How to Survive the Top Five Food Allergies

Food allergies impact the daily lives of millions of Americans each day. From mild skin irritations to asthma-like attacks to deadly anaphylactic shock, food allergies are becoming more prevalent. With the top five allergens being present in many foods, those living with serious reactions need to be aware of how to check for these common allergens, as well as how to eat satisfying and healthy meals.

Before one can understand how to check food labels and inquire about ingredients, consumers need to understand the top five food allergies that affect so many children and adults. These include milk, peanuts, eggs, shellfish and tree nuts. Other common allergens include wheat and soy. Cow’s milk can cause indigestion, diarrhea, wheezing, rashes and vomiting. When a person allergic to peanuts consumes them or is in a room with peanuts present, he or she will have difficulty breathing and tightness around the throat. Shellfish, eggs and tree nuts will create similar symptoms if a person with the allergy ingests the food. Fortunately, there are easy ways to check for these foods along with delicious and healthy substitutions.

When browsing the local grocery store aisles for cans of soup, boxes of cereals and packages of pasta, it is very important to be vigilant and read the fine print. Eggs can be disguised on a label as dried egg solids, powdered eggs and albumin. Cow’s milk is present if whey, butter flavor, casein, lactalbumin and saccharum lactin are listed. Peanuts may be found in ingredients such as natural flavor, hydrolyzed vegetable protein and nougat. Shellfish include lobster, crab, shrimp, mollusks, clams and scallops. These foods are easy to spot in labels but may be hidden on food lists as fish stock and seafood flavoring. Tree nuts include macadamia nuts, Brazil nuts, almonds, pistachios and many others. They are found in baking mixes, candy bars, pesto sauces and even face washes.

For those suffering with food allergies, dining out and cooking and savoring a meal can be challenging and frustrating. However, today’s chefs are very mindful of their customer needs and will work diligently to make sure the meal is safe. Delicious substitutions for cow milk products include coconut, almond, hazelnut, rice or flax seed milks. Soy and nut cheeses can work well on sandwiches and pizza.

While eggs, tree nuts and shellfish are not easily substituted,a person can still eat well while avoiding these allergen-inducing foods. To know more about curing food allergy in Apex, check out this website. 

All Hail the Tissue

Are you fighting off the latest strain of the common cold while your co-workers avoid your presence? Remember to keep a pack of tissues in your pocket for those eye-popping sneezes and pain inducing coughing spells. 

The Common Cold or a Serious Sinus Infection?

The symptoms of the common cold can vary from a nagging cough to a runny nose and mild fatigue. However, when these symptoms linger for weeks or are accompanied by other conditions, you may have a sinus infection. 

More than a Runny Nose

While your itchy and runny nose may be a snotty nuisance that hikes up your facial tissue bill, it can also be a sign of a sinus infection. In fact, your mucus can tell you a great deal about the state of your body. Symptoms of sinus infection found in your mucus include:

·    A thick consistency

·    A dark green color

·    A dark yellow color

·    Dense discharge

Colored mucus usually signals a bacterial infection, but it is not the only sign of sinus infection.

Oh the Pain

Sinus infections usually bring about throbbing pain in the nasal cavities underneath the eyes, inside the cheeks and along the forehead. When your sinuses are inflamed from the infection, you may also feel aches in your jaw lines and between your eyes.

While a sinus infection is not pleasant, it can be treated with a short round of antibiotics. Your doctor can also prescribe home remedies such as steam or herbs to help you fight off the infection. To learn more about sinus infection treatment in Apex, please visit this website. 

Allergy and Sinus Relief

Allergies can make you miserable. Trees, grass, pollen and mold can cause nasal and sinus congestion and sneezing. But there are plenty of allergy treatment options that can relieve your symptoms.

5 Signs Your Rash May Be Eczema

Eczema is a common inflammatory rash that can occur in people of all ages. However, the appearance and severity of eczema varies from person to person. If you have a rash and think it may be eczema, consider five signs that may help you to know for sure. 

1. Dry, Red and Itchy

Eczema often causes patches of skin to become very dry, itchy and sometimes red in appearance. The skin may also crack or develop little bumps.

2. Blistering, Weeping and Peeling

If eczema isn't treated properly and is continually scratched, its condition worsens and spreads. The skin may blister, peel and even bleed. A clear fluid may also begin leaking from the itchy bumps. 

3. Stress, Weather and Allergic Reactions

Eczema can be caused by many things. It can flare up after stressful situations, due to cold and dry weather, as an allergic reaction to lotions or from excessive sweating. 

4. Appearing at a Young Age

If a rash appears consistently from childhood, there's a strong chance it's eczema. Eczema often occurs in children before the onset of asthma and allergies. 

5. Genetics

If a parent has allergies or sensitive skin, it's more likely he or she will have a child with eczema.

If any of the above signs are true in your case, you may have eczema. The best way to be sure is to see your doctor who may refer you to a dermatologist or allergist. Visit this site to find information about eczema treatment in Cary.