Allergies

Assess Your Symptoms

Allergies are a hyperactive response by the immune system to something it perceives as a threat. Normally harmless, these irritants can trigger an array of responses, including runny nose, watery eyes, itchy skin, and so on. 

While millions of people suffer from seasonal allergies due to pollen levels, others are affected by the foods they eat, whether that be proteins in refined bread, peanuts, or soy. 

While the solution for most allergies is simply avoiding the troublesome irritants, it is seldom that simple. Read the following articles to determine if the symptoms you feel are being caused by an allergic reaction and what you can do to protect yourself. 

Itching

Itchy skin, also known as pruritus, is an irritating sensation that makes you want to scratch to relieve the feeling. The possible causes for itchiness range from internal illnesses, such as kidney or liver disease, to skin rashes, allergies, and dermatitis.

It is important to see a doctor for itchiness if the cause is not obvious. A doctor can find the underlying cause and provide treatments for relief. Several home remedies such as over-the-counter creams and moisturizers work well for itching. 

Causes of Itching

Itchiness can be generalized (all over the body) or localized to one spot. The possible causes are numerous and varied. It may be a result of something very serious, such as kidney failure or diabetes, or can come from something less severe, such as dry skin or insect bites.

Skin Conditions

Many skin conditions that are common can cause itchy skin. The following can affect any area of skin on the body:

• dermatitis: inflammation of the skin
• eczema: a chronic skin disorder that includes itchy, scaly rashes
• psoriasis: an autoimmune disease that causes skin redness and irritation
• dermatographism: a raised, red, itchy rash caused by pressure on the skin

Infections that cause itching include:

• chicken pox
• measles
• lice
• pinworm
• scabies

Irritants

Substances that irritate the skin and make it itchy are common. Plants such as poison ivy and oak and insects such as mosquitoes produce substances that cause itching. Some people get itchy when in contact with wool, perfumes, certain soaps or dyes, and chemicals. Allergies, including food allergies, can irritate the skin as well.

Internal Disorders

Some internal diseases that may be very serious cause itching. The following diseases cause generalized itching, but the skin appears normal:

• liver disease
• anemia
• leukemia
• thyroid disease
• lymphoma
• kidney failure

Nervous System Disorders

Other diseases can cause itching as well, especially those that affect the nerves. These include:

• diabetes
• multiple sclerosis
• shingles
• pinched nerves

Medications

The following common medicines often cause rashes and widespread itching:

• antifungals
• antibiotics
• narcotic painkillers

Pregnancy

Some women experience itching when pregnant. It usually crops up on the breasts, arms, abdomen, or thighs. Sometimes this is due to a preexisting condition, such as eczema, that is made worse by the pregnancy.

Home Care for Itching

At home, there are several things you can do to prevent and relieve itchy skin, including:

• using a good moisturizer to keep your skin hydrated
• avoiding scratching, which can worsen the itch
• staying away from soaps, detergents, and other substances that contain perfumes and dyes
• taking a cool bath with oatmeal or baking soda
• trying over-the-counter anti-itch creams
• taking an oral antihistamine

Cough

A cough is a common reflex action that aims to clear the throat of mucus or foreign irritants. Coughing to clear the throat is typically an infrequent action, although there are a number of other conditions that can cause more frequent bouts of coughing.

In general, a cough that lasts for less than three weeks is known as an acute cough.

A cough that lasts between three weeks and eight weeks, improving by the end of the period, is known as a sabacute cough.

A persistent cough that lasts for over eight weeks is known as a chronic cough.

Most coughs will clear up, or at least significantly improve, within two weeks. If you cough up blood or have a “barking” cough, consult with a doctor. Any cough that has not improved after a few weeks may be serious and you should see a doctor.

What Causes a Cough?

A cough can be caused by a number of conditions, both temporary and permanent.

Clearing the Throat

A cough is the standard way of clearing the throat. When the airways become clogged with mucus or foreign particles such as smoke or dust, a cough is a reflex reaction that attempts to clear the particles and make breathing easier.

Usually, this type of coughing is relatively infrequent, but coughing will increase with exposure to irritants such as smoke.

Viruses and Bacteria

The most common cause of a cough is a respiratory tract infection, such as a cold or flu. This is usually caused by a virus and may only last for a few days or a week. Caused by the flu may take some extra time to clear up.

Smoking

Smoking is the second most common cause of coughing. A cough caused by smoking is almost always a chronic cough, with a distinctive sound. It is often known as “smoker’s lung” or a “smoker’s cough.”

Asthma

The most common cause of coughing in young children is asthma. Typically, asthmatic coughing involves wheezing, making it easily identifiable. Mild cases of asthma may just be observed, but more severe cases will require treatment using an inhaler. It is possible for children to grow out of asthma as they get older.

Other Conditions

Other conditions that may cause a cough include; damage to the vocal cords; post-nasal drip, bacterial infections such as pneumonia, whooping cough and croup; and serious conditions such as pulmonary embolisms and heart failure. Another common condition that can cause chronic cough is gastro-esophageal reflux (GERD). In this condition stomach contents flow back into the esophagus. This backflow stimulates a reflex that involves the large tube leading to the lungs as well as the esophagus, causing the person to cough. (CHEST) Some coughs are diagnosed as being psychological.

Medicines

It is possible that some medications will cause coughing, although this is generally a rare side effect. ACE inhibitors, which are commonly used to treat high blood pressure and heart conditions, can cause coughing which stops when the medication is discontinued.

How Is a Cough Treated?

Coughs can be treated in a variety of ways, depending on the cause of the cough. For most healthy adults, most treatments will involve self-care.

Self-Treatment

A cough that is the result of a virus cannot be treated with antibiotics. You can, however, soothe it in the following ways;

• keep hydrated by drinking plenty of water
• elevate your head with extra pillows when sleeping
• use cough drops to soothe the throat
• gargle hot saltwater regularly to remove mucus and soothe the throat
• avoid irritations, including smoke and dust
• add honey or ginger to hot tea to relieve the cough and clear the airway
• use decongestant sprays to unblock the nose and ease breathing

Medical Care

Typically, medical care will involve your doctor looking down your throat, listening to the cough, and asking about any other symptoms.

If the cough is likely to be due to bacteria, oral antibiotics will be prescribed. You will usually need to take the medication for a week to fully cure the cough.

If no cause can be found for the cough, your doctor may order additional tests. This could include a chest X-ray to assess whether the lungs are clear, along with blood and skin tests if an allergic response is suspected. In some cases, phlegm or mucus may be collected to be analyzed for signs of bacteria or tuberculosis.

It is very rare for a cough to be the only symptom of heart problems, but a doctor may request an ECG or echocardiography to ensure that the heart is functioning correctly and is not causing the cough.

Difficult cases may require additional testing. A CT examination offers a more in-depth view of the airways and chest, and it can be useful when determining the cause of the cough. If the CT scan does not show the cause, you may be referred to a G.I. specialist (gastrointestinal) or a pulmonary (lung) specialist to have esophageal pH monitoring looking for evidence of gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) or other testing performed.

Cough suppressants are typically not used except in cases where treatment is either not possible or extremely unlikely to be successful.

Nasal Congestion

Nasal congestion is another term for a stuffy nose. It is often a symptom of another health problem, such as a sinus infection, but it may also be caused by the common cold. Nasal congestion is marked by:

• a stuffy or runny nose
• sinus pain
• mucus buildup
• swollen nasal tissues

Home remedies may be enough to alleviate nasal congestion, particularly if it is brought on by the common cold. However, if you experience chronic (long-term) congestion, you should seek medical treatment.

Causes of Nasal Congestion

Minor illnesses are the most common cause of nasal congestion. For instance, a cold, the flu, and sinus infections can all cause stuffy noses. When your nose becomes stuffed up and inflamed, this is congestion. According to the National Institutes of Health, illness-related congestion usually improves on its own within one week. (NIH, 2011)

Congestion that lasts for longer than one week is often indicative of an underlying health issue. Some explanations for long-term nasal congestion may be:

• allergies
• hay fever
• nasal polyps (noncancerous growths on the nasal passages or sinuses caused by inflammation of those areas)
• chemical exposures
• environmental irritants
• chronic sinusitis (a long-lasting sinus infection)
• tumors (usually benign, or noncancerous, masses that can cause congestion if they grow in the nasal passages)
• a deviated septum (the structure that separates the two sides of the nose is not located in the middle of the nose)

Nasal congestion may also occur during pregnancy, beginning most often during the end of the first trimester. This nasal congestion may be caused by the hormonal fluctuations and increased blood supply that occur during pregnancy. These changes may affect the nasal membranes, causing them to become inflamed, dry, or to bleed.

Medical Treatment for Nasal Congestion

Sometimes, home remedies are not enough to relieve congestion, particularly if your symptoms are caused by another health condition. In this case, prompt medical treatment may be needed, especially if your condition is painful and interfering with your everyday activities.

If you have or have had any of the following, see your doctor right away:

• congestion that has lasted longer than 10 days
• congestion that is accompanied by a high fever that has lasted more than three days
• green nasal discharge along with sinus pain and fever (You may have a bacterial infection.)
• a weakened immune system, asthma, or emphysema
• a recent head injury, and you are now having bloody nasal discharge or a constant flow of clear discharge

Once your doctor has determined the cause of chronic nasal congestion, he or she can then recommend a treatment plan. Treatment plans often include over-the-counter or prescription medication to resolve or alleviate symptoms.

Medications used to treat nasal congestion include:

• oral antihistamines to treat allergies, such as loratadine (Claritin) and cetirizine (Zyrtec)
• antihistamine-containing nasal sprays, such as azelastine (Astelin, Astepro)
• nasal steroids, such as mometasone (Asmanex Twisthaler) or fluticasone (Flovent Diskus, Flovent HFA)
• antibiotics (for infections, such as sinusitis)
• over-the-counter or prescription strength decongestants, such as Sudafed

If you have tumors or nasal polyps in your nasal passages or sinuses that are keeping mucus from draining out, your doctor may recommend surgery to remove the tumors and improve your symptoms.