Posted in Category : Natural Cures | April 13, 2009

Allergies Remedies

An allergy is a disorder that encompasses a very wide range of conditions. However, in its most basic form it can be identified as a disorder of the immune system. Allergy is the human body’s natural reaction and defense against any foreign substances that it deems harmful. Whenever the human body comes in contact with an allergen, the immune system produces antibodies to protect it from the allergen. While these antibodies try to fight off the allergens, the body begins to show the symptoms of an allergy. An allergy can be triggered by a wide array of substances – from foods to pets to medicines to a host of other things – and are often classified on the basis of allergens. Allergies can also be classified depending on which part of the body is affected. There are allergies of the skin, sinus, eyes, respiratory system, digestive system and several others organs.

Allergy symptoms largely depend on what the allergen is. It also depends on which part of the body is affected by the allergy. An allergy of the skin will show rashes, itchiness, and swelling. Food allergies are likely to show irritation in the mouth and a choked feeling. Drug allergies mostly show up as rashes, swelling, and a feeling of asphyxiation. Some other allergy symptoms may be congestion of the chest, runny nose, watering eyes, wheezing, and shortness of breath, among others.

Remedies for an allergy are mostly in the form pharmacotherapy and immunotherapy. Pharmacotherapy treatments are aimed at reducing the immune system reaction by using certain drugs. Immunotherapy is a treatment in which the patient is injected with the allergen extract over a period of time so that the body starts to adapt to the presence of the allergen. Both these treatments need to be carried out under strict supervision of a medical professional.

You should make certain lifestyle changes to better deal with allergies. Identify the allergens that you are prone to suffer from and avoid them altogether. While most allergens can be avoided, certain allergens (especially air-borne allergens) are difficult to avoid. In those cases, you should take extra care – by wearing masks, minimizing outdoor activities, and avoiding certain foods, to name a few. Besides this, for allergies caused by molds and pollens, you’ll have to ensure that you keep your household clean from any kind of dust. Wash your bedding regularly and vacuum clean the sofas, carpets, and curtains as frequently as you can. Food allergies are easy to avoid once you have identified the triggering foods. Allergies caused by cosmetics are also easily avoidable once you’ve found out the trigger.

• • •
Related Topics