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It is been observed that so many people cannot take the advantage and benefit of the countryside because of their allergy problems. Pollens are the biggest problem in countryside. Even allergic people can take the benefit of countryside, if people plan to go in the right season at the right time.

Pollens are the problem for allergic people.

Exercise is in fresh air is good for all and it is advised to all people even if you an allergy sufferer. People suffering from allergy sometimes avoid doing exercise in fresh air because they are afraid of getting an allergy attack. As you all might know that the pollination of the trees happens in spring, later grass pollination and followed by flowers pollination. The pollen count in the air is more during the windy days.

While deciding your holiday destination always keep allergy as a parameter in mind, and then finalize the destination depending on the season and the allergy factor. For example: If a person is suffering from iodine should go to countryside instead of going to seaside.
People allergic to mites should head to mountains because mites cannot survive on heights.

Some precautions and measures to be taken to prevent an allergic reaction caused by pollens.

• Normally the pollen count is high in morning and early evenings, so better avoid going out at these timings.
• Rain brings down all the pollens present in the air. This is the best time to go out for walk. The air just after rain is clean and very refreshing.
• You can also go out for a walk when it is drizzling. You can enjoy the rain while walking in the countryside, it is truly a different experience.
• While gardening wear protective gear, to avoid coming in contact with pollens.
• If possible have a shower after gardening, this will remove all the pollens from the hair and your body which you got them along.

It is very important to find out the allergen before taking precaution about allergy. And the best way to take precaution is to avoid such allergens. There is a possibility that a person may have more than one allergy. Allergy can caused by anything like food, fruit, flour, wheat, histamine, peanut, turpentine, dust, pollen, latex, detergents, soap, oil, grass, and the list is endless.

Here are some of the methods to identify allergies

• Skin tests
  • Prick test: Prick test is a very common skin test. The suspected allergen is taken and a solution is prepared out of it. This solution is taken and applied on the surface of the skin. The solution is pricked into the skin with the help of a needle. Every time a fresh needle is used. The duration in which the reaction can be seen would be 10 – 15 minutes.
  • Patch test: This test is applied by people wanting to test the cosmetics, creams and other products they use on daily basis. The reason to test is to find out if these skin products or other product used by people are suited to their body. This test finds the sensitivity of your body against the allergen. The skin becomes red, swelling can be seen on the skin if the reaction occurs.
• Blood tests: Immune system is the main defense system of our body. When the immune system finds an allergen suspecting treat to the body then immune system releases immunoglobulins. Immunoglobulins are the antibodies. The blood test is made to find out the traces of immunoglobulins.

What are causes of anaphylactic shock?

As already said in our previous articles, that not all elements or substance causes such allergic attacks, but these elements have the potential for an allergic reaction. You need to identify which of the following are not suitable to you and have to avoid them from consumption: Dust, cotton seed, exposure to cold, chicken, dairy products, enzymes, fish, shellfish like molluscs and crustaceans, kiwi, barley, buckwheat, spices, garlic, mustard, fennel, nuts, pine nut, sesame, millet, sunflower, yeast, papain, antibiotics, insulin, phenoxymethilpenicillin, tetracycline, aspirin, penicillin, rubber, sulphur dioxide.

Exercise-induced anaphylaxis

Due to the release of mast cells exercise induced anaphylaxis occurs. The symptoms of exercise induced anaphylaxis are same as anaphylactic shock. The reaction can last anywhere from 30 minutes to 4 hours, headache is also observed as a side effect of such reaction. If required even adrenaline injection would also be given to get the control of the reaction. Food, medication are the main source of reasons to get such allergic reactions. Sometimes exercising in humid conditions or exercising after a particular food or medicine intake such reactions are triggered. Person always have to keep note of what all food or medicine they take, to what they got exposed to (Eg: sunlight, pollution, etc). This helps to diagnose as to what you are allergic to, this is by creating a same environment and exposing you to it, and observing it. If this observations are not made then diagnosing allergy is a big challenge and the person also have to go through many tests and observation. If the histamine level in the blood is found high then it indicates it is because of an allergic reaction.

How to avoid anaphylactic shock? and How to minimize the risk?

Observe a disciple in food intake, always try to make sure that the food you are eating doesn’t contain any such substance or ingredient to which your body is allergic to. If you visit a restaurant you may always ask the content of it or tell the person in advance that with following elements or substances you are allergic to, so the care is taken while preparing the food. Here is the list of food that an allergic person has to watch out for:
Peanut butter, groundnuts, earth nuts, monkey nuts, mixed nuts, cakes, biscuits, pastries, Ice-creams, Desserts, Curries, Chinese dishes, Thai dishes, Indonesian dishes, Salad dressings, Confectionery etc. Sesame (Tahini, chinese stir fry oils, hummus, gomashio), Egg (Albumen) , Milk (whey, lactose, non-milk fat, whey solids, whey powder, casein).

Avoiding insect bites

These are some of the measures which needs to be taken to avoid insect bites: -

• Make sure that your skin is less vulnerable. As far as possible wear full sleave clothes. The colors should be less attractive so that the bees don’t get attract to you.
• Wear shoes so that no insect bites on your bare foot.
• Wear long gloves while gardening.
• Avoid strong perfumes, bees get attracted to such strong smell.
• Don’t panic or swat the insect if the insect sits on you, be calm remove or fly of the insect gently or wait still till it flies off.
• If you find the bee hive near your house, call the council to remove it, make sure that you are not nearby to that place.
• Remove the sting carefully, and make sure it is completely removed.
• With Garlic or onion smell insects repel.

Cosmetics

Be very careful while choosing cosmetics. If you are allergic to some food or oil substance than it is very relevant and important to know what all things or elements are mixed in such cosmetics. Suppose you are allergic to almonds then choose your soaps and other toiletries very carefully, because while applying such cosmetics on your skin and if it gets absorbed into the skin through any cracked skin then you may observe an allergic reaction.

Know how to use adrenaline kit

It is very important that the adrenaline kit you is easy to use. Make sure that your family members and friends know how to use the kit. Keep adrenaline kit at such a place that it is easy to reach and the place is known to all. Make sure the kit is out of small children’s reach to avoid critical situation. Always keep the procedure of how to use the kit in the kit itself and easily accessible.

What is the difference between anaphylaxis and anaphylactic shock?

Many people have the wrong perception about anaphylaxis and anaphylactic shocks and some people consider it same. Anaphylaxis is when in few minutes the whole body is affected with the allergic reaction. It is observed that the reaction is usually in few minutes after exposure to allergens only in some cases the reaction is seen after few hours. As we all know about our immune system. Immune system is the defense system of our body. As soon as the immune system recognizes an allergic reaction it starts releasing histamine. Due to release of histamine and other chemicals it results into a low blood pressure because of blood vessel leak. This may also trigger asthma attack. In case of anaphylactic shock the reaction is so intense that it causes inflammation and the reaction goes out of control. This type of inflammation is also called as systematic inflammation. Due to the blood vessel leak the blood supply to the different organs of the body is less, because of this the oxygen supply to the organs goes down, this may cause the organ to stop functioning or even fail. Brain, lungs, liver, kidney are the main organs of our body. People who have experienced a severe allergic attack before, then they should be more careful in future, because these type of reaction could be fatal. People having asthma and also are allergic to some or the other substance or have already experienced an allergic attack should have proper and regular check-up from allergy specialist. If you are not aware or known to any allergy specialist ask your doctor to refer to some allergy clinic, this will definitely guide you to the right path. Guidance from such allergy specialist is needed and is always helpful to take care of your self.

What are the symptoms of anaphylaxis or anaphylactic shock?

The symptoms listed below is the list of symptoms that may occur, all the listed symptoms may not occur to a single person and the symptoms may not be severe. People should not take such symptoms lightly, whatever they observe need to be consulted with their doctors or allergy specialists. By telling your observations to your doctors itself will help them to give you treatment better.

• Problem in swallowing, speaking and breathing
• Breathing problems may be because of asthma or swollen throat.
• Observing hives on any part of the body. (Urticaria)
• Abdominal cramps and sudden feel of weakness because of the low blood pressure.
• Irregular heart rate
• Nausea and vomiting
• Unconsciousness.

Immediate treatment is required if the above symptoms are experienced.

What is the treatment?

Keep all your documents filed and readily available. This file should contain all the comments from your doctor, your medical history, you are allergic to what all substances and drugs. If all this information is maintained then any other doctor who doesn’t know you, but reading your file he would be in a position to give you treatment. Adrenaline injected under the skin or muscles will help the body in couping or counteracting on the excess of histamine released by the body. It will help in regaining the blood vessels state, helps stopping the leak, help to improve breathing, regularizes heartbeat. Always take some information from your allergy specialist about what medicine to take if such problem arises, also keep your family members informed about such medicines so that they can take some action. The main problem here is if the throat gets swollen then there is no enough pathway for the air to pass through it and the patient feels suffocation. And if such emergency medicines are not available then with the help of spoon by sliding the smooth part inside the mouth over the tongue inside the throat and pressing it gently but firmly to keep the airway open. Such steps need to be taken by a skilled person who knows how to perform such action. If not done properly one may worse the situation more and anything fatal can happen. Medicines are to be taken according to the prescription given by the doctor.

Disclaimer: This website provides general information about allergies and in no means should be considered as a medical or health advice. Please consult your doctor or allergy specialist before acting on any of its information.

I will give you a general overview as what is allergic reactions. As from our different post you might be knowing that immune-system is the main defense mechanism of our body. We call an allergy when our body mis-understands a harmful substance as enemy of our body and starts reacting to it. So in an allergic reaction the body starts reacting to the foreign substance. If the body overreacts then you might have rashes, runny nose, breathing difficulty, nausea, diarrhea, watering of eyes etc.

Some allergic reactions are quite mild which can be cured using home treatments and some allergic reactions might be very wild, in such cases it might be life threatening. In most of the cases allergies causes other problems along with the allergy they have. The other problems faced might be wheezing, coughing, nose bleeding, ear problem, fever etc. And disease like asthma, ear infection, sinusitis, sleeping problems are also observed along with the allergy.
Allergy symptoms are not shown when exposed to such substance for the first time, but the allergy actual reaction is observed/seen when the same substance comes in contact with the body.

There are different type of allergies:

• Food Allergies: Children or babies have such food allergies. It is very rare or uncommon to find food allergies in adults because of the improved immune system. If a person is having food allergy, then there is a lot more possibility to have such food allergies in their decendents.
• Skin Allergies: Some people have very sensitive skin. They are very reactive and sometimes overreactive to such substance. Sometimes skin problems are also related to particular food. Some skins are sensitive to sun rays, beauty products, cosmetics, hair dyes, lipsticks, eye liners, perfumes etc. People have to take care while consuming such beauty enhancment products. Disease like eczema can occur in such cases.
• Medicine Allergies: It is very difficult to determine or say if the following medicine would be allergic to a person or no. So it is always suggested that when taking any medicine you need to always consult your doctor and clearly mention what all allergies you already have and which all substances your body is sensitive to. From that the composition of a medicine would be selected appropriate to suit your body’s immune system structure and given to you. Never take medicines on your own.
• Seasonal allergies: Seasonal allergies, as the name suggest it is because of the change in climate conditions. Exposure to weeds, pollens etc are stimulous to such allergies.
• Allergies to insect sting: It is very normal to have swelling, pain and redness of the skin on the area at which the insect has bite. But when the immune system starts reacting to the sting then the allergy reaction is observed.
• Allergies to animals: People having allergies to animal mainly have breathing problems or skin problems. This problem might occur because of the smell of the pets or animals or fur etc. Along with such problems sneezing is the immediate response observed of allergy reaction.
• Allergies to rubber: People have allergies to rubber when they come in contact again and again. Some type of proper lubricant needs to be applied before using such rubber. It can be the quality of hand gloves which you use or may be the sensitive skin you have.