Natural allergy remedies are a much preferred choice for people who are suffering with allergies to fight against their allergy symptoms. Allergy medication used to be the only solution to alleviate their allergic conditions, but people starting to look for the alternative for reasons as below.The artificial or chemical allergy remedies are often not very effective in treating allergy symptoms, and it usually requires you to take more than two or three type of medicines in order to totally relief from your allergies. This happens as each medication is good at treating just one kind of symptoms such as sneezing or itching. If you are suffering with nasal congestion as well, then it often requires you to take another kind of medication concurrently. Most of the artificial allergy remedies can cause certain kind of unwanted side effect such as drowsiness and nasal irritation. It is advisable that you do not driving or operating heavy machinery after taken your medication.

It is a natural response of your body to release histamine when triggered by pet dander, pollen, mold or other allergen trigger that enters your nasal passage in order to protect your body from the attack of foreign substances. The natural responses of sneezing, watery eyes and itching are all the means for your body to try to expel the allergen inside your body. Allergy medications are designed to treat the above natural responses or histamine released by your body when triggered by allergen.

On the other hand, natural allergy remedies are good at preventing allergic reaction from occurring and to improve your body immunity as a whole. Neti pot, quercetin, stinging nettle and fruits are some categories of natural allergy remedy which are becoming popular in recent years.

Neti pot is a small container that contains saltwater. Saltwater is often used to clean the nasal passages naturally and is effective in rinsing away the pollen grains which can trigger allergic reactions.

Quercetin, which can be found in many different types of food such as apples, tomatoes, citrus fruits and onions, plays a very important role in stabilizing mast cells and prevent them from releasing histamine.

Stinging nettle is a common type of weed that can be used as antihistamines to treat allergies. It works as a natural allergy remedy by stopping the production of histamine in your body which is the main cause of allergic reactions.

Recent studies show that by consuming more Omega-3 fatty acids in your daily meal will greatly reduce the possibility of suffering from allergy symptoms as Omega-3 acids help to fight inflammation. The example of great sources of Omega-3 fatty acids includes cold-water fish, eggs, walnuts and flaxseed oil.

Foods such as chili peppers, horseradish and hot mustard and most type of fruits are also consider another group of natural allergy remedy that act like natural decongestants that will keep the airways clear of allergens especially during the period when the pollen counts are high.

There are far more natural allergy remedies that have been proven at preventing allergic reactions and even allergy symptom alleviation. There is no reason for you resort to over-the counter allergy medications or prescribed antihistamines as you have so many alternative allergy remedies.

Many of us are allergic to cats or have family members who are allergic. Some of us are unlucky enough that we also have asthma but we still want to live with our cats or visit people with cats.Many people automatically assume they are having a cat allergy when the allergic reaction is being caused by something else. It’s very important to visit an allergist and have a scratch test done to determine exactly what your specific allergens are.

If someone tests positive for cat allergies, there are things that can be done which will help alleviate the symptoms without getting rid of the cat. Here are a few things that can help:

feed a high quality food to minimize dander and shedding

wipe the cat down with a damp cloth every few days

optimally remove carpeting from the home. If this is not an option then frequent vacuuming with a HEPA vac will help.

invest in a HEPA air filter

restrict cats from sleeping areas

take allergy medications as directed by your allergist

try desensitization therapyI hope these tips help you or someone you know who suffers from cat allergies.To discuss this subject, please visit Siamese and Bengal Cats.

Tamara
Siamese & Bengal Cats

Cat allergies can be extremely extremely nerve racking to a cat lover. Sneezing, watery eyes, runny nose, sinus pain, skin rash, and other symptoms can be very mild and annoying or extreme and life threatening. In actuality, if the symptoms are extreme and the cause is researched and it is found to be cats, locating the cat a new home could turn out to be the only solution. However if the symptoms are moderate, there is hope. There are methods to at least minimize the pain of cat allergies and live with a cat, and immunotherapy offers desensitization from an allergen. Symptoms of allergies can take on a number of forms. There are many common nose symptoms including itching, sneezing and congestion. Eye symptoms can include redness, itching, swelling and watering. Throat symptoms include post-nasal drip, itching or hoarseness and the need to clear the throat often. Skin symptoms can involve an itchy rash or hives. Ear symptoms can include itching, plugging or popping in the ear. More serious symptoms involve the lungs. Symptoms with the lungs can include hacking, wheezing, tightness in the chest, bouts with bronchitis and a shortness of breath.

Cat allergen, the allergy causing stuff from cats, is not cat hair, but rather a protein present in the cat dander and saliva. These allergens become airborne as microscopic particles, which when inhaled into the nose or lungs can produce allergic symptoms.

The reason why folks can get a new pet and not develop any of these symptoms until much later is due to the amount of time needed to produce these antibodies. It can take from three weeks to three years for the body to build up sufficient amounts of the specific antibody so that an allergen can cross-link two identical antigens. This cross-linkage is the signal to mast cells to spill their contents, resulting in the typical allergy symptoms.

Immunotherapy is the usual and very effective method to get around a cat allergy. Immunotherapy gradually makes a person more and more resistant to the allergens. The goal of immunotherapy is to increase a person’s tolerance by at least ten times. This is one of the most effective remedies as it treats the root cause and doesn’t just hide the symptoms.

It is a moral crime and heartless for any indoor cat to be put out. In addition to the diseases and illnesses that can be caught out of doors, the indoor cat has no experience fending for itself outdoors and so is often unable to defend against cars, animals, and other hazards or to effectively search for food. Hence rescue groups have been formed to take care of cats if someone suffering from allergy has to turn it out of his house.

Anyone who suffers from allergies can undoubtedly tell you of the irritation and discomfort associated with its consequences. In order to minimize symptoms, allergy sufferers do well to identify their personal allergy triggers so that they can successfully avoid them. For cat lovers especially, a cat allergy can mean a host of problems when it comes to choosing - or keeping - a pet.A cat allergy generally stems from a person’s particular sensitivity to cat dander - the skin cells that shed through the cat’s fur. This sensitivity to cat dander can range from minimal - resulting in coughing, watery eyes, sneezing, and itching - to severe - resulting in everything from swelling to shortness of breath.

Clearly, those who have a cat allergy do best to not bring any cats into their home or to enter the homes of those who have cats in residence. But there are some who do not even discover that they have a cat allergy until they’ve brought their new pet into the home.

First and foremost, a severe cat allergy may require you to find an alternative living arrangement for your cat. Work with your doctor to ascertain the severity of your cat allergy. In the likely case of a minimal to moderate cat allergy, however, there are ways to combat the cat allergy so that you and your furry friend can live together harmoniously.

When it comes to your home, be sure that you are providing adequate ventilation with the use of an effective quality air filter. Be sure to vacuum frequently to rid your house of as much dander as possible. Have your animal groomed at the veterinarian or another location outside the home so as not to expose yourself to cat hair shed during the grooming process.

If you are aware of your cat allergy before you purchase a cat, look into the shorter-haired cats. These cats require minimal grooming and shed far less than their long-haired counterparts. In fact, you may find that you are less allergic to the shorter-haired breeds.

As a final and ongoing solution you may want to work with your doctor in terms of allergy shots or medications. This can save you a significant amount of aggravation and discomfort going forward - keeping you comfortable in your own home as well as the homes of other cat owners.

Ultimately, determining if your cat allergy is something that should hinder you from cat ownership is up to you and your doctor to decide. Most importantly, you should not put your health at risk. But if you are able to manage both your allergy care and the care for your pet, then you and your cat can happily co-exist.

Just like humans a common health problem in cats is allergy. It’s strange that we always worry about humans being allergic to cats, but so seldom hear about what cats are allergic to!In this way, cats aren’t that much different from humans. Some foreign substance, commonly referred to as an allergen or antigen, triggers a situation in which the cat’s immune system goes into hyper drive and produces symptoms of an allergic condition.

When a cat is allergic to something, common indications will be itchy skin, coughing and/or sneezing in the case of a respiratory problem, or vomiting or diarrhea in the case of a digestive allergy.

Allergies in cats seem to fall into these major categories. Allergies to fleas, foods, things inhaled, or something they have come in contact with.

Contact allergies generally result in a fairly localized reaction on the skin. The cat may scratch a lot and/or there may be an indication of irritation at the place of contact. Most common causes of contact allergies in cats would obviously be items with which they come in close contact such as flea collars, bedding, toys, etc. The simplest cure is to remove the contact. Take the collar off or change the bedding, for example. If the irritation persists, or if you still need effective flea control, consult with your veterinarian.

Some cats may also experience allergic reactions to certain plastics and/or metals. If you suspect this in your cat, you may wish to change to a ceramic or glass feeding bowl. Another problem which may mimic a contact allergy can occur if you simply do not rinse your cat carefully and completely after its bath. Residual shampoo or soap on the skin can cause dermatitis which can be mistaken for an allergic reaction.

Happily, contact allergies in cats are the least common type.

Flea allergies, on the other hand, are very common in cats. Any normal cat will commonly experience irritation from flea bites, but a cat with a genuine flea allergy will have a more severe itching reaction to the flea’s saliva. A normal cat may simply bite or scratch for a while and then go on to other things, but a cat with a flea allergy may scratch, chew, and worry at the spot until large amounts of fur are lost. This constant attempt to relieve the maddening itch or irritation may result in open sores which can add the risk of infection to the allergy’s list of evils. In most cats, the most common area to be affected is going to be on the back just before the tail. The cat may also create spots of sores or scabs on the neck and head. Inhalant types of allergies (atopy) are even more common cat allergies than flea and contact allergies! In fact, this type of allergy is probably the most common allergic problem in cats. It is possible that your cat may be allergic to the exact same allergens that you are! Tree pollens, grass pollens, and weed pollens along with the rest of the items we humans fear; mold, mildew, dust mites, and dust itself can all trigger allergic reactions in both cats and the humans they have trained to tend them.

A big difference between humans and cats, however is that while humans will most commonly react to inhaled allergens by sneezing or coughing, a cat will more commonly react by scratching an itch caused by those same allergens. Unlike a contact allergy, the cat’s reaction to inhaled allergens will be a general itching of the skin as opposed to a severe reaction at a specific spot. If your cat seems to be scratching a lot and it doesn’t appear to be local, as in reaction to a flea collar for example, there is a good chance that he or she is experiencing a reaction to some inhaled substance.

As in humans, true food allergies to cats can be extremely difficult to pinpoint. One reason is that they commonly demonstrate many of the symptoms of distress seen in the other groups. True food allergies in cats can cause itching and/or respiratory problems. Additionally, true food allergies can cause digestive difficulties as can other illnesses or toxic substances. In cats, food allergies are usually not present from birth, but are developed after long exposure to foods that have been eaten for long periods. Most food allergies will center around the type of protein common in the cat’s diet, such as beef, pork, poultry, or lamb. Simply eliminating that type of protein by changing to another type of food will usually take care of the problem.

There are two difficult points for the cat owner when they begin to detect signs that lead them to believe that their cat may have an allergy.

1. The cat may actually be reacting to an irritant, rather than an allergen, and

2. The symptoms may be the result of some other condition, possibly one more dangerous.

For example, a flea infestation may cause flea bites which will itch and the cat will scratch. This is normal. You would scratch too, and extensively, if fleas were munching on you! However, if your cat is allergic to the flea’s saliva, they will actually inflict damage on themselves in an attempt to relieve themselves of the intensified itch. However, the itch could be, as pointed out, the result of a food allergy, a contact allergy, or some undiagnosed medical condition such as a fungal infection (perhaps caused by ringworm, for example), mange, or some other type of skin infection which might have been caused by bacteria.

While a little astute detective work on the part of the pet owner may often alleviate the problem, only the veterinarian will usually be able to tell for sure what the cause and effect may actually be…and how to best deal with the situation. However, the vet does not live with your cat, so it is important to note carefully what the symptoms are, when they began, how they have progressed, what steps you have already taken, and what happened as a result of those steps. All of this information will help your vet in getting to the truth behind the apparent allergy in your cat. Your cat’s veterinarian will also have diagnostic tools at his or her disposal for getting at the cause of your pet’s apparently “allergic” reactions.