28
March

Allergies 101: Nasal Congestion

Nasal Congestion

Nasal Congestion

MedHelp Urgent Care have covered the mechanism, types, signs and symptoms of allergies in our Allergies 101 series but it’s now time to deal with one of the biggest allergy-related complaint and problem: nasal congestion (also known as allergic rhinitis or ‘hay fever’).

CAUSE

Ranging from a mild annoyance to severe problem, nasal congestion is a condition most closely related to airborne allergies. If there’s something in the air that you are allergic to, nasal congestion will be one of your body’s first reaction to it as the nasal airway and tissues in the sinuses are the first contact point for the allergen. When the body’s immune system starts the attack on the allergen, the sinuses become irritated and inflamed- alongside any other allergic reactions. Nasal congestion is often accompanied by itchy, watery eyes.

PREVENTION

The best way to protect your self from nasal congestion and allergic reactions is to avoid exposure to the particular allergens. However, the biggest culprit in nasal congestion caused by airborne allergies is pollen and it’s not an easy substance to avoid. In every season except winter, trees, grasses and plants produce and spread a lot of pollen in the air which can wreak havoc on those allergic to it. Ragweed in particular accounts for a large number of allergic reactions and nasal congestions.

While you can not possible cleanse the outdoors of pollen, you can protect yourself better by clearing your house and indoor environments of any airborne allergens (such as dust mite, feathers or dander) that could cause nasal congestion.

Nasal congestion is a classic sign of airborne allergy but you can also get it from another allergy type such as a particular food, pet or drug allergy. Fortunately, avoiding a particular food type or cats is easier than avoiding pollen when you go outside!

TREATMENT

Avoiding the allergens can go a long way in preventing nasal congestion and other allergic reactions, but if your nasal congestion is severe and persisting, you should visit us at MedHelp and see a doctor for your condition. Possible treatments include over-the-counter or prescribed drugs, nasal sprays, eye drops and immunotherapy (where a series of injections are administered to you over a long period of time to make you resistant to certain allergens).

As always, our team of doctors and trained medical staff at the MedHelp Urgent Care can provide you with the treatment and advice you need to protect yourself from nasal congestion and other allergic reactions.

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28
March

Allergies 101: Signs and Symptoms

Allergies Signs and Symptoms

Allergies Signs and Symptoms

In our last two posts we discussed what allergies really are, talked about the body’s allergic reaction and looked at the different types of allergens. In today’s posts , we will cover the signs and symptoms related to common allergy types. After all, if you or someone you know has an allergic reaction, it’s better if you are able to identify it as such! That way you can put distance between yourself and the allergen, know if you should or should not freak out and get the right treatment.

The tricky thing about allergy symptoms is that they can differ from person to person and allergen to allergen. Two kids might have completely different visible reactions to pollen allergy or have the same type of reaction to two different types of allergies. Nonetheless, some common symptoms include itchy eyes or nose, nasal congestion, breathing trouble and a tightness in the throat. An allergic reaction could also make the person pass out.

To be more specific, here are the symptoms related to the different allergy types:

AIRBORNE ALLERGIES

Peaking in the early twenties, airborne allergies often develop in a person’s childhood and disappear by the time they turn sixty.   Symptoms include:

  • Itchy nose/throat
  • Coughing
  • Nasal congestion
  • Sneezing
  • Allergic conjunctivitis (which causes itchy, watery or red eyes)

Airborne allergies are particularly dangerous if a person has a history of wheezing or shortness of breath as the allergy could turn into asthma.

FOOD ALLERGIES

Depending on the person’s sensitivity to the food and the quantity consumed, symptoms of food allergy can vary from mild to severe. If you have a food allergy and you’ve consumed food that contains the particular allergen, you might have the following symptoms:

  • Itchy mouth/throat after swallowing the food
  • Eczematous rash
  • Runny or itchy nose
  • Hives (red and itchy raised bumps on the body)
  • Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
  • Abdominal cramps
  • Breathing difficulty
  • State of shock

INSECT VENOM ALLERGIES

If a child is stung by an insect that they’re allergic to, symptoms could include:

  • Nausea or diarrhea
  • Throat swelling
  • Hives
  • Breathing difficulty
  • Shock

The area you live in can also determine your risk of having an allergy reaction. Since peanuts are common in the US, more people are known to have had allergic reactions from them. However, peanut allergy is almost nonexistent in places like Scandinavia where people don’t eat peanuts.

If you suspect you or your child is having an allergic reaction, or if you want more information about your allergy type, visit us at the MedHelp Clinic as soon as you can. We will be happy to help!

 

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23
March

Allergies 101: Types of Allergies

Airborne and Food Allergies are two major types of allergies

In our last post we briefly discussed what are allergies and their causes. Today we will take a look at the different types of substances and things that you can be allergic to. Substances you are allergic to are known as allergens and they can be broadly classified into two groups:

AIRBORNE ALLERGENS

Airborne allergens are substances dispersed and carried through in the air and they are some of the most common causes of allergic reactions in people. Airborne allergens include:

Dust mites

Dust mites are microscopic insects that are found everywhere around us- living in curtains, carpets, bedding and upholstery- which feed off the dead cells naturally falling off our bodies. Dust mites are a big part of house dust and the most allergen in nature.

Pollen

Pollen allergy is one of the most common allergy types and happens due to the fertilization process of trees, plants and weeds which requires them to release the tiny particles known as pollen into the air.

Molds

Poorly ventilated areas inside the home and poorly drained areas outside are often home to fungi. This fungi- known as molds- can thrive in a variety of settings and temperatures (whether it’s in a damp basement or a pile of rotting leaves) and be a cause of allergies.

 Pets

Household pets- and especially cats- often lick their fur or feathers as part of their cleaning ritual. The saliva left on their fur starts drying up and releasing protein particles in the air than can act as allergens. Urine, dander and hair are other sources of pet allergens.

Cockroaches

Not only can cockroach-infested places cause asthma in small kids but they can also act as allergens. This is a particularly big problem in the inner city.

FOOD ALLERGENS

Almost 2 million kids in the US have some type of food allergy. Here are some of the most common edibles that kids could have an allergic reaction to:

Cow Milk

Proteins present in cow milk (which are often used for baby formula milk and other milk based products like cheese) could cause allergic reactions.

Eggs

Eggs play an important role in a healthy diet and many of our food products. But if your kid has an egg allergy, you will need to be very particular about which food products you buy as they could contain an egg ingredient that could cause an allergy reaction in your child. Fortunately, most kids outgrow the egg allergy by the time they are 5.

Seafood

A common allergy type for adults, it can last for an entire lifetime!

Peanuts (and other nuts)

One of the most dangerous (and possibly life threatening) allergies is to peanuts.  Peanuts allergy is often accompanied by an allergy to the other nuts.

Soy

Babies who are allergic to cow milk are often allergic to soy milk as well. Soy allergy is less common in older children.

Wheat

Like eggs, wheat and wheat ingredients form a huge part of our diet and it’s not always easy to tell if a particular food product has the wheat ingredient that you’re allergic to.

In addition to airborne and food allergies, other common allergies include allergies to insect stings, certain medicines and particular chemicals.

If you suspect that you are allergic to any particular substance, visit us at the MedHelp clinic. Our team of doctors and trained medical professionals will diagnose your allergy and provide you with the treatment and advice necessary for your allergy type.

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20
March

Allergies 101: The What and Why

 

Allergies

2 million schooldays are lost every year due to allergies

Every year two million school days are lost because of just one cause: allergies. There are roughly 50 million Americans suffering from allergies and that number includes millions of kids all across the country who are allergic to a range of irritants- from peanut butter and dust to cats and cockroaches. This month, we will be talking just about allergies (especially nasal congestion allergies) and what you can do to protect yourself from them.

WHAT ARE ALLERGIES

First of all, it’s important to know about allergies and the reason behind allergic reactions. For most of us, peanuts and cats pose no risk as they are pretty harmless. However, to people with allergies, the same stimulants could cause a physical reaction that could range from annoying to downright harmful. Allergies are defined as the human immune system’s overreaction to substances that are benign to most people.  Because the immune system of someone with an allergy reacts to the allergens (the substance causing the reaction) the same way as it would to a harmful invader, it launches into an inappropriate and unnecessary attack that causes allergy symptoms.

In the presence of a threat, our immune system creates antibodies that release histamine into our blood stream. In the case of actually harmful substances, this mechanism serves to defend and protect our body. However, when this reaction happens in answer to an allergen, it affects a person’s eyes, nose, skins, throat, lungs or gastric tract in an unpleasant- and often visible- manner. This reaction will repeat itself every time you’re exposed to that allergen. So if you are allergic to nuts or pollen for instance, you will have an allergic reaction every time your food contains nuts or there’s pollen in the air.

CAUSES

Hereditary causes account for most allergies. If you have a family history of a specific allergy type, you are in risk of developing that allergy too. As with other genetic diseases, while hereditary allergy increases your risk, it does not follow that you will definitely develop it. Also, if you’re allergic to one substance, you are at risk of becoming allergic to other substances as well.

If you already have an allergy or have a family history of allergies, be sure to visit us for a check-up at the MedHelp clinic. This is particularly important if you have kids so that you can find out about their allergies, learn how to protect them and get treatment.

Join us again as we continue looking into the types of allergies and their treatments.

 

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