EpiPen/Twinject: Don’t leave home without it!
It is a sad fact, but most fatal allergic reactions could be prevented by the early recognition of allergic symptoms and the rapid self administration of epinephrine, in the form of an Epipen or Twinject auto-injector.
Most life threatening reactions are caused by food allergies, medication allergies, and stinging insect allergies. Essentially any food can trigger an allergic reaction, but the most common ones that cause severe anaphylaxis are: peanuts, tree nuts (e.g., walnut, pecan, almonds, cashew, Brazil nut), shellfish, fish, milk, and eggs.
The venom of stinging insects such as yellow jackets, honeybees, wasps, hornets are common causes of anaphylaxis, as is the biting fire ant in certain geographical areas of the U.S.
Virtuall
Save Money on your Allergy and Asthma Medications
Treating your allergies or asthma properly can be expensive. Statistics from the American Academy of Allergy have estimated the cost of treating allergic rhinitis (seasonal allergies or hayfever) and asthma is on the order of many billions of dollars per year in the U.S. The costs that patients face are both direct (medications, doctor visits, hospital stays etc) and indirect (missed work or school, decreased productivity on the job etc). Both add up rapidly to become a big part of health care costs for patients and insurance companies. The following are suggestions for patients who are interested in saving money on their prescription medications. Working with your doctor is the best way to find
When should you consult an allergist?
Approximately 50 million Americans have asthma, hay fever or other allergy related conditions.
You can spot them from across the room - tissue in hand, sneezing, sniffling, blowing their nose, tearing, and rubbing their eyes. This is a common presentation for millions of children and adults who suffer from the misery of allergies. If fortunate, these symptoms are but a minor inconvenience, but, if severe, they can significantly affect one’s quality of life.
Allergies involving the nose (rhinitis) and eyes (conjunctivitis) are almost always caused by contact of an offending “allergen” to the mucous membrane lining of the nose or eyes. Constant exposure for the allergic individual can cause daily symptoms
Reading Food Labels to Prevent Food Allergic Reactions
A growing number of individuals have a food allergy, estimated to affect 2 percent of adults and 5 percent of infants and children in the United States. Food allergic reactions can be unpredictable in their severity and can occur after consuming small amounts of the food protein. Approximately 30,000 people require emergency room treatment and 150 Americans die each year due to allergic reactions to food. At present, there is no cure for food allergies and avoidance of the inciting food thus remains essential in disease management. Reading food labels is an important part of everyday life for adults and children with food allergies.
In 2004, Congress passed the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Ac
Eosinophilic Esophagitis
Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EE) is a condition that was literally unheard of 20 years ago. However, over the last five years, the recognition and diagnosis of this condition has risen dramatically. It is difficult to say whether the increased frequency of EE is due to an increased level of suspicion, to better diagnostic techniques, or whether the disease has actually become more common. EE commonly affects people who have a family history of allergy, especially food allergies, and conditions such as eczema and asthma. It is most common in children. Most adults who develop EE are generally diagnosed in the third or fourth decade of life. Males are affected three times more commonly than females.
EE is an allergic reaction loc
Lupine Allergy
Lupines, or lupins, are common garden plants found commonly in South America, western North America, in the Mediterranean area, and in Africa. The seeds produced on the lupine plant are members of the legume family and therefore related to peanuts, soy, and peas.
In the last few years, lupine ingestion has been recognized as a cause of allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis. In the occupational setting, inhalation of lupine flour may also produce rhinitis and asthma symptoms. Cross-reactivity between foods in the legume family is rare, but several studies have demonstrated significant cross-reactivity between peanut and lupine.
Lupinus albus is the species most widely cultivated for food. In some Mediterranean countries, dri
