Your
Health T
he number of people suffering from allergies such as hay fever, asthma, eczema and food allergy is increasing and currently
very many people suffer. In this article Wing Commander Jon Griffiths the Senior Medical Officer at RAF Cottesmore explores the problem.
THE HUMAN IMMUNE SYSTEM The human immune system offers protection against infections. When somebody has an allergy, their immune system over reacts to certain substances that are not harmful to other people, these are called allergens. You may come into contact with these through breathing, eating or touching. Common examples include pollen, mould, dust mites, fur, feathers, nickel, rubber and certain foods. Reducing your exposure to allergens can be an effective way of preventing a reaction, however, sometimes this is not possible. There are many treatments available to help reduce the symptoms of allergies, but at the moment there are no cures.
COMMON ALLERGENS The house dust mite, which feeds on flakes of human skin, is one of the most common allergens and causes symptoms all year round. Every household has them, however clean and hygienic, but they are only a problem if you are allergic to them. Pollens, moulds and animal fur are common seasonal allergens. These allergens are largely inhaled, causing hay fever, rhinitis and asthma in up to 40% of the population. Eggs, cow’s milk, peanuts, fish and shellfish such as prawns commonly cause food allergies. The usual results of these in allergic people are wheals on the skin called urticaria.
WHY ARE ALLERGIES INCREASING?
The exact cause is not fully understood. It could be due to an increase in dust mite populations because of the way we build and furnish modern houses.
Most now have wall to wall carpets and ventilation is reduced to retain warmth. This results in an even temperature and high humidity – ideal conditions for mites to breed! Air pollution may be playing a part in causing asthma and processed food, high in chemical preservatives and colouring agents, may be contributing to food allergies.
HOW DO YOU KNOW WHAT CAUSES YOUR ALLERGY? Keep a record of when and where your symptoms occur. For example:
Do you sneeze or wheeze when you clean the house?
Do your symptoms occur if you are in a room with a cat?
Do your symptoms occur all year round, or only in certain seasons?
Do your symptoms occur at particular times of the day?
Noting a pattern of symptoms is a good way of identifying the cause of your allergies. Allergy testing is not commonly done as the results can be confusing, but in certain severe cases, blood tests and skin pricks can be helpful. Testing for food allergies by this means is difficult and an elimination and reintroduction diet is the best way to identify a possible cause. This needs to be done carefully under the supervision of a dietician, particularly for children, who may lose out on essential nutrients otherwise.
WHAT IS ANAPHYLAXIS? Anaphylaxis is a sudden, severe reaction to a substance to which you are allergic. Thankfully it is very rare. The reaction rarely occurs in response to breathed allergens like pollen, but more commonly due to foods, bee stings or drugs. The severe reaction causes swelling of the face and throat, difficulty breathing and a drop in blood pressure. You should call for an ambulance immediately unless you are close to the Medical Centre or Casualty. After your first attack you will probably be given an Epipen injection to carry with you in case it occurs again.
HOW ARE ALLERGIES TREATED? Upon identification of your allergens you should try and avoid exposure. You can do this by:
Y o u r H e a l t h
Removing carpets and soft furnishings to reduce dust mites.
Keeping your house ventilated. Buying special mattresses and pillow coverings that are resistant to dust mites.
Not buying cats, mice or guinea pigs if you have a fur allergy.
Soft toys should be placed in the freezer every six months to kill all dust mites.
Mow your lawns regularly to prevent the grass from flowering.
Avoid visiting rural areas during high pollen seasons – difficult on many RAF stations!
Do not allow smoking in the house. There is strong evidence that cigarette smoke worsens hay fever and increases the risk of children developing asthma.
Breastfeeding your baby for as long as possible (ideally 4 – 6 months) can help your child to build immunity to allergens. Try to avoid exposing your baby to domestic animals and dust during this time.
Taking measures to improve your general health is also important. These measures include nutritious food, getting plenty of exercise, sleep and NOT smoking.
If you have allergy symptoms treatment with antihistamines may be necessary. These prevent symptoms like itching, sneezing, watery nasal secretions and wheals on the skin which are caused by the body releasing a chemical called histamine. The newer antihistamines have fewer side effects than older ones which caused a lot of drowsiness.
In some people, neither allergen avoidance nor antihistamines cure the symptoms and a nasal spray may be added to the treatment. This is a mild steroid which only works on the nose and thus has little side effects elsewhere. There have been instances of a steroid injection being used in some severe cases, however this is an unproven treatment option and not currently licensed. Many different home remedies have been proposed but there is little evidence that they work.
If you have any further queries please contact your Medical Centre or GP.
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