Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Q.’s)
 

What Is an Allergy?

An allergy is an over reaction of the body to a normally harmless substance. This harmless substance is also known as an allergen. Examples of allergens are pollen, cat dander, mold, fruits, and nuts. Allergy is also called hypersensitivity, which literally means overly sensitive.

During an allergic reaction, the immune system mistakenly believes that a harmless substance--an allergen--is harmful. The body tries to protect itself and creates an antibody to that allergen. This antibody serves as a trigger. The next time the person comes in contact with that allergen, the immune system releases massive amounts of histamines and other chemicals in order to protect the body. Unfortunately, these chemicals and histamines trigger a cascade of allergic symptoms that can affect the respiratory system, gastrointestinal tract, skin, or cardiovascular system.

What are the Different Types of Allergies?

There are many types of allergy. Some of the more common forms are:

• Food Allergies – A food allergy is an immune system response to a food that the body mistakenly believes is harmful. Examples of food allergy include wheat allergy, peanut allergy, milk allergy, and egg allergy.
   
• Pet Allergies – Examples of pet allergy include dog allergy and cat allergy, but any animal (birds, hamsters, rabbits, mice, gerbils, rats, and guinea pigs) can cause allergic reactions.
   
• Pollen and Fungi – A common example is allergy to ragweed pollen, which is called hay fever. Patients are typically allergic to grass and tree pollens, molds, and fungi.
   
• Household Allergies – This allergy includes allergens such as house-dust mite droppings, cat and dog dandruff, horse hair, and cockroach droppings.
   
• Drug Allergies – Allergy to antibiotics is a common form of drug allergy, though a patient can be allergic to almost any medication.
   
• Latex Allergies – Latex allergy is one of the most common occupational allergies and strikes health care workers. It produces varied symptoms, which commonly include runny nose, sneezing, itchy eyes, scratchy throat, hives, and other itchy, burning sensations.

Some Common Allergy-Related Conditions Include:

• Asthma – Asthma is a chronic inflammatory condition of the lungs, which results in occasional airflow obstruction. This chronic inflammation causes spasms and swelling of the bronchial linings. There is a strong association between asthma and allergy. Exposure to allergens is one of the triggers of asthma.
   
• Rhinitis – Rhinitis includes hay fever and perennial rhinitis. Hay fever is the seasonal allergy that many people experience. It includes seasonal watery eyes, and runny nose. Perennial rhinitis or "permanent cold" is the allergic reaction to household allergens and can last year round.
   
• Dermatitis – Also called skin allergy, dermatitis includes rashes, dry flaking skin, or other skin manifestations that appear in relation to contact with an allergen. Hives are also an allergy-related condition and are known as urticaria.
   
• Anaphylaxis – This is a severe form of allergic reaction. Anaphylaxis is a sudden-onset, life-threatening reaction characterized by bronchial constriction and changes in blood flow (such as shock). Its clinical presentation may include respiratory, cardiovascular, coetaneous, or gastrointestinal manifestations. Any allergen can cause an anaphylactic reaction in any given person.

Allergy Symptom List:

• Allergic Rhinitis – Occur when allergens touch the lining of the nose. Allergic rhinitis is characterized by congestion, itching and discharge from the nose and itchy, watery eyes.
   
• Dermatitis – Results from exposure of the skin to an allergen. Allergy symptoms include itching, reddening, and flaking or peeling of the skin.
   
• Urticaria or Hives – Characterized by itchy red bumps that can occur in clumps on the skin that can be either large or small. Hives are often triggered by infection, certain foods or medications. Foods commonly associated with hives include nuts, tomatoes, shellfish and berries. Medications commonly associated with hives include penicillin, sulfa, anti-seizure medications, and aspirin.
   
• Asthma – Include coughing, chest tightness, shortness of breath and wheezing.
   
• Food allergies – May have severe and possibly life-threatening and include anaphylaxis and hives.
   
• Anaphylaxis – Include a feeling of warmth, flushing, tingling in the mouth or a red, itchy rash. Other symptoms may include feelings of light-headedness, shortness of breath, severe sneezing, anxiety, stomach or uterine cramps, and/or vomiting and diarrhea. In severe cases, patients may experience a drop in blood pressure. Anaphylaxis can be fatal.

How Is an Allergy Diagnosed or Evaluated?

A carefully obtained patient history, including environmental exposures, and the appropriate laboratory tests or allergen challenges is critical for the accurate diagnosis of allergy.

Obtaining a complete history from the allergic patient involves getting a description of all symptoms along with their timing and length, plus obtaining a list of exposures to common allergens, and responses to previous therapies.

Allergic diseases are often associated with increased numbers of blood particles known as eosinophils. The presence of more than 450 eosinophils/µL of blood is the most common abnormality noted on examination of the blood of allergic patients.

Allergen skin testing (allergen challenge) is the primary in-office procedure for the diagnosis of allergic disease. Minute amounts of an allergen are introduced into the patient's skin. In an allergic patient, the allergen will result in an itchy wheal (raised skin) surrounded by an area of redness. Several allergens can be tested for at one time. The appearance of a red, raised area in response to a given allergen will help to identify the allergens to which the patient is allergic.

The newest advancement in allergy testing and diagnosis is The LAX7000 Laser Allergy Relief System. No scratch or blood tests are required. A cuff is gently placed around the wrist of the patient while a computer reads the amount of stress the body undergoes as individual specific allergens are introduced safely into the body. According to Biofeedback the stresses are then mapped and separated by each individual allergen to give a printout of the patient’Äôs allergies to a possibility of over 100,000 allergens. These allergens are grouped according to which allergens cause the body to go into the most stress (severity of the allergen). The test is painless, non-invasive, safe, takes only a couple of minutes and will give the patient a list of all the things that patient is allergic to with the allergens severity.

What Does a Pollen Count Mean?

A pollen count is the measure of the amount of pollen in the air. Pollen counts are commonly included in local weather reports and are usually reported for mold spores and three types of pollen: grasses, trees, and weeds. The count is reported as grains of pollen per square meter of air collected over 24 hours. This number represents the concentration of all the pollen in the air in a certain area at a specific time. The pollen count is translated into a corresponding level: absent, low, medium, or high.

In general, a "low" pollen count means that only people extremely sensitive to pollen will experience symptoms. A "medium" count means many people who are relatively sensitive to pollen will experience symptoms and a "high" count means most people with any sensitivity to pollen will experience symptoms.

Although the pollen count is an approximate value and fluctuates, it is useful as a general guide when you are trying to determine whether or not you should stay indoors to avoid pollen contact.

Should I Consider Moving to Decrease My Allergy Symptoms?

No. Moving to a different geographic climate will not help "cure" allergies. Most people who relocate to get away from pollens that cause their allergies tend to find that they eventually develop allergies to the plant pollens in the new area.

What Does It Mean When a Product Is Labeled "Hypoallergenic"?

"Hypo" means "under" or "less than," so "hypoallergenic" means a product is less likely to trigger an allergic reaction. Many products that we use every day, such as cleansers and soaps, deodorants, makeup, and even mouthwash, have ingredients that can irritate the skin or act as antigens (substances that act as an allergy trigger). Exposure of the skin to these ingredients -- most often fragrances and chemicals used as preservatives -- can lead to a condition called contact dermatitis. Contact dermatitis appears as areas of redness, itching, and swelling on the skin, and sometimes as a rash or blisters.

Many manufacturers of cosmetics and cleaning supplies now market their products as "hypoallergenic," meaning the products do not contain ingredients that are known to cause irritation or allergic reactions. However, manufacturers are not required to prove the claim that their products are hypoallergenic and there are currently no regulations or standards for manufacturers to follow.

Although choosing products that are hypoallergenic may help reduce the risk of contact dermatitis, no product can guarantee never to irritate the skin or produce an allergic reaction. It's always a good idea to test any new product before you use it, especially if you have had skin reactions in the past. To test it, simply put a sample of the product on your inner wrist or elbow and wait 24 hours to see if a reaction occurs.

How Does Stress Affect Allergies?

Stress is your body's response to conflict or situations, both internal and external, which interferes with the normal balance in your life. Virtually all of the body's systems, including the digestive system, cardiovascular system, nervous system and immune system, make adjustments in response to stress. When you are feeling anxious or stressed, your body releases numerous hormones and other chemicals, including histamine. Histamine is a powerful chemical that can lead to allergy-like symptoms.

Stress does not cause allergies, but it can make an existing reaction worse by increasing the level of histamine in the bloodstream.

References

American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. Tips to remember: What is an allergic reaction? Available at: http://www.aaaai.org/patients/publicedmat/tips/whatisallergicreaction.htm. Accessed December 2, 2004.

Atkins, D and Leung DY. Diagnosis of allergic disease. In: Behrman RE. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 17th ed. Philadelpha, PA: W.B. Saunders Company; 2004: 747-751.

Atkins, D and Leung DY. Principles of treatment of allergic disease. In: Behrman RE. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 17th ed. Philadelpha, PA: W.B. Saunders Company; 2004: 752-757.

Centers for Disease Control. National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. Contact dermatitis and latex allergy. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/infectioncontrol/faq/latex.htm. Accessed December 2, 2004.

Cleveland Clinic. Allergy overview. Available at: http://www.clevelandclinic.org/health/health-info/docs/1900/1948.asp?index=8610 Accessed December 2, 2004.

Ferri, FF. Anaphylaxis. In: Ferri, FF. Ferri's Clinical advisor: Instant diagnosis and treatment, 2005 ed. St. Louis, MO: Mosby, Inc; 2005: 53.

Liu, AH, Spahn, JD and Leung, DY. Childhood asthma. In: Behrman RE. Nelson textbook of pediatrics. 17th ed. Philadelpha, PA: W.B. Saunders Company; 2004: 760-761.

National Institutes of Health. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Allergy statistics. Available at: http://www.niaid.nih.gov/factsheets/allergystat.htm. Accessed December 2, 2004.