Allergy Testing

Let's forget everything about the etymology of yellow dust in North America or South Korea and where it comes from and focus on the things that matter. Yellow dust can be very annoying to a foreigner in Korea who has never encountered it before. So what do you need to know?

To start, it doesn't matter where you live in South Korea you will come across it at some point. However, in Seoul the dust "attacks" are worst of all. Generally it is worse in the northern parts of the peninsula since it comes from China. Yellow dust comes from the Chinese desserts just above Korea. If you live in a city like Chuncheon or Suwon or even Busan your encounters with it are much less dramatic that if you live in Seoul or Incheon.

The first thing you must do is find out if you are allergic to it or not. Typically people who are allergic to dust have a strong negative reaction to yellow dust as well. How do you know if you are allergic or not? You go to Asan Hospital in Seoul or the public hospital that is closest in your city have an allergy test done. It will cost about 100,000won and then you'll know what affects you or doesn't. The irritations will range from making you cough and giving you a sore throat to inducing Asthma and Sinus infections in your body.

One hundred thousand won may seem like a lot to pay at a public hospital, but let's take a look at what it's costing you to avoid taking the test and not knowing how it affects you.

Yellow dust is said to irritate your throat. I know this is a fact because when I catch a cold in the winter, it's just a cold and it goes away soon. However when I have the same cold or virus in the spring when there is a lot of this dust in the air, my cold turns into a terrible sore throat. Unfortunately it doesn't stop there. A sore throat quickly becomes Asthma if not treated early enough. I know, Asthma is one of those things that people who've had it in the past, get it again. I never had any problems with Asthma until one spring I went to 3 doctors, 1 specialist and finally the hospital informed me I was having serious Asthma related problems with my throat. Take note that I mentioned it was the spring. Yellow dust is most prevalent in Seoul, in the North-West parts of South Korea and in the spring. By the time the heavy summer rain falls come the air is clean.

Yellow dust is a serious thing that if you don't have it checked out, it will affect everything you do. Speaking is very difficult when you have serious throat problems. Exercising is also difficult. Get yourself checked out so you avoid these problems right from the start.

Whether you're allergic or not, you should wear a mask when it comes anyway. Where do you get a mask? You can buy a mask at any pharmacy. However you need to buy one that blocks yellow dust, which you will need to ask for. Most Pharmacies recognize the words "yellow dust" but you should know how to say it in Korean. The pronunciation is "Hwang-Sa". You might also want to know how to say 'mask'; "Ma-Seu-Keu". It is very common to see someone wearing a mask in the spring, and sometimes during the summer to say healthy during yellow dust storms.

Restylane is naturally found in the skin. It is a clear gel-like substance known as hyaluronic acid. The treatment that involves it's products are performed through micro-injections. This gel-like substance is injected into the skin in very small amounts with the use of very fine needles. After injections, the skin will have volume and fullness will be restored.

Results of Restylane injections are immediate and provide natural looking benefits that are safe and gentle to the skin. It belongs to the criteria of cosmetic fillers. The market today is full of cosmetic products that fill to correct and enhance. This product is popularly used to fill and correct the signs of aging. Facial creases and lines such as furrows, wrinkles on the forehead, laugh lines, chin dimpling and crow's feet, start to appear as we grow old. It's a process of nature which is unavoidable but can be kept at bay for extended period of time.

In contrast to Restylane, Botox which is a botulinum toxin is considered a drug that usually works by preventing the nerve impulses of the body to reach the underlying muscles. With Botox, muscles are caused to relax. In simpler terms, it temporarily paralyzes the underlying muscles of the skin resulting to the reduction and elimination of wrinkles and other facial lines.

Botox has been used to correct and enhance for so many years now and many are pleased with the results delivered by this particular product. It is considered safe, non-surgical and non-invasive treatment that gives desired results.

Like all created medications, there are also side effects with the use of Botox. The side effects range from mild, transient to moderate. With injections, some of the patients may experience discomfort, swelling and redness at the area where the injection took place. Muscle weakness is also one of the side effects.

Restylane is considered very safe. With its natural components it is a fully biocompatible product. Skin testing for allergy reaction is not required with it's treatments. The most common side effects are temporary swelling, bruising and redness where the injection of the substance took place. Side effects are all temporary; they are bound to gradually disappear in a matter of days.

The achieved results of Restylane treatments can last up to six months or more. There are evidences showing that lasting effects are enhanced and extended when the area is maintained with occasional touch-ups. Multiple sessions are scheduled with intervals by your physician to maintain the desired effect.

55% of Americans tested, test positive to one or more allergens; allergies rank 5th in the United States among the most common chronic diseases. More and more Americans are finding lasting relief from their allergy symptoms with the use of immunotherapy.

Allergies are caused by the body's immune system misclassifying harmless substances as potentially dangerous. When the body comes in contact with the allergen either by ingesting, inhaling or touching the skin, an allergic reaction occurs producing any number of symptoms such as runny nose, watery eyes, sneezing, wheezing and skin irritations. Allergic reactions can range from barely noticeable to life threatening.

Pollens are the most common cause for allergy symptoms followed by Animal dander. Dust mites and insect bites are the next most common and mold rounds out the top 5 most common allergy triggers in the United States.

Determining a patient's allergies is not difficult; skin tests are the most common method of testing for allergies. Skin tests involve putting very small amounts of allergens on the skin; the body will respond to the allergens the individual is allergic to. With the results of the skin test, the allergist/immunologist can discuss treatment options available for the patient.

People with mild allergies may find that over the counter allergy medications are enough to deal with the symptoms. Individuals with more annoying cases may want to try prescription allergy medication or seek a more potentially permanent solution with immunotherapy (allergy shots)

Allergy shots work in a similar fashion as other immunizations; small amounts of the allergen are introduced to the body, the body over time gets used to the allergen and stops reacting to it. Allergy shots are administered over the course of a few months (in some cases years), but it's the only treatment currently available that has the potential to provide long term relief from allergies.

Risks involved in Allergy Immunotherapy are very rare but could include anaphylaxis which could be life threatening if not handled properly. Allergy shots should only be given at a facility equipped with the necessary staff and equipment to handle such a risk, should it arise.

A typical allergy shot regimen involves shots once or twice a week at first until the target dosage is reached which can take 3 - 6 months. Once the target dose is reached, the maintenance phase begins; shots are then administered once or twice a month. The maintenance phase generally lasts 3 - 5 years at which time some patients experience lasting remission while others may begin showing symptoms once treatment is discontinued.

Is allergy immunotherapy a good option? Several things to consider when deciding:

• The frequency and severity of the symptoms


• The effectiveness of medication


• The ability to avoid the allergens


• The desire to prevent long term use of medication


• The time commitment involved with immunotherapy


• Cost effectiveness

For someone dealing with allergy symptoms, the best place to start is with an allergy test. Once the allergen is identified, the person may find the allergen is avoidable; others may want to consider one of the other aforementioned options available.

If you or someone you love has been exposed to mold, there are many symptoms that will present themselves. While obvious, they often go unchecked because they're very similar to the ones of health problems that aren't as serious like the cold or flu. Naturally any recurring health problem is usually a sign of a more serious problem, in this case it could mean that you have a mold infestation in your home.

The first defense you have in the fight against mold is to familiarize yourself with the symptoms. This is the biggest tool you have to protect yourself against the dangers of exposure to mold.

Prevention of mold exposure can be done through home testing by a professional. This can be a costly procedure, but it is an investment well worth the money. Mold can, in rare cases, cause death so it's very important to prevent recurring mold exposure since the problems tend to get more severe with each outbreak.

Physical Symptoms

There are numerous physical signs of an exposure to mold. Some them can be extremely mild like a mild allergy outbreak. Other signs can be more severe and include seizures and upper respiratory infections. The more toxic the mold, the more severe symptoms you'll experience. The same holds true if you're repeatedly exposed to mold for longer periods of time.

After mold exposure you may experience brittle nails and hair loss. Cold-like feelings like a stuffy nose, runny nose and sore throat are also common. You may experience frequent nosebleeds. On the more alarming end of continuing mold contact, you may get cancer, experience anaphylaxis (trouble breathing), have reproductive organ complications or loose large amounts of weight. If the more serious symptoms of mold exposure get worse, there is also the risk of death. This is rare, but not impossible.

Psychological Symptoms

Signs of mold contact can also affect your psychological health. You might loose your memory abilities. There's the possibility of an increased risk of anxiety and depression. Fatigue can be a problem, as can insomnia. These are often misdiagnosed and improperly treated. Medications used to treat these without dealing the cause will produce little or no results. Left untreated, there's the potential that they become more serious physical problems that could lead to death.

Treatment Of Symptoms

Symptoms of mold exposure have, in the past, been diagnosed as other health problems because they appear to be another non-mold related problem. Misdiagnosis will most of the time result in more serious health problems. You may be affected with mold fungi if you've been treated for any of the above treatments, but haven't received any relief.

If you're finding that you're constantly sick, or a family member who lives with you is regularly sick, you may have a mold problem, especially if the medical treatments don't seem to be working. It may be a good idea to get your home inspected by a professional mold inspector.

Mold doesn't need to be toxic to inflict you and your family with the symptoms. For your own piece of mind, it's always a good idea to have your home regularly inspected for mold. Doing so could prevent serious problems of mold exposure later on.

What exactly is Eczema? Simply put, eczema refers to several different conditions that cause skin to become irritated, scaly and rough and itchy. There are several types of eczema, but the most common is atopic eczema, closely associated with allergies.

The most common symptoms of eczema are scaly, dry, itchy patches of skin. Depending on the sufferer's normal skin color, the affected area may appear red, brown, or lighter or darker than usual. The skin affected by eczema usually seems thicker than unaffected skin, and any area can be affected. Upon visual examination, a doctor can often diagnose eczema. Since the condition is often associated with allergies, many doctors will review family history and usually request that the patient be undergo allergy testing. Blood tests and scraping tests are also used to diagnose eczema.

The most common types of eczema are caused by the body's overreaction to some irritant. A reaction similar to an allergic reaction occurs, and the body's immune system responds by fighting the irritant. Eczema occurs when the immune system overreacts, producing irritated, itchy skin. Eczema also reduces the skin's ability to maintain moisture.

The itching carries a risk of infection, so antihistamines are often prescribed to control the itching and prevent infection. Topical lotions and creams are recommended to keep the skin moist, and hydrocortisone creams are used to reduce the inflammation. Other treatments for more severe cases of eczema include tar treatments, oral steroids and light treatments. Although new prescription drugs have been developed to treat eczema, they have been linked with an increased risk of cancer, and doctors have been warned to prescribe cautiously.

Although it may appear so, eczema is not contagious. The disease has no known cure, but can be managed effectively with prescription medications and topical lotions and creams.

Probably the most exciting development to have evolved in recent years, is an electronic procedure for detecting all allergy conditions. It is of particular use in revealing masked allergies and is safe, fast, simple and efficient. It is called Vega Therapy and uses electronic equipment, manufactured by the VEGA Grieshaber Corporation, of West Germany.

In the early part of this century, Dr Hamish Boyd, of Glasgow, noted that if a substance was brought into series in an electrical circuit, to which the patient was connected, a change in skin impedance was produced. Boyd's discovery was the subject of a government inquiry, but nothing further came of it. Then, in the 1950s, a German doctor, Reinholdt Voll, developed Boyd's idea and, with the help of electronic equipment, evolved a useful, but highly complex, technique to diagnose disease. More recently, Dr Helmut Schimmel, also of West Germany, simplified Dr Voll's technique and improved the cumbersome equipment to that of a small portable, electronic unit, known as the VEGA TEST.

Dr Julian Kenyon, of Britain, has developed a highly efficient technique for diagnosing allergies, using the VEGA TEST equipment. He describes his technique as follows:

The observed fact of changes in skin impedance, provides a useful technique in the field of food and chemical sensitivity. Therefore, the technique can be used for allergy testing. In practice, a point is taken on the fingers or toes, (these are sites where major electrical exchanges happen, between the body and its environment, this being largely due to the geometry of fingers and toes, in that they are relatively pointed and, therefore, charge accumulation occurs at the tips of the digits). A relevant acupuncture point is chosen, although it doesn't appear important to choose any specific point. One by one, the suspected allergens are introduced into the circuit, and each time a new measurement is made. Any substance which causes a drop in measured resistance, is labelled as allergic, or more correctly, in the field of clinical ecology, as 'sensitive', as far as the patient is concerned.

In clinical practice, the techniques give the right answer nine times out of ten, which represents a better success rate, than the most successful method for diagnosis of food and chemical sensitivities, available so far, that of Cytotoxic testing. Immunological tests such as the RAST test, (IgE test) for diagnosis of food and chemical sensitivity; are notoriously inaccurate. Those doctors who adhere to these tests in a stubborn fashion, do not appear to be aware, that the results from such tests are often irrelevant, to the patient. The inaccuracy of skin testing, particularly for foods, has been amply demonstrated, by many studies carried out in America, as early as the 1950s.

The existence of electrical changes around biological structures,and their importance both in health and disease, is slowly becoming recognized, but in order for this important study to develop further, closer co-operation between physicists, electronic engineers and medical scientists will have to come about.

The important work done in this field is described by Dr Ion Dumitrescu, of Rumania, in his book, Electrographic Imaging in Medicine and Biology. To date, Dr Kenyon has trained several hundred doctors, in the United Kingdom, in the use of the VEGATEST for allergy diagnosis.. He has also lectured throughout Europe, America and Asia, to several thousand more doctors who are genuinely interested in helping patients overcome multiple allergy illness.

A great advantage of the VEGA TEST method is that it can detect any allergic substance, whether it be food, chemical, airborne, environmental or whatever. Not only that, but it can also measure the degree of sensitivity - something which no other allergy test can do.

Diagnosis is the key to allergy illness. Once the food/chemical substances have been detected, avoidance will usually enable the patient to recover quickly. It is absolutely impossible to comprehend, when you are staggering through life under the deadly weight of allergy illness, just how wonderful and alert it is possible to feel, within a few short days or weeks, of successful diagnosis and avoidance. Diagnosis is the key and, in Australia, for most people, it is a very elusive key indeed!

The good news for chemical allergy sufferers is that, once diagnosis is achieved, it is possible for clinical ecologists, such as Dr Kenyon, to switch off some allergies, by means of desensitizing drops or injections. However, this method is not very successful for treating food allergies. Avoidance is by far the best.

Some other practical food tests, which can be put to good use by suspected sufferers, are the pulse test, the kinesiology test and the urine test.

It is so frustrating to get allergic reaction from almost anything. If you don't subject yourself to allergy testing, you will never know which elements are causing you allergic reactions so you will never really know which ones to avoid and you will just be surprised that you are fine at the moment and then suddenly the sneezing and wheezing starts.

Allergy is something that can be prevented. For as long as you know which elements you are allergic to, you can do something to avoid getting any allergic reaction. Allergy can sound like normal for a lot of people but this can be a serious problem especially for kids. The allergic reactions can get pretty bad and kids may not be able to handle them. For infants, especially, a runny nose can lead to difficulty in breathing which can actually lead to death. Although the percentage of danger is low, still there is that "percentage".

Protecting Your Kids From Allergy

Allergy is quite a tricky thing to prevent especially if you don't know what causes it. This is how important allergy testing is. Through allergy testing, you will be able to identify the allergens. Allergens refer to the substances or elements that cause allergic reactions. There are different ways to test for allergy and the most common is allergy skin testing. The person's skin will be exposed to several potential allergens and will be observed for any unusual reaction. If there is a reaction, the person is allergic to that substance. A person can be tested for hundreds of allergens. You will be surprised at how the results would be. Sometimes you would know that you are actually allergic to something that you least expect you would be allergic to.

Allergy testing is safe for people of all ages. Kids can undergo allergy testing and they will not feel uncomfortable as the skin testing is a painless procedure. You can protect your kids from the dangers of allergy if you have an idea of what to let your kids avoid. If you don't know that your kids are allergic to pollen, you wouldn't tell them to avoid flowers, would you? This is how important to consider allergy testing for kids. As parents, you should spend more time making efforts to ensure the health of your kids and allergy testing is one good step. Don't let your kids live through the shadows of runny nose, red eyes, sneezing and other types of allergic reactions.

Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EE) is an inflammation of the esophagus as a result of the abnormal infiltration of eosinophils in an allergic reaction. Because many of the symptoms are the same as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) it is usually mistaken for reflux and misdiagnosed, sometimes for years. EE can be considered as food allergies and is usually classed as a blood disorder.

EE tends to occur more often in males, but is otherwise an equal opportunity disorder. With EE, you will see painful swallowing and digestion (if they can even get the food down), vomiting and abdominal pain making it very difficult to live with. Children with Eosinophilic Esophagitis will often experience weight loss that can lead to failure to thrive and hospitalization.

What are Eosinophils?

Eosinophils (pronounced: ee-oh-sin-oh-fillz) are actually a certain type of white blood cell, but just not as numerous as the regular white blood cells, and are a vital part of the immune response system. Eosinophils are designed to respond to parasites, or invaders that are too large to be absorbed by white blood cells. They attach themselves to the invader and penetrate the cell walls to kill and destroy the parasite.

When your body detects an invader (such as a parasite, or an allergic substance) that it decides is a harmful protein, it calls on the immune system which produces a substance called immunoglobulin E (IgE). These are the antibodies that are sent out to do battle with the intruder (which Eosinophils are a part) and when they contact the detected protein invader, they release reactive chemicals called histamines and leukotrienes and these chemicals are what produce the allergic symptoms such as shortness of breath, hives, swelling, rashes, itchy skin, nausea and diarrhea.

Eosinophils are not normally found in the esophagus, and the buildup and allergic responses are the result of the body deciding certain proteins (such as certain foods) are on the dangerous list when they shouldn't be. The eosinophils actually end up attacking the lining of the esophagus, causing damage which in the long term the inflammation could cause the esophagus to close up (stricture) and increase of fibrosis, which can interfere with swallowing.

Symptoms

Eosinophils congregating in the esophagus will cause problems all the way down the gastrointestinal pathway, which makes the normal function of eating and digestion difficult and painful. Here is a list of the symptoms:

• Difficulty swallowing


• Choking


• Nausea


• Vomiting


• Cramping


• Diarrhea


• Weight loss


• Abdominal pain


• Chest pain


• Failure to thrive


• Reflux not relieved by standard anti-reflux therapy

These conditions are usually present for many years prior to an EE diagnosis, so keep in mind that occasional reflux, stomach ache or even vomiting may be other common ailments that cause these same symptoms.

Diagnosis

An initial clinical diagnosis is usually made based on the history of symptoms and ruling out other possible causes. A number of tests are performed to try to determine the specific triggers or allergens causing the Eosinophilic reaction. These tests include:

• Elimination diet and food challenges


• Allergic skin prick testing


• RAST testing (radioallergosorbent test), a blood allergy test for specific IgE antibodies


• Patch testing where food substances are secured against the skin for a period of time


• Endoscopy and biopsy of the esophagus

The only way to confirm the clinical diagnosis is by counting the actual concentrations of eosinophils in the tissue samples taken by biopsy during the endoscopy procedure.

Treatment

Eosinophilic Esophagitis is usually treated first by avoiding the allergen causing the reaction. This is where all the allergy testing comes in to generate the "avoid at all costs" and "let's give it a try" food listing. Many EE kids are on an elemental diet taking an amino based formula as the major source of nutrients and possibly a few other foods that have tested successfully. Elimination diets and food trials are considered normal in the lives of kids (or adults) with Eosinophilic Esophagitis.

Some do quite well with an alteration in diet and removal of reactive foods, but for others, medication is needed. Antihistamines can help relieve the histamine produced allergic reactions, and reflux medication can help prevent acid damage to the esophagus. To help reduce inflammation that results from the eosinophil infiltration, corticosteroids are used. Recently EE patients have been treated with fluticasone without the spacer so that the drug is swallowed instead of inhaled.

If the esophagus becomes restricted, a procedure called dilation is used to open it back up so the patient can swallow food a little easier. Esophagial restriction is quite serious and could mean installing a G-tube to be able to get nutrition into the body.

What is the Impact of EE?

Having a diagnosed Eosinophilic disorder means that your life, and the life of your family will never be the same. It is a life altering diagnosis with implications that go beyond the pain and limited diet and extends into the social emotional arena in a society that is completely centered on food.

Helping those around you to understand what Eosinophilic Esophagitis is and how it affects you or your child opens the door to the support you need. Learn as much as you can, stay current on medical advances, work with your doctor and above all, keep a positive attitude. You can do this.

The most common allergy for cats is an allergy to fleas. It can be a difficult diagnosis for a pet owner as the constant grooming of cats removes evidence of fleas. For a feline allergic to the pest just a couple flea bites a week can cause a bad skin reaction that can lead to additional skin infections.

Some cats may have numerous fleas with little apparent scratching but that does not mean they can tolerate the fleas over a long term. Fleas are bloodsuckers and a high population on your cat can lead to anemia and other serious health problems.

For the unfortunate cat with an allergy to flea saliva, one or two fleas is too many to tolerate. The animal may scratch behind his ears until he has bald spots and the allergic dermatitis can affect his skin all over his body very quickly.

For a healthy flea, humidity is more important than temperature. In area of high humidity a flea can survive from three weeks to a year while temperatures in temperate climates do not cool sufficiently in winter months to kill fleas outdoors. Cats in humid areas of the country need monthly flea protection year round.

Symptoms of Fleas on Your Cat

* Chewing the base of the tail
* Chewing the back legs and perhaps front legs
* Lesions caused by licking and chewing the bumps left by flea bites
* Hot spots above the base of the tail or on the face

Diagnosis and Treatment

An examination for fleas is often the first step to take in diagnosing itchy or irritated skin on your cat. Fleas are the most common cause of itching rashes and perhaps on of the easiest to eliminate.

A diagnosis of flea allergy dermatitis may be accompanied by a secondary diagnosis of bacterial skin infection for which your vet may prescribe antibiotics. Fungal infections may also be present as a result of the scratching that leaves the feline skin open to further infection.

The primary treatment is to prevent any fleas from biting your cat. This involves using flea control on the animal but also aggressively eliminating fleas in the cat's environment.

In extreme cases of flea allergy dermatitis in cats it may be necessary for the animal to take a course of steroids such as prednisone to break the cycle of itching and provide fast relief from the discomfort.

Preventive Measures

Using flea control medications on your cat monthly should be a standard part of the health care of your pet. In cold climates, flea prevention topical products should be started a month before flea season begins and continued for one month after cold weather resumes in the fall.

In coastal and humid areas, fleas are a problem twelve months of the year and flea control must be a monthly routine of flea prevention all year long. Grooming your cat with a fine toothed flea comb will remove dead fleas and flea dirt.

For the cats living area, bedding should be washed frequently in hot water and a safe flea killing spray used on carpets and furniture on occasion. Frequent vacuuming of carpets will remove flea eggs and larvae from the environment. Lawn sprays may also be indicated if your pets spend time out of doors during summer months.

Your veterinarian may recommend diagnostic tests to determine whether flea allergy dermatitis is the cause of your cat's skin problems. Most vets, however, will advise you on eliminating the flea problem and reserve testing and skin scrapings for those pets that continue to have skin lesions in the absence of fleas.

Most topical flea treatments for cats are available at discount pet medication sites online without prescriptions. By ordering products from a reliable source cat owners can avoid receiving outdated meds or ineffective copies of popular flea treatments.

Whether you choose Advantage or Front Line Plus to keep your feline flea free or ask your vet for a prescription for the wider protection of Revolution for Cats, shopping for discount pet medications online will keep your cat free of flea allergy dermatitis at the lowest cost.

People who suffer from allergies should consider the different options that they have available. There are many different treatments that are available for people with allergies. Before getting any treatment, it is important to know what you are actually allergic to. Allergy testing is used to help find the specific allergen that is causing your allergen symptoms. There are many different allergy tests that are available from doctors and holistic practitioners.

The purpose of these allergen tests is to identify the presence of either IgE or IgG antibodies. The most common methods that are used to take allergen tests are blood samples, skin pricks, or patch tests. The test that you use will probably depend on the kind of skin that you have. The skin prick test is the most recommended way to initial see if you suffer from allergies. This method is a cheap and fast way to deliver quick results on for your allergies.

Blood tests are also very popular for different allergies. If you are looking to get a blood test it is usually carried out in a medical clinic. The will insert a small needle and extract a small amount of blood from a vein in your arm. This test is very valuable in providing good feedback for inhaled or consumed allergens.

Although these are not the only forms of allergy testing that is used, they are probably the most common tests that are taken. If you are suffering from different allergies, it is important that you find out what you are allergic to. Proper testing can ensure that you get the relieve that you need.