What You Should Know If You Have Allergies

Cigarette Smoke Allergies

Smokers do not only harm themselves. They also harm the people around them. Smoking is harmful to everybody. There is a study that says spouses and children of smokers are more prone to asthma and other respiratory infections than non-smokers.

Conducted research studies suggest that smoking may worsen allergies. Research indicates that children and spouses of smokers have higher risks of acquiring respiratory infection and asthma. People with cigarette smoke allergy are highly sensitive to cigarette smoke compared to others. Research studies have proven that allergies can be aggravated by smoking.

Poison Ivy Allergy Guide

The sap responsible for irritation in the toxicodendron family is named urushiol. The toxicodendrons include poison ivy, poison sumac, and poison oak. An allergic reaction brought about by contact with urushiol is presented as an itchy rash. This may be seen within a few hours up to a few days after exposure. A person may be exposed to urushiol in a variety of ways. Indirect contact with the sap can be through handling with contaminated objects.

The leaves, stems, and roots of a poison plant contain urushiol. Urushiol can be hastily taken in by the skin. Burning of poison ivy or other poison plants release urushiol into the air. This may then be inhaled by a person. Respiratory tract irritation occurs upon breathing in of smoke from burning poison plants. The allergic reaction observed is primarily due to airborne urushiol. Poison sumac, poison ivy, and poison oak can be seen in most parts of the US.

The existence of poison ivy can be categorized into two. It can occur as vines or as shrubs. Areas on the north and west typically have poison ivy shrubs. In other places, poison ivy grows as vines. The three leaflets present in a poison ivy plant make it easier to be identified. Determining if a plant is indeed poison sumac involves the identification of a woody shrub. The stem of this shrub should have around 7 to 13 leaves arranged in pairs for it to be poison sumac. Harmless sumac does not have the bundles of green berries hanging down from the shrub as is typical of poison sumac. Watery and marshy areas generally have an abundance of poison sumac. Crimson berries occurring in bundles hang upright in a harmless sumac shrub.

Mold Allergy Overview

Pollen, dust mite, and mold allergies have similar symptoms. It may include congestion, itchy and watery eyes, sneezing, runny rose, and coughing. Keep the basement and bathroom well ventilated. This will help in preventing the fungi to flourish in moist places. In addition, doors and windows should always be kept closed. House plants should be kept in a minimum. Their soil can contribute in mold growth.

Identify mold trigger outside your home. Molds can be present under the mushroom, in the grass, leaves, hay, and mulch. In addition, take note of the damp places inside your home. Keep your basement and bathroom moist free to avoid further growth of molds. Prevent the occurrence of mold allergy. An individual can do so by avoiding outdoor activities like raking leaves. Soil from plants can harbor molds. An individual experiencing allergy to molds should avoid indoor plants.

Allergy Symptoms Guide

The most common symptoms include runny nose, sneezing, wheezing, itchy eyes, and skin rashes. How a person experiences the symptoms depends on the allergen and how he was exposed to it.

The following are examples of how exposure and allergen is relative to the reaction: difficulty of breathing may be caused by inhaling pollen, skin rashes may be caused by applying substances that contain chemical allergens, and vomiting may be caused by eating food you are allergic to. Some people inherit their allergies from their family members. For some reason, boys are more likely to inherit allergies than girls. Babies who have low birth weight are also said to inherit the condition. An allergic reaction may be mild, moderate, or severe. Learn more about yellow jacket sting.

Neglected cases may be life threatening. Anaphylactic reaction is also known as anaphylaxis. Anaphylactic reactions need immediate medical attention.

Latex Allergies

Medical equipment, gloves, and condoms with latex content are some of the products people with latex allergy should avoid. They are very offending products which will trigger allergic reactions. Skin rashes, eye tearing and irritation, runny nose, cough, wheezing, difficulty of breathing and itchiness are some of the symptoms of latex allergy. Allergic reactions caused by latex can either be mild or severe. Skin rashes are considered to be mild symptoms and may disappear without treatment. Anaphylaxis, on the other hand, is the most severe allergic reaction that needs immediate medical attention. A person is experiencing anaphylaxis when he is having difficulty of breathing, development of hives, and gastrointestinal problems.

Removing products that has latex is considered as treatment of latex allergy. Epinephrine and antihistamines can cure allergy symptoms. If you are allergic to latex, you must wear a MedicAlert bracelet to give awareness to the people around you. You should never forget to bring your emergency epinephrine kit wherever you go.

If you are diagnosed with latex allergy, you should avoid products with latex content.

If you would like to learn a little more about allergy symptoms, please feel free to go to the author’s site.

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Raising Allergy Awareness
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