It's Allergy Season: Don't Let it Ruin Your Thanksgiving Plans

It's Allergy Season: Don't Let it Ruin Your Thanksgiving Plans
By Susan Dunn

Writing this from Dallas, Texas one of the ragweed hotspots of the nation, I'm particularly aware of allergies and the havoc they can cause. Here are some facts about allergies:

More than 50 million Americans suffer from allergies. Ragweed pollen is probably the largest single seasonal allergen in North America. It is estimated that one square mile of ragweed plants would release 16 tons of pollen in one season. Even skin contact with ragweed can cause dermatitis.

An allergy is a heightened sensitivity to a foreign substance (called an allergen) which causes the bodys defense system (the immune system) to overreact when defending itself. Normally, the immune system would only react if a harmful substance such as bacteria attacked the body. But for people with allergies, their own immune system is working too hard and it reacts even when relatively harmless substances such as pollen are present. The severity of an allergic reaction can vary from mild discomfort to life threatening situations. [Source: www.pollen.com

Because of this assault on the immune system, its crucially important to take supplements that nutritionally support the immune system. By the previous definition, you can see that an already assaulted immune system becomes further weakened with allergens. Our immune system is our health, our first line of defense for bacteria, for instance, and our ONLY line of defense for viruses. While we have antibiotics for bacteria, there is no know cure for a virus, as you know.

Its smart to prepare ahead of time by getting the necessary information. Sign up at http://www.pollen.com/Pollen.com.asp and be alerted in the morning of conditions likely to exceed the trigger point, the point where most allergy sufferers will start to experience symptoms.

If you have a website, you can be of service to others. Probably 25% of your website visitors suffer from allergies. At http://www.pollen.com/Pollen.com.asp, you can get the html to put a pollen alert box on your website either a zip code entry box or for any town in the U.S.

The most extreme allergic reaction is called anaphylactic shock. Immediately after contact the individual will suffer difficulty breathing, itchiness, welling of the lips and throat, and drop in blood pressure, and finally collapse. If you've ever suffered anaphylactic shock, you should carry injectable adrenaline from your doctor and keep some at home as well. Have the 911 number handy, and seek medical attention immediately.

Its also important to know that subsequent contact with a particular allergen can be much worse then the first time; for instance, if youre stung by a bee. Instead of building up resistance, you build up sensitivity. That's why people talk about their allergies coming on suddenly. Everythings fine, theyre 30 years old, and one night they have beer and shell fish and end up in the ER. Out of the blue, we say. It never happened before!

Likewise, normally innocent foodstuffs such as peanuts, which dont bother one person can actually kill someone else whos susceptible. One way to determine what you're allergic to is to see your personal physician and get an allergy test.

Allergic conditions include:

(1)Hay fever and allergic asthma. Pollen from grasses, ragweed and trees, mold and dust can all cause respiratory and nasal problems.

(2)Eczema. A special form of skin reaction. Cement dust isparticularly likely to cause this.

(3)Urticaria (itchy hives). Most of us get this from nettles. You can also get this from strawberries, seafood, cheese; it depends.

Once the allergy is established, you must remove the cause or avoid it. Here are some tips:

1.Wear hypoallergenic gloves.

2.Use a filter in the vacuum cleaner to remove dust mite droppings and an air filter on your A/C which you clean often. Also clean the ducts.

3.Remove heavy drapes and bedspreads from the bedroomand replace with blinds. Take up old carpeting and replace with tile or wood flooring. Do not use area rugs.

4.Keep your immune system built up with a product like Arbonnes DefenseBuilder or rebuild it with Get Well Soon Dietary

5.Use protective clothing when handling material such as cement.

6.Use a filter face mask when in dusty areas and when mowing the lawn in high pollen areas.

7.Check food labels for potentially allergenic ingredients such as peanut products, wheat, gluten and corn. Again, an allergy test from your personal physician can alert you to potential problems.

It is extremely important that you avoid irritants such as mineral oil, fragrances of any sort, and impure ingredients in your cosmetics, shaving cream, makeup, and skin lotions. What you put on your skin irritates there, and then is absorbed into your blood stream where it causes further problems. Choose well-researched, dermatologist-approved, fragrance and mineral-oil free, scientifically-proven nutritional supplements, cosmetics, lotions and shaving cream.

There is some evidence that allergen sensitivity builds from a too-early introduction to certain substances. Consider the generation born in the late 40s that is basically allergic to orange juice because of having been introduced to it in the hospital, virtually at birth since there was no other way to prevent scurvy at the time and it was considered good medicine. No pediatrician these days would recommend you give orange juice, egg white and other things to your child before the age of one year. Continue this prudent and safe care by using only safe baby products for skin and bath.

Living with allergies and allergens is a 24/7 prospect for all of us. You cant move away from them, and you cant get rid of them all, so eliminate the offenders that you can since the effect is cumulative, and stay informed.

Susan Dunn, MA, EQ coaching, http://www.susandunn.cc, mailto:sdunn@susandunn.cc. Individual coaching, business programs, EQ Alive! #1 rated program to increase your EQ simple, no memorizing, it works. Email for information, and free ezine.

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