Laser Allergist

Archive for June, 2010

Allergist Dr. Arthur Lubitz on WNYW’s The McReary Report talking about asthma and allergies.

I have, in my third and fourth decades of living, discovered some of the most unusual of allergic reactions and have learned the most interesting of realities about allergies.

The education began when I was teaching my second semester of college English. As one up to that point who rarely missed a day of work, I was appalled to find one very early summer morning that I had an enflamed face and that every pore on my face had filled with a blister—a tiny pustule that was, as if the redness wasn’t enough, itchy.

When I went to the clinic (not yet having medical coverage of any kind), the clinician seemed nonplussed. She told me with a shrug that 1) I would have to experiment by isolating foods in my most recent diet until I found the culprit (since I ha not changed laundry or body soaps didn’t add any chemicals or perfumes to my repertoire, etc.); and 2) I had developed these allergic reactions—or allergic symptoms—all of a sudden…that my perfect health record of many years had nothing to do with the fact that as we get older, she said, we can pathogenically change: we can develop allergies to foods we have eaten our whole lives.

Allergic reactions as I describe are no big deal, really; and a tube of Benadryl cream and a Benadryl capsule (which makes you sleep, so watch out) are all that were needed. But other allergic reactions are hideous, drastic, and emergent. Many require immediate medical attention, as they are deadly…or, the allergens causing the allergic reactions are.

When we were teens working our first jobs, waiting tables at a private school in the summer, when scientists would come from the world over to have conferences, study, and get fed three times a day, we witnessed the more extreme cases of allergic reactions when a scientist asked if there were any shellfish in the fare we were serving. The stuffing of the meat, it turned out, had shredded something—crab or lobster—and the man swelled, turned red, and had to be rushed to the hospital. What is most frightening, I think, is that such allergic reactions can include the tongue swelling. Think about it. If your tongue swells too far, it will block your breathing passages. You’re done.

In my case, many years after my fear that we had killed an important person—who showed up unshaken the next morning, by the way—it turns out I had allergic reactions to soy products: I loved to (and was so lazy about cooking that I would) eat raw hot dogs. At the same time, I was experimenting with health food store items and had drunk a big glass of soy milk. Imagine: an innocuous little thing like a bean….

Bee pollen is one of nature’s healthiest and almost strong “superfoods. ” Bee Pollen contains digestive enzymes from the bees. It’s been used as a dietary supplementation for thousands of years. Bee pollen is frequently called nature’s ideal nutrient. Bee pollen combines 22 amino acids, vitamin C, B-complex and folic acid, polyunsaturated oily acids, enzymes, and carotene – all of the leading antioxidants that have then far been discovered. It is produced by flowering plants, which clings to bees as they assemble nectar. Bee pollen benefits are wonderful and chances are that you could better your health considerably with the respective bee pollen benefits.

Bee pollen is believed to rejuvenate the body, stimulate organs and glands, enhance vitality, and bring about a longer life span. Bee Pollen is known to relieve brain fatigue and improving alertness in individuals with stressful mental work. It increases the capacity for intense concentration and being able to work longer hours without quickly tiring. Bee pollen replaces essential nutrients in the body thereby relieving stress, which uses up vitamins quickly. Bee pollen is also an excellent immune system builder. It has been shown to have the ability of throw off poisons and toxic materials from the body.

Bee pollen benefits too include aiding the system after drill by returning the eye pace to natural and improving survival. Bee pollen tends to be a really secure supplementation, with no severe position effects. Bee pollen should not be taken if you are hypersensitive to bee stings as you could get a hypersensitive response to this too. Bee pollen benefits too stretch to the region of weight departure. Bee pollen has shown to get a power to assist in plump departure by rectifying a chemical instability that many folk with weight problems lean to get. Bee pollen should be avoided by those that have an allergy or sensibility to bee venom.

Other than a worsening of allergic symptoms in those who are already allergic, there are few bee pollen side effects. Cold and flu prevention is a huge bee pollen benefit to anyone who is on this type of supplemental therapy. Bee pollen benefits relating to your sexual health are well documented as well. There have been many studies proving that bee pollen is very helpful in restoring the health of womens reproductive system. Bee pollen is one of the most popular energy supplements on the market. Bee pollen is not recommended for women who are or who may become pregnant.

I know there are tons of allergy medications, however, my mom has high blood pressure so she is restricted to most medications for allergies. Any suggestions?

Approximately 50 million Americans have asthma, hay fever or other allergy related conditions.
You can spot them from across the room – tissue in hand, sneezing, sniffling, blowing their nose, tearing, and rubbing their eyes. This is a common presentation for millions of children and adults who suffer from the misery of allergies. If fortunate, these symptoms are but a minor inconvenience, but, if severe, they can significantly affect one’s quality of life.
Allergies involving the nose (rhinitis) and eyes (conjunctivitis) are almost always caused by contact of an offending “allergen” to the mucous membrane lining of the nose or eyes. Constant exposure for the allergic individual can cause daily symptoms, resulting in what your physician would diagnose as persistent, chronic, or perennial allergic rhinitis. Common allergens responsible for these chronic symptoms may include house dust mites, mold spores, indoor pets, cockroach allergen, or feathers.
Symptoms of allergic rhinitis can also be acute or intermittent, presenting only when one is exposed to a relevant allergen. One of the most common presentations of allergies is seasonal allergic rhinitis or “hay fever”. As its name implies, symptoms will present during the pollen seasons, most typically in the spring during the tree and grass pollinating times, and in the fall when ragweed and other weed pollens are present.
You may want to consider a visit to an allergist if the following symptoms are present on a daily basis or seasonally:
• Itchy, swollen, red, tearing eyes
• Itching of the nose, ears, eyes, or throat
• Runny nose
• Sneezing
• Nasal congestion
• Persistent post-nasal drip
Allergic rhinitis is actually one of the easiest diagnoses for your physician to make. If the medical history suggests allergic rhinitis, an allergist will likely perform allergy testing in order to confirm the diagnosis, identify the offending allergen(s), and ascertain the severity of the allergy. The preferable testing method by most allergists is skin testing. This method allows the testing of multiple allergens simultaneously, with the results being immediately available. Alternatively, similar results can be obtained through a blood test called RAST or ImmunoCap.
Once the relevant allergens have been identified, an allergist will recommend a comprehensive treatment plan. This plan may include one or all of the following:
• Environmental control – minimizing exposure to allergens that you are sensitive to
• Pharmacotherpy – medicines including antihistamines, steroid nasal sprays, and other non-steroidal blockers of inflammation
• Immunotherapy or desensitization – extracts of allergens (pollens, dust, molds, etc.) are introduced into the body to induce an immunologic response, resulting in the eventual reduction or elimination of the allergic reaction. Historically, this form of treatment was available only by injection. Recent advances now allow the desensitization process to be given, in selected patients, by taking drops under the tongue, a process called sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT).
The most severe allergic reaction is called anaphylaxis. The most common causes of anaphylaxis include the ingestion of a highly allergenic food, such as peanuts, tree nuts, and shell-fish, or a medicine. The sting of a yellow jacket, wasp, hornet, or honeybee, or the bite of a fire ant can also result in a severe allergic reaction in a susceptible individual.
The symptoms of anaphylaxis vary from person to person. For some, they may be mild and include only generalized itching and urticaria (hives). In more severe reactions, however, they can include involvement of the respiratory, circulatory, and digestive systems, and can be fatal if not treated quickly and aggressively by the administration of epinephrine. Epinephrine can be self injected with the use of an EpiPen or Twinject.
Symptoms of full blown anaphylaxis may include:

• Difficulty breathing
• Hives or swelling
• Tightness of the throat
• Hoarse voice
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Abdominal pain
• Diarrhea
• Dizziness
• Low blood pressure
• Cardiac arrest
• Shock
Those who have had anaphylaxis or are at risk for anaphylaxis should be evaluated by a board certified allergist for confirmation, identification of the allergen(s), and education regarding prevention, recognition, and self treatment of anaphylaxis.
There are many preventative measures allergy sufferers can take to protect themselves from potentially dangerous allergic reactions. Education is the best medicine. And, consider consulting an allergist for the most complete and up-to-date treatments available.

More detailed descriptions of common allergies and asthma can be found on the website, allergymedsites.com.

I have seasonal allergies, take Claritin and Sudafed PE for it. My doc told me the reason my eyelashes are falling out is allergies. He recommended using allergy eye drops. It helps a little bit but not enough. It’s worse on my left eye than right, more in the middle than the edges. What happens is, my eyelids right along the edge where the lashes grow get so itchy. It feels like there is something in my lashes like a loose eyebrow hair, so I try to get it, and end up pulling out several eyelashes. The eyelashes in that area just are not anchored as firmly in their follicles as other hairs or eyelashes that stay in. Seriously, when I tried pulling out some hairs off my arm, I had to pull kinda hard, and it hurt but they didn’t come out – it does not hurt, there is no resistence with my lashes on that eye.

Anyone have any idea what might be causing this? (It doesn’t seem to fit what I have read about allopecia.)

I have experienced sever anaphylactic shock and allergic reactions after having taken erythromycin for about a week two years ago. I have experienced irregularly beating heart, extreme fatigue, muscle weakness, depression, anxiety, difficulty breathing, etc.

I still experience these symptoms and would like to recover from them.

How do I get back to “normal”? I’m sick and tired of being tired all the time.

Also, what other antibiotics should I avoid (other than erythromycin)?

Thanks for your help.

I’ve read this online, but I would like to know if anyone has taken it and if it worked. I’m aware that the bee pollen would have to be local.

So, does it work???

My husband has nasal allergy, he was told that his bone has over gworn, and was operated about 8 years ago, after which he felt OK for a couple of years then the problem (running nose itching) started again, this gets worse in pollen season and in dusty environment….he had been taking medication and it worked, gave him relief, now the medicine does not work any more. According to the doctors, he needs surgery again, we were considering that laser therapy might be a better option , but doctor says that surgery will work better for him….We also heard about PLASMA therapy for such conditions (not available in our city)….Anyone with similar experience, please advise.