If allergies had a top ten list of their favorite
symptoms what would be on it? Would they prefer life
threatening or just really annoying?
The most common symptoms, that may or may not be on
their favorites list:
Breathing problems.
This one should be fun for an allergy. It really gets
the persons attention. Nothing like the lack of oxygen
to center a person’s attention on the allergy.
Burning, watery or itchy eyes.
This symptom falls into the really annoying category.
It could cause additional problems if you can’t see
where you’re going.
Red, swollen eyes, also called Conjunctivitis.
Certainly annoying, but most people can deal with this
one.
Coughing.
This one gets old real quick. And a constant cough
quickly becomes painful.
Diarrhea.
This one might start out in the annoying category, but
left unchecked could switch to the life threatening
section very quickly.
Headache.
Depending on the severity of the headache, this one
might be tolerable.
Hives.
This symptom is not only annoying and uncomfortable
(possibly painful) it draws the attention of strangers
on the street.
Itchy nose, mouth, throat or skin.
Another in the category of really annoying. An itch
that can’t be soothed is one of the most annoying
things there is.
Runny nose.
Yeah, this one could cause problems with other people.
No one likes to hear someone constantly sniffing or
blowing their nose. Makes people wonder what germs
you’re spreading around.
Skin rashes.
Possibly ugly to look at, but tolerable
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Does Food Make You Sick?
Do you often suffer from strange symptoms after eating
certain types of foods? Do you get itchy, break out in
hives, swell up or actually vomit? You could be
suffering from a common food allergy.
It’s estimated that over 12 million Americans suffer
from food allergies. Most allergic reactions are mild,
but around 30,000 visits to the emergency room are
reported each year because of the reactions. As many
as 200 deaths each year are attributed to food
allergies.
Studies report up to 8 percent of children have an
allergy to some type of food. The numbers are slightly
smaller for adults, only around 4 percent.
Many children will outgrow their food allergies. But
some will carry these allergies into adulthood and
suffer from them their entire lives.
Eating prepackaged foods, out in restaurants or even
friends homes can cause problems. It’s often hard to
tell what’s added to the foods we eat.
You hate to ask the cook "what’s in this?", but
sometimes you just have to. Especially when asking can
mean the difference between an enjoyable meal and a
trip to the emergency room.
With the increased cases of peanut allergies, most
packaged foods have started including on the label the
use of peanut oils and even if the processing of nuts
is handled in the same factory.
There’s no cure for food allergies. So the only thing
you can do is avoid the foods that cause the reactions
you can’t deal with.
certain types of foods? Do you get itchy, break out in
hives, swell up or actually vomit? You could be
suffering from a common food allergy.
It’s estimated that over 12 million Americans suffer
from food allergies. Most allergic reactions are mild,
but around 30,000 visits to the emergency room are
reported each year because of the reactions. As many
as 200 deaths each year are attributed to food
allergies.
Studies report up to 8 percent of children have an
allergy to some type of food. The numbers are slightly
smaller for adults, only around 4 percent.
Many children will outgrow their food allergies. But
some will carry these allergies into adulthood and
suffer from them their entire lives.
Eating prepackaged foods, out in restaurants or even
friends homes can cause problems. It’s often hard to
tell what’s added to the foods we eat.
You hate to ask the cook "what’s in this?", but
sometimes you just have to. Especially when asking can
mean the difference between an enjoyable meal and a
trip to the emergency room.
With the increased cases of peanut allergies, most
packaged foods have started including on the label the
use of peanut oils and even if the processing of nuts
is handled in the same factory.
There’s no cure for food allergies. So the only thing
you can do is avoid the foods that cause the reactions
you can’t deal with.
Allergic To Certain Foods ?
Food allergies are the most common and prevalent type
of allergy. Up to 12 million Americans suffer from
some type of food allergy.
The most common culprits are eggs, fish and shellfish,
peanuts and other tree nuts.
Children are most commonly allergic to the same foods
but with the addition to milk and other dairy
products.
Corn and corn products also commonly cause allergic
reactions in children.
Most allergic symptoms are often only bothersome, but
they can be life threatening.
The most common symptoms are itching of the mouth,
eyes and skin, hives, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea,
often but not always accompanied by stomach cramps and
wheezing, shortness of breath or trouble swallowing.
The more severe symptoms can include swelling. The
swelling tends to focus on the face area causing
swelling of the eyelids, lips, ears and tongue.
Mood swings and depression is another symptom.
The most severe symptoms can result in death. Around
200 deaths each year are reported from both the
initial allergic reaction and secondary complications.
There is currently no cure for food allergies. While
allergy shots have been developed to help with many
different types of allergies, none have been
successfully made for food allergies.
The people with the allergies usually avoid those
foods that cause the allergic reaction. Epinephrine
can relieve the symptoms, and is often carried by
people diagnosed with food allergies to be used in an
emergency.
Some scientists believe genetic engineering may create
vaccines, but that’s still years away.
of allergy. Up to 12 million Americans suffer from
some type of food allergy.
The most common culprits are eggs, fish and shellfish,
peanuts and other tree nuts.
Children are most commonly allergic to the same foods
but with the addition to milk and other dairy
products.
Corn and corn products also commonly cause allergic
reactions in children.
Most allergic symptoms are often only bothersome, but
they can be life threatening.
The most common symptoms are itching of the mouth,
eyes and skin, hives, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea,
often but not always accompanied by stomach cramps and
wheezing, shortness of breath or trouble swallowing.
The more severe symptoms can include swelling. The
swelling tends to focus on the face area causing
swelling of the eyelids, lips, ears and tongue.
Mood swings and depression is another symptom.
The most severe symptoms can result in death. Around
200 deaths each year are reported from both the
initial allergic reaction and secondary complications.
There is currently no cure for food allergies. While
allergy shots have been developed to help with many
different types of allergies, none have been
successfully made for food allergies.
The people with the allergies usually avoid those
foods that cause the allergic reaction. Epinephrine
can relieve the symptoms, and is often carried by
people diagnosed with food allergies to be used in an
emergency.
Some scientists believe genetic engineering may create
vaccines, but that’s still years away.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Mold Remediation For People With Asthma
Individuals with Asthma and Allergies require a home that is Allergen Free. This Allergen Free Area is your place to retreat for comfort, solace and relaxation. When you have an unwanted guest such as Mold, your Safe Home from Allergens is gone. One day it was a great place to relax and enjoy, the next day, you are dealing with mold exposure symptoms. These symptoms can include runny nose, coughing, shortness of breath, headaches, eye irritation, dizziness, nausea, and asthma attacks.
The first step to take in fixing your home so it is mold free is to find and correct the source of any moisture. Without moisture mold will not grow. Remember "No Moisture No Mold" is our motto. It is important to react quickly because microbial growth can begin in as little as 72 hours. The one thing to remember is that if you have a flood, have it dried up as soon as possible. I recently had my A/C Air Handler leak into the Return Area Plenum below it. Had it dried up within 24 hours. When you on top of it, you will never have mold. I was fortunate because I have a water intrusion alarm in this area. When water leaked into the area, it sounded a loud ringing sound. Fixed the problem of the drain line that caused the water back up. Algae caused the line to clog up. This is common in all Air Conditioners. If you don't fix the water problem, you can count on recurring issues with mold.
I had a job this past week where a dishwasher had been leaking for over a year under the Kitchen Cabinets. The Microbial Test results showed high levels of toxic mold. The type of microbial growth was Stachybotrys and Chaetomium under the Kitchen Cabinets. When you have this type of hidden leak, it is serious enough to remove all the cabinets in the affected areas. They were fortunate enough to have it covered by their Homeowners Insurance. There are some Insurance Companies not covering these types of leaks. They consider them a maintenance issue and not a burst pipe. I always recommend you check and see how good your Insurance Coverage really is. Call your Agent and see what is not covered before it happens, especially regarding water leaks.
In conclusion, people with Asthma and Allergies must live in an Allergen Free Area. Microbial growth only comes from moisture. When a flood occurs in your home, it is important to have it dried up quickly. If you are concerned about how good your Homeowners Insurance Coverage really is, call you Insurance Agent to verify. If you are sick from Microbial Growth, contact your Doctor immediately.
If you have any questions, feel free to call us or visit our website..
To learn more about your home, visit our website at Safe Homes or Air Testing.
Mr. Art Emiss is available as a professional speaker to help educate your community or group function on Asthma, Allergies, Mold, Indoor Air Quality and the Chemically Injured. Visit our website and sign up for our Free Air Conditioning Filter Change Reminder Service.
My House Is Killing Me
Recently a young lady called me who has allergy symptoms in her home and asked me to do an Environmental Inspection. When I got to the house, she greeted me with a stuffy nose and red eyes. It was interesting because she was holding her cat so it would not run out when she opened the front door. She also said that it was her husband's cat for over 10 years and he would not get rid of the cat even if it affected my allergies. I found this a very troubling statement because this is a common scenario when we go to houses where one of the occupants is allergic to the pets in the house.
The following week, I had a client call me saying that "My House Is Killing Me" and wanted us to investigate and find out what it was. He was having Asthma symptoms in every room of the house. During the Environmental Inspection, I noticed an area over a closet that had water stains on it. This area was also adjacent to the Air Handler Closet. Decided to look in the attic and there it was: 10 cardboard boxes for storage that were covered with mold. Apparently, there was a roof leak above this area and the roof leak leaked into the boxes with minimal damage in the house. What happened was the A/C Closet had a hole in the ceiling and every time the Air Conditioning cycled on, it would suck air in from the attic which was next to the moldy boxes. The mold spores were being spread throughout the home via the A/C System.
These are typical stories of the type of clients we have worked with for the last 15 years. Some problems are easy to fix and others can get very complicated. We have witnessed first hand how mold can affect people with Asthma and Allergies. Women and children seem to suffer worse than men living in the same house. Why, I do not know. I once had a Doctor say that it could be hormonal. The sad thing is when the husband is not allergic in the house, there can be a lot of tension around the issue of Asthma and Allergies.
We also deal with a lot of individuals who have Chemical Sensitivity from some type of injury from the job. This is worse than Asthma or Allergies because they are reactive to every thing. It is tough living like this but they are troopers who keep trying to make it in a world that is full of chemicals that can affect them. A simple Glade Plugin will affect them and not affect other people. I give them credit for not giving up.
In conclusion, people can be allergic to their pets and not understand their allergies. Mold can be caused by roof leaks in hidden areas of a house and you do not even know it is happening. There can be tension in a home when one person is sick and other is not. Chemical Sensitivity can be an increased vulnerability to chemicals and other airborne irritants. It is hard to deal with also. If you feel that you have Asthma, Allergies or Chemical Sensitivity, call you Doctor immediately.
The following week, I had a client call me saying that "My House Is Killing Me" and wanted us to investigate and find out what it was. He was having Asthma symptoms in every room of the house. During the Environmental Inspection, I noticed an area over a closet that had water stains on it. This area was also adjacent to the Air Handler Closet. Decided to look in the attic and there it was: 10 cardboard boxes for storage that were covered with mold. Apparently, there was a roof leak above this area and the roof leak leaked into the boxes with minimal damage in the house. What happened was the A/C Closet had a hole in the ceiling and every time the Air Conditioning cycled on, it would suck air in from the attic which was next to the moldy boxes. The mold spores were being spread throughout the home via the A/C System.
These are typical stories of the type of clients we have worked with for the last 15 years. Some problems are easy to fix and others can get very complicated. We have witnessed first hand how mold can affect people with Asthma and Allergies. Women and children seem to suffer worse than men living in the same house. Why, I do not know. I once had a Doctor say that it could be hormonal. The sad thing is when the husband is not allergic in the house, there can be a lot of tension around the issue of Asthma and Allergies.
We also deal with a lot of individuals who have Chemical Sensitivity from some type of injury from the job. This is worse than Asthma or Allergies because they are reactive to every thing. It is tough living like this but they are troopers who keep trying to make it in a world that is full of chemicals that can affect them. A simple Glade Plugin will affect them and not affect other people. I give them credit for not giving up.
In conclusion, people can be allergic to their pets and not understand their allergies. Mold can be caused by roof leaks in hidden areas of a house and you do not even know it is happening. There can be tension in a home when one person is sick and other is not. Chemical Sensitivity can be an increased vulnerability to chemicals and other airborne irritants. It is hard to deal with also. If you feel that you have Asthma, Allergies or Chemical Sensitivity, call you Doctor immediately.
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