Facts About Allegra & Fruit Juice

When you take a medication orally, it ends up in your digestive tract, where it starts to do its work. All medicines must somehow make their way into your bloodstream, which carries them where they need to go to have an effect.

Allegra was designed to target tiny receptors on cells in your small intestines. These receptors absorb the Allegra and help it work where it needs to. Unfortunately, certain fruit juices, especially orange and grapefruit juice, interfere with this absorption.

Studies have shown that absorption can be reduced by as much as 40%. And that means, you're not really getting your full dose of Allegra! So, obviously, it's not going to work as well as you'd expect either.

Antacids have a similar "blocking" effect on the receptors.

Allegra

Allegra, or fenofexadine in generic form, is a second-generation antihistamine that just became available over-the-counter early in 2011. It happens to be my antihistamine of choice, and for many other allergy sufferers as well. It doesn't make you drowsy, and when taken as directed, it can provide extraordinarily effective control over bothersome allergy symptoms.

I've taken Allegra off an on for years (couldn't always get it when it was still a prescription medication). But I have to admit, I just recently learned of the problem with its effectiveness when taken with fruit juice.

Contact allergies can protect against a small number of cancers

Contact allergies can protect against a small number of cancers, Danish researchers write.

Men and women was found inverse association between contact allergy and non-melanoma skin cancer, and breast cancer. Women with a contact allergy was found to reverse the trend of brain cancer.

However, the authors have also identified positive associations between contact allergy and bladder cancer.

Inverse associations support the theory of immunological surveillance, in which allergic symptoms - a negative impact hyperimmune, according to a report published in the online edition of «BMJ Open» on July 11.

The reason for these associations remains unclear, and they are not necessarily the result of a causal relationship. "Our study - the research, and it is difficult to make recommendations directly to clinicians based on a single study," - said Dr. Kaare Engkild (National Allergy Research Center, Copenhagen, Denmark).

"I would not recommend the reduction of screening for breast cancer, non-melanoma skin cancer, or cancer of the brain, although the emergence of such associations should lead to further research", - said Dr. Engkild.

Using the registration data, Dr. Engkild and colleagues identified 16 922 patients with dermatitis who underwent tests for contact allergy from November 1984 to December 2008. Of this group, 6065 (35.8%) tested positive for at least 1 allergen, at least in one case. The authors note that the prevalence of contact allergy was higher in women than in men (41.4% vs. 26.1%).

The data were linked with the Danish Cancer Registry, and 3200 patients (18.9%) with dermatitis has been identified as having a benign tumor and / or malignant cancer diagnosis, 1207 (37.7%) of them also had positive test results for contact allergy .

Approximate analysis of the data showed "a confident and significant association" between contact allergy and the presence in the Register of Cancer (odds ratio 1.1). Odds ratios for different groups of cancer were calculated using logistic regression analysis, after adjusting for age and sex.

Breast cancer (odds ratio 0.80) and non-melanoma skin cancer (odds ratio 0.83) in both sexes, were found to inversely and significantly associated with contact allergy. Bladder cancer is positively and significantly associated with contact allergy (odds ratio 1.44).

The authors also studied the interaction between the different subtypes of cancer and sex, and only found a link to brain cancer / central nervous system. Following a standardized regression in women with dermatitis between brain cancer / central nervous system and contact allergy to reverse the trend of association (odds ratio 0.36).

Further studies, standardized by environmental factors such as smoking and socio-economic background needed to understand the role of contact allergy in the development of cancer, the scientists conclude.

Intestinal bacterium Helicobacter pylori protects the body from allergic asthma

At the conclusion of Immunology of the University of Zurich, an intestinal bacterium Helicobacter pylori protects the body from allergic asthma.

In a joint study with the University of Mainz allergists of Johann Gutenberg (University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz) found a strong case to support the hypothesis that the incidence of allergic diseases in developed countries is associated with the rapid disappearance of certain microorganisms, which in most cases asymptomatic organisms live in each of the second person on the planet.

Almost an epidemic prevalence of allergic asthma in recent decades due to traditionally pollution, smoking, hygiene hypothesis, and the widespread use of antibiotics. According to the hygiene hypothesis, reduced exposure to bacterial antigens in early childhood and lack of immune stress leads to increased risk of developing allergies and autoimmune diseases.

Researchers have shown that the increase in asthma cases may be due to the disappearance of gastric bacteria Helicobacter pylori in developed societies of the West. These bacteria can survive in the acidic environment of the stomach. Most Helicobacter pylori strains not pathogenic to humans and their small concentration does not lead to diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

However, in certain circumstances, in particular, the weakening of the immune system, infection can cause gastritis, gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer and gastric cancer. Therefore, doctors often prescribe prophylactic antibiotics, which destroy Helicobacter pylori, even those patients who have no complaints.

During the experiment it was shown that Helicobacter pylori infection early in life protects against asthma. In the experimental mice infected with the bacteria in a few days after birth, there was a immunulogic tolerance to Helicobacter pylori and the almost total lack of response to allergens that cause asthma. Animals that are at an early age have not been infected with Helicobacter pylori, were exposed to an allergy to a much greater extent.

Avian Flu in Egypt

November 2, 2011 Ministry of Health of Egypt has informed World Health Organization of the case of human infection with avian influenza A (H5N1).

September 17 at the year-old boy developed symptoms. September 21 he was hospitalized. The child was treated, recovered and 25 September he was discharged from the hospital.

Investigations into the source of infection showed that the boy had contact with poultry is contained near his home.

The case was confirmed by the Central Public Health Laboratories and the Egyptian National Influenza Center under the WHO Global Influenza Surveillance.

Of the 152 cases confirmed to date in Egypt, 52 have been fatal.

Paracetamol and antibiotics increase the risk of atopic dermatitis

As shown by a study by Spanish scientists, when taking infants paracetamol and antibiotics increases the risk of atopic dermatitis in older age.

Dr. Luis Garcia-Marcos of the University of Murcia, say that at present the accuracy is unknown whether the increased risk of drugs called themselves of infection, in which they are used, or something else .

The link between paracetamol and asthma is shown for both children and adults, but previous attempts to figure out how to influence the development of atopic dermatitis receiving paracetamol and antibiotics, have produced conflicting results. "It also is complicated by the fact that children who are given paracetamol from the heat, often simultaneously receive and antibiotics," - says Dr. Garcia-Marcos.

We used data from 13 900 children aged 6-7 years who participated in the International study of allergic reactions and asthma in children (International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood) in Spain. Of these, 7% had atopic dermatitis place.

It was found that children who received the first year of life acetaminophen, the risk of atopic dermatitis increased by 56%, and those receiving antibiotics - up to 66%, and the results did not depend on whether one child at the same time, and other drugs.

It is curious that in children with asthma or seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis results were somewhat different. If in infancy they were given paracetamol, but not antibiotics, the risk of atopic dermatitis did not increase, but the reception and paracetamol, and antibiotics increased the risk even more than children not suffering from these diseases.

"Nevertheless, we can not exclude the possibility that this reaction does not provoke the antibiotics and the infection," - said Dr. Garcia-Marcos.

"Paracetamol - a very safe drug, it is used for many years, not watching with serious side effects, but the parents, fearful of atopic dermatitis, can replace it with ibuprofen," - he said.

"In order to estimate the risk more precisely controlled, randomized trials would be required - adds the scientist. - In the meantime, the main conclusion we can draw from the study is this: the events occurring in early childhood may have consequences later."

Good news for families who would like to have a dog or a cat, but are afraid of allergies in children.

Good news for families who would like to have a dog or a cat, but are afraid of allergies in children. Pets has positive effect on children's health, say Australian researchers.

The researchers found that children who had contact with animals at an early age, had lower rates of nasal allergies, as well as adolescents.

"Family pets, especially dogs, should not be removed to prevent allergies, and, in fact, may protect against it" - said Dr. Melanie Matheson ( (University of Melbourne).

After examining almost 8500 adults from Europe and Australia, researchers have focused on subjects who grew up with pets, and patients suffering from nasal allergies.

Communicating with pets already associated with a lower risk of other types of allergies. A study from the University of Cincinnati in 2010 showed that the presence of dogs may reduce the risk of eczema and skin diseases in childhood. Similarly, a study from Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit in 2011 found that the presence of pets in children life reduces the risk of developing an allergy to animal hair in half.

In a new study published in the online edition of «Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology» from 13th July, more than one in four respondents complained of nasal allergy, in most cases began in adolescence.

Many factors have been associated with increased risk of nasal allergies in the study. Some, such as family history of allergy and maternal smoking during pregnancy are well documented risk factors.

But the scientists also found that young children who had younger brothers or sisters, or attending nursery and kindergarten, had a lower risk of nasal allergies. And the more relatives of siblings had a child, the lower were the chances that a child will develop nasal allergies later in life.

The researchers also observed a similar association among subjects who grew up on a farm or have had pets before their fifth birthday. Compared with the norms of the people who had no contact with the animals closely in early childhood, the chances of nasal allergy in adolescence were 30% lower in subjects who grew up on a farm, and the presence of a dog or cat was associated with a 15% reduced risk of th nasal allergies.

Asthma Facts

Asthma is characterized by inflammation of the air passages resulting in the temporary narrowing of the airways that transport air from the nose and mouth to the lungs. Asthma symptoms can be caused by allergens or irritants that are inhaled into the lungs, resulting in inflamed, clogged and constricted airways. Symptoms include difficulty breathing, wheezing, coughing tightness in the chest. In severe cases, asthma can be deadly.

• There is no cure for asthma, but asthma can be managed with proper prevention and treatment.
• Asthma has a genetic component. If only one parent has asthma, chances are 1 in 3 that each child will have asthma. If both parents have asthma, it is much more likely (7 in 10) that their children will have asthma.
• More Americans than ever before say they are suffering from asthma. It is one of this country's most common and costly diseases.

Fast Facts

Every day in America:

• 40,000 people miss school or work due to asthma.
• 30,000 people have an asthma attack.
• 5,000 people visit the emergency room due to asthma.
• 1,000 people are admitted to the hospital due to asthma.
• 11 people die from asthma.

Prevalence

• An estimated 20 million Americans suffer from asthma (1 in 15 Americans), and 50% of asthma cases are “allergic-asthma.” The prevalence of asthma has been increasing since the early 1980s across all age, sex and racial groups.
• Asthma is the most common chronic condition among children.
• Asthma is more common among adult women than adult men.
• Asthma is more common among male children than female children.
• Asthma is more common among children (7 to 10%) than adults (3 to 5%).
• Nearly 5 million asthma sufferers are under age 18. It is the most common chronic childhood disease, affecting more than one child in 20.
• Asthma is slightly more prevalent among African Americans than Caucasians.
• Ethnic differences in asthma prevalence, morbidity and mortality are highly correlated with poverty, urban air quality, indoor allergens, and lack of patient education and inadequate medical care.

Morbidity

• Asthma accounts for one-quarter of all emergency room visits in the U.S. each year, with 2 million emergency room visits.
• Each year, asthma accounts for more than 10 million outpatient visits and 500,000 hospitalizations.
• The average length of stay (LOS) for asthma hospitalizations is 3 days.
• Nearly half (44%) of all asthma hospitalizations are for children.
• Asthma is the third-ranking cause of hospitalization children.
• Asthma is the #1 cause of school absenteeism among children accounting for more than 14 million total missed days of school.
• African Americans are three times more likely to be hospitalized from asthma.

Mortality

• Each day 11 Americans die from asthma. There are more than 4,000 deaths due to asthma each year, many of which are avoidable with proper treatment and care. In addition, asthma is indicated as “contributing factor” for nearly 7,000 other deaths each year.
• Since 1980 asthma death rates overall have increased more than 50% among all genders, age groups and ethnic groups. The death rate for children under 19 years old has increased by nearly 80% percent since 1980.
• More females die of asthma than males, and women account for nearly 65% of asthma deaths overall.
• African Americans are three times more likely to die from asthma. African American Women have the highest asthma mortality rate of all groups, more than 2.5 times higher than Caucasian women.

Social and Economic Costs

• The annual cost of asthma is estimated to be nearly $18 billion.
• Direct costs accounted for nearly $10 billion (hospitalizations the single largest portion of direct cost) and indirect costs of $8 billion (lost earnings due to illness or death).
• For adults, asthma is the fourth leading cause of work absenteeism and “presenteeism,” resulting in nearly 15 million missed or lost ("less productive") workdays each year (this accounts for nearly $3 billion of the "indirect costs" shown above).
• Among children ages 5 to 17, asthma is the leading cause of school absences from a chronic illness. It accounts for an annual loss of more than 14 million school days per year (approximately 8 days for each student with asthma) and more hospitalizations than any other childhood disease. It is estimated that children with asthma spend an nearly 8 million days per year restricted to bed

A Spooky and Safe Halloween For Your Asthmatic Child

In addition to watching for ghosts and goblins this Halloween, you also need to be mindful of your child's asthma. These 9 tips can help you and your child have a safe, happy, and asthma-free Halloween.

Carry a rescue inhaler. Make sure you trick or treat with an asthma inhaler in case your child's asthma does worsen this Halloween. Just like school, athletics, or other events, asthma is unpredictable and you never know when you may need your SABA.

• Inspect costumes. If you have stored costumes in an attic or closet, be mindful of dust, dust mites, and molds. Make sure to thoroughly clean them--or get a new costume altogether.


• Nix the mask. Because masks are so close to the face and can trap things like molds and dust mites, anything that is in them is easily inhaled into the lungs. If your child absolutely must where a mask, a half-mask is a better option.


• Don't let your kids enter homes while trick or treating. You never know what sort of triggers are in other people's homes, or what may trigger your child's asthma. Unknown pets, smoke, or even strong chemical odors from creating party props may trigger asthma.


• Consider a medical alert bracelet. If your child is older and will be trick or treating without you, a medical alert bracelet or necklace might be a good idea.
• Keep tabs on the weather. If weather is one of your child's triggers, make sure to carefully check out the forecast and dress appropriately.
• Yield to sickness. While it may not be a popular decision, not trick or treating may be the best thing if your child is sick this Halloween.
• Monitor your child closely. Follow your asthma action plan -- and use your rescue inhaler -- if need be. If your child's symptoms continue to be bothersome, it may be time to call it a night.

Iran holds pharmaceutical conference to honor Pharmacy Day

Tehran has hosted the 10th nationwide pharmaceutical conference to mark the Pharmacy Day.

Almost 2000 pharmacists from across the country attended the three-day conference, which was mainly focused on such issues as treatment of the common diseases of the elderly, pharmacotherapy, the elderly medicine and the application of herbal drugs.
The conference also came to mark the pharmacy day, which was named after Zakaria Razi; Born in 865 CE Mohammad Ibn Zakaria Razi was a great Iranian polymath, physician, alchemist and chemist, philosopher and scholar. Razi made fundamental and enduring contributions to the fields of medicine, alchemy, music and philosophy. He is known to have perfected methods of distillation and extraction. He has also discovered alcohol.
The advent of modern pharmaceutics goes back to 100 years ago. Since then Iran has made major developments in this field. To the extent that despite the ongoing sanctions against the country, Iran produces 95% of its domestic pharmaceutical needs.
According to reports, Iran is among the top 15 countries when it comes to treating its cancer patients. Meanwhile, Iran produces high quality drugs for asthma and cancer treatment. The country has already unveiled five different radiomedicine projects with applications for diagnosis, prevention and treatment of a number of diseases.

Low-fat yoghurt, childhood asthma linked

Mothers who eat low-fat yogurt during their pregnancy might increase their babies' risk of developing asthma and hay fever later in life.

Researchers who were trying to study whether fatty acids found in dairy products could help prevent childhood allergies surprisingly found that pregnant women who ate low-fat yoghurt with fruit once a day were 1.6 times more likely to have children who developed asthma by age seven.

The team analyzed dietary habits of more than 70,000 women and their children's health status until they reached the age of seven years.

Findings also showed, daily low-fat yoghurt consumption almost doubled the chance of having a baby with allergic rhinitis (hay fever).

Researchers noted that the possible relation between eating low-fat yogurt and babies' asthma risk may not be a cause and effect relation.

"This is the first study of its kind to link low-fat yoghurt intake during pregnancy with an increased risk of asthma and hay fever in children. This could be due to a number of reasons and we will further investigate whether this is linked to certain nutrients or whether people who ate yoghurt regularly had similar lifestyle and dietary patterns which could explain the increased risk of asthma," said lead author Dr. Ekaterina Maslova of the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston.

He also suggested that absence of fatty acids in low-fat yoghurt might be the key to the puzzling results.

Researchers emphasized that their study didn't show that milk intake during pregnancy was not linked to any increased risk of asthma and it actually protected against the condition.

Experts suggest women especially pregnant ladies follow a balanced diet and do not make a significant change in their dietary habit before consulting with their physician.

Fresh Raw milk may prevent asthma or even allergy

Children who drink fresh raw milk are at a significant lower risk of developing asthma and allergies than those consuming safer pasteurized version.


Researchers from Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute in Basel interviewed a group of European parents about their children's milk consumption while collecting 800 milk samples from the participants' households, Reuters reported.

Results showed that kids who drank raw milk had a 41 percent lower risk of asthma compared to those who only using store-bought milk.

Raw milk drinker children were also about half as likely to develop hay fever, researchers wrote in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

Researchers found that the protective effect of fresh raw milk was associated with whey proteins, such as BSA and alpha-lactalbumin, which possibly help children's immune system development. These helpful proteins are usually destroyed by heat during boiling or pasteurization process.

Previous studies had also showed an association between drinking fresh raw milk and lower risk of asthma, allergy and hay fever but the new research is the first to target certain components in the milk that might be protective.

Researchers, however, warned that parents shouldn't start giving their kids fresh raw milk due to possible infection risks.

"Consumption of fresh raw milk is a double-edged sword," said a study author Georg Loss. "On the one side it is protective for the development of asthma and allergies but on the other side it may imply serious health risks due to harmful microorganisms."

"Pasteurization remains an effective tool to inactivate harmful microorganisms but may simultaneously destroy whey proteins," said Loss. "The results may give rise to technological developments aiming to destroy harmful microorganisms but preserving beneficial components of milk. The ultimate aim is to use a safe and protective milk for prevention of asthma."

The Dirty Truth About Allergies

There may be no place like home, but for more than 50 million Americans who suffer from allergies , there's no place for allergens in the home.

No matter how clean the home, all mattresses are prone to the same problem. When we sleep, we produce up to half a liter of sweat every night & shed about a gram of skin each day and although we wear night clothes, which we wash regularly, together with our bed linen, this is no protection against what happens to the mattress.
Very quickly the mattress will become host to a multitude of horrors, from bacteria to fungal spores and microscopic house dust mites which feed off dead flakes of skin. Is it any wonder that without cleaning a mattress, it could be the dirtiest item in your home? It is estimated that there are up to 2 million house dust mites living in a mattress and in an average pillow, 10% of its weight is made up of dead skin and dust mites.
House dust mites find a mattress the perfect breeding ground. With warmth and moisture and no natural enemies, they will establish in a mattress within several months and it is their droppings which cause most problems. These have been medically proven to trigger a whole host of allergic reactions, from Asthma, Eczema and Bronchitis, to Itchy Eyes and Sneezing.
Even protective bedding sheets may be largely ineffective in reducing problems like asthma, when they are the only measure taken to combat an allergy (source: New England Journal of Medicine).
The idea of mattress cleaning isn't a new one. In other European countries and the United States, it has been performed for years. It's chemical-free, dry and all performed on site using specially designed state of the art equipment.
The current view of many experts is that dust mites are impossible to totally remove. This is true, it would be very expensive and almost impossible, but by knowing a little about them it is very feasible to make a dramatic impact on them and improve your dust mite allergy.
Therefore, if a combination of measures are undertaken, then the likelihood of some one's dust mite allergy improving will increase drastically.
Most suggestions will be to remove carpets and replace with hardwood floor, buy a good protective mattress cover, wash at 130+ degrees and clean regularly.

Allergy and Smoking

Smoking (cigaretts or mary jane) paralyzes the cilia (little hairs in our lungs that filter out what is not supposed to enter), so we develop asthma while we smoke and don't feel the filtering. As a result, when we stop smoking, they start to work again and now we FEEL the congestion in our lungs. Keep on truckin though! Life is so much better on the other side! Seeing what is coming out of my lungs after 10 years of smoking is so gross but smoking is even MORE GROSS. Time and avoiding smoke will help.

For the treatment of allergies - Zodak Review

My aunt boys / especially older / just tortured this spring colds and viral respiratory infections.
It seemed as chickenpox, but the cough continued to be bothered, sometimes for 2-3 hours in a row.
And the nose is constantly dripping. Cough and anti viral drugs did not help.
Complained to the doctor, she advised that the miracle medicine / say that the probability allergies - spring, because the lab tests were healthy kids /.
I thought that just'll throw money down the drain / 10 $ for a bottle / but very wrong!
Almost immediately after taking the rain stopped snot almost disappeared cough.
Our surprise, there was no limit - because the earlier gave more money from allergies - suprastin, diazolin ... but the effect was zero.
A drop is simply magical! Now they have to constantly look and use in allergic manifestations only them.
But still very useful - 20 drops / sentimental / in a glass of water - and on all day long enough! Recommend.

Research into the effectiveness of Zirtek in children younger than 3 years

The purpose of this study was to assess the Compliance Department and tolerance while taking cetirizine in children aged under 3 years of age suffering from atopic dermatitis and other allergic diseases. Under the on-compliance was 64 children. Mean age was 17 months (range 7-34 months).

The surveyed children suffered from allergic diseases following: atopic dermatitis, urticaria, rhinoconjunctivitis, atopic dermatitis associated with bronchial asthma, bronchial asthma, anaphylaxis to cow's milk.

(Zirtek) was administered in the form of a drop rate of 0.4 mg / kg for 2 months. Children with atopic dermatitis received a standard diet hypoallergenic. If necessary, erythromycin was administered.

In evaluating the clinical manifestations of disease after 2 months of treatment showed complete disappearance of the symptoms of urticaria and a significant reduction of clinical manifestations of atopic dermatitis (p <0,001). Any side effects while taking cetirizine wasn't observed.

Improvement of quality of life by treatment with cetirizine in patients with perennial allergic rhinitis as determined by a French version of the SF

Background and aim: Perennial allergic rhinitis impairs social life, but it is not known whether quality of life may be improved when patients are treated with an H1-blocker. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was carried out with cetirizine to assess the effect of this drug on quality of life.

Methods: Two hundred seventy-four patients with perennial allergic rhinitis were tested. Quality of life was measured by using the Medical Outcome Study Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) questionnaire. After a 2-week run-in period, cetirizine, 10 mg once daily, (136 patients) or placebo (138 patients) was given for the next 6 weeks. The SF-36 questionnaire was administered after the run-in period (at the start of treatment) and after 1 and 6 weeks of treatment. Symptom-medication scores were measured daily during the study.

Results: After the run-in period (baseline), there were no significant differences between the cetirizine and placebo groups in terms of symptoms or quality-of-life scores. After 6 weeks of treatment, percentage of days without rhinitis or with only mild rhinitis symptoms was significantly greater in the cetirizine group in comparison with the placebo group (p < 0.0001, Mann-Whitney U test). All of the nine quality-of-life dimensions were significantly improved (from p = 0.01 to p < 0.0001, Mann-Whitney U test) after 1 and 6 weeks of cetirizine treatment compared with placebo. There was no improvement in the placebo group.

Conclusions: This study is the first to demonstrate that an H₁-blocker, cetirizine, can improve quality of life for patients with perennial allergic rhinitis.

Efficacy and safety of cetirizine therapy in perennial allergic rhinitis

A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was undertaken to assess the safety and efficacy of once daily cetirizine in alleviating the symptoms of perennial allergic rhinitis. Subjects were adults with perennial allergic rhinitis, characterized by nasal congestion, postnasal discharge, sneezing, rhinorrhea, nasal itching, lacrimation, ocular itching, and itching of the roof of the mouth, and a total pretreatment symptom severity score of greater than or equal to 8.

Patients were randomized to treatment with 10 mg cetirizine, 20 mg cetirizine, or placebo for 4 weeks. Efficacy was assessed in 215 patients and safety in 216. Cetirizine in once daily dosages of 10 or 20 mg proved to be effective in relieving the overall symptoms of perennial allergic rhinitis and particularly postnasal discharge and sneezing.

The 10-mg dose afforded optimal symptomatic relief, and the 20-mg dose provided little or no additional benefit. Cetirizine was well tolerated, and the frequency of somnolence was not significantly greater in patients receiving this drug than in those given placebo.

Urticaria

Acute urticaria which may last from several hours to several days, often has an allergic nature. In contrast, chronic urticaria, which exists in the weeks and months, very rarely is an allergic reaction. Urticaria often cause food allergens and additives, and drugs (often in the form of pseudoallergy).

Symptoms

Hives can take many forms, but it is always characterized by a rash of blisters, which may merge with each other. The rash can appear on any parts of the body and accompanied by severe itching.

Special forms of urticaria

Angioedema. Process involving a person and is accompanied by swelling of the lips, eyelids ("slit eyes"), mucous membranes and other body parts. Itching is absent, there is a painful burning.

Angioedema is a life-threatening if the process extends to the mucous membranes of the mouth and pharynx. Swollen tongue and back of the throat block the airway and can lead to suffocation.

The causes of urticaria are:

* Food allergens (egg, fish, nuts, fruits);
* Drugs (penicillins, hormonal, sulfonamides);
* Air allergens (pollen, hair, dust);
* Insect bites (bees, wasps);
* Infection (infectious mononucleosis, hepatitis B).

In contrast, allergic urticaria is one that is caused by physical factors: the sun, cold, atmospheric pressure.

Risk of Atopy

Young adults born prematurely with very low birth weight, have almost 60% lower risk of atopy than their peers born at term, in a cord of study conducted in Finland.

"Most studies of long-term consequences of premature birth has negative effects on health" - said Dr. Eero Kajantie (National Institute for Health and Welfare in Helsinki), coauthor of the study.

To study the effect of birthing time on the risk of atopy, the researchers examined 166 adults born before term and weighed 1500 grams or less, and 172 adults born in time from «Helsinki Study of Very Low Birth Weight Adults», ongoing study of preterm birth and adult health.

In the online edition of «Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology», the authors identified atopy as a positive reaction to tests for scarification any of six common allergens:
birch, timothy grass, mugwort, cat, dog and dust. Study participants underwent these tests, as well as measuring serum concentrations of IgE, at the age of 18 - 27 years.

The prevalence of atopy was 45.5% in the group of adults with very low weight premature births, compared with 57.9% in the control group. Adjusted odds ratio for atopy to a group of preterm birth was 0.43.

The more premature the birth was, the lower the likelihood of atopy or high levels of specific IgE. Adjusted odds ratio for atopy decreased by 0.82 for each additional week of premature birth.

Living With Allergy

Millions of people in the U.S. suffer from allergy symptoms such as hay fever and sinus problems. If you have allergies, your body has too much immunity. Almost anything we touch, swallow or inhale may cause an allergic response.

Substances that produce allergies are called allergens and there are literally hundreds of them. If you have hay fever, it affects your nose and sinuses; and if you have food allergies, you have allergies in your stomach, intestines or digestive tract.

Here are some common symptoms and allergies to look for.

Most common allergens:
Grasses (including mowing your lawn).
Pollen from trees (Birch and oak trees produce potent pollens).
Weeds
House dust
Mold spores
Certain foods and drugs. If you have an allergy, stay away from peanuts. They can cause a bad reaction leading into anaphylaxis. This is a condition where your throat swells up and breathing is constricted and can even lead to death. If you have a reaction from peanuts, be careful to watch out for hidden peanuts in ice creams, cakes or other foods; and do not cook in peanut oil.
Animal hairs from you pet such as cat, dog, bird, etc.
Certain dyes and cosmetics; household chemicals.

Symptoms:

Attacks of sneezing and nasal stuffiness.
Shortness of breath with wheezing.
Hives and itching of skin.

Allergies may also be the cause of vomiting and diarrhea, bad headaches, abdominal cramps, and the breakout of swollen areas and severe rashes.

If left untreated, allergy or hay fever may develop into a more serious condition such as asthma and sinusitis. Asthma (allergy in your lungs) when not treated can cause lingering disability and can even develop into a more serious respiratory condition.

Most common allergies:
Hay fever — (allergic rhinitis) is caused by ragweed. Each ragweed cluster releases an immense amount of pollen in the air, which can travel for hundreds of miles.
Bronchial asthma.
Eczema.
Hives.
Contact dermatitis such as poison ivy.
Migraine headaches.
In infants and small children — certain foods they eat or milk they drink and substances used to care for their bodies such as lotions, powders, soaps, shampoos, etc.

People with allergies tend to keep them for life. They do not go away, but most people seem to have more of a problem when the plants are waking up from their winter sleep and many people can’t go near a fresh mowed lawn.

If you think you have an allergy, it is always best to let your physician check it out. He will prescribe the proper prescription drugs or recommend that you see a specialist in the field. Also, today we have a bit of an advantage by listening to the pollen forecasting on our local news channel. By seeing the doctor, taking the proper prescriptions and knowing what to avoid, we can live a healthy lifestyle, even if we do have allergies.

Inhalation and dust mites

Do not act on any advice you have read, either in this article or anywhere else, without the full approval of your doctor. This article is only for advice, and should not be used as a substitute for the medical guidance of your doctor, or other medically qualified practitioner. Some preparations are obtainable over the counter, but it is always wise to seek advice from your doctor, what is recommeded for your own allergy. An allergy happens, when a person is sensitized to a particular substance, that starts an allergic reaction. When immunotherapy is considered an appropriate treatment, it could either reduce the intensity of an allergy or cure it completely. Various drugs are available to counter the symptoms of allergy which include, antihistamines, cortisone, hydrocortisone, theophlene, epinephrine, and dexamethosone. The antibodies bind with the allergens, and as they circulate throughout the body, they interact with other cells. Absorption – through the skin, as with some plants or chemicals.

There are naturally occurring allergens, like pollens, environmental substances, like chemicals, and the foods that we eat, mostly proteins, and numerous others. They include fast acting epinephrine tablets, low allergy foods, and advances in dealing with wasp stings. Add the development of the emerging nations, and you have a recipe for industrial soup. It seems that the time could soon arrive, when the good citizens of China will have their own, home grown sort of hay fever! In the United States at leastnine years is needed to qualify as an allergist immunologist. The author does not accept any liability whatsoever, for any consequences arising from or thought to be arising from using this article. You should know that what suits one allergy sufferer might be inappropriate for another.

More recently, there has been a lot of publicity about industrial pollution in Beijing, and other cities. As an example, offices have become airtight, with windows that opened giving way to air conditioning. There have been good results in dealing with hay fever and asthma. Physicians, who are specialists in dealing with allergic disorders, undertake intensive training. It is not known exactly why some people suffer from allergies, when others do not. It does seem clear that the incidence of allergies is growing, and that it may have something to do with contemporary living. Then substances, including histamine, create inflammation, that is a common allergy symptom. Injection – some people are allergic to drugs, such as penicillin. On a global basis, rain forests are being cut down, whilst pollution emitting vehicles are everywhere. Could the new found success be accompanied by allergic respiratory disorders – if it does, it must prove something! Studies suggest that there is a hereditary reason for some allergies.

Allergies vary in different people, and the symptoms range from something as mild as a runny nose, to anaphylaxis, which can be fatal. Eating – as with certain foods. However, the quality of the outside air, particularly in urban conurbations, is questionable. When it is appropriate, skin testing is preferable to blood testing, as it is more specific, easier to do, and more economic. When an allergic individual experiences an allergen, for the first time, the allergic reactions do not occur, but the defense mechanism is sensitized.

Natural Allergy Remedies

Natural Allergy Remedies Certain conditions trigger allergies like pollen and seasonal changes. Allergy sufferers find themselves sneezing, watery eyes, coughing, and wheezing. Those who suffer from allergies usually turn to over-the-counter medication but medication can have side-effects. Natural allergy remedies provide a much better alternative to the harmful chemicals in medicine. Here are some natural allergy remedies you can try before trying over-the-counter medication.

Two of the most recommended natural allergy remedies are apple cider vinegar and lime juice. Apple cider vinegar is used to treat high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and aids weight loss. Apple cider vinegar contains- Vitamin A and Vitamin E, and flushes harmful toxins from the body. The biggest complaint about apple cider vinegar is the taste. Mix two tablespoons of vinegar with water or juice to improve the flavor. Squeeze a tablespoon of lime juice into a glass of lukewarm water. Sweeten with honey if desired.

Natural herbs like eucalyptus oil and red clover make excellent natural allergy remedies. Red clover offers many options as a natural allergy remedy. Resin is the main chemical in red clover. Allergy sufferers recommend red clover over tea. It can be taken as a wine or herbal supplement. Eucalyptus is an ingredient found in cough syrups and vapor rubs. The aroma from the eucalyptus oil releases mucous and helps ease breathing.

A simple change in diet is one of the most effective natural allergy remedies. Avoid caffeine and alcohol. Garlic has anti-histamines that help unclog nasal passages. Add a clove of garlic to your soup or casseroles.