We have had great success with sleeping and day time allergies just by washing all bedings and cloths with our Allergy Free Laudry Soap and Softener.

 FROM WEBMD

Many of us know the misery of allergies all too well :    The sneezing, runny nose and postnasal drip; watery, itchy eyes, ears, nose, and throat.  Whether from the symptoms or the medication we use to treat them, our sleep often suffers.  And reduced quality and quantity of sleep wreaks havoc on our daily functioning -- our mood, energy, concentration, performance, sexual function, ability to think and make decisions.

Allergies:  May be seasonal, year-round, or occupational.  They may arise from substances in our environment that we touch or inhale or from the foods we eat.  Whatever the cause and whenever they occur, their myriad symptoms can disrupt sleep.

Allergic rhinitis:  Commonly referred to as hay fever, allergic rhinitis is an inflammation of the nasal passages that occurs when the body overreacts to an allergen (pollen, dander, house mites, etc.).  As the nasal passages swell, they block airflow through them, causing congestion.

Nasal congestion affects sleep in a variety of ways:

  • It simply can be more difficult to sleep while breathing through your mouth; as your body tries repeatedly to breath nasally, it disturbs your sleep over and over again.
  • The air that is normally warmed and moistened when passing through the nose is now re-routed through your mouth, drying out and irritating your lips, mouth, and throat.
  • Pressure or pain can prevent you from falling asleep and staying asleep.
  • There is an increased tendency to snore, which disturbs your sleep, not to mention your bed partner's.
  • Congestion can worsen the symptoms of those suffering from sleep apnea, a serious sleep disorder in which one periodically stops breathing while sleeping.

Postnasal drip:  In which mucus and other secretions drip down the back of your throat, irritates the throat and often causes clearing of the throat and coughing as the secretions drip onto the vocal cords or even into the windpipe.  These symptoms disturb sleep and may awaken you at night.

Nocturnal wheeze:  In certain people, inhaling allergens may induce sleep-disturbing wheezing.  This is caused by the constriction of the bronchioles, tubes that carry air to your lungs.  Constriction reduces airflow; wheezing occurs as air moves through these narrowed tubes.  Similarly, allergens can increase the frequency and severity of asthma attacks.

Non-specific symptoms:  Allergens may also cause non-specific symptoms that seem unrelated to allergies.  Recurrent headaches, for example, may be caused by food allergies.

What to Do?

The first thing to do is to avoid the allergens that cause the allergy.  Though it may not be readily apparent what is causing your allergy, there are a few things you can easily do on your own that may help reduce common allergens, like dust, dust mites, animal dander, down, etc.

  • Get hypoallergenic pillows and bedding.  Pillow and mattress covers may help.
  • If you have pets in your bedroom or bed, consider finding someplace else for Fido or Kitty to romp or nap.
  • See if your home's heating and air system is adequate, and consider an upgrade with improved air filtration, if needed.
  • Vacuum carpets and furniture regularly.  Newer vacuums have much improved filtration and improved designs.
  • If you use a humidifier, change the water regularly, so it does not breed allergens.
  • If food allergies are suspected, try eliminating certain foods or food types and see if symptoms are relieved.

If avoidance or controlling the exposure to allergens does not work, some over-the-counter and prescription treatments include:

  • Saline nasal flushes:  This is a more "natural," drug-free way to relieve congestion. Their effects may be of limited duration.
  • Nasal decongestant sprays:  (typically containing the active ingredient oxymetazoline).  When used as directed for a limited time, these sprays work quite well and can really clear up your congestion.  However, it is very important to follow the directions carefully, use the minimal amount needed to relieve your congestion, and not use too much or too often.  Overuse can lead to precisely the same symptoms that you are trying to relieve, like sneezing and congestion. You can also develop a dependence on the sprays if used inappropriately.
  • Nasal decongestant pills or liquids:  These also work well and can provide long-lasting relief. But with any medication, they may have some side effects, namely keeping you awake at night, especially those containing pseudoephedrine.  So they are best used during the day.
  • Antihistamines:  They will dry up your runny nose and postnasal drip.  Many over-the-counter antihistamines can cause you to feel a bit "fuzzy."  They may also negatively impact the quality of your sleep, keeping you from getting into the deeper, more restorative stages of sleep.
  • Steroid or other similar-acting nasal sprays:  They act not to treat the symptoms, as do decongestants and antihistamines, but to decrease the immune response that causes the allergic reaction.  So they do not work instantly, like other types of remedies, but do provide effective prevention, when used regularly over time.

If you remain miserably allergic and medications do not work well or cause unacceptable side effects, see an allergist for a complete evaluation and treatment options.  The results may surprise you and provide some new options that may provide relief and allow you the sound sleep you need to be at your best.

How Pets and Allergies Can Go Hand in Paw  

By Jeanie L. Davis – WebMD

Can allergic people and pets live side by side?

Your new girlfriend enters your apartment, glances around, then achoo! Your husband has spent three years glaring at Fluffy-Pie, but you won't give her up. What do you do?

Causes of Pet Allergies

Eleven million people are allergic to cats alone. About 15% of us are allergic to animals.

People who love pets and don't have allergies should not become complacent.  "You can develop an allergy at any time,"  Derek K. Johnson, MD, director of allergy and immunology at Temple University Children's Medical Center, tells WebMD.  "That's why it's important to know what causes pet allergies.  It's the flakes from the animal's skin, called dander, not the fur. So even if it's a bald cat, you can be allergic."

The animal's saliva on the fur from cleaning itself or on your skin from slobbery kisses can also incite a reaction.  Pet urine can also be a culprit.

"To be exact,"  Pamela A. Georgeson, MD, a board-certified allergist at the Kenwood Allergy and Asthma Center in Chesterfield Township, Mich., tells WebMD, "a lot of people are allergic to a cat protein called FEL-d1 found in dander and saliva."

Allergies are more commonly caused by cats, says Dean C. Mitchell, MD, a board-certified allergist in practice in New York.

"I have had people come to me from all walks of life," he continues.  "Some people can't even go to Thanksgiving at a house with a pet.  I see veterinarians with allergies, pet groomers."

Symptoms of Pet Allergy

People:  Especially kids, may not even know they are allergic.  The proteins cause the body to produce histamines, which result in sudden eye itches, wheezy breathing, or a rash.

Children:  Can be declared to be prone to colds and not allergic.  Children can also be diagnosed as asthmatic, and pets can exacerbate asthma.

Allergies can be hereditary:  If you had asthmatic bronchitis a lot as a child, you may develop a cat allergy later in life. "No one is born with an allergy," Johnson points out, "they develop in some people from exposure."

Interestingly:  According to Johnson, there is "very compelling information" that children exposed to animals before their immune systems are fully formed at age 2 are unlikely to become allergic.

Of course, such symptoms can result from other causes.  Ask your doctor about a test for pet allergies.

Coping With Pets in the Home

"We have a three-pronged approach," says Georgeson. "First is avoidance.  "You need to limit the areas of the home where the animal is allowed, primarily the bedroom and the bed".  Don't forget how much time we spend breathing and touching things in that room."

"Shut the bedroom door," Johnson says.

Other tips:

  • Buy a HEPA filter:  All three physicians recommended this. HEPA filters can be portable or home-wide.
  • Remove dander-trapping carpets:  "Install tile or wood that can be cleaned thoroughly," Georgeson advises. (Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter, too.)
  • Wash bedding frequently in hot water:  (dust mites, which do not come from animals, are also powerful allergens). Washing flushes away dander that has settled on the bedding.
  • In some cases:  Consider closing off house-wide ducts to the bedroom and using portable heating and cooling.
  • Do not allow pets in the car: or use washable seat covers.
  • Wash your hands:  After playing with the animal.
  • Clean and vacuum:  Regularly.

Managing Your Pet

All the doctors recommended bathing pets frequently:  Which in the case of cats can be very entertaining. "Even a damp washcloth on the fur can help," Mitchell says (towelettes are also available at pet stores for this purpose).

Keeping the animal's skin healthy:   With vitamin supplements can limit shedding of dander.

"I have had people saying they would shave their pet,":  Georgeson says. "That might be helpful, but you will still get dander."

Counter to what you might think:  The amount of dander an allergic person breathes does not make the symptoms worse or better. "Dose has no relevance," Johnson says. "Small animal, big animal, long fur, short fur, it doesn't make a difference."

So much for the new designer dogs:  Such as labradoodles, although some people swear they cut symptoms.  One prominent vet has also advanced the theory that female animals cause fewer allergies. This is open to debate.

Last Resorts

"Our second approach,":  Georgeson says, "is to medicate the patient with topical or inhaled corticosteroids, especially if he or she is asthmatic."

The third?:  "If all this fails, then there are shots," Georgeson says. Often these must be given every week.

Mitchell:  Therefore, is enthusiastic about liquid drops absorbed in the mouth that are being developed in Europe, although they are not approved for use here. He says he is confident these will soon be on the scene. "They are pretty exciting," he says.

"There is not a lot of peer-reviewed literature on the drops,":  Georgeson observes. "The shots can change an allergic person to a nonallergic person."

"Shots,":  Johnson says, "are the mainstay."

1 Doctor's Story

"I am a cat and dog owner,":  Georgeson says. "I practice what I preach -- the wood floors, the cleaning.

"My husband and I are not allergic,:  But many of our family members are, and when they come here they have no symptoms. This stuff works."

Exercise Outdoors – Even With Allergies

 By Colette Bouchez – WebMD

With spring nearly upon us, and warmer weather not far behind, you probably can't wait to convert your stuffy indoor fitness routine into breezy outdoor fun.  Even if you've never exercised before, adding physical activity to your life can seem a lot more appealing when Mother Nature is your workout partner.

Unfortunately, if you're one of the tens of thousands who also suffer with seasonal allergies sometimes called "hay fever "just the thought of doing anything in the pollen-rich spring and summer air can set your sneezing, wheezing, runny nose, and itchy watery eyes in motion.

If this is the case for you, don't despair.  Allergists say you can safely turn your exercise routines "inside-out" -- without sacrificing allergy relief.  The first rule of seasonal survival:  Avoid activities that increase the impact of a high pollen count.

"Any exercise that involves a high degree of movement and significantly increases your respiratory rate could cause problems," says Chicago allergist Brian Smart, MD, spokesman for the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (AAAAI).

That's because the faster you move through air, says Smart, the more airborne pollens and mold spores strike your face, and are inhaled -- and ultimately the greater your chance of an allergic reaction.  The activities to avoid -- particularly on days when the pollen count is high and symptoms are flaring -- include running, jogging, biking, or team ball sports.

"Workouts that are a lot more" allergy friendly" include yoga, swimming, Tai Chi, stretching, weight training -- activities which don't involve a lot of huffing and puffing," says allergist Gillian Shepherd, MD, professor of medicine at Weil Medical College of Cornell University.

If, in fact, you just can't live without your daily run or bike ride, Smart tells WebMD to plan workouts when pollen counts are at their lowest.  Pollen concentrations are usually highest between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m., according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.

Weather Is Key  

While the pollen seasons for particular plants are very consistent within each geographical region. Weather also plays a large role in determining what the pollen count will be, both seasonally and daily. A change in temperature, wind conditions, humidity, or precipitation can change the pollen counts.

Usually, pollen counts are highest on warm, dry, and breezy mornings and lowest on rainy, cooler days.  The severity of your allergic reaction will generally mirror the rise and fall of the pollen count.

What can also make a difference is discovering your personal pollen tolerance level -- the point at which your allergy symptoms kick in.  How can this help?  Pollen counts are tabulated by the number of pollen grains in a cubic meter of air.  While experts say some people can be affected when a tree pollen count is as low as 15 for example, others might not experience symptoms until the count hits 1,500 or above.

To discover what your personal tolerance level is, Shepherd says monitor the pollen levels and keep track of the point at which you begin to experience symptoms.  Then use that information, along with daily pollen counts, to plan activities when and where you are least likely to experience problems.

Now if you're thinking that all you need do to eliminate symptoms is choose a workout site that is void of grass and trees, guess again.

"Pollen can travel miles, so theoretically you could jog on the deck of a cruise ship and still have pollen symptoms," says allergist Kathleen Sheerin, MD, head of the Public Education committee of the AAAAI.

That said, allergist Christopher Randolph, MD, tells WebMD that the farther you are from the source of the pollen the better you are likely to feel.  So, while you may not be able to completely avoid allergic symptoms, you can significantly cut down on the severity by choosing your locations wisely.

"An asphalt tennis court would be better than a grassy terrain, while exercising on the beach may produce fewer symptoms than working out in a heavily wooded area," says Randolph, associate clinical professor of medicine at Yale University School of Medicine.

Although exercising outdoors can increase your contact with pollen, ironically, the extra adrenalin your body produces while you are working out can temporarily dampen the allergic response.  This, says Shepherd, in combination with the actual time it takes for contact with pollen to incite an allergic reaction -- about an hour -- means your worst symptoms might not occur while you are exercising at all, but after you stop.

To reduce your risk of allergies after outdoor workouts, experts say always take a shower, wash your hair and put on clean clothes immediately after working out to eliminate further contact with pollen.

In addition, don't forget the power of allergy medications to make outdoor activity more pleasurable. In fact, Randolph tells WebMD that with the proper medication nearly everyone with seasonal allergies can enjoy the great outdoors without fear. For best results, however, experts say take your medications on a regular basis, so you are fully protected when you do go outside. If you normally use medication only when you know you will be exposed to an allergen, Sheerin says take it at least one hour before you plan your outdoor workout. Nasal steroid sprays should be started 24 hours before a planned exposure.

Finally, it's also important to remember that if your seasonal allergies are severe, you may have to limit your time outdoors -- to times when pollen counts are at their lowest -- or keep all your workouts indoors, particularly on days when pollen counts are high, and it's warm and windy.

If, in fact, you do want to try and spend more time outdoors, our experts offer the following additional tips for reducing allergy symptoms.

  1. If itchy, watery eyes are a problem:  Wear goggles, or wrap around sunglasses when exercising outdoors -- and don't forget the power of eye drops, used about an hour before you go outside.  If you find your eyes itch after going to bed, or when you wake, change your pillowcase daily, and be certain to wash hair before hitting the sheets at night.
  2. For activities that involve heavy breathing:  (such as running or bike racing) a light paper face filter may help reduce pollen intake.
  3. Use a saline nasal spray:   To clear the nose of excess pollen after you finish exercising.
  4. Avoid exercising outdoors:   If you are run down, tired, jet lagged, or stressed, since your immune system is likely to react more swiftly and severely to an allergen.  Women with seasonal allergies should avoid exercising outdoors during their menstrual cycle, since the body may be slightly more sensitive to allergens during this time.
  5. If you are beginning a fitness program:   And allergies are moderate to severe, exercise indoors for several weeks to help condition your body, before moving activities outdoors.
  6. Be aware of oral allergy syndrome:  A cross reaction between what you eat and the pollen count outside.  If you are allergic to birch trees for example, eating apples, cherries, peaches, plums or celery seed, before or after working out, might intensify allergy symptoms.  Other possible cross-reactions include chamomile tea, melon, banana, cucumber, and sunflower seeds, which interact with ragweed and other weed pollens.
  7. After you finish exercising outdoors:  Or if allergy symptoms flare -- go inside, shut windows, and if possible put on an air conditioner to clear the air. Remain inside until symptoms subside.
  8. Learn how to interpret:  Pollen counts, and keep track of the levels in your area.  Here is some important information from the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology:
  • If pollen counts are low only individuals extremely sensitive to pollen and mold will experience symptoms.
  • If pollen counts are moderate many individuals sensitive to these pollens and molds will experience symptoms.
  • If pollen counts are very high almost all individuals with any sensitivity at all to these pollens and molds will experience symptoms.  Extremely sensitive people could have severe symptoms.

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