This substance is able to slip through the wall of the digestive tract, a condition known as ‘leaky gut syndrome’, and circulates through the bloodstream and into the brain.

When a child has an intolerance to gluten or casein an altered protein can also be found in the urine after the child consumed food containing these two compounds. It is believed that this occurs as a result of the creation and absorption of the morphine-like chemical created by the body of the child when trying to digest gluten or casein. The child may then behave in a “spaced out” way. Furthermore, it can create somewhat of an addiction in these children, causing them to crave foods containing gluten and casein.

Because children with an autism food allergy struggle to digest food properly, they are also unable to remove toxins and chemicals as efficiently as they should from their body. This can include not only waste in the traditional sense of digestion, but also fertilizers, pesticides, cleansers and detergents, pollution, artificial flavorings and colorings, preservatives, chemical food additives, and other forms of chemical that can build up and become toxic over time.

Symptoms of an autism food allergy usually appear within an autistic child at around the age of three. Though the symptoms may come about as a result of intolerance to pollutants in the food, others will react to chemical additives, and again others will react to the basic composition of the food. Though reactions can be caused by essentially anything, the most common allergies are to foods such as corn, citrus fruits, wheat, dairy and sugar.

Though the symptoms of an autism food allergy may not be obvious to those around the child, medical testing and observation shows frequent diarrhea, bloating, low blood sugar, excessive sweating, redness in the ears and face, rhinitis (runny nose), the inability to regulate the body temperature, and dark circles under the eyes are common.

The only way to treat an autism food allergy is to pinpoint the food of foods that are causing the problem and then eliminate it from the diet entirely. It is important to note that this won’t cure autism, however symptoms will often improve substantially when a diet free of those items that cause a reaction is followed. Parents will still be faced with the same issues in socializing and communicating with autistic children even after an altered diet is introduced, and change will still need to be carefully managed.

To discover which foods your child reacts to, an exclusion diet is a good way to determine what items are potentially contributing to their autism symptoms and digestive issues. However, before starting an exclusion diet ensure you consult a qualified health professional to ensure your child continues to receive adequate nutrition.

Once you have the go ahead, start by eliminating the common culprits i.e. wheat, dairy, sugar, corn and citrus fruits for a two to four week period and then slowly reintroduce the removed items one at a time and monitor behaviors and digestive changes carefully.

This process can help identify those food items that are problematic for your child. An alternative is to have blood testing done to look for antibodies that are produced when an allergic reaction takes place. Your doctor should be able to arrange this for you or refer you to the appropriate professional.

There is currently a study about to get underway being carried out by researchers at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston that will be scientifically studying the effects of gluten and casein on autistic children which should help to answer the autism food allergy question.

 
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Symptoms of Allergy in Babies

25 Oct



An allergy is the disorder of the immune system where the system ends up becoming extremely sensitive to certain substances which are normally considered harmless. Usually when bacteria, fungi or viruses enter the body, the immune system produces antibodies and certain chemicals to kill these organisms. In a person who is allergic, the immune system produces antibodies and chemicals to fight non-infectious substances. These substances are known as allergens and the body’s reaction to allergens is known as allergic reaction.

Medical science has still not been able to make headway when it comes to allergies. Researchers know that number of substances can cause allergic reactions but the exact cause of allergies is still not known. However, science has proven that allergies are hereditary as they tend to run in families.

A baby, child or adult can be allergic to dust, mites, pollen, mold, latex, animal dander or certain types of foods. The most common types of foods that babies are allergic to include cow’s milk, egg, wheat, soy, peanut, cashew nut, fish and walnut.

If you baby is allergic to dust, mites or pollen, you will notice symptoms like rash, red watery eyes and sneezing each time he comes in contact with that particular allergen. Sometimes, the baby can also develop runny nose, nasal congestion and cough. These are mild allergic reactions and can be tackled with antihistamines and decongestants. However, if the baby develops breathing problems, you should immediately rush the baby to ER.

Some babies are also allergic to certain types of food. When they eat that particular food item, they develop an allergic reaction either immediately or within 24 hours of eating. Allergic reactions to food include hives, diarrhea and vomiting. The most common foods that babies tend to be allergic to are eggs, milk and wheat. Once you figure out which food your baby is allergic to, you should avoid feeding him that particular food item. This way you can avoid any kind of reaction — mild or severe.

Remember, anaphylactic shock has to be treated immediately or else it can be fatal. Anaphylactic shock is characterized by difficulty in breathing, swelling, vomiting, abdominal pain, dizziness, confusion and diarrhea.

 
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Nose is Stuffed Up? What Causes Chronic Sinus Congestion and How to Get Quick Relief

24 Oct



Is your nose always stuffed up? Did you know there are things you can do to quickly get relief? Find out today what these solutions are and also find out how to get permanent relief from what causes chronic sinus congestion to begin with so you can get permanent relief. First lets look at how to get some quick relief if your nose is stuffed up.

2 Great Solutions to a Stuffed Up Nose

#1 – Cayenne Pepper Powder: Either sniff a small amount or eat a small amount and you’ll get rapid relief as the cayenne completely opens up your sinuses and allows them to drain out. Yes it’s going to be hot, but the sensation passes and when it does you’ll be able to breathe again!

 
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Eye Allergy Treatment

13 Oct



Eye allergy problems can affect just about anyone. No one enjoys dealing with symptoms of itchy, swollen, watery eyes. Not only does it affect people while they’re trying to work, but it’s also hard to relax under these conditions.

What are the causes of an eye allergy? They can be caused by allergens that are airborne. Most people tend to be allergic to grasses, dust, pollen, ragweed or dog and cat dander.

Eye allergy relief can come in many different forms. If you think you suffer from eye allergies you should consult a doctor. He’ll be able to recommend the proper treatment. However there are many effective over the counter treatments that can be just as effective. The major benefit to these is that they don’t require a prescription. Claritin eye allergy drops are an example of one of these treatment options. The benefit to using eye drops is that the medicine goes directly to the source of the irritation. Which is different from medications the need to be digested into the bloodstream before they become effective. However some people prefer all natural solutions. One possibility is to use an air purifier to filter out the dust and allergens out of the air. Not only will this work help your eye allergies, but it will protect you from any allergens that travel through the air.

Don’t let eye allergies get you down. By following these few simple steps, you’ll be able to see again and enjoy the summer months. Life’s too short to not enjoy after all.

 
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How Common Are Wheat Allergies?

10 Oct



Special foods for wheat allergies have become more popular over the years. Several new diets, and new products, have been popping-up every catering to people with these allergies. If you have a true allergy to wheat removing it from your diet is imperative. If you aren’t allergic to wheat, you should not attempt to remove this basic staple from your diet completely.

These are not very common although frequently other conditions including wheat intolerance, celiac disease and gluten intolerance are mistaken this type of allergy. Gluten is a protein from wheat, rye, barley and oats. Gluten is a rubbery substance that helps to give a spongy consistency to baked goods. A true wheat allergy is not the same as intolerance. Wheat intolerance, gluten intolerance and celiac disease are not wheat allergies even though people who have these cannot eat these products either.

The immune system is a great defense system for the body, if there is a protein that the body considers a foreign substance the immune system will react causing an allergic reaction. Allergic reactions can be triggered by eating wheat products as well as inhaling wheat dust; approximately 30% of people who work in bakeries suffer from inhaled wheat. The antibodies the body creates help the body to fight these proteins if they are introduced to the system again. The reasons the body reacts to some foods this way is not something that is completely understood.

Symptoms of an allergic reaction to wheat include hives, eczema, swelling, nausea, vomiting, runny nose and asthmatic reactions. If you are having the same reactions each time you eat an item containing wheat it can be assumed you have an allergy to wheat, although you should have your doctor do tests to determine if you are in fact allergic to it. Severe allergic reactions can cause anaphylaxis. Since they can trigger such severe reactions it is important not to eat or drink anything with wheat in it if you are allergic and to be cautious while handling these products. Reading food labels can help with this.

There are products that are made specifically for those who cannot eat wheat so your diet doesn’t have to be changed too much from a ‘regular’ diet. Pasta, cereals and flours are made so they are similar to wheat products but do not cause the symptoms that they do.

If you have a wheat allergy as a child it is possible to outgrow it. Allergies that show up later in life usually do not go away with time. There is not an effective medication to treat your allergies.

 
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What is Cavernous Sinus?

10 Oct



To understand what is the cavernous sinus, one needs to understand the structure of human head to some extent. The cavernous sinus, also known as lateral sellar compartment are located within the human head. A large collection of veins constituted of veins with thin walls create this cavity, which is on one side bordered by the temporal bone and on the other by the sphenoid bone of the skull.

What constitutes the cavernous sinus is something like this. Vertically it comprises of trochlear nerve, maxillary nerve, oculomotor nerve and ophthalmic nerve. Horizontally it is made up of abducens nerve and internal carotid artery as well as sympathetic plexus. And as can be easily guessed, all these nerves give it a very complex and delicate character. So it can be safely argued that what cavernous sinus is, is nothing but a cavity in our skull to hold a disparate number of nerves. In this respect we also find that there is similarity between any other sinus and cavernous sinus by virtue of being a cavity in the skull.

Now coming to the connections of the veins, we find that it has got tributaries from both inferior and superior ophthalmic veins, middle and superior cerebral veins and superior parietal sinus. It is the only such anatomical location in our body where an artery has to travel completely through a structure of veins. So if someone is to ask what is unique about cavernous sinus, then it is undoubtedly this. Though this not to negate its similarities with other sinuses.

Our understanding of what is cavernous sinus gets both enhanced and complicated as well when we take into account the fact that pituitary gland lies nowhere else but very much between the two paired cavernous sinuses. Any abnormal growth of pituitary adenoma when expands in a particular direction where there is least resistance, it causes the compression of cavernous sinus. This compression results in cavernous sinus syndrome because of these tumors and ultimately results in opthalmoplegia which is loss of ophthalmic sensory loss while the compression of maxillary nerve causes maxillary sensory loss.

 
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Dealing With an Allergic Reaction

23 Sep



An allergic reaction can occur anywhere to almost anybody. Those that have a negative reaction to something can experience a variety of symptoms, but when a reaction occurs, they will most assuredly realize what is happening.

However, those who experience a reaction for the first time may become alarmed since the body is reacting in a different way, to whatever may be setting it off.

If an individual obtains a little information regarding an allergies and reactions, then they can help the body to better cope.

When an allergic reaction occurs, the body undergoes a complex set of events, but to better understand one’s body, the events may be a crucial element to understanding what is happening.

The first reaction that the body has is to produce an antibody called IgE. According to Web MD, this antibody will then attach to “a form of blood cell called a mast cell.

Mast cells can be found in the airways, in the GI tract, and elsewhere.” Web MD also states that when the allergens attach to the IgE, this will cause the mast cells to trigger a reaction that will then activate the body to produce a variety of chemicals including histamine.

This histamine release is what causes the bad reaction that many face, such as itchy eyes and a runny nose. If the discomfort is severe, one can experience loss of consciousness or one’s airways may close up, resulting in difficulty breathing. In severe cases, a negative reaction can be bad enough to even cause death.

Many who do not suffer from allergies are sometimes concerned that they can develop a negative reaction quickly if an allergen presents itself. The fact is that two out of every ten Americans deal with allergies on a daily basis.

However, even though many people deal with allergies and allergens regularly, the fact is that most types of an allergic reaction are hereditary. If only one parent is allergic to something, then their child has a fifty percent chance of being allergic.

If both parents deal with allergies to something specific, then their child will be seventy-five percent as likely to have an allergic reaction to the same thing.

An allergic reaction can be a difficult thing to deal with unless a person is fully prepared. One thing that an individual can do is to keep certain health tools on hand at all times, such as Benadryl.

Those who suffer an allergic reaction and have never experienced one before may be very confused. They should keep up with what exactly occurred, so when they go and visit their doctor, they can give a full report as to what happened.

 
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How to Treat Sinus Infection – Remedial Measures For Sinus Infection

17 Sep



Sinus infection is a condition when there is an inflammation of the cavities around the bone of the nose. This results in the trapping of mucus in the nasal passage. The sinus walls experience tremendous pressure causing pain and discomfort. As it is a common occurrence, many people look for information on how to treat sinus infection. The treatments vary depending upon what is causing the sinus infection. The symptoms may indicate what treatment is appropriate to provide relief as well as to prevent recurrence.

Some home remedies – how to treat sinus infection

Avoiding exposure to cold is suggested as it can aggravate sinusitis. Staying in environments devoid of pollutants and allergens can help in avoiding the infection getting worse. Drinking plenty of water is found to provide some relief. Taking a warm steam inhalation from a bowl of hot water can help. Mentholated preparation can be added to aid the opening of the clogged passage ways. Taking Vitamin C daily can also help. Saline nasal sprays can dilute the mucus and improve its flow and provide relief from clogged sinuses. These are common ways suggested on how to treat sinus infection.

Other options on how to treat sinus infection are available in the market in the form of decongestants and nasal sprays. They are useful for a few days only. Nasal rinses with saline water or steroids may be used in some cases. Inhaling steam from a vaporizer and drinking hot tea and other liquids to keep the body warm and hydrated is found to help. In the case of bacterial infections, antibiotics are prescribed mostly as they are known to be effective.

A natural ways on how to treat sinus infection is by using the Neti pot. The Neti pot is used to pour a mixture of salt solution in warm water in one nostril and expelled through the other. The water rinses excess mucus from the sinus cavities and cleans them from infections. A sinus buster is used for relief from headache due to sinus infection.

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