Does the "air we breathe" have an impact on the
rising incidence of
allergies and asthma? Hay fever was
rare in Japan before World War II. However, pollen allergy is now common and mostly affects those living in
Japanese cities and near highways. Allergic disease is also more common in highly developed
countries in North America and Europe and less common in Third World countries.
This suggests that there must be something about modern, urban life that
promotes allergy. Let us examine the impact of air pollution.
By far the most important indoor pollutant is tobacco smoke, which is
strongly associated with allergic sensitization, asthma, and other
respiratory
illnesses. Exposure to smoke results in the body's enhanced ability to produce
IgE (the allergy antibody) that attaches to allergens (e.g. pollen, dust mites
and dander). The IgE response is a key trigger of allergic reactions.
Avoidance is always the best treatment for
allergies regardless of which allergens are the triggers.
Interestingly enough, the most effective, least expensive,
and simplest options are not always followed. Many people
choose medications or vaccinations instead, despite their
drawbacks. Fortunately, there are lots of simple methods,
both old and new, to help with avoidance. Remember, putting
into practice any of these measures can only be helpful in
managing your allergies.
The good news is that you really don't have to strip
your house down to the bare bones to make it allergy proof.
Thorough and regular cleaning generally makes a huge
difference in keeping your house as mold and dust free as
possible. Patients with asthma or allergic rhinitis that
are due to dust mites, molds, or other indoor allergens can
feel better by taking these simple measures:
Keep the home cool (between 68 and 72 degrees F);
Maintain a low humidity (between 40 and 50%); and
Make certain there is good ventilation.
When patients get started with the process of "allergy-
proofing" their homes, one of two things usually happens.
They either do nothing or "overdo it." Some patients become
so overwhelmed with all the different methods of allergy-
proofing that they simply do nothing. That's always a
disappointing outcome, especially when the process is so
straightforward and inexpensive. Just focusing on the
basics of a routine and thorough cleaning and temperature
and humidity reduction can lead to fewer symptoms and a
vastly improved quality of life.
Sometimes, the opposite occurs. The allergy-proofing
process becomes all consuming and inordinately expensive.
Overpriced and often inefficient whole-house filtration
devices are installed when simple cleaning and reduction
of humidity and temperature would have been adequate.
Clearly, there are situations in which extreme measures
need to be undertaken. Before going down this path,
however, it's best to consult with your doctor. Start with
the easy things first.
The next section will describe the best steps to take
in allergy-proofing your home. Always take a calculated
approach, stepping up the process as needed for certain
problems. First, we will focus on the best
ways to clean and in the second part, on the available
technologies.
Eczema, also known as dermatitis, is a general term for many types of skin inflammation. The most common form of eczema is atopic dermatitis. The other forms of eczema include: contact eczema, seborrheic eczema, Nummular eczema, Neurodermatitis, stasis dermatitis, and dyshidrotic eczema. Symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of eczema may vary from person to person and may depend on the type of eczema.
Allergic rhinitis symptoms include an itchy, runny nose, sneezing, itchy ears, eyes, and throat. Seasonal allergic rhinitis (also called hay fever) is usually caused by pollen in the air. Perennial allergic rhinitis is a type of chronic rhinitis and is a year–round problem, often caused by indoor allergens, such as dust, animal dander, and pollens that may exist at the time. Treatment of chronic rhinitis and post nasal drip are dependant upon the type of rhinitis condition.
An allergy refers to a misguided reaction by our immune system in response to bodily contact with certain foreign substances. When these allergens come in contact with the body, it causes the immune system to develop an allergic reaction in people who are allergic to it. It is estimated that 50 million North Americans are affected by allergic conditions. The parts of the body that are prone to react to allergies include the eyes, nose, lungs, skin, and stomach. Common allergic disorders include hay fever, asthma, allergic eyes, allergic eczema, hives, and allergic shock.
Hoarseness (abnormal deep, harsh, raspy voice) is caused by a variety of conditions in which the larynx (voice box and vocal chords) are irritated or injured. Examples of causes of hoarseness include: laryngitis, straining the vocal cords by yelling or screaming, infections, GERD, allergies, and more. Treatment of hoarseness depends on the cause.
Asthma, the main cause of chronic illness in children, has signs and symptoms in children that include frequent coughing spells, low energy while playing, complaints of chest "hurting," wheezing while breathing, shortness of breath, and feelings of tiredness. Treatment will involve a doctor creating an asthma action plan which will describe the use of asthma medications and when to seek emergency care for the child.
Hay fever (allergic rhinitis) is an irritation of the nose caused by pollen and is associated with the following allergic symptoms: nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, eye and nose itching, and tearing eyes. Avoidance of known allergens is the recommended treatment, but if this is not possible, antihistamines, decongestants, and nasal sprays may help alleviate symptoms.
Common sources of indoor allergens include dust mites, cockroaches, molds, pets, and plants. Managing allergies caused by indoor allergens means reducing your exposure to them.
Biologic rhythms, or biorhythms, are how our bodies respond to the regular phases of the sun, moon, and seasons. A medical chronobiologist studies how the "body clock" or biorhythms affect diseases and how the body clock responds to treatment of diseases and conditions at different times of the day.
What are biologic rhythms? In essence, they're the rhythms of life. All forms
of life on earth, including our bodies, respond rhythmically to the regular
cycles of the sun, moon, and seasons.
For example, as night turns into day, vital body
functions, including heart
rate and blood pressure, speed
up in anticipation of increased physical activity. These and other predictable
fluctuations in body function, taking place during specific time cycles, are our
biologic rhythms. They are regulated by "biologic clock" mechanisms located in
the brain.
Although biologic rhythms can be "reprogrammed" by environmental influences
(such as when a person regularly works the night shift and sleeps during the
day), they are genetically "hard-wired" into our cells, tissues, and organs.
Medical chronobiologists have found that biologic rhythms can affect the
severity of disease symptoms, diagnostic test results, and eve...