Allergies & Asthma

What is the best breed of cat for allergy sufferers?

I love cats and had several growing up, but I’m allergic to them. My cats gave me asthma, and I was also allergic to saliva (I’d get a rash). Is it true that certain breeds are better for allergy sufferers? Is there a way to care and groom for a cat that will reduce allergies?

You could try buying this book (or renting it from your public library if they carry it): The Sneeze-Free Cat Owner: Allergy Management & Breed Selection for the Allergic Cat Lover by Diane Morgan. It might help you in finding the right cat for you.

What is the best breed of cat for allergy sufferers?

I love cats and had several growing up, but I’m allergic to them. My cats gave me asthma, and I was also allergic to saliva (I’d get a rash). Is it true that certain breeds are better for allergy sufferers? Is there a way to care and groom for a cat that will reduce allergies?

You could try buying this book (or renting it from your public library if they carry it): The Sneeze-Free Cat Owner: Allergy Management & Breed Selection for the Allergic Cat Lover by Diane Morgan. It might help you in finding the right cat for you.

Can one grow out of exercise induced asthma?

I had seasonal asthma as a child and I grew out of that, but I then developed exercise induced asthma, I am currently a 13 year-old girl and was planning on joining the navy when I am older. But, I understand that with this disadvantage that would be unlikely. So, Is it possible that I could "grow out" of my exercise induced asthma, as
I did my seasonal asthma?

I did. I had moderate asthma in my childhood and no longer have attacks.

I’ve also seen people make real progress re: asthma, hay fever, eczema, etc., by alternative methods. Gluten-free and casein-free diets, probiotics, environmental changes (no cats, dust mites, HEPA vacuum bags, etc.). Just Google "asthma" and "alternative" and you’ll find some popular approaches.

Can one grow out of exercise induced asthma?

I had seasonal asthma as a child and I grew out of that, but I then developed exercise induced asthma, I am currently a 13 year-old girl and was planning on joining the navy when I am older. But, I understand that with this disadvantage that would be unlikely. So, Is it possible that I could "grow out" of my exercise induced asthma, as
I did my seasonal asthma?

I did. I had moderate asthma in my childhood and no longer have attacks.

I’ve also seen people make real progress re: asthma, hay fever, eczema, etc., by alternative methods. Gluten-free and casein-free diets, probiotics, environmental changes (no cats, dust mites, HEPA vacuum bags, etc.). Just Google "asthma" and "alternative" and you’ll find some popular approaches.

Dealing With A Cat Allergy

You are suspecting that you just might be allergic to your cat but there is no way that Fluffy is going to be moving out of your house. What to do? Dealing with a cat allergy can be accomplished with a little diligence.

Finding out you are allergic to your cat can be heart breaking. There are a variety of symptoms that can occur such as sneezing, itchy watery eyes, runny nose, sinus infection, headache, and a host of other mild to moderate symptoms that if you are determined enough you can likely find some relief from and still keep Fluffy. But there are also situations that are severe and even life threatening which means you will have to find your cat a new home. Lets assume your cat allergy is one you can live with. So what to do?

Let’s first have a look at some of the other symptoms that can be related to a cat allergy. The list is long - besides the symptoms already mentions other symptoms include eye infections, redness, swelling, itching, post nasal drip, hives, rashes, itchy skin, plugged or poping ears, hoarseness, and coughing. There may also be shortness of breath, wheezing, reoccurring bronchitis which increases during tasks such as grooming or cleaning the litter box.

They may also increase when vacuuming or dusting which stirs up the dander. And often overlooked is that the allergy is actually not with the cat but with the perfumes used in cat products such as the litter. The cat allergy is caused buy allergens commonly the sebum produced by your cat. So it’s not the actual cat hair that causes the allergy but rather a protein that is in the dander and the tiny particles are easily moved around.

So how do you deal with a cat allergy? There are several things you can try. HEPA filters are a great place to start. HEPA filters situated in each room of your home as well as a vacuum with a HEPA filter will certainly help reduce the allergens.

Having your cat neutered or spayed can help your cat allergy because it reduces the sebum level that is produced. Replace carpets with flooring can make a big difference because carpet traps not only cat dander but dust mites, and a host of other allergy causing things.

Bathe your cat regularly and cover your pillows and mattress with tight casings that can help. We spend half of our life sleeping so it makes sense to also keep the cat out of the bedroom. And of course you can also have the allergy shots that are designed to desensitize you.

But wait! There are some natural remedies for dealing with a cat allergy and some are very effective. Seek out the help of a naturopath or do some research online. You can find several products that might be beneficial.

First of all it is a well known fact that allergies including your cat allergy are a result of an immune system that is misfiring, so building your immune system and doing natural things to help bring your body into balance can also be very helpful.

Don’t ignore the simple fixes when you are dealing with a cat allergy. Do it right and Fluffy will spend the rest of her days with you in a life of luxury!

Steve Johnson
http://www.articlesbase.com/medicine-articles/dealing-with-a-cat-allergy-100442.html

Cow’s Milk Allergy And Babies

Allergy to cow’s milk is the most prevalent form of food allergy that primarily affects children. Most infants and babies fortunately outgrow cow’s milk allergy during their second to third year of formula milk intake.

Like most allergies, cow’s milk allergies is not curable, but rather, they are treatable. In that sense, people and children born with it should live with dairy-free diets all their lives to avoid cow’s milk allergies.

A close look at cow’s milk

Regular cow’s milk is composed of carbohydrates or sugar, vitamins, water, minerals, fat and proteins. It is the protein in cow’s milk that brings about or serves as allergens that cause cow’s milk allergy.

Parents should also learn that breastfeeding infants is not an assurance that the baby would not develop the allergy. However, studies found that breastfed kids are less likely to form food allergies of any kind.

Mothers pass along cow’s milk proteins to their kids through breastfeeding. Thus, it would be more appropriate to say that it is not the mother’s milk that incur reaction, but the proteins that are mixed through the mom’s milk, which is attributed to the mother’s diet.

In some cases, some infants develop immunity to cow’s milk allergy during their breastfeeding years, but surprisingly develop cow’s milk allergy when they stop taking in mom’s milk for formula milk.

Symptoms of cow’s milk allergy

It would be easy to tell when an infant or a kid has developed cow’s milk allergy. Parents should be very observant of their children’s conditions so they could immediately seek professional and medical help at the onset of the allergy.

Babies with cow’s milk allergy exhibit skin rashes or eczema. Most cases, the babies experience diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal cramps or abdominal pains.

Because babies could not talk or complain about how they are feeling, parents should heed to their infants’ cries and discomfort. Constant and regular visits to the kid’s pediatrician would be really helpful.

However, it should also be noted that it is not only cow’s milk allergy that causes rashes, eczema, diarrhea and abdominal pain. In that regard, consultation to the pediatrician is needed so the parents would know the real disease discomforting the baby.

Early detection of cow’s milk allergy would be very helpful because early modification and elimination of dairies in the kid’s diet would be very beneficial and necessary over time.

Treatment and prevention of cow’s milk allergy

Severe symptom of cow’s milk allergy would need special prescription medications from the doctor. Usually, to treat such cases, antihistamines and epinephrine are administered to the patient.

Parents of children with cow’s milk allergy should also keep supplies of those drugs in their medicine cabinets because they would be necessary if ever the children would accidentally take in cow’s milk.

Infants and babies will be switched to hydrolystate or soy-based milk formulas from milk-based formulas. Remember, it is the protein contained in cow’s milk that cause the allergy so switching to another formula milk brand would not be helpful.

Mothers who breast-feed infants and babies diagnosed with cow’s milk should instead cut intakes or eliminate dairy products in their diet so the cow’s milk protein would not be passed on to the infants.

As general prevention measure, all formula milk based on cow’s milk should be eliminated on the baby’s diet.

Charlene J. Nuble
http://www.articlesbase.com/advice-articles/cows-milk-allergy-and-babies-45210.html

What is a good allergy medicine to use for allergies?

I am using Claritin right now for my allergies but, it doesn’t seem to work! Does anybody know any good allergy medicine that has worked for them? Thanks in advance!!!

If Claritin did or is not working you need to see a Dr. I have many allergies and take many different medication for different things. I hesitate to state a list of names as with out seeing a MD it would be so easy to take the incorrect medication that could end up doing you more harm than good.Allergies are not any fun my heart goes out to you.

What is the best dog food for skin allergy, and cost effective?

My lab has the worst case of skin allergy, having lost fur around the eyes and patches on his body. He does not have any form of mange, and has be diagnosed with a possible food allergy. He is already off egg products, and has started venison, but still not much change - HELP!

I have had a similar experience with my Dobe. I have been doing a lot of research on the subject, and it seems to be that less than 20% of allergies in dogs are actually caused by food. Environmental allergies are the most common (and the hardest to eliminate - the grass and trees are everywhere) All the information I’ve gathered indicates that by boosting your dog’s immune system, his body can better defend itself against histamines.
Look into using Flax Seed Oil as a supplement to his regular diet. It’s cheap, and it seems to be working. I suffer from chronic hives myself, and even I have began using it.

What is the difference between Asthma and Chronic Bronchitis?

They recently diagnosed me with Asthma and have me on two types of inhalers.
I really think it’s Chronic Bronchitis.

What symptoms distinguish these two ailments from each other?
I’m 42 and lived with a smoker for 25 years.

Chronic bronchitis is usually found only in heavy smokers. Asthma usually presents itself at a very young age while the other one presents in the 50+ age group. Chronic bronchitis is also associated with a lot of sputum production when compared to asthma. Asthma can also be due to some medication, food, pollen or dust to which you are allergic to.

How is it that swimming is good for asthma?

I have asthma (minor, but still, I have it), and I’ve been told that swimming is the best thing an asmatic can do.

Why is that? I know that all arobic exercises are good for your asthma but swimming seems to be the first things people tell you is good. So, why swimming as opposed to say, jogging or biking.

I’m just curious, considering starting a regular swimming workout. Thanks.

Because of the humidity. Your also not breathing in dry air and allergens that can trigger an attack.