Allergy - What Are the Main Allergy Symptoms?

The symptoms play an important role in the diagnosis of every disease in this world. In this particular case, knowing what the allergy symptoms are is the fact that determines people to look for medical advice. The tests that are performed during the diagnosis help the doctor to realize the connection between the symptoms and a certain disease. In the diagnosis of allergy, the main problem is not whether the patient is allergic or not. Instead, doctors try to find out what allergen has caused the allergic reaction. The allergy symptoms are generic. In other words, the symptoms of a certain type of allergy do not differ from the ones of another type. In addition, the signs that are believed to be allergy symptoms may indicate another health problem. This is why the diagnosis is so important. In order to diagnose allergy, doctors usually perform two tests: a blood test and a skin test. Prior to performing the tests, people may confuse these symptoms to the ones of cold. However, there are some elements that help people to make a distinction between these two health conditions. First, the cause of the symptoms is different, as cold is provoked by viruses while allergy is determined by allergens. Next, the duration differs, as the cold is cured after a period of time that ranges from 2 to 14 days. Allergies may be observed even for a few months, if they are provoked by allergens that are present only during certain seasons. In addition, the treatment and the prevention methods are different between cold and allergy. First of all, people must know what determines the allergy symptoms to appear. When exposed to an allergen, the immune system sets free histamine into the body. This is a chemical substance that is supposed to fight the presumed intruders. As soon as this chemical substance is released into the body, the allergic reaction is triggered and the allergy symptoms become visible. The main allergy symptom, and also one of the first to be observed, is the itch of the skin. The intensity may not increase, but the duration of this allergy symptom is equal to the exposure time to the allergens. The itch usually affects the nose, too. In addition, people may experience stuffed nose and watery eyes. Furthermore, the respiratory tract is affected in most types of allergy, while food allergies affect the gastrointestinal tract. Regarding the respiratory tract, the allergy symptoms include lung congestion, cough and wheezing. In rather seldom cases, people may also experience allergy asthma. Lawrence Shanks is a webmaster who has a series of websites dedicated to niche marketing, In particular the focus is on these annoying things that affect so many of us with blocked noses, runny eyes and constant sneezing and/or scratching. Summer is wonderful, but it brings it's share of problems to those of us who suffer from allergies. For more information go to www.bestnaturalallergyrelief.com I need to go now as I am about to sneeze again!!! Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lawrence_Shanks Allergy - What To Do When Perfumes Make You Sick Aromatherapy has never been more popular. Scented candles are everywhere and there are dozens of types of fragrant air sprays. A recent study in a dermatological journal reported that the scent of sandalwood really does promote a physical response, namely, relaxation. Another marketing study found that people spend more money when they are exposed to the scent of lavender. Yet there are people who find that all of this stuff in the air objectionable. Perfume and perfumed products really do make some people sick. However, for some people, scents provoke symptoms. About 1% of the population is allergic to fragrance and many more find fragrance irritating. To a doctor, there is a difference between an allergen and an irritant. To a person who suffers a rash, hives, runny nose, or headache in the presence of scented products, the biggest distinction is that allergies are likely to respond to medication. There isn't much you can do about an irritant other than avoid it. Patch testing can help identify the vast majority (about 75%) of offending fragrances. Doctors who treat people with fragrance allergies can tell you that there are really only about eight substances in the fragrance world that cause the lion's share of the problems. However, even if you can identify the substance that causes problems, it is not always possible to avoid it. Most perfumes are composed of a mixture of scents that are not printed on the labels. Perfumers jealousy guard their trade secrets, and the exact components of a specific perfume are never listed anywhere (except possibly on a piece of paper in a vault somewhere). So even if you know you are allergic to a substance called geraniol (a common perfume substance that smells like roses), it may be hard to know where it is. It's also a reason why some fragrances may bother you and others do not. However, the world of fragrance is much bigger than the perfume industry. Today, fragrances are everywhere. They are commonly used in a wide range of household products from detergents to soaps, deodorants to lotions, toothpaste to tissues. Although not widely known, many foods also use fragrance to enhance their taste. Thus, you can find fragrance in baked goods, chewing gum, and soft drinks, to name just a few products. Another fragrance on the "most irritating" list is isoeugenol, which smells faintly like cloves and spices. It's used in dental cement! And based on that lavender study, many department stores and trade shows are experimenting with "scented environments" for shopping. Conventions and trade shows nowadays sometimes pay for services to pump the air with fragrance to help stimulate business. The scents are usually pretty subtle. People with known allergies to fragrance are advised to avoid fragrance, which can be tough. Labeling on products can confuse as much as help! When a product calls itself "unscented," it means that it has no perceptible fragrance. Do not assume, however, that no fragrance-type substances were involved! It just means that if you were to put the product up to your nose, you would not smell anything. Some unscented products actually use fragrance to cover up the product's natural scent. That is, fragrance is sometimes used as camouflage. So you don't smell a thing, but the product may still irritate you. "Fragrance-free" products are more likely to be free of fragrance additives. In the business, scent means smell and fragrance means a substance. An unscented product can use fragrance and a fragrance-free product may have a distinct smell! (For instance, freshly ground coffee is fragrance free, but it has a natural aroma.) Because a product has no fragrance added does not mean that chemicals used in its manufacture are not the cause of irritation. Many cosmetic and cleaning products are manufactured using things like acetone, ethanol, and other chemicals that can irritate. Thus, even fragrance-free products can produce an irritation. What can you do if you find some fragrances make you sick? If you are able to pick out which specific scents or products (such as a brand of perfume) bother you, you can avoid them as much as possible. Though not always possible, that is the easiest solution. I once worked with a lady who asked that her staff not wear a particular brand of perfume. Everything else was fine, but one perfume in particular gave her a headache. If you have a real fragrance allergy (and you may need to go to a doctor to be sure), you may be able to take allergy pills or even get allergy therapy (shots to help bolster tolerance) to help you. Here's a completely unscientific poor woman's allergy test: if your eyes or nose itch, it's more likely to be an allergy. If your eyes water and your nose runs but you don't feel any itching sensation, you are probably dealing with an irritant rather than an allergen. This test is not foolproof, but it gives you a starting point. If irritating substances seem to be everywhere, you can create an allergy-free space in your home by using HEPA filters for your heating and cooling system, using a HEPA-type vacuum cleaner, and possibly getting HEPA air purifiers for within room. These will filter out most particulate matter from the air. While you're at it, you should probably try to have carpeting, drapery, and even upholstered furniture traded out for stuff that won't harbor irritating particles in the air. What to do if you're married or work with a perfume lover? Very politely inform the perfume wearer that you're having problems with the scent. Unlike a sweater, perfume cannot simply be removed on the spot. As much as possible, move away from the perfumed person. Most fragrance fans will be very understanding about your situation and will avoid wearing scent when they are going to be around you. If you want to be very generous with the perfume lover in your life, you may want to talk to them about "sampling" some different scents. Many people with perfume allergies are actually not allergic to all perfumes but only a few. There may be a compromise you can work out. If everything the perfume fan likes makes you sneeze and wheeze, maybe you can negotiate a cease-spritz.