It’s likely that either you or someone you know suffers from the annoying symptoms of an allergy

In fact, one in three people in the UK suffer from some form of allergy. Each year there is an increase of 5% in those reporting allergic reactions and as many as half of these are children.
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In the USA, it is estimated that there are well over 35 million people who experience allergies of one kind or another.

Exactly why allergies appear to be increasing so rapidly is something of an enigma.

Some researches believe that it is because we are becoming too sanitized. They suggest that because we live in an increasingly germ-free environment, our immune systems are under-exposed to germs and allergens so that we fail to build up a defence to these triggers as we grow and develop. Our immune system then over-reacts to these things when it is exposed to them.

Other experts believe that allergies are simply the result of the increasing pollution that the world is experiencing.

Yet in spite of quite extensive research into the reason why we are becoming more susceptible to allergies, the verdict is out. All that can be truly said is that more research is needed.

In the majority of cases, allergies are more of a highly uncomfortable inconvenience than anything else. But in exceptional cases, an allergic reaction can be so severe as to be a real threat to life.

Because of this, if you or someone you care about is experiencing a severe allergic reaction then the very first thing to do, of course, is to visit a doctor or medical advisor in a hurry.

The most common allergy symptoms are quite well known and include rashes, itching, sore eyes, runny nose, sneezing, wheezing and coughing.

Allergies are triggered when the individual comes into contact with an allergen. Simply put, this is any substance that produces an allergic reaction. Almost anything can be an allergen. It all depends on the individual.

The 3 most common allergens, however, are dust mites, pollen and nuts.

Other allergens include medicines, chemicals, and pets such as cats and dogs.

With food allergies, however, it is estimated that about 90% of all allergic reactions can be attributed by just 7 items: peanuts, nuts, wheat, seafood, eggs, milk and soy products

Most of us, of course, have no problem when we come into contact with these things. Our body’s natural defence system just seems to handle them automatically and we are able to cope without any real difficulty.

But with the allergic person, this is just not the case.

For the person experiencing an allergic reaction, an allergen is incorrectly identified as a threat. This causes the immune system to flood the body with powerful – and usually inflammatory – chemicals called antibodies in order to fight off and destroy this perceived threat.

It is this process and the release of these antibodies that cause the actual allergic raction and those troublesome symptoms.

Contact with an allergen may occur through the mouth, nose, lungs, stomach or skin.

A very useful strategy when it comes to dealing with allergies is to keep some form of diary or journal. In it you could note your observations about the history of the problem.

Write down and record when it first appeared. Is it connected to any other situation or thought process that makes it more severe? When did you experience the worst allergic reactions? What were you doing? What was happening at that particular time in your life?

You might even enlist the help of your family in order to obtain greater insight and clarity for those early years of your life. It can be surprising how much those close to us can recall and notice things that we ourselves have forgotten or overlooked.

The reason for such a diary is to enable you to get a clearer picture and greater understanding of the condition as it relates to you personally. Note how many times anxiety, fear and tension have made the condition worse.

The next stage might be to either learn self-hypnosis or to work with a suitably qualified hypnotherapist, so that you can strengthen your immune system and aid your subconscious to control the triggers that cause the allegic reaction.

In hypnosis, powerful post hypnotic suggestions can be delivered to the subconscious mind that can help it respond in a better, more helpful manner when in the presence of allergens and triggers.

Hypnosis and hypnotherapy will probably not produce an overnight, miraculous cure of your allergy. But with patience, you can programme your subconscious mind to work for you so that you can experience real relief from the ongoing agony of allergies.

allergies

* What is an allergy?
* Are allergies hereditary?
* Are allergies easy to detect?
* When are allergies most likely to occur?
* Will my child have allergies for life?
* How do I treat an allergy?
* Food allergies and intolerances

What is an allergy?

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Essentially, an allergy is an immune reaction to a substance that is inhaled, injected, ingested, or even just touched. The body’s immune system responds to an allergen – the substance causing the reaction – by releasing histamines and other chemicals that result in symptoms such as nasal and respiratory congestion, an itchy or runny nose, a sore throat, diarrhoea, itchy, watery eyes, and itchy rashes.
Are allergies hereditary?

The tendency to be allergic is often inherited, although family members may differ widely in the kinds of things they are allergic to. One child may have asthma, while another is prone to hay fever. Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of your baby’s life helps decrease the incidence of allergies in the early years of life.
Are allergies easy to detect?

Not always, and especially not in babies. For instance, many babies develop a wheeze when they get an upper respiratory tract infection. It isn’t usually the sign of an allergy, and most babies outgrow the tendency to wheeze when they have a cold as they mature. If the wheeze often occurs in the absence of a cold, and it’s still there at age three, your GP may ask you to keep a diary of when your child develops symptoms. Asthma is usually diagnosed through the child’s history and response to bronchodilators.

Common allergies, such as asthma, eczema and hay fever, can usually be readily diagnosed. However, a person can develop an allergy to almost anything – from cat fur to polyester. When there are symptoms but no easily discernible cause, you may want to consult your GP (who can refer you to a specialist if your baby’s allergies are severe.)

One way to detect the cause of an allergy is with skin prick tests, especially for allergic contact eczema, but these are unreliable in babies under 18 months of age. You may also want to check with your doctor if new symptoms develop or if they persist. If your baby has trouble breathing, pants, appears disoriented, has a rapid pulse or is pale or cold, call your GP immediately.
When are allergies most likely to occur?

Symptoms can occur at any time of the year. Mould allergies usually develop in the winter and can be hard to distinguish from colds. Pollen-related allergies are more common in spring and autumn. Morning congestion which lasts all year long is commonly due to dust-mites or pet allergies.
Will my child have allergies for life?

In some cases, your child will outgrow her allergy. This frequently happens in the case of cow’s milk allergy and intolerance. In other cases, the allergy worsens with maturity. Sometimes, a child may develop a new or different allergy later.
How do I treat an allergy?

While antihistamines and steroids are sometimes used to treat allergies in babies and children, the simplest way to eliminate the problem is to remove the cause. Potential allergens include tobacco smoke, down and feather pillows, perfume, pet hairs, dust mites, and wool blankets. Your child’s stuffed toy collection, which is a real magnet for dust mites, should be washed frequently.

If your child is allergic to airborne pollen, keep him indoors during heavy-pollen periods and on windy days, bathe him frequently, and avoid opening the windows on windy days. If eczema is a problem, ask your GP if he would recommend prescribing an appropriate moisturising cream which contains emollients and soap substitutes. Occasionally steroids are used to calm the symptoms.

Pets which cause an allergic reaction should be kept outside, or at least restricted to a certain area of the house. Difficult as it is to contemplate, you may have to consider finding your pet another home.

Keep your baby’s room as dust-free as possible. Clean frequently to keep dust to a minimum, though it’s not really the dust itself that’s the problem but dust mites. Relatives of spiders, dust mites are microscopic organisms that thrive on human skin flakes and produce allergens. While it is impossible to keep all dust at bay, and one effective measure is to open the windows frequently, there are other strategies you may like to try to keep dust mites at bay. These include: Pull up the carpets and cover hardwood floors with rugs. Wash all bedding in hot water. Use a damp mop rather than a vacuum cleaner, since many vacuum cleaners kick up the dust. You can also buy vacuum cleaners with a high efficiency particulate arresting (HEPA) filter to trap dust mites and other allergens.
Food allergies and intolerances

Babies sometimes develop allergies to foods, such as wheat, eggs, milk, soya products, nuts, shellfish, fish and citrus fruit. The symptoms of a true food allergy, such as a rash or wheezing, or swelling of the lips and tongue, generally appear within an hour of eating. If you suspect your baby may be allergic to a certain food, talk to your GP who may refer her for tests.

Babies can also develop intolerances to some foods, which is different to a true allergy. Symptoms of a food intolerance are more likely to affect the digestive system and can include tummy pain, colic, bloating, wind, diarrhoea, and sometimes vomiting.

If you suspect your child may have a food intolerance, see your GP who may refer her to a dietitian. The dietitian may put your child on an exclusion diet, where suspect foods are removed from the diet then slowly reintroduced. This helps to identify which foods are causing the problem.

If your baby is formula fed and is found to have an intolerance or allergy to cow’s milk, the dietitian may suggest your baby switches to soya formula or a cow’s milk-based formula which has been specially modified for babies with an allergy or intolerance.

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