In reality, dust allergy is precipitated by dust mites, a kind of microorganisms that thrive in dust. They acquire their food from dead skin cells and absorb water from the environment and thrive. Moist and warm environments are ideal for them to thrive. However, they themselves don t cause allergic symptoms. 

It is the response of the immune system to them that precipitates the symptoms. Once they are inside the human respiratory system, the immune system responds to them in a negative way. This leads to the production of histamines, a kind of protein that abates swelling, cough, mucous production, runny nose, sneezing, etc.

Symptoms of Dust Allergy:

Dust allergies may lead to various symptoms, some of which may be short lived, while others may be chronic. Some of these symptoms may also be life threatening. While in general people may suffer from running nose, stuffy nose, sneezing, coughing, itchy eyes, postnasal drip, swollen skin under the eyes, etc., in severe cases, people may also suffer from asthma, chest pain and tightness, trouble in sleeping due to shortness of breath, bouts of severe cough, sinus infection, etc.

Risk Factors:

Some of the common risk factors are: 

Family History: People who have a family history of dust allergy are most susceptible to this problem. These people develop a sensitivity to dust mites.

Exposure: Exposure to dust mites is the main cause of dust allergy. If someone is exposed to dust mites for a long time, it enhances the risk of allergy symptoms.

Being a Child: Children are more susceptible to it than adults. They are more likely to develop allergies during childhood and early adulthood compared to adults.

Diagnosis:

Most dust allergy symptoms are similar to common cough and cold symptoms. This is why it is necessary to confirm that the symptoms owe their origin to dust allergy. As a primary physical examination, the doctor may examine the lining of nasal passage to see if it is swollen.

In case the person is allergic to dust or pollen, the lining of the nasal passage is likely to become inflamed. However, the doctor also needs to conduct some tests. He may conduct skin tests and blood tests to confirm the allergy. If the allergy is confirmed, the doctor goes for treatment.

Treatment:

There are a number of treatment options for dust allergy. Some of these may act as over-the-counter to counter the effects of dust allergy, while others may act as modulators to modulate the immune response.

Antihistamines: These are medicines that counter histamines responsible for allergic reactions like itching, runny nose, sneezing, etc.

Corticosteroids: Corticosteroids are usually delivered through nasal sprays to bring down inflammation and control the allergic response of the immune system.

Decongestants: They help to decongest nasal airways which get inflamed and swell up due to allergic reactions.

Leukotriene Modifiers: These medicines block certain immune system chemicals responsible for allergic reactions and prevent allergic reactions.

Immunotherapy: The doctor may go for immunotherapy if no other effort is yielding any results. This therapy trains the immune system so that it does not become sensitive to dust mites. It is delivered via injections.

Conclusion:

The primary defense against dust allergy is avoiding breathing in dust. However, if a person is already exposed to them, there are a number of medicines and treatment options to prevent a flare up.

Dust Allergy - Risks, Diagnosis & Treatment Of It!

Silicosis is a lung disorder that develops as a result of exposure to dust, which has silica (chemical compounds) content. Silicosis significantly makes you prone to other serious health disorders. It is an incurable disorder and a prescribed dosage of medications in the form of cough syrups or antibiotics can help in the regulation of the symptoms. Inhalers are also useful to clear the blocked air passages. In extreme cases, the doctors might suggest a transplant of the lung to eradicate silicosis.

Causes
Silicosis is caused primarily due to a long- term exposure (usually 5-15 years) to silica. But a short-term exposure (for a few weeks or months) can also result in silicosis, which tends to worsen considerably as time progresses, if not diagnosed in its early stages. Silica is a natural dust particle, which is found in abundance in rocks, sand, bricks or concrete. Once silica gets into your body through inhalation, these particles tend to damage the tissues of the lungs by inflicting minor incisions. This considerably disfigures the lungs, thereby making the whole process of breathing rather troublesome. Long-term exposure to silica might further lead to lung cancer. People who work in mines, glass or asphalt manufacturing industries, iron and steel industries and construction sites are at increased risks of developing this condition.

Symptoms
The Symptoms of Silicosis begin mildly, but tend to worsen with time. The symptoms of Silicosis are as follows:
a. The initial symptoms include severe weariness, repeated instances of coughing and experiencing trouble while breathing. These symptoms usually recur as time progresses.

b. In the latter stages of silicosis, the symptoms gradually worsen accompanied by severe pain in the chest along with fever, night sweat and sudden loss of body weight.

Silicosis might make you susceptible to other infections related to the respiratory systems such as tuberculosis.

Prevention
In order to prevent Silicosis, you should wear suitable protective gear and a respirator on your face while working in a place which has risks of silica exposure.

Causes and Symptoms of Silicosis

Nuts are a rich source of energy but are also one of the most common food allergens. Both children and adults can suffer from nut allergies. While some children may outgrow the allergy, for others this is a lifelong condition. When it comes to children, the sibling of a child who is allergic to nuts also has a high risk of being allergic to them as well.

Nut allergies can be categorized as an allergy to peanuts or an allergy to tree nuts. Tree nuts are nuts that grow on trees such as walnuts, cashew nuts and almonds. Peanuts are not considered tree nuts as they grow underground in the form of legumes. A person can be allergic to both types of nuts but it is not necessary that if you are allergic to peanuts, you should avoid almonds as well and vice versa.

There are laboratory tests to determine the types of food you can be allergic to but in most cases, you realize you are allergic to something only after consuming it. Some of the symptoms of nut allergies include:

Redness
Rashes
Tenderness of the skin
Hives
Swelling of the hands and feet
Sneezing
Runny nose
Sore throat
Watery eyes
Nausea
Vomiting
Stomach cramps
Diarrhea
Shortness of breath
Most of the symptoms that affect the skin and respiratory system can be relieved with the help of antihistamines. Cold compresses can also help relieve itchiness caused by nut allergies.
One of the most severe forms of nut allergies can result in Anaphylaxis. This can be described as the swelling of the throat so much so that the airways are blocked and it becomes difficult to breathe. It is often accompanied by swelling of the facial features and itchiness. The only way to relieve this swelling is with an adrenaline injection. This reduces the swelling and reopens the airways. The most common type of adrenaline injection is known as an epi pen.

Some types of foods that commonly contain nuts and should be avoided include baked goods, pesto, nougat, marzipan, soups, multigrain bread, honey, granola, sauces such as hot sauce and barbeque sauce, salad dressings and veggie burgers. Nuts are often also used as thickening agents and hence if you know you are allergic to nuts, pay attention to food labels before you buy any product and make it a habit to tell your server in a restaurant that you are allergic to nuts.

Nuts - How To Know If You Are Allergic To Them?

Food allergies can be defined as a sign of danger given by the human body when it considers some particular food items as harmful. This is basically an allergic reaction to some food proteins. As per the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, about 4 to 6 percent of kids and 4 percent of adults worldwide are affected by different types of food allergies. The most interesting fact about the food allergies is that you can develop an allergy to a particular food at any age. Also, one can develop an allergy to a particular food even when you have been eating that food with ease all these years.

Food allergies can be categorized into main types:

Immunoglobulin E (IgE) mediated allergies: These allergies occur mostly in infants and children and can be seen for milk, peanuts, eggs, soy, and wheat. Moreover, the affected body areas include the mouth, skin, eyes, heart, brain, and gut.
Non-IgE mediated food allergies: These allergies normally affect the digestive tract and symptoms of these food allergies take a long time to develop.
Let us have a detailed look at different methods that can assist you in dealing with different food allergies.
Remove food items that can trigger allergy
It is obvious that food allergy is pertaining to a particular food and thus it is advisable to remove the triggering food items from your diet. It is also advised to remove the byproducts of such food items. This will minimize the danger of food allergy. There are some common food items which can trigger the food allergies which are:

Milk
Eggs
Wheat
Fish
Peanut as well as tree nuts such as walnuts
Shellfish
Soy
Try to stock your pantry with alternatives to the allergic food items. There is no need to make your taste buds suffer by removing food items which can activate allergies. You can try alternatives to such food items and have a healthy life. Read the label on food while shopping for groceries as most of the triggering ingredients are common in many of the food items. Thus, it is advisable to read the ingredients on the food labels before you buy them. You can also look for these common names for allergens:

Glucosamine for Shellfish
Flour, triticale, durum, vital wheat gluten for wheat
Natto, tempeh, shoyu, miso, Edamame, for soy
Roe, surimi, nuoc mam, fish gelatin for fish
Rennet casein, tagatose, whey, rennet casein, casein in milk
Lysozyme, vitelline, surimi, albumin, livetin, globulin, and lysozyme for egg
Write down your meal plans
Preparing your own meal can minimize the risk of food allergies. Thus, try to make your own food and keep a memo of what you would like to eat in a meal. This way you can eliminate the dishes which include triggering ingredients. These above-mentioned methods can surely help you in preventing food allergies effectually. However, if the symptoms of food allergies are severe, do not hesitate to take medical help.

Food Allergies - How To Deal With Them?

The number of allergens are many and knowing what triggers your allergies can get complicated. The common triggers that are known to trigger allergic rhinitis are:

Moulds
Fungi
Pollen, the most common cause for allergies
Dust mites, and the faeces of dust mites that can cause severe allergic reactions
Cockroaches
Animal dander, which includes cat hair, dog fur, and may also include little flakes of skin
Avoiding the above mentioned triggers is more of a general guideline for the management of allergies. The lifestyle changes that you make to manage allergies:

Keep yourself hydrated at all times. Drink about eight to ten glasses of water every day. This will allow the mucous to be expelled with ease, if you experience any nose block.
During seasons like spring, when the amount of pollen in the air is at its maximum, limit your exposure. Try to stay indoors to avoid exposure to pollen or dust in the air.
Make it a point to take a shower before going to sleep as the residues of pollen and dust stuck to your skin are likely to make your symptoms worse.
Use fresh bedding and clothes every day. This will help to reduce your exposure to allergens.
Remove your carpets. Carpets are home to dust mites and pollen grains which become difficult to remove even with vacuum cleaners. Remove the carpets during the allergy season, and replace with hard flooring.
Keep windows and doors shut to avoid dust and pollen grains from entering the house and possibly causing allergies.
Avoid staying around pets. It that is not possible, then wash them at least once a week to reduce allergies.
Prevent inhaling cigarette smoke or smoking cigarettes. The smoke can be very harmful and can increase the risk of asthma in kids.
Avoid outdoor trips during seasons when the pollen count is high.

Allergies - Lifestyle Changes That Can Help Manage it!

Can Food Allergies Be the Likely Cause of Your Infertility?

Infertility in a woman refers to the inability to conceive after having regular unprotected sex. Cases of unexplained infertility have been on the rise recently.  Though obstructed fallopian tubes and ovulation disorders are some of the common causes of infertility, reasons pertaining to dietary changes can also be responsible. Food allergies and dietary changes affect infertility to a great extent; and if you're struggling with conception or infertility, heeding to your diet can help.

Below is a list of diet constituents that are likely to cause infertility.

1. Gluten - Gluten is a protein found in grains like wheat, rye, and barley. Among the general population, women suffering from unexplained infertility have a higher incidence of gluten intolerance. Gluten intolerance is also related to miscarriages, and if left undiagnosed can lead to malabsorption of micronutrients like iron and zinc. Following and maintaining a gluten-free diet may relieve a sufferer from the symptoms. Try and include gluten free cereals like rice, corn and gluten free oats to manage the situation.

2. Inflammation - Another connection of food allergies and infertility would be inflammation. Inflammation occurs when the food allergens reach the stomach. This inflammation, if heightened, can cause damage to the fallopian tubes and the ovary. The body responds to the food allergens by treating it like a foreign substance that needs to be eradicated, and when your immune system is subjected to chronic inflammation, it can lead to infertility.

Additionally, apart from food allergies, even the consumption of certain foods and beverages can be a reason behind infertility, with those being rich in caffeine being a major cause. Increased consumption of caffeine can augment the risk of infertility and delayed conception. However, avoiding caffeine and eliminating problematic foods along with a careful scrutiny of your diet can increase your chances of getting pregnant.



Can Food Allergies Be the Likely Cause of Your Infertility?

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