Keeping Respiratory Allergies under Control

Allergies are increasingly becoming more common in the average person’s daily language, perhaps with the increased research surrounding the previously mysterious subject. Allergies are simply hypersensitive reactions to certain substances that are usually harmless. These substances, called allergens, cover a wide variety of items, ranging from animal dander, pollen, feathers, house dust, mites, chemicals, as well as a wide array of food.
Allergic reactions typically include respiratory symptoms, while others can result in a more varied set of symptoms including diarrhea, fever, fatigue, headache, vomiting, or stomach ache.

A person suffering from respiratory allergic reactions tends to suffer from a runny or stuffy nose, itchy eyes and skin, sneezing, and red and watery eyes. These and other symptoms of allergy happen because, when the immune system encounters an allergen, it excretes chemicals known as histamines to fight off what it views as an invader. These histamines result in a string of reactions: first, nasal passages may swell and congest, and mucus production is increased. This overactive response to the external stimulus is what causes the runny or stuffy nose as well as other respiratory symptoms.

Allergies may be chronic or seasonal, determined by which allergens are involved in the attack. For example, seasonal allergies are typically viewed as caused by pollen during the spring, when flowers are all in bloom. Chronic allergies, or ongoing ones, are those caused by allergens found in the environment throughout the year, such as dust, feathers, or animal dander. A condition called chronic allergic rhinitis is an allergic reaction that causes the mucous membrane in the nasal passages to be persistently inflamed. This results in a stuffy or runny nose, coupled by frequent sneezing and a high propensity for breathing through the mouth. It also comes with red and watery eyes, as well as other complications like headaches, nose bleeds, and fatigue.

So how do you keep respiratory allergies under control? The following tips should help you:

1. Be sure to drink plenty of fluids. This helps to thin secretions as well as ease expectoration.

2. Respiratory allergies are sometimes related to food allergies. If you do not currently know of any food allergy that you have, check the following items by eliminating one of them for two weeks, to see if there is any improvement in your condition: dairy products, wheat, chocolate, eggs, nuts, citrus fruits and juices, and seafood. Taking out dairy from your daily diet may actually help your respiratory allergies, as dairy tends to thicken mucus as well as stimulate a rise in production of mucus. If you find your allergy to be seasonal, try avoiding whole wheat during the season.

3. Avoid eating much oily food and fats. When a body is under any stress, such as that coming from an allergic reaction, its digestive system tends to be weaker than normal. Fats are tough to digest and can put an added strain on your digestive system. Undigested fats also contribute to the production of mucus and constitute an internal environment that is toxic.

4. Magnesium and calcium are minerals known to alleviate allergic reactions by helping to relax a nervous system on overdrive. With acute symptoms, a supplement with 750 to 1,000 mg of calcium and 500 mg of magnesium may be taken twice a day. The dosage may be continued once a day over a period of two months. This sure beats taking anti-histamines daily.

5. A digestive-enzyme supplement that improves the transport and utilization of nutrients you take in is also a good idea, as allergies are largely linked to the movement of food in the digestive system. These enzymes include lipase, amylase, protease, and pancreatin. Your doctor may recommend doses of these enzymes taken right after every meal.

6. Vitamin C, with its high anti-inflammatory properties, is known for helping with allergic attacks. During acute symptoms, 1,000 mg of vitamin C taken five times a day over four to five days can help. Of course, some allergy sufferers find that mineral ascorbate or esterified vitamin C is easier to take compared to plain ascorbic acid.

If you have tried the above tips and nothing seems to work, perhaps you need to consider one last important thing: be sure to avoid stressful situations, particularly while you are having allergic reactions. Many times, allergic reactions come about not just in response to physical allergens, but even to stressful circumstances. Try to avoid being stressed out for the next few days and see if your symptoms improve.