General Tips Allergy

• Has one exposed themselves to anything one may be allergic to?

For example:

• One can do an allergy test at pharmacies to see what one allergic is to.
• One can buy allergy test kits to find out what one is allergic to.
• Use hypoallergenic products; avoid scented skin products, washes and bubble baths.
• Use non biological washing powders.
• Try to avoid allergens i.e. If washing up liquids wear gloves, throw all rotten foods away.
• To not to scratch, keep nails short, wear mittens/gloves.
• Wear non synthetic fabrics, cotton is best.
• If recommended an antihistamine medication, please not to drink alcohol as can make you drowsy.
• If suffer from anaphylactic shock, wear some form of information about condition.
• Wear wraparound sunglasses if eyes are affected
• Shower and wash hair before going to bed.
• Wash face regularly and avoid scratching your eyes.
• Wash/comb animals that have been in long grass, keep them out of your bedrooms.
• Don’t stroke pets or let pets get close to your face or try to keep them out of the house as long as possible.
• Don’t smoke and stop other people from smoking can irritate eyes nose and airways.
• A good healthy diet to help ones immune system.
• If runny nose or congestion affected, use petroleum jelly around nostrils, allergan will stick to petroleum jelly and protect nostrils.
• Use air filters at home for cleaner air.
• Air conditioned rooms can make ones allergy worse.
• Sinus (congestion, blocked , runny nose) tips
• Sore throat tips
• Dry cough tips
• Chesty cough tips
• Headache tips
• Hay fever tips (when pollen count is high)

Rash

• Moisturise skin regularly as allergies and dry skin conditions tends to occur at the same time.
• Use calamine lotion and dab on skin with cotton wool or other soothing creams. Calamine cream can be used (but check ingredients to make sure one is not sensitive to ingredients)
• Try using the juices from a dock plant or a jewelweed plant.
  • Both of these plants can usually be found in the same areas as stinging nettles (some say it helps with nettle rash).
• Eczema tips

Food

• Biphasic anaphylaxis
  • Please note: Biphasic anaphylaxis may occur in some patients with peanut allergies as well as other food allergies.
  • Biphasic reactions have been reported to occur in 1%-20% of all anaphylaxis episodes and usually occur approximately 8 hours after the first reaction; however, recurrences have been reported as long as 72 hours later.
  • Treating Medical Doctors should consider this possibility before discharge

• If you know you are allergic to anything check food information labels.
• Do not rely on menu descriptions alone e.g. sauces can contain allergens.
• Try to identify the food allergan and avoid.
• One can do an allergy test at some pharmacies to see what is one allergic to.
• One can buy allergy test kits to find out what one is allergic to.
• Ask children to avoid peanuts till 3 years old

• A properly managed, well-balanced elimination diet (eg, allergen restriction) can lead to resolution of symptoms and help to avoid nutritional deficiencies.
• Educate the patient and family about how to properly read food labels and identify common words that indicate the presence of the food allergen of concern.
• With elimination diets, exclude only those foods confirmed to provoke allergic reactions.
• Review obvious and hidden sources of food allergens.
• Be aware of the potential for exposures by routes other than ingestion, such as skin contact or inhalation.
• Anticipate potential candidates for food allergen cross-reactivity, such as the following:
  • Cow’s milk and goat milk: > 90% of individuals allergic to cow’s milk also react to goat’s/sheep’s milk
  • Tree nuts and other nuts: > 50% of individuals with an allergy to a tree nut also react to others
  • Fish: > 50% of individuals allergic to any finned fish are reactive to all types
  • Wheat and other grains: 25% of individuals with a wheat allergy react to rye and barley
  • Cow’s milk and beef: 10% of individuals with milk allergy react to beef
  • Peanuts and other legumes: < 10% of individuals with a peanut allergy react to other legumes
  • Soy and other legumes: < 5% of individuals with a soy allergy react to other legumes
  • Eggs and chicken: < 5% of individuals have both allergies
• Don’t smoke and stop other people from smoking can irritate eyes nose and airways.
• Eat a good healthy diet
• If have diarrhoea with food note:
  • If premature and is less than 6 months old and have diarrhoea. Please see your doctor.
  • If less than three months old and have diarrhoea. Please see your doctor.
  • If 3-12 months old and diarrhoea longer than 24 hours. Please see your doctor.
  • If 1-7 years old and diarrhoea longer than 48 hours. Please see your doctor.
  • If 8-59 year sold and diarrhoea longer than 72 hours. Please see your doctor.
  • If 60 years and older one should talk to a pharmacist/doctor to check if not dehydrated.
  • Diarrhoea advice

Dust Mites

• Replace carpets with wood or hard vinyl floors.
• Fit roller blinds instead of curtains that is easy to wipe and clean.
• Remove cushions, soft toys (teddy), other upholstered furniture or anything that retains dust and is not easy to clean.
• Try mite proof covers on mattress and pillows
• Use synthetic pillows and acrylic duvets instead of woollen blankets or feather bedding
• Use a vacuum cleaner fitted with a high efficiency particle (HEPA) air filter.
• Wash anything at hot temperatures.
• Always use a damp clean cloth.
• If visiting a friend take an antihistamine (if appropriate) one hour before you go and ask them not to vacuum because it leaves dust in air.
• Shower and wash hair before going to bed.
• Wash face regularly and avoid scratching your eyes.
• Remove or shake outer clothing.

Pets

• Keep pets outside or limit to one room (preferably without a carpet).
• Do not allow pets into the bedrooms.
• Wash all bedding if a pet has laid on it.
• Wash pets and groom outside at least once a week.
• Castrate cats or dogs, it decreases the production of some allergans by male cats and dogs.
• If friends have pets take an anti-histamine (if appropriate) one hour before visiting.
• If recommended an antihistamine medication, please not to drink alcohol as can make you drowsy.
• Ask friends/family them not to vacuum their house since leave allergens in the air when one is visiting their property.
• If symptoms very severe find pet a good home.
• Shower and wash hair before going to bed.
• Wash face regularly and avoid scratching your eyes.
• Remove or shake outer clothing after being with animals.
• Don’t stroke pets or let pets get close to your face or try to keep them out of the house as long as possible.

Mould Spores (ventilated areas)

• Keep one’s home dry.
• Do not dry clothes or store damp clothes indoors.
• Dehumidifier may help.
• Wash and scour sinks and tubs regularly at last once a month.
• Wash face regularly and avoid scratching your eyes.
• Remove or shake outer clothing before going indoors.

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Natural treatments and tips (DR Axe)

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How to use:

Nasal drops

• To lie on their back with the head just off the bed and tilted so the chin is highest point of the head.
• Patients should breathe normally through the mouth while instilling the prescribed number of drops into each nostril (see Image 2). Administration of drops while sitting or standing with the head tilted backwards causes more solution to pass down the back of the throat;
• To hold this position for two minutes after drop instillation. This enables the steroid to reach the region where polyps arise and reduce inflammation where the sinuses open into the nasal cavity;
• If multi-dose, manufacturers recommend that the dropper should be cleaned by wiping the nozzle with a clean tissue before replacing the cap.
• It is important to understand that nasal sprays and drops are not always effective at reaching the sinuses, even post-surgery, and this has lead some rhinologists to advise combining nasal drops with saline irrigation.
• It is the larger volume that improves penetration to the sinuses.