Consider the ways in which dietary intake can impact kids with allergies.

Breastfeeding – One of the first things that a mother can do to ensure that her child has the best chance against developing allergies is to breastfeed.

Several studies have been able to demonstrate that breast feeding not only improves a child’s immune system, but also reduces their chances of developing allergies later in life.

The incidences of even asthma and skin disease are seen to be lower among children who are breastfed.

Remember to breastfeed exclusively for the first 6 month of life, and if breastfeeding has to be supplemented by formula, then make sure it is a hypoallergenic formula that you use.

Other dietary changes that are made to a child’s diet can help to control not just food allergies but also other allergies that result in eczema, mold allergies and so on –

• Eating foods that are rich in Vitamins E and C are known to help in allergy management. They are best had in the form of foods, however if required they can be prescribed and taken in supplement form as well.
• Other dietary supplements that are known to help control and manage allergies are probiotics supplements, omega 3 fatty acid supplements (such as fish oil and so on), flax seed oil Omega 6 supplements and primrose oil supplements. Some even find that grape seed extract, chamomile, Oregon grave root and so on work well to control allergies.
• A diet rich in antioxidants is known to reduce allergic reactions since they are able to reduce the impact of free radicals on the body. Including things such as green team, berries, fruit such as pomegranate and kiwi, and fresh green vegetables in the diet is known to be good for health even otherwise and will have the added benefit of protecting children against allergies.
• It has been seen that mold allergy can be significantly controlled by eating a low sodium diet. So reducing the amount of salt could be one of the ways to control allergies in children.
• As far as possible, cut out highly processed foods with additives and artificial colors and flavors in them. So to the extent possible, cut out things like chips and cookies, which offer little if any nutrients and which are known to cause inflammation in the body, resulting in weakening of the immune system and in triggering of allergic reactions. Artificial flavoring, sweeteners, refined flour and sugar can all lower immunity in the body and should be avoided. Margarine is also best steered clear of.
• In addition to a healthy diet a child should also be drinking plenty of water to keep hydrated and also to help in controlling allergies.

Metered dose inhalers

These are the most common types of asthma inhalers. These devices use a pressurized canister to deliver medication.

The medication could be in the form of a suspension or a propellant and is administered to the lungs by using a plastic actuator that is operated by hand and usually made from plastic.

The device is held to the mouth after exhaling breath to the fullest extent and then a fixed dosage of the medication is inhaled in aerosol form. The mechanism of the inhaler is pressed to release the medication.

The correct way to use this inhaler is to first expand the breath from the lungs fully and then inhale into the lungs and hold the breath for a period of 10 seconds – this is to help the medication to settle properly into the constricted airways to help free them. For young children a metered dose inhaler with spacer can be used.

Dry powder inhalers

They administer the medication in a dry powder form, are used not just for asthma but also conditions such as COPD, emphysema and even for helping to treat diabetes. The administering of the dry medication has to be controlled carefully since a bigger dose will cause coughing.

This type of inhaler uses manual loading or capsule form instead of the aerosol. This device may not be suitable for those who are not able to inhale deeply, since it relies on the inhalation force of patient to reach the lungs, and may not be used for younger children.

The Nebulizer

This inhaler for asthma creates a mist of the medication to enable it to reach the lungs, and could be used in conditions such as COPD, cystic fibrosis as well as other respiratory problems. Nebulizers use vaporized water mixed with the medication to create a mist that reaches the lower, narrower airways of 1-5 micrometers or less. The problem most often noted with nebulizers is that they are sometimes ineffective in delivering medication properly to the lungs.

Analgesic Inhalers or Analgizers

These are disposable inhalers that a patient can use for self administration. The device delivers methoxyflurane to the patient and has been seen to be safe and effective for use in cases even such as childbirth, for those who have suffered fractures and dislocations and for burn patients.

Inhalers for asthma are generally safe to use and cause no side effects so long they are used in accordance with directions, since the drug is in small doses. However some discomfort may arise when using steroid inhalers – sore throat or thrush infection may be noted. Different types of asthma inhalers or devices can be used to figure out what is suitable for a person’s requirements.

It is vital to react appropriately when an attack occurs and also to control asthma in a way that an asthma sufferer can live a fuller, better life. Recognize if asthma symptoms are getting worse or more frequent or if they disturb daily activities and sleep.

Recognize an asthma attack

An asthma attack occurs when the body’s airways going into spasm and the person finds breathing difficult and it could be a moderate, severe or life threatening attack.

A moderate attack is characterized by breathlessness, wheezing and feeling tired, and should be relieved by 4-6 puffs of an inhaler, but a doctor should be consulted nevertheless.

A severe attack is characterized by difficulties in speaking, gasping for air, and accelerated pulse and will require immediate medical attention. A life threatening attack is characterized by a bluish tint around the lips, erratic or slow pulse, fainting and being unable to use an inhaler.

Have an asthma attack treatment plan

Asthma attacks give little or no warning. So a reaction plan should be chalked out in advance, in consultation with a doctor. A treatment plan is important since it enables one to recognize the build-up to an attack and perhaps halt its progress.

Peak flow meter

A peak flow meter is an essential part of a person’s preparation against asthma. This device lets you record normal breathing patters and know if there is an alteration in that. Taking a reading from the peak flow meter can warn a person of any inconsistencies so that preventive or early treatment can help prevent a full blown asthma attack.

Emergency inhalers

This is something else that asthmatics should include in their arsenal against the debilitating condition. These are the sort that you carry around with you wherever you go and which can be used when there is any wheezing. They can also help prevent an asthma attack. The device also gives you a danger warning – when the body doesn’t respond by recovering after a few puffs, it is a warning sign that medical attention and intervention may be required.

Use correct inhaler technique

In order to get the most benefit from an inhaler or asthma attack medication in other form, it is important to use and administer the medication correctly. After the first puff it is best to wait a minute or so before the second puff. Also it is important to exhale completely before inhaling and then inhaling long enough for the medicine to reach the airways.

Recognizing when to rush to ER

When several puffs of the inhaler seem to give no relief, it may be sign of danger. This could mean that there is a danger of suffocation, and even death!

So to recap, it is important to monitor and try prevent asthma attacks, to take any preventive medication as prescribed and act swiftly and quickly as required when an attack presents itself.

According to a report about natural remedies for seasonal allergies by Web MD, natural remedies can in fact be very effective for managing allergies and they have the added benefit of causing none of the side effects that are associated with pharmaceutical use.

Natural remedies are very effective for mild allergies according to holistic practitioner Mary Hardy, MD, director of integrative medicine at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, and they can provide supplementary care for severe allergies in addition to conventional medicines.

• Butterbur has been proven to be an effective antihistamine for allergies such as grass allergies, according to a study by Swiss researchers. Also the herbal remedy doesn’t cause sleepiness like regular antihistamines.
• Freeze dried nettles are a useful natural remedy for allergies.
• Goldenseal tonic is also useful in containing seasonal allergies, according to Dr Hardy.
• The age old remedy of using a saline solution to thin mucus build-up and to wash out pollen is as effective today as it has always been.
• Grape seed extract and quercetin (a flavonoid compound) are also useful in containing seasonal allergies. These substances occur naturally in several foods and red wine is known to be a good source of this; however when extracted and administered in supplement form, they are even more effective.
• Using kitchen spices such as ginger, cayenne pepper, onions, garlic and fenugreek can also help in controlling allergies since spices are known to help thin the mucus and hot spicy foods may just be the thing to clear the blocked nasal passages.
• One of the other ways in which seasonal allergies can be controlled is to identify and eliminate certain irritants from one’s diet which are seen to exacerbate one’s condition. For instance ragweed or pollen allergies are often seen to worsen with foods such as banana, melon, sunflower seeds, chamomile, Echinacea and cucumber.
• Some people also find that Chinese herbal medicines can help control allergies – herbal remedies made from magnolia flower, cocklebur, patchouli, chrysanthemum, Chinese mint and so on are seen to help many in combating seasonal allergies.
• Some simple home remedies such as a comfortingly hot cup of tea flavored with peppermint can help to soothe irritated mucus membranes, and help to decongest them.
• One simple natural home remedy for easing symptoms of allergy is steam and breathing steam can not only thin the nasal mucus but also soothe the irritated tissues there.
• Also eliminate certain activities that can bring on the allergies. For instance the lawn mowing can be left to someone else in the house. For the time being, leave off the carpets and other allergy triggers.

But there are some silver linings even to this cloud – there are asthma scholarships available for those students who have asthma, and this can be used to one’s advantage in a way that makes things easier to an extent, a fact that a majority of people don’t even know about. Listed below are some of the asthma scholarships available-

1. It was under the aegis of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (AAAI) that it became possible for students passing out of high school to receive scholarship funding if they have asthma.

A onetime award of $1,000 as well as merit awards of $100 can be used to pay tuition fees, to buy books and so on, at certain universities.

Certain factors such as the student’s extracurricular activities, the extent of his or her involvement with their community and so on are also taken into account.

More information about this is available at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (AAAI) website.

2. There is also an asthma scholarship instituted by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, or AAFA offered to high school graduates who demonstrate the ability to mentor others who have asthma.

A written essay and other credentials are required to obtain the $500 award; so those students who have a flair for writing may be able to use this to particular advantage.

The way that this award works is different in different places, and in New England, the sponsors organize a competition to find the most deserving candidate who is able to offer encouragement to others with asthma and allergies. More information about this asthma scholarship can be found at the website of the Allergy and Asthma foundation.

3. Another scholarship available for asthmatics is the one instituted by the Schering-Plough Corporation. The Will to Win asthma scholarships has been benefiting students with asthma for more than the past couple of decades. This is the most substantial asthma scholarship that there is, and is offered in various different fields such as the visual arts, performing arts, athletics, science and community service. It totals up to about $50,000 in all.

Two students are given scholarships in each of these fields, to the extent of $5000 each. The motive behind this scholarship is to encourage young people and to reward them for not letting asthma hold them back from achieving their full potential by pursing higher education. More details are available at the Schering Plough Will to Win website.

4. The asthma athlete of the year also can receive a scholarship of up to $10,00

There are also available other scholarships that are also not very well known – for instance, scholarship offered to students who have food allergies, which is provided by the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network.

Children who grow up on farms are obviously going to be more exposed to a great variety of microorganisms when compared with their peers in urban and suburban areas, found the study that was conducted in the Bavarian region of Germany.

The study found that kids living on farms were 30 to 50% less likely to have asthma when compared with their urban counterparts.

The researchers collected samples of domestic interiors, household dust and so on, to gauge the fungal and bacterial DNA of the samples.

They found that the farm kids were routinely exposed to a greater variety of microbes and bacteria on a daily basis, and that these microbes and bacteria seemed to protect the health of the children.

It was the diversity of the kind of bacteria that was seen to be responsible for the children’s resistance to asthma because some of the farm bacteria could actually be helpful in battling other harmful bacteria.

There is also the concern that some of these drugs claim to be time release formulas but that they are not so in reality and so this could result in an overdose being administered. Drugs that are not approved by the FDA mean that they are not duly tested for efficacy or safety.

It is also a valid question as to how these drugs do actually reach the market if they are not FDA approved.

According to Dr. Michael Levy, director of the division of new drugs and labeling compliance at the FDA, some of these drugs are blatantly illegal, whereas others are marketed as a sort of shortcut by manufacturers, who bypass the regulation process of the FDA and directly start selling their products. In fact there are those companies as well; most of whose drugs are actually unapproved.

It is also part of the problem that many of the doctors who actually prescribe some of these medications, don’t even know that they are unapproved.

There is little evidence that alternative tests such as muscle weakness or hair analysis for allergies work, and parents are now being warned against using them.

Since 1990, there has been a staggering 500% increase in the number of instances where people have been required to be hospitalized due to allergic reactions to different allergens, the most common among them being tree nuts, peanuts, other nuts, milk, fish, shellfish, soy, sesame seeds, kiwi and wheat.

In extreme cases, allergic reactions could induce fatal heart attacks, anaphylactic shock that causes difficulty in breathing, swelling and so on.

It is suggested that excessive anti biotic use could be behind the sharp rise in allergies – as people ‘s exposure to common infections is reduced, the immune system responds by reacting in a hostile fashion to harmless substances such as pollen, dust and food items.  Other suggested causes for this rise are decline in breastfeeding and rise in cesarean section deliveries.

Here are some places in the gym where allergies could lurk:

1. Yoga mats could be a potential allergen – the latex in the rubber mat could be responsible. Pick organic or hemp mats instead.

2. The pool and its chlorine content could trigger asthma and allergies, so remember to shower properly straight after a swim.

3. In the locker room it could be antibacterial soaps and their triclosan that could contribute to allergies, thyroid and other hormonal problems, or even compromise immunity.

4. Air fresheners and disinfectants used in the gym contain phthalates and other problematic ingredients that are responsible for allergies to asthma to cancers.

5. The smoothie or snack bar could be the place that houses a host of allergens – wheat, milk, nuts, eggs and so on. Make sure separate blenders are used.

6. Workout clothing made from synthetic and nylon materials can cause irritation, itching and so on. Use natural fabrics such as naturally wicking wool, or even lycra which is less likely to cause irritation.

7. Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) can result from improper warm up or cool down and improper breather techniques and may trigger respiratory problems.

The constricted airways and inflammation that characterize an asthma attack can often occur a long time before the outer manifestation can be felt by the asthma sufferer.

The device can sense this inflammation by measuring the Nitrogen oxide levels present in the breath of the person and if there is inflammation of the bronchial tubes.

According to Dr Maximilian Fleischer, who is among the people involved in the development of the sensor, this is the first time that a sensor of this sort has been developed in such a convenient and portable size.

Similar sensors have been available before, but their use has been confined to doctors’ clinics and hospitals hitherto. The machines have so far been too big and expensive for use by individuals.

Since the machine is very sensitive, it can sense an asthma attack well before it actually occurs – this can help sufferers plan their schedules and also adjust medication and/or obtain advance medical treatment.

There is home that similar devices could have other applications, such as detecting fires, acetone, and even lung cancer.