Help I Am Allergic To Peanuts

If you are allergic to peanuts then you suffer from allergies Type 1 what is also called Contact Allergies. Peanut oil is used in so many foods preparations that avoiding them can be very difficult. At the present time there is no known cure for allergies that involve food. Everyone that is allergic to peanuts should wear a Medical Alert Bracelet identifying the specific food intolerance.

Peanuts do not grow on trees and are not considered true nuts. Peanuts are part of the legume family, which include, peas, lima beans, lentils and soybeans. If you or someone you know suffers from allergies to peanuts you should be constantly on watch for other legume allergies. Other allergies may never appear but the possibility for other problem exists. Allergy testing should be completed on each of these foods separately just to be sure.

Over 3 million people or 1 percent of the population in the United States suffer from allergy reaction to peanuts. Peanut allergies account for over 80 percent of the fatal or near-fatal reaction call anaphylactic shock. An anaphylactic reaction can cause the airways to constrict, making breathing difficult and your blood pressure to drop to life-threatening levels. Symptoms include abdominal pain, nausea, stomach cramps, swelling of the face, itching, wheezing, and hives.

The proteins found in peanuts trigger the immune system to reaction. Antibodies and histamines are releases into the blood stream in an attempt to neutralize the peanut protein. These chemicals trigger the allergic symptoms. In sever cases Epinephrine, also call Adrenaline, is administered to control the anaphylaxis reaction.

If you have even a mild reaction to peanuts you need to notify you doctor immediately. Food allergies can gradually get worst over time until a sudden onset of a life threaten reaction occurs. The more times you are exposed to the offending allergen the worst the symptom can become.

Peanuts can show up in the most unsuspecting foods. Until a cure is found, read the labels of every food that you bring into your home. Because the manufacturing processes change continuously re-read the labels each time you purchase a product. On January 1, 2006 a new law was passed stating that all labels should be designed in such a way that a 7 year old child could read and understand the ingredients.

Always consult your doctor before using this information.

This Article is nutritional in nature and is not to be construed as medical advice.

Deciding If Sinus Surgery is the Right Option For You

You know what they feel like: those gripping, throbbing pains above your eyebrows, on top of your head, the aching of your teeth, blinding lights and blaring sounds. Sinus pressure! Sinus surgery should be the last measure taken in your attempts to lessen the grips of those terrible sinus headaches. Surgery cannot be undone, and while severe complications and side effects could happen, there is very little chance of getting back what is "cut out."

Before sinus surgery is even considered, there are a number of steps that have to be taken. If you are truly concerned about your health, your well being, and your family and friends, you must cherish your body and health enough to thoroughly understand what is happening to your body, what is causing your sinus suffering, and what steps you should take to get it under control.

Patience and communication are very important as you make your way through this web of physical symptoms. It may take years before you come to the end of prevention and treatments, and move into the final phase of surgery.

Gathering information

The first step is to gather as much information as you can

Talk and communicate with your family and relatives and document:

1. allergies,


2. genetic and normal physical conditions,


3. possible remedies that work.

Talk and communicate with your neighbors or local health officials

1. allergies,


2. genetic and normal physical conditions (if needed or possible)


3. possible remedies that work

Talk with your Dentist to see if it may be related to your teeth, jaw, gums, or root nerves.Download a Home Allergy Checklist sheet and complete it

1. This will help you understand if there is something in your home that may be causing your suffering: plants, animals, mold, lack of humidity, outside or inside environmental contagion, etc.

Keep a running record of the weather in your area.

1. Write down when fronts come through,


2. Excessive times of rain, snow, fog, sun, wind,


3. Jumps in temperature,


4. Humidity levels inside and out.

Keep a running record of symptoms and note:

1. what they are,


2. how long they last,


3. what the dates were,


4. what you were doing in the hours and days before they began,


5. what medicines you took and your body's response to them.

Keep a running record of OTC and prescribed drugs and note:

1. The exact name and dosage,


2. how long you took it,


3. what the dates were,


4. and your body's response to them.

Keep a running record of the pollen and mold counts in your area.

1. Check out: http://www.pollen.com/allergy-weather-forecast.asp and have emails sent to you on a regular basis,


2. Write down dates of high counts,


3. Write down dates when you start sneezing, itching, and getting congested.

Throw your records onto the computer and place the file on your desktop, or, pick up a small notebook and keep it somewhere obvious at home so that you can enter the information on a regular basis. It takes at least a year of data and seasonal shifts of weather and environment before you will have enough data to analyze and take with you to your doctor.

Decision making

The chances are you have already been to your doctor off and on about this, or you have jumped into the prevention and treatment stage. There is nothing wrong with that because you have been trying to stop your horrible sinus headaches. But now, with all of your data, it is time to get serious and set up an appointment with your primary care physician. Take your time during the appointment. Explain what you did, provide a copy of the notes, and summarize your findings. There are a number of interconnecting issues, preventions, and treatments that may be broached upon concurrently or separately. Remember, this is your well-being and your life, take the time to do it right. Your doctor may not be aware or interested in certain preventative measures or treatments. It is your right, and responsibility to yourself and family, to push forward anyways.

1. Allergy medicines may be prescribed to you based on this data. Educate yourself on the different medicines available (OTC, antihistamines, nasal sprays). This may take years as you find the best one for you, and sometimes, a combination of medications is needed. Take your time.
2. Allergy testing at a special clinic or laboratory. Blood samples and panels of skin tests will be taken. Educate yourself. Find out what your insurance covers and what you need.
3. Treatments: Chiropractic, allergy shots, medicines, food choices, etc.
4. Prevention: Getting rid of animals, installing and changing furnace and air filters regularly, installing allergy bedding, closing off your home from outside allergens and contaminates, washing thoroughly after being outside or working with certain chemicals, moving to a different climate, etc.
5. CT scan of your head and sinus cavities.
6. Referral to an ENT-Ear, Nose, and Throat Specialist
7. Research, research, Research!

A Natural and Holistic Approach to the Treatment of Allergies

What are Allergies?

Allergies occur when antigens bind to IgE and this combined compound binds to Mast Cells within the body: Mast Cells then release Histamine and Serotonin in response to Antigens to try to defend the body against invading foreign substances.

Allergies are also caused by Eosinophils (specialized Cells of the Immune System) when they release Hydrogen Peroxidase at the site of the Allergy in an attempt to destroy what they "believe" to be Antigens.

Histamine is released during this process and is directly responsible for most of the unpleasant symptoms associated with allergies (such as itching, sneezing etc.).

Allergies can manifest in a variety of ways such as skin eruptions like hives, or nasal symptoms like hay fever, or migraines, or digestive allergies. The symptoms from allergies can sometimes be complex and not easily distinguishable as allergies. So blood testing should be performed to determine if you are allergic or not.

There are two forms of allergy tests, the first tests for immediate allergic reactions and measures IgE in the blood in response to allergens; this can be ordered from any medical laboratory. The second tests for the more insidious allergies and measures IgG in the blood in response to antigens, this usually requires more specialized laboratories to perform this test, such as Alcat. So if you are suffering from allergies it is best to have yourself tested so you know what foods and food additives you need to avoid.

It is interesting to note that Doctors are finally realizing that about 60% of the population has some degree of Celiac disease, or gluten-intolerance. And diabetes is becoming more and more prevalent, especially among children. Now doctors are also diagnosing both diseases in many people, finding a link between Celiac disease and type I Diabetes.

How to treat and deal with your allergies

It is best to directly treat the immune system when dealing with allergies. First and foremost the best is to avoid, if possible, the allergen you are allergic to.

If it is food based allergies you are suffering form, such as gluten intolerance, etc. and can't find any creative recipes for your allergy diet then I would advise you get Fun with Gluten Free and Low Glycaemic Index Food! - by Debbie Johnson. Johnson is a very creative chef, who was the former owner and executive chef of the restaurant, The Golden Chalice Restaurant. Having read through her cookbook I can definitely say that Johnson knows what she is talking about. I highly recommend it.

Below is a list of nutrients available to help treat the body's symptoms of allergies. You can try the following:

Nutraceuticals

Quercetin, stabilizes the Cell Membranes of Mast Cells. This strengthening of Cell Membranes of Mast Cells causes the Mast Cells to be less reactive to Antigens (that are involved in Allergies) and decreases the ease with which they release their stored Histamine.

A combination of Ester-C [a particular form of Vitamin C] (2 - 4 g/day) and Quercetin, (1.000 mg - 1.500 mg/day) both are good natural anti-histamine agents and are therefore important in the natural treatment of Allergies. Quercetin acts directly on the intestinal tract to reduce reactions to dietary allergens. It inhibits production of histamine by stabilizing basophils and mast cells. Bioflavonoids (such as Quercitin) may help reduce the body's release of symptom-producing histamine, explains Elliott Middleton, Jr., M.D., Ph.D. at the State University of New York at Buffalo.

Betaglucan and Resveratrol, ideal for chemical sensitive people: These patients get headaches, disorientation, muscle and joint pain, mood disturbances, short-term memory problems dizziness, difficulty concentrating, shortness of breath and stomach pains. These patients have reactions to pesticides, perfume, deodorant, household, cleaning products, toner, cigarette smoke etc.

With WGP Beta1,3/1,6-glucan, at least 75 % purified quality (1000 mg/day) and Resveratrol (produced by red grapes 20-60 mg/day or transresveratrol by Polygonum cuspidatum 100 mg); patients have little problems with perfume, toner, cigarette smoke, environmental pollutants and other toxins.

Vitamin C increases the oral bioavailability of Beta-D-Glucan

Resveratrol protects the brain from free radical attack and modulation of the activity the phase 1 and phase 2 enzymes also plays an important role in the detoxification effects of Resveratrol.

Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) helps to prevent and treat Allergies. This supplement should not be used by individuals suffering from multiple chemical sensitivity.

Rutin counteracts Allergies (by inhibiting the release of Histamine from Mast Cells).

Herbs

Redbush Tea with Stevia is an important basis in the treatment of allergies and other intolerances. Redbush Tea (at least 1 litre/day or more) has anti-allergic effects, because it contains Quercetin. Studies have shown that the average 150 ml cup of Redbush Tea contains about 1.4 mg - 1.7 mg Quercetin.

Mangosteen Extract provides the potent antioxidant benefits of xanthone flavonoids from mangosteen fruit. These flavonoids possess antioxidant properties that may help neutralize cell damage by free radicals (i.a. environmental pollutants), allowing for the maintenance of optimal cell function. The xanthone flavonoids also help to support a healthy immune system and inhibit the release of histamine.

Reishi Mushrooms and Maitake Mushrooms prevent and treat Allergies, due to their Beta-D-Glucan content. Reishi mushrooms also reduce high histamine levels.

Ginkgo biloba alleviates Allergies by inhibiting the activity of Eosinophils (due to the Ginkgolide B content of Ginkgo biloba).

The above recommended nutraceuticals and herbs are recommended for general allergies. When trying to treat more specific allergies, such as skin allergies, hay fever, etc. it is best to consult a practitioner for more specific treatment, such as that offered by Homeopathy.

Homeopathic treatment will target your individual specific symptoms and help you to overcome you allergy sensitivities. Homeopathic doctors may also use auto-sanguineous therapy to deal with allergies which has about an 80% success rate in dealing with allergies. It is best to consult a homeopath for this form of treatment. I homeopath may also prescribe herbs that are better suited to your specific allergies.

My Cat is Sneezing

If your cat is sneezing it may mean that the cat has a cold or a respiratory illness. If the cat has a illness it may be viral, bacterial, or fungal in nature. Each of these three causes will require a unique treatment which can be done by your vet. It is important that you don't do any treatments on your cat without talking to a veterinarian first.

Cats can be sneezing as a response to several different things. Like humans they can be effected by strong chemicals or even tobacco smoke. Each cat shows different responses and sensitivities to different chemicals and allergens. Flat faced breeds of cat are usually far more sensitive to exposure of chemicals. If your cat has a sneezing problem your suspects should be perfume, household cleaners, insecticides and many other things.

If your cat has allergies, this may be the reason why it is sneezing. Like humans, cats can be allergic to many different things. Such as grasses, trees, and pollens. These will be seasonal allergies, so if the cat has allergies all year round you may need to suspect a different allergen may be causing their atopy allergy. If you are unable to figure out what is causing your cats allergies you can have a vet do allergy testing.

There are many other significantly more uncommon causes of a cat's sneezing. These include nose polyps, cancer and ear infection. If you have any indication that any of these are the case then bring the animal to a veterinarian clinic for a diagnosis. The cat could also have just a mild cold. Dental problems may also be a cause of a cat's sneezing. If a cat has a tooth abscess or an infection on its upper teeth, it can cause the cat to sneeze. Again, only a vet cat determine if this is the case.

Allergy Tests - 2 Types of Allergies

Type 1 allergies, the classic type, are IgE-mediated. IgE is an antibody of immune cell that binds to an irritant, such as a food or pollen. High 1gb levels, which are detected by blood tests, are confirmation of type 1 allergies. However, the type of blood test used does not generally identify cyclic food allergies.

Cyclic food allergies can be identified by both objective and subjective methods. Complementary physicians measure IgG food antibody levels or white blood cell reactions to antigens.

Skin testing may also be done to check for reactions to food, chemicals, pollens, dusts, molds, and other agents. Underlying problems, such as parasitic infections, Candida and the insufficient secretion of digestive enzymes, may improve absorption and lessen reactivity to foods. In addition, patients answer questionnaires to help determine the cause and extent of the problem.

The reason behind allergy-like symptoms could be infective dental toxicity. Biological dentistry postulates that allergies can be triggered by infections in root canal-treated teeth, cavitations abscess and periodontal disease, or that they can be implant related.

Applied kinesiology is another technique sometimes used as an allergy test. This diagnostic procedure has a patient place a food under the tongue while lowering and outstretched arm against the resistance of the doctor. Difficulty lowering the arm indicates that the food is causing weakness.

Allergies produce stimulating effects, followed by degenerative ones. Doctors rate severity on a scale of one to four.

The first level of stimulation, in which a person remains relatively symptom free, is called +1. The person is active, alert and responsive and behaves normally. At the +2 stage, a person becomes hyperactive, irritable, hungry, thirsty, tense, jittery, talkative, argumentative and overly sensitive.

With a +3 reaction, an individual becomes hypomanic, toxic anxious, egocentric, aggressive, loquacious, clumsy and apprehensive. An extreme +4 stimulation causes mania, excitement, agitation and possibly convulsions.

At the degenerative end of the scale, a-1 reaction gives an allergic manifestation that might include a runny nose, hives, gas, diarrhea, frequent urination or various eye and ear symptoms.

At the -2 stage, there are systemic allergic reactions such as tiredness, mild depression, swelling, pain and cardiovascular effects.

With a -3 reaction there re depression, disturbed mental processes, confusion, moodiness and withdrawal. Finally at the -4 stage, severe depression and possibly paranoia or even suicide, can result.

What's the Big Deal With Anaphylactic Peanut Allergies?

Parents who do not have a child with an anaphylactic allergy often gripe and complain about how inconvenient it is to provide a nut-free environment. They ask why the whole group of children should suffer just because one child has an allergy. I would like to share what it is really like to live with a child who has a life threatening allergy, and suggest ways you can support these children.

My 7.5 year old son has an anaphylactic-shock allergic reaction to peanuts. He also has an anaphylactic-shock allergic reaction to dairy, but peanut particles are more easily air-borne, so while he may be in the same room as someone eating dairy, he cannot be in the same room with peanuts.

When my son was only a few months old he developed severe eczema on his face, hands, feet, and behind his knees. At one point it was so severe every time I would lay him down he would frantically grind his hands and feet into the carpet, sheets, or blanket until they bled, just to get a little relief from the itching. He was a real trooper and kept a sunny disposition through out, but I could tell he was in agony, especially at night when trying to fall asleep.

I took him to his pediatrician, who was also a Naturopath, and we tried natural remedies of Calendula cream first. No improvement. We tried mainstream medical remedies like steroid creams. No improvement. When he was about a year old they ran a RAST test (blood work to test for allergies) and he tested positive to wheat, corn, dairy, eggs, soy, bananas, and peanuts. We had tried introducing him to solids around 1 years old, but he was really resistant to eating solids and would gag until he threw up, so other than the occasional crackers, he was exclusively breastfed. Our ped referred us to a pediatric allergy specialist.

At our first appointment the allergy specialist laughed at the rast results and told me there was no way any child that young was allergic to that many foods. He recommended we do a skin prick test to confirm which were false positives and which were true positives. There were no false positives. He was truly reacting to all the foods that tested positive with the RAST test.

I was instructed to eliminate all the foods from my diet while I was still nursing, to not give him any of the foods he tested positive for. The doctor explained what an anaphylactic allergy was, and that the allergy testing indicated he likely had an anaphylaxis allergic to peanuts and dairy. He cautioned me that each subsequent exposure would produce increasingly severe reactions.

Around age 3 my son was accidentally exposed to peanuts for the first time. His grandpa was eating peanuts earlier in the day before meeting up with us, and didn't wash his hands. Hours later we got a ride with him, and Grandpa helped my son out of his car seat and held his hand up the stairs. My son rubbed a hand across his lips, and his lips immediately swelled up like little golf balls. It was a dramatic visual for what would happen if he ever ingested even a particle of peanut. He was treated for his allergic reaction at the ER, and we were fortunate the peanut was not ingested. He was fortunate we knew about his allergy and were able to take the appropriate precautions.

When my son started public preschool at 30 months old they were 100% supportive in providing a nut-free environment. The parents were sent notices, and a nut-free classroom policy was strictly enforced.

When he started kindergarten at our small town public school there was no nut-free classroom policy in place to protect children with anaphylactic allergies. It was up to me to advocate for my son and ensure his classroom was safe. I worked closely with the principal and his home room teacher to educate them about his allergy. They implemented routine hand washing and made sure the children were not bringing nuts into the classroom.

The Province of British Columbia, Canada, where we live, has an Anaphylaxis Protection Order that requires every school board establish and maintain policies, procedures and staff training in order to ensure the safety of children at risk of anaphylaxis in BC schools. There is also a list of resources available for teachers and students to assist in implementing anaphylaxis safety in the school.

A couple months after my son started school I was on the playground watching my son play, and a parent I had never met was making small talk with me and said "some kid in the class has stupid nut allergies and it really irritates me that I can't send peanut butter or granola bars in my son's lunch anymore." Another parent immediately spoke up to point out I was the parent of the child with the "stupid nut allergy." I took the opportunity to educate that parent, and he had the grace to apologize, but I was really shocked that anyone would feel so negatively about being inconvenienced by something so simple that could potentially save my child's life. We have no problem accommodating children with disabilities that are more visible, and no parent would complain about accommodating a child in a wheel chair, but not sending peanut butter in your child's lunch is a problem. Really?! Quite frankly the inconvenience factor is a minor concern in contrast to preserving a child's life.

Living with a child with anaphylactic allergies is no walk in the park. You think it's hard to keep peanut butter out of your child's lunch? Try living with it on a daily basis, and being 100% vigilant all of the time. There is no such thing as simply going to an event or a birthday party or a play date for our son.

When my child wants to socialize outside of his nut free classroom or our home, here is what is involved:

1. Ensure it's a nut-free environment. Absolutely no nuts, or anything with nuts as an ingredient. This usually involves a phone call prior to the event to give the parents a heads up.


2. If nuts were eaten at the location, or by other people attending earlier in the day I ensure all hands are washed and surfaces where the food was eaten is cleaned.


3. Pack a lunch or snack so he has nut-free food to eat. If food is being prepared for our child, I have to ensure all surfaces, cutting boards, dishes, knives, utensils, and serving bowls are washed so there's no cross contamination. Usually we opt to bring our own safe food to simplify matters.


4. Ensure the child has an Epi-pen on hand and make sure the adults know where it is (in his backpack) and how to administer it. There are simple step by step instructions on the side of the Epi-pen that takes literally seconds to review.


5. Let the adults know symptoms of anaphylaxis may include: hives or other epidermic swelling, breathing difficulty, throat tightness, choking feeling, nausea & vomiting, stomach pain & diarrhea, faintness or dizziness, low blood pressure, rapid heart beat, extreme anxiety, and cardiac arrest.


6. Tell adults what to do an emergency - administer Epi-pen, call 911 and tell the medics it is anaphylactic shock, and call parents - in that order.


7. Trust God.

I know the idea of a child's life being at risk is terrifying for some, and mildly scary for others, but I firmly believe that my child needs to learn how to function in the real world. We do not isolate him from other children. He knows not to accept food from others, and is very good at saying a firm "no thank you, I have allergies."

Our son knows that if we go to an event and there are nuts present, we will need to leave and although this may be disappointing, this has been such a huge part of our life for so many years he has learned to handle the disappointment very well, and my husband and I make a concerted effort to make up for it later by giving him safe treats and doing fun family activities that don't involve allergy hyper-vigilance.

How can you best support a child with life-threatening allergies?

• Treat the child normally. Do not ostracize the child or act fearful.


• Take the initiative to talk to the child's parent and learn about the child's allergy and the appropriate action to take in an emergency. Ensure you know where the child's Epi-pen is at all times when in a caregiver capacity.


• Ensure the child has safe food available and doesn't feel left out at meal times.


• Double check that the environment is nut-free. Wipe surfaces clean, and have other children and parents wash their hands when they arrive.

Next time you hear a parent requesting a nut-free environment for their child, please remember that it's not just an inconvenience, you could be saving a life.

Do You Really Have a Penicillin Allergy?

Ask any doctor or pharmacist how many of their patients report a penicillin allergy, and you'll find an astoundingly high number of self-reported penicillin allergic patients. As much as 10% of the population says they have a penicillin allergy. But this number appears to be falsely high.

A true penicillin allergy may consist of symptoms including rash, hives, itchiness and most concerning are the symptoms of anaphylaxis: swelling of the mouth or throat, difficulty breathing and a drop in blood pressure. The latter symptoms often come on quickly and can be fatal if not treated swiftly.

Symptoms such as stomach upset, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or headache unaccompanied by the symptoms above usually are not related to allergy, but more due to actual side effects of the drug. If you have experienced these symptoms with a penicillin or related antibiotic, you probably do not have to avoid these antibiotics in the future.

Since many people may not know the difference between an allergy and a side effect, it is essential to tell your health care provider what types of symptoms you experienced when you had the "allergy". This way the health care team will know how best to treat you if you have an infection. If it is not a true penicillin allergy, the medical team may not have to resort to a drug that kills a wide range of bacteria (increases resistance) or a drug that is much more expensive (increases wastage of money)!

Having said all this, what is the actual incidence of penicillin allergy? Surprisingly, it's only 1-2% of all people! This is determined by skin testing, which can be performed if you are uncertain of the nature of your allergy, or if you don't know if you are still allergic to a given drug.

There are many drugs related to penicillin:

Cloxacillin, amoxicillin, ampicillin, piperacillin are just a few close relatives that should be avoided if you have a true penicillin allergy.

Other more distant relatives include drugs called Cephalosporins, that begin with "Ceph-" or "Cef-", such as cephalexin, cefuroxime, cefixime, cefoxitin. If you are truly allergic to a penicillin, there is still a small (around 1-2%) chance of reacting to these drugs, depending on the specific drug. Other drugs that may cause an allergy if you are penicillin-allergic include meropenem, imipenem, and ertapenem. Cross reactivity between penicillins and aztreonam is rare.

In summary, if you are unsure whether you have a penicillin allergy, the chances low that you actually do. But the only way to be certain is if you've had symptoms of anaphylaxis to a penicillin, or have tested positive on a penicillin allergy skin test.