Category Archives: allergy Sinus Asthma

Relieving Spring Allergies Naturally

January 29, 2012

Once again, spring allergy season has arrived. there is plenty of pollen in the air, causing many people to deal with spring allergies. just a few of the symptoms that come along with allergies include itchy eyes, runny nose, and sneezing. of course, there is a variety of treatments out there for allergies, but many people are looking for natural options. if you are wanting to relieve your spring allergies naturally, the following are some natural remedies that can help to give your immune system a boost and help ease those allergy symptoms that you are dealing with.

Drink Water
One very simple way that you can naturally relieve your problems with allergies this spring is to start drinking more water. Water helps to thin out the mucous secretions that your body is making and will keep the tissues well hydrated as well. You should be drinking at least half your weight in water. for example, if you weigh 140 pounds, then you should be drinking 70 ounces of water each day to combat these allergies.

Avoid Foods that create Mucus
Another natural way to treat spring allergies is to make sure that you avoid foods that tend to create mucus. While you don’t have to totally eliminate them, you’ll definitely want to keep away from them as much as possible. Some of these foods to cut back on include red meats, dairy products, eggs, wheat, processed or fried foods, and even chocolate. they promote the inflammation in the body and won’t be much of a help to your immune system.

Eat Foods that are Anti Inflammatory
Eating anti-inflammatory foods can be very helpful as well when you want to treat your spring allergies. These foods include hempseeds, ground flaxseeds, and even walnuts. Fish oil supplements are also excellent for you. they provide omega-3 fatty acids that help to get rid of the inflammation that you are dealing with deep in your nasal passages due to the allergies.

Change Clothing When You’re Home
When you first come home from being outdoors, make sure that you change your clothing. this is a simple and effective way to help alleviate your allergies. Pollen can be trapped within your clothing very easily, so change as soon as you come home. The pollen can also get into your hair, so washing your hair more than you usually do can provide some help as well.

Bioflavonoid Quercetin
You may not know what Quercetin is, but it can help you out when you’re dealing with allergies as well. it is a bioflavonoid that you usually find within red wine, onions, and even grapefruit. it keeps the body from releasing the histamines that can cause watering eyes and a runny nose. this can help to alleviate the allergy symptoms that you are dealing with and it is all natural.

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How to Get Sinus Relief Now

December 25, 2011

When someone has a sinus infection they want relief NOW, not the next hour or day but NOW
Well, we will tell you how to get relief right now, in this article. I know that you don’t want to read a bunch of stuff about sinus cavities or how you get sinus infections. It doesn’t really matter at this point, you just want relief. After you get well then you can find out about all that other stuff.

Lets get right to it shall we?

There are several things you can do to relieve sinus pressure.

1. You’ve heard about boiling water in a pan and breathing in the steam with the help of a towel around your head to catch the steam? well it works. do this first. It may be a little uncomfortable, especially in the summer so we have a few more ideas.

2. Listen up because this works INSTANTLY. you need to get to a store that carries essential oil, it is probably a health food store. If you don’t have a health food store in your area, then you will have to get these essential oils online. Get essential oils of lavender, peppermint and eucalyptus, put several drops of each one, one on top of the other, on a tissue, hold the tissue up to your nose and inhale deeply. Continue this until the sinuses are open. you may have to do it several times a day. This works very well. you will feel better in seconds.

3. This remedy is sort of a combination of the other two. Bring a couple of quarts of water to a boil, then turn off the heat. Mix 12-18 drops of eucalyptus and peppermint essential oils into the water. Cover your head and the pot of water witha towel and breath through the nose and mouth several times. do this as often as needed throughout the day.

Use one or all of these remedies to relieve your sinus congestion. at the same time as you are working on these remedies, drink some peppermint tea with a little lemon in it. use some of this tea to make a compress to your sinus areas. you may need to cover your eyes or keep them shut while using these remedies to keep them from being irritated. These remedies are time tested, give them a try.

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Dr. Neuzil’s Irrigator Sinus Rinse to Showcase at Natural Products Expo East

September 24, 2011

Lady Lake, Fla. (PRWEB) September 21, 2011

Francis “Ed” Neuzil’s patients often complain about irritated nasal passages after spending time outdoors. Neuzil, ARNP, PhD and owner of an allergy, sinus and asthma practice, knows getting rid of the pollutants that cause sinus irritation will help. So he developed Dr. Neuzil’s Irrigator, an herbal-enhanced saline based nasal rinse (IrrigatorNasalSpray.com) and natural product retailers can learn more about it this weekend’s Natural Products Expo East in Baltimore, Maryland.

Since coming to market in 2010, Dr. Neuzil’s Irrigator is in more than 60 stores nationwide and available online. the sinus rinse is in the Select Nutrition Distributors’ catalog and will be showcased at Select’s booth at Expo East (#5220).

“Expo East is an ideal national platform and allows us to thank our existing roster of retailers and distributors while continuing to educate the natural products industry about the benefits of our saline spray,” said Neuzil. “We expect to broaden the base of customer awareness and retail availability so that sinus sufferers across the country have access to our product which offers year-round relief.”

Dr. Neuzil’s Irrigator has essential oils including wintergreen, eucalyptol, spearmint, and other natural oils which help moisturize sinuses while rinsing out pollen, dust, pet dander and other irritants that lead to dry, inflamed nasal passages.

“Clients say our nasal spray opens them up and leaves them feeling clean and refreshed,” said Neuzil. ”The essential oils added to the saline spray can have preventative benefits by preserving the natural protectants in our nose which help fight airborne germs.”

With its all natural active ingredients, Dr. Neuzil’s Irrigator is unique to other nasal therapies such as the neti pot or saline sinus rinse. in fact, a November 2010 survey showed users overwhelmingly prefer Dr. Neuzil’s Irrigator to other therapies because of its ease of use and effectiveness.

Dr. Neuzil’s Irrigator can be used as often as needed up to six times a day and is approved for use by children, age four and up with adult supervision. Learn more about our nasal spray by following us on Twitter(@IrrigatorRelief) and on our Facebook page Facebook.com/IrrigatorNasalSpray. (Dr. Neuzil’s Irrigator is not affiliated with Natural Products Expo East.)

About Dr. Neuzil’s Irrigator Dr. Neuzil’s Irrigator is an herbal-enhanced nasal cleansing spray that helps rinse the nose of dust, pollen, pet dander and other irritants that cause discomfort. it was developed by Francis “Ed” Neuzil, a board-certified nurse practitioner who has owned his own allergy, sinus and asthma medical practice for 12 years. Neuzil developed the spray for patients who refused to use the natural nasal therapies he prescribed to eliminate allergic triggers. Dr. Neuzil’s Irrigator is a saline formula with essential oils that moisturize your nasal passages leaving you feeling refreshed.

Read the full story at prweb.com/releases/Irrigator/Relief/prweb8815245.htm

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Purchasing Low Sulphite Wine

September 23, 2011

Sulphur dioxide is used in the wine making process for fermentation as it can preserve the character of the wine including taste, flavour and colour. Sulphites are a natural byproduct of winemaking and has not been considered dangerous in small quantities. Over time, cheap bottles of wine have added sulphites to help enhance the flavour cheaply. However, some people are highly allergic to sulphur and therefore they should avoid anything that contains it. low sulphite wine contains quite negligible amount of sulphites and therefore consuming it is normally considered safe even for people allergic to sulphites.

Though sulphur dioxide is used to preserve the taste of wine, if used in excess quantity, it can cause an unpleasant taste evident at very low concentration. Wines with high level of sulphur dioxide are known to cause some health issues including fatal allergic reactions and terrible hangovers. Another reason for people to look for low sulphite wine is that when sulphites are added in high quantity to wines, fewer grapes are required to make a bottle of wine, thus making it cheaper to produce.

Different types of wines contain different levels of sulphites and the knowledge about this factor will help a person in finding out a low sulphite wine for consumption. Red wines are having the lowest level of sulphites because they naturally contain anti-oxidants acquired from their stems and skins during fermentation. However, wine makers add some sulphites anyways to this low sulphite wine to maintain the flavour on the cheap. White wines and roses have higher levels of sulphites as they need anti-oxidants in the form of sulphur since they are not left in contact with their skins during fermentation. Sweet wines will be having the highest level of sulphites as sugar will combine with sulphur. Therefore more sulphur is added to get the same level of free sulphur dioxide.

The difficult task of finding low sulphite wine has been made easy by the Internet. You just need to do a quick search in the search engines to find a good low sulphite wine. there are a lot of online stores that provide the product and you can purchase it online as well.

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Cold Or Sinus Infection?

September 22, 2011

Too many people are not able to distinguish between a common cold and a sinus infection. this is because some cold symptoms are very similar to those of sinusitis.

The common cold is considered a viral upper respiratory tract infection. It is a mild illness that does not last long. many different kinds of viruses are known to cause the common cold. As a result, we are constantly bombarded by old and new viruses which cause the common cold and there is no way for our body to build resistance to all of them.

As a result, young, school-going children often suffer from frequent bouts of the cold. on average, children in preschool and elementary school can have between four to twelve colds per year while teenagers and adults typically have an average two to four colds per year. Understandably, the common cold is the leading and most frequently occurring illness around the world, and it is the chief cause of productivity losses owing to missed days from work and school.

Common cold symptoms

The most common symptoms of the cold would include clogged nasal passages which affect mucus drainage, sore throat, hoarseness, sneezing, cough, abnormal amounts of post-nasal drip and sometimes a fever or headache. many people with a cold would feel a loss of concentration and fatigue. these cold symptoms would normally be present for a period of three to 9 days from the onset.

Common cold treatment
Being a viral infection, there is no quick fix for the common cold. Antibiotics would not work since they only act against bacteria. It is inconceivable for a doctor to prescribe antibiotics for the common cold. in fact, many doctors have been cautioned not to prescribe antibiotics indiscriminately due to the rising number of antibiotic-resistant cases reported. Home remedies are good to since they do a pretty good job at alleviating the cold symptoms, though not completely eradicating them.

Home remedies which are effective include longer rest, steam inhalation and drinking plenty of water. Unless there is a fever which may indicate a bacterial infection, most people would visit a pharmacy for some over-the-counter medications. Lozenges are good for sore throat. Those with coughs can go for cough mixture which can help thin the mucus for easy drainage. Decongestants such as pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) and antihistamines help with unclogging the blocked nasal passages. Paracetamol can be taken if there is a fever or headache. Unless the pain becomes unbearable, Ibuprofen is a good alternative.

Sinusitis

A sinus infection, medically known as sinusitis, is a condition where the air-filled cavities, or sinuses, become inflamed and swollen. Very often, a person who has the common cold goes a step further to having sinusitis. this is due to the person’s slow recovery.
In addition to the above cold symptoms, other sinus infection symptoms would include:

1. Pain in the molars of the upper jaw

2. Pressure around and between the eyes.

The above symptoms also are not usually associated with colds and therefore these additional symptoms can help you distinguish between the common cold and sinusitis.

As a general rule of the thumb, if cold symptoms last less than seven days, the likely culprit is a cold caused by a virus, and antibiotics are not needed.

If cold symptoms last longer than seven days or get worse, the patient most likely has a bacterial infection and will likely need antibiotic treatment.

Acute sinusitis normally lingers for up to four weeks while chronic sinusitis can last as long as twelve weeks.

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Ways to Relieve Dust Mite Allergy Symptoms

September 13, 2011

What’s a Dust Mite?

They are small-spider like creatures that feed on human and animal dander (flakes of skin and bits of hair). The average mite is around 0.3 mm large, has a life span for the male is one month and 2 months for the female. during it’s life span a female can lay up to 100 eggs. On average a human sheds about 10 grams of skin a week, animals shed more, so they have plenty of food in the average household. their populations are largest where humans do most of their lounging, living room furniture, carpets, car seats, and last of all the bedroom, particularly the in the mattress. Depending on conditions, 100,000 have been known to occupy one square yard of carpet, and hundreds of thousands can live in a mattress. ten year old mattresses can double its original weight due to the accumulated weight of dead carcasses and their feces. A two-year old pillow can have a 10% increase in weight due to the same reasons.

Dust Mite Allergies

While they are not harmful to Humans, an article published in the Wall Street Journal on 5th Jan 2010 (pg D2) suggested that 18-30% of Americans have allergic reactions to the feces of these mites. when people that are sensitive to them come in contact with their feces, they produce antibodies that produce histamines that cause nasal congestion. actually the same study found that up to 50% of American homes have allergen levels high enough that people who have previously never had a problem with allergies could develop allergy symptoms. Babies that are younger than one year old living in such environments could develop lifelong allergies. anyone or combination of the following can be an indication of a dust mite allergy.

• Asthma
• Coughing
• Frequently waking up
• Children rubbing of the nose in an upward fashion
• Itchy nose, throat, or roof of mouth
• Nasal congestion
• Runny nose
• Swollen, blue-colored skin under the eyes
• Breathing difficulties
• Facial pressure and pain
• Hay fever
• Infantile eczema
• Itchy, red or watery eyes
• Postnasal drip
• Sneezing
• Watering eyes

Allergy symptoms could be made worse in the following conditions.

  • high humidity
  • temperatures that are above 70 F / 20 C
  • Poor ventilation
  • tobacco smoke or car fumes

Effective Ways for getting Rid of Dust Mites

1. Wash bedding every week at 130 F/ 54C
2. Wash with laundry soap that has anti mite properties.
3. Protect mattresses with dust mite mattress covers, dust mite pillow covers and sleep on dust mite proof mattresses, memory foam, latex mattresses and natural memory mattresses are dust mite resistant. they also don’t live in water and air mattresses
4. Wash childrens’ stuffed animals often with hot water
5. Keep the household humidity low at 30-50%.
6. Have less carpeted floors and if you do have them professionally cleaned twice a year

Article Summary

This article covered the following points. what a dust mite is, how it’s a menace to people who suffer allergies, their favorite breeding environments, what allergy symptoms are, and effective ways for getting rid of dust mites. There’s also an informative video on YouTube that’s worth viewing. Natural Relief of Dust Mite Allergies

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Skin Tests Used to Find Causes of Allergy

September 4, 2011

One of the biggest problems with having pets in the home is the fact that so many people suffer an allergic reaction to them. Though when the allergy first appears it may not be obvious as to what is the cause and all possibilities need to be looked at before being certain that it is due to the pet. This can be a serious problem for the health of the person suffering from the allergy and possibly the thought of having to remove the pet from the family is one that is unbearable. The next steps would be to seek medical advice so that the real cause can be found.

If the allergy is displaying itself on the skin of the patient the then one of the many tests that are used in finding the cause is the skin test. This is usually done after a careful history of the patient has been made to find out if there is any pattern or family history of the allergy, or the likelihood of it occurring just after the pet appeared. It may sound horrifying to the sufferer of the allergy but it is very effective at finding out exactly what substance is making their body react in such a debilitating way. Of the skin allergy tests there are two types, the epidermal and the percutaneous.

Epidermal Skin Allergy Tests

The epidermis is the skin that we all see, the outer layer of our skin that gets exposed to the world and protects us from it. The first type of these is simply the Patch Test, in which suspect substances are placed against the skin and held next to it by a patch. The patch when removed about 20 minutes later will show if the epidermis has reacted to the substance and displaying any skin allergy.

Another is the Friction Test, which is useful with substances like animal hair, where it is rubbed over the forearm about 10 times to see if a reaction takes place.

Percutaneous Skin Allergy Tests

Percutaneous in this case means getting underneath the outer layer of skin and applying the substance there. This is not so bad as it sounds but requires the skin to be pricked or scratched to be able to do it effectively. The first of these tests is the Prick Test, where the substance is placed upon the skin and with something similar to a needle the skin is pricked to see if a reaction forms. there should be no bleeding; it is not a deep prick but just enough to get underneath the surface. The results of this should be seen after about 15 minutes when the substance is washed away.

Another form is the Scratch Test, where the skin is scratched, again not enough to cause any bleeding and only about 5mm long. The substance may be made into a solution to enable it to have contact with the skin, but then it is given time to see if a reaction takes place.

The final skin test here is the Intradermal Test, though this is one that can be difficult to interpret. This is where a very small sample of the substance is made into a solution and injected with a small syringe and needle. This is not the same as having an injection because it is only done just under the surface of the skin, just enough to produce a tiny bump, about 3mm on the surface. This test may take a lot longer to get the results from, in some cases over weeks but is used only in specific situations where any of the other tests above cannot work. If a reaction has taken place the area where the substance was injected will flare up.

These are the most common types of skin test used and many of the simpler epidermal ones are likely to show where the allergic is coming from. It may be the case in pet allergy that the exact cause of the allergy is found and some remedy or solution will be recommended rather than the undesired removal of the pet.

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Fall Dust Allergies

August 10, 2011

If dust and dust mites are the bane of your existence, then you should read this article. Early fall often is prime production time for several different allergens. if you already know that you are allergic to dust mites, animal dander or pollen, you can assume that dust will be an ever-present allergen. for those of us with sensitivities to mold spores, pollen and dust mites, early August to Late November, the dust in our homes may carry with it an increased chance of triggering our symptoms. This is because dust basically is a collection of allergens that has settled in corners, under furniture and on window sills.

A Recipe for Dust

The primary ingredient in dust is dead skin. the tiny glimmering specs of dust that you see whirling in a ray of sunlight are actually your one shed skin cells. your bed, armchair or sofa is overflowing with this sort of dust, which makes these items the perfect environment for dust mites. Dust mite allergen is a major factor in sparking attacks for those with allergic asthma (about 90% of allergic asthmatics are sensitive to dust mites).

Other little bits of debris joins the mixture, including fibers, dirt and sand tracked in on shoes, pollen, mold spores, specks of carbon from furnaces, sawdust, plant and insect parts, etc. Dust bunnies are a product of fiber dust-those tiny bits of fuzz from clothes, carpets and furniture collect to form a larger ball of dust.

Fall Dust Woes: why are dust allergies worse in the fall?

  • During the months of July and August, dust mite populations hit their year-round peak because of the ample amounts of warmth and moisture (derived from your sweat and environmental humidity). So if you find that you are waking up with dry eyes or a stuffed up nose, you can assume that you have some sensitivity to dust mites.
  • Early August to early November is the pollinating season for ragweed, which is why it is the leading cause of fall allergies. Ragweed relies on the wind to spread its pollen, which means (unlike other plants that produce pretty or scented flowers to attract insects to pollinate them) this plant produces enormous amounts of tiny pollen grains that are carried on gust of air. Because this pollination technique is completely hit or miss, the more pollen the plant produces will increase its chances of pollination.
  • As damp leaves pile up, mold growth is prolific. Leaves are a perfect food source for molds, so it only takes a small amount of moisture and a few warm days for molds to quickly sprout and produce large amounts of spores.

If you have moderate to severe dust, mold, pollen or dust mite allergies, now may be the time of year when the dust in your home is made up of these seasonal allergens. if you are looking for relief beyond basic cleaning, you want to dust-proof your room.

How to prep the room:

  1. pack up all your belongings as if you were moving and empty out the room.
  2. empty out your closet–clean the contents and seal in plastic bags or Tupperware containers.
  3. keep clothing in zippered plastic bags and shoes in shoe boxes up off of the floor.
  4. remove any loose carpets.
  5. clean and scrub the woodwork and floors to remove all of the dust present.
  6. wipe all of the wood, tile or linoleum surfaces in the room with water, then wax or oil them.
  7. re-cement any lifted linoleum to the floor so that there are no hiding places from dust.
  8. if the room is a guest room, keep all of the windows and doors closed

Maintenance:

    (Remember, if you are allergic to dust, you might want to wear a mask while cleaning.)
  1. thoroughly clean the room once a week.
  2. clean the floors, furniture, tops of doors and door frames and window sills with a damp cloth or oiled dusting rag.
  3. vacuum carpets and upholstery on a regular basis (preferably using a vacuum specially made to filter out allergens)
  4. remember to wash your curtains, because they can collect a lot of dust. Soak them in a bucket of hot water (130 degrees Fahrenheit) to rid them of dust mites.
  5. open the windows and air out the room. Because of the airtight construction used to improve energy efficiency, there are 200% more allergens trapped indoors that older, drafty homes. though you might think that open windows bring in more allergens like pollen and dust, the amount that collects in the room over the period of a week or two is substantially more. In the end, you have more allergens leaving the room than entering it.
  6. if you have wall-to-wall carpeting, you may want to remove it, because it tends to collect dust
  7. bedding should be washed weekly – for more tips on laundering your bedding, read my post with tips for ridding your bedroom of dust mites.
  8. installing an air filter can dramatically reduce the amount of dust in the air and, in turn, cut down on how much dust is piling up on your belongings.

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Sinus Allergy Relief – What to Do When Allergy Attacks

June 20, 2011

Sinusitis is a condition where the mucous membranes connecting the sinus cavities get inflamed and block air and mucous exchange. As a result air and mucous gets trapped inside the cavities or a vacuum is created. in either case a pressure is created against the sinus walls causing great pain and distress. this inflammation is often a result of allergy caused by various allergens. some of these allergens are dust mites, pollen, second hand smoke, and perfume. Sinus allergy relief can be found by using drugs like antihistamines, decongestants, combination medicines and corticosteroids. Allergy shots are also prescribed.

However these medications often have harmful side effects and can be costly. However relief provided by natural remedies is effective, low cost as well as free of harmful side effects. The easiest natural remedy is drinking lots of hot water drinks with apple cider vinegar or Oregon oil added to it. You can also drink basil tea and hot lemonade, they both work very well.

For effective sinus allergy relief you can irrigate your nose with warm water and salt, you can also use powerful natural decongestant solutions like grapefruit seed extract solution. Try to sleep in air conditioned rooms as sir conditioners filter out allergens. use humidifiers as dry air increases allergic reactions and is bad for nasal passages and avoid temperature extremes. Prohibit people from smoking inside your house and dust carpets and furniture regularly. Chewing papaya tablets can relieve the pain, by regulating mucus production. Pillow covers and bed sheets should be washed frequently, light colored polyester curtains can keep the air fresh. Pet dogs should be regularly bathed.

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Cat Allergy Symptoms and Treatments

June 20, 2011

There are different types of cat allergy treatment available, but before addressing any treatment, we must first discuss what causes a cat allergy and what the symptoms are.

An allergic reaction to a cat is caused by the human body’s immune system mistaking cat hair & dander as a “dangerous substance”. The immune system is attempting to ward off these “dangerous substances”. this causes symptoms like that of hay fever.

Symptoms

There are many different allergy symptoms, but they mostly depend on what type of cat allergy you are diagnosed with: cat hair, cat dander, cat flea, or cat skin allergy. Also, there are many different types of cat allergy treatment, so different symptoms require different treatments.

Swollen and Watery Eyes

This is usually caused by tiny pieces of cat dust and dander traveling from the cat’s skin through the air and into your eyes. you will usually have itchy eyes and they will be red at times. you can get rid of the swelling and watery eyes by either removing the cat or by taking eye drops.

Wheezing and Coughing

Just as in the cause of the itchy, watery, swollen eyes, cat dust and dander can travel through the air and be breathed in through the mouth. The muscles in the airways will contract in a reaction to the dander coming in contact with your airways, resulting in difficulty breathing, coughing, and wheezing.

Excema

Sometimes cat dander will come in contact with the skin and cause itchy, red, dry sections. to remedy this, minimize scratching and moisturize the area.

Other symptoms include sneezing and running/stuffy nose.

Treatments

A cat allergy treatment is available in pill form, so your doctor may be able to subscribe something if you have symptoms of cat allergy. Another cat allergy treatment is available in the form of antihistamine nasal sprays. However, these methods provide only temporary relief. here are some tips to minimize your cat allergies:

Keep the cat out of certain rooms.

Keep the house well-ventilated.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shirley_Hendricks

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