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"Important
Things to Know About Allergies,"
by Susan Dunn, MA, The EQ CoachT
Did
you know that somewhere around 45 million American
are affected by allergies?
An
allergic reaction is a response by your immune
system to a substance it thinks is a harmful
allergen. It reacts by releasing histamines which
causes inflammatory reactions involving digestive,
skin and/or respiratory systems.
1. More than 35 million Americans suffer from "hay
fever," which is technically "allergic
rhinitis."
2. If you suffer, it isn't as easy as moving to
another location.
According
to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and
Immunology (AAAAI), most people who move develop
new allergies to the new stuff within a year or
two. "Moving to another part of the country to
escape allergies is often ultimately disappointing,
and not recommended." (I take it this means
"unreliable" but not impossible. Check with your
personal physician.)
3. The top 10
"allergy capitals" in the US are .
1. Louisville, KY
2. Austin, TX
3. St. Louis, MO
4. Atlanta, GA
5. Charlotte, NC
6. Hartford-New Haven, CT
7. Nashville, TN
8. Raleigh-Durham-Fayetteville, NC
9. Harrisburg-Lancaster-York, PA
10. Grand Rapids-Kalamazoo, MI
Go here to read the
top 50 and how they were ranked -
http://www.allergypreventioncenter.com/news2003/top50allergycapitals.html
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4. Weather
influences hay fever symptoms.
Days
that are hot, dry and windy cause pollen and mold
to move and cause more symptoms. Symptoms are
generally less on days that are rainy, cloudy or
windless because the pollen doesn't move.
5. It's the pollen
you can't see that does the most damage.
Pollen
are tiny, egg-shaped male cells of flowering
plants. How tiny are they? Microscopic.
6. Do I have to
give up my roses and zinnias?
According
to the AAAAI, pollens from plants with bright
flowers are usually okay. It's the trees, grasses
and low-growing weeds that have the small, light
dry pollens so easily airborne.
7. What about your
fingernails?
While
cosmetics and salon services are generally safe,
Dr. Phoebe Rich, American Academy of
Dermatologists, warns of the potential problem of
allergic reactions. The most common ingredient that
can create an allergic reaction is
methylmethacrylate or MMA, which is used in the
application of acrylic nails. Dr. Rich advises:
"Although MMA has been banned by many states and
the FDA has issued warnings about its hazards, the
substance is still being used in some discount
salons because it costs so much less than the safer
acrylate alternatives such as ethylmethacrylate,"
stated Dr. Rich. "If consumers notice a strong odor
associated with acrylic nail application, MMA is
probably being used and that salon should be
avoided. Consumers should also report that salon to
the state medical board."
8. Seasonal
allergic conjunctivitis is on the rise.
If
your eyes are itching, burning, red, tearing or
watering, feel like sand-paper,you're your eyelids
are swollen it could be allergic conjunctivitis.
Viral and bacterial infections can produce the same
symptoms. Why should you know the difference?
Because the treatment is different. One example -
if it's bacterial, you may be given Neosporin
drops, which (spore=mold) would make your allergic
symptoms worse!
9. How do you know
if it's a cold, or allergies?
Read the
distinction on this site:
http://www.allergypreventioncenter.com/news2003/coldsvsallergies.html
10. Over 6,000,000
Americans suffer from food allergies.
According
to the FoodAllergyInitiative, "each year hundreds
die from food and allergies and over 30,000 receive
life-saving treatment in emergency rooms due to
food-induced anaphylaxis [difficulty in
breathing, heart failure, circulatory collapse and
sometimes death]."
Any
food can cause allergies, but 90% are caused by
peanut, shellfish, soy, egg, wheat, fish, milk and
treenuts. [Source: http://www.foodallergyinitiative.org
]
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