Allergy

April and spring are one. With spring new life begins. The plants and trees go into full bloom. With spring the pharmaceutical companies also become active. It is a fresh season for fresh boom in business. Whenever one switches on the TV, one hears that very effective allergy medications are available even without prescription. These advertisements target people who are allergic to pollen particles and mould which are found in the air during this season.

Many types of allergies are found among us. Allergy is a health condition as well as a mental condition. I know people who are allergic to seeing dog, cat (dog and cat lovers forgive) or any insect—the worm in a vegetable, the worm in the wet soil, the snail, which we find everywhere now and of course, the spider, particularly the black ones. The rodent or cockroach allergy, particularly among women, is something one commonly comes across.

The smoke allergy is also very common. The smoke that comes out of the exhaust of an automobile, a person smoking a cigarette nearby, the pungent smell emanating from food while cooking or any smoke from burning materials are some sources of allergy.

Some are allergic to petroleum products and so they should be careful at gas stations. This may end up with permanent skin problem too. This being the season of insects some may wish to spray insecticides and pesticides. Proper precautions should be taken to avoid any bad effects.

Any food item that does not suit one can cause severe allergic conditions. One should be careful that the food one eats had not gone bad; this may create conditions that may turn to be not just allergic but fatal. Eating some vegetables or meat or fish may cause allergy. People may have to analyze their food habit to get rid of their allergy.

The bed may become an irritant as this may contain the dust mites. The mites are micro creatures and their figure will beat any from created to represent creatures from other planets. Everywhere you find them and so there is no escape from this. From the air we breathe to the bed we sleep on are places infested by these. This dust allergy, including the mite allergy, may result in various problems from itching of the skin, breathing problems to symptoms of hay fever.

I have seen people who are allergic to grass, creepers and plants. One of my friends used suffer for days from skin irritation seen as long red lines all over the body, if he went near any flowering creeper, let alone touch it.

Pets and animals in the house may also be responsible for certain allergic conditions. The hair of the pets may get into one’s lungs or get into the food one eats and cause problems. This is particularly dangerous for infants. The fecal waste found near the places where pets are kept may also cause allergy.

Air purifiers can be used to reduce the problems from pollens, mites and mould found in the air. The house, the bed we sleep in and sofa sets should be regularly vacuum-cleaned meticulously to remove the dust and hair. Allergy-proof bedding along with other precautions against allergy should be taken to prevent any suffering.

People who are allergic to some food item or other should maintain a detailed diary of the food they take (including the brand they buy and where they buy that). Anyone who is allergic to anything should maintain a diary of the food intake and his regular activities. This will create possibilities of understanding what actually causes the allergy.

Asthma is considered a severe form of allergy. It is true to a great extent that allergy is something permanent and there is no cure. The doctors can only extend temporary relief.

The best practice is to take preventive measures.

The Internet can help you find many procedures to help you guard against allergies of various types. You are sure to search for more. But it is better to learn more and then visit the web pages of companies. Visit

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/allergy.html

the web site of the US National Library of medicine and the National Institute of Health.