Allergies

In this post I am trying to capture everything that I have been reading on allergies, mostly allergic rhinitis and food allergies.

Dairy allergy, or milk allergy, refers to any allergic reaction caused by a component of cow's milk. The three components of cow's milk that cause dietary reactions are casein protein, whey protein, and lactose sugar. Casein and whey are considered more likely to cause true allergies, while lactose causes a well-known intolerance in many adults (and some children) due to the body's lack of an enzyme known as lactase.

 

Cross-Reactions:

Similar components to cow's milk are found in the milk of other ruminants, including goats and sheep, so any patient with a dairy allergy who is considering using other animal milk as a substitute for cow's milk should talk to their allergist before proceeding.

 

Soy Milk

The most widely available dairy-free milk alternative is soy milk, which can be found both in cartons on supermarket shelves as well as alongside milk in dairy cases. Competition from national brands, like 8th Continent and Silk, has lowered prices across the board, making soy milk one of the more cost-effective milk alternatives.

 

Soy milk is high in protein, making it an attractive alternative to milk for cooking and baking. Soy itself has a strong, distinctive taste, so make sure you like it before adding it to a sauce or to your favorite cereal.

 

Nut Milks

Almond milk is among the most common nut milks. Like soy milk, nut milks are high in protein and are useful for baking. You may find their taste blends in with baked goods, coffee, or nutty cereals better than soy milk, although personal tastes vary. Nuts are also high in "good fats" and Vitamin E. One drawback to both soy and nut milk: both of these are common allergens in and of themselves.

 

Some useful links:

http://foodallergies.about.com/od/dairy/tp/dairyhub.htm

http://foodallergies.about.com/od/dairy/tp/milkalternatives.htm

http://foodallergies.about.com/od/dairy/p/dairyallergies.htm

 http://allergies.about.com/od/foodallergies/a/milkfreediet.htm

Most adult patients get most of their mite allergen exposure in bed at night.

 

House Dust Mite:

https://health.howstuffworks.com/diseases-conditions/allergies/indoor-allergies/eliminating-dust-mites.htm

The allergens dissolve in water, but mites themselves will only be killed by wet heat  over 55oC (this means the hot-wash cycle in most washing machines). Surprisingly, detergents can actually protect mites in the wash.

 A different group of mites, storage mites, common in grain stores and barns can cause problems for farmers and grain handlers and can sometimes be found in flour and other grain products in homes.

 Reducing exposure to mite allergens is more important than affecting live mites themselves. Simply killing or reducing mite numbers will have no effect on allergens which have been accumulating for years.

 Dealing with your bed is the single most important aspect of effective allergen avoidance. House dust mites live deep inside mattresses, pillows and duvets. Their allergens are stirred up to be breathed in as we move about in our sleep. Bedding also often contains pet and mold allergens.

 The bed is the source of most people’s major mite allergen exposure. It is impossible to remove pre-formed allergens from the mattress. Vacuuming does not remove allergens from deep inside it. Therefore the mattress must be totally enclosed in an effective allergen barrier.

It is essential that the mattress is enclosed completely by a cover with properly constructed seams and zip seal. 

There is a choice between enclosing pillows and duvets in similar covers and regular hot-water washing of the whole item, not just the outer cover.

All pillows on the bed need covering, not just the sufferers own.

Legally, bed covers sold to treat disease are “Class 1 Medical Devices” and should carry a CE mark to show they meet minimum standards of effectiveness.  

Wash your bedding once a week with hot water.

Eucalyptus essential oils kill dust mites. Combine 2 cups of distilled water, 5 drops of organic liquid soap and 30 drops of eucalyptus essential oil, and spray it on your bed daily to keep the dust mites at bay. (how about putting it in the washing machine when washing at 60 degrees).

Purchase an air mattress. Dust mites can’t inhabit this inexpensive bedding alternative.

Dust with a damp cloth so it actually collects the dust mites instead of spreading them. Add a few drops of organic eucalyptus and wintergreen essential oils to the damp cloth to kill the dust mites while you collect them. (use it for mopping bedroom).

http://www.webmd.com/allergies/features/allergy-tips

Dust-Proof Pillowcase, dust mite proof bedding encasements to cover mattresses

http://www.webmd.com/allergies/guide/dust-mite-mattress-and-pillow-covers-for-allergy-relief

 https://allergy.uk.com/

Cat allergy:

 Cat allergy is the most important pet sensitivity. It is very common and is occasionally severe. Also, cat allergen can last for years in carpets and curtains, long after the poor moggy has gone to a better place.

 

The main cat allergen comes from grooming glands and the saliva. It is spread over the fur as the cat washes and then dries. This powder is very fine (down to less than 0.2 microns), which means it floats into the air as the animal moves, or just purrs. Beds and other places become impregnated with cat allergen, which is why cats should be banned from bedrooms.  Shampooing the cat does reduce it’s allergen load, but it is not practical to do this often enough to stop it being a problem.

 

Molds:  In general, heavy mold spore levels inside a house are unlikely unless there is some problem with damp. This may be due to rising damp, or to condensation or some other building defect in newer houses. Sometimes it is as simple as water penetrating a wall from outside due to a leaky downspout. Particularly when due to condensation, the fungi are obvious on surfaces. At other times they grow inside the structure of wood, wallpaper, or even plaster. In that case all that may be seen are dark pinpoint discolorations (which are actually the fruiting bodies releasing large numbers of microscopic spores).