There are different types of allergies, but all allergic reactions are a hypersensitivity of the immune system.
Some of the most common allergies are:
Pet allergies: These include dog allergies and cat allergies, and are often caused by an allergic reaction to the dander of animals.
Seasonal Allergies: Can happen in any season but most commonly in fall and spring, when pollen or mold counts rise in the air.
Food allergies: The most common are wheat and dairy. There are immediate food reactions which can be severe…common anaphylactic food allergies include peanuts and shellfish. Some food allergies are mediated through a different class of antibodies, and are called slow food allergies. You might eat wheat on Saturday and not get a headache until Wednesday. To learn more about food allergies, click the link at the bottom of this page for the longer article.
The common symptoms of seasonal or pet allergies are: runny nose, cough from drainage, red eyes, sinus pressure, headaches, hives, eczema, and in some cases asthma.
How do I know if it is a cold or allergies?
Often a person who has allergies will get a cold, or rhinovirus, and not know that they have a virus and are not suffering from an allergy attack. A cold is contagious, and allergies are not…typically a cold will come on slowly and aches, fever and a cough are common. With allergies, a fever and aches are rare, and a cough is usually from sinus congestion draining, rather than a reaction to a nasal virus. Allergy symptoms can appear immediately after exposure to an allergen, while symptoms of a cold can take a few days to appear after exposure to the virus. Itchy and watery eyes are common with allergies, but not so common with the common cold. A sore throat is more typical with a cold than with allergies.
Allergies and Acupuncture
Acupuncture is incredibly effective for allergies of all types: dog allergies, cat allergies, seasonal allergies and food allergies. Acupuncture reduces swelling and inflammation, stops a runny reduces, reduces watery and itchy eyes, and acupuncture also an stop a headache.
Chinese-herbal-medicine is also highly effective for reducing the symptoms of allergies, herbs can also help balance the immune system.
To learn more about allergies you can read this article.
© James Whittle, All rights reserved.
For your free consultation or to learn about treating allergies in Asheville, North Carolina, call 828-254-4405
