Understanding what illness you have is important in figuring out how to treat it, and how to get rid of it.

Garyl Hester of new York City thought he had a sinus infection when he went to the doctor – but he had it all wrong.

“I couldn’t get rid of it, I couldn’t shake it,” said Hester, 48. “So (my doctor) tested me and found out I was allergic to dust mites, which I never knew before.”

Hester said he now has an air purifier in his house and he bought hypoallergenic sheets – and his headache is gone.

New York-based allergist Dr. Jonathan Field said most patients get confused and often do not know what kind of medical condition they are dealing with.

“If they have a fever, if the headache tends to be more extreme or if they lost their sense of smell, then it sounds to me like a sinus infection,” Field said.

If you are prone to sinus infections, try an irrigation rinse to prevent them or get tested for allergies.

Field said colds and sinus infections are often triggered by indoor allergies, such as dust, mold and pet dander.

“Colds tend to be mild, and you have typical symptoms like a running nose, itchy eyes – a little bit of a sore throat and mild muscle aches, but generally you feel well,” Field said.

Cold symptoms should not last longer than a week, he added. Taking zinc at the onset of a cold can decrease the duration of the illness and severity of symptoms.  

However, the flu is much worse – symptoms are more pronounced in terms of muscle aches and fatigue, and you will definitely have a fever.

The onset of the flu is very sudden, Field added.

Prescribed medication is the only cure for influenza, which can be deadly. up to 36,000 Americans die each year from influenza, so if you think you may have it, see a doctor immediately. A flu shot is the best prevention.                      

DALLAS, April 7 (UPI) — a thorough spring cleaning may help reduce the allergens that can trigger allergies and asthma in children, a U.S. allergist says.

Dr. Rebecca Gruchalla, an allergist and immunologist at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, says springtime pollen remains a major cause of stuffy sinuses, runny noses and itchy eyes, but it’s not the most prevalent cause of allergies and asthma in children.

Cockroach allergens are a real problem in the spring and they have a much bigger impact on kids with asthma than either dust mites or pet dander, Gruchalla says.

“Children who are allergic to cockroaches have more asthma symptoms and generally miss more school because of their asthma,” Gruchalla says in a statement. “Inner city kids who live in apartments are most likely to be exposed to cockroaches, but they’re everywhere.”

Cleaning can make a big difference in preventing allergy symptoms and asthma, Gruchalla, advises.

“Some cockroach preventive tactics include fixing leaky faucets, caulking cracks, eating only in the kitchen and dining room, keeping food sealed in plastic containers and taking out the trash daily,” Gruchalla says.

An allergy refers to an exaggerated immune response in response to bodily contact with certain contaminants. It is exaggerated because these foreign substances are usually seen by the body as harmless and no response occurs in non-allergic people. Allergic people’s bodies recognize the foreign substance and one part of the immune system is turned on. Allergenic substances called “allergens.” Examples of allergens are pollen, dust mites, molds, danders, and foods. In order to understand the language of allergy, it is important to remember that allergens are substances that are foreign to the body and can cause an allergic reaction in some people.

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Allergies occur when a person’s immune system erroneously attacks the allergen as an invader and produces immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies to fight these substances. these antibodies when certain cells in the body to release chemicals such as histamine in bloodstream.

These chemicals affect your eyes, nose, throat, lungs, skin or gastrointestinal tract and cause allergic symptoms such as sneezing, itchy eyes and runny nose. every time you are exposed to the allergen, an allergic reaction be triggered.

The most common symptoms and signs associated with allergies are: …

1 Running nose2 Sneezing3 Congestion4 watery, tearing eyes5 itchy eyes, ears, lips .. , Neck and palate6 Sinus pain7 Coughing8 short breath

Allergy Reduction: …

But there are some things that will reduce or eliminate the chance of your becoming allergic. these include lottery of birth: being born into an allergy-free family significantly reduces the risk of developing a allergy.

Plenty of vitamins C and E and omega-3 polyunsaturated oils (primarily in certain oily fish), with a large nuclear family, letting children be children and let them get dirty every now and then – get down and dirty as the immune system is running at full volume, can help reduce the chances of acquiring allergies.

Controlling Allergies:

Most allergies are easily controlled, but some individuals develop severe reactions from early age.They may have infantile food allergies (usually cow’s milk, eggs and nuts) is usually associated with extensive eczema. these people need continued close monitoring and managed care, they may seek the help of many people health professionals.

Most suffering an allergic reaction to food, pets or the environment know how to manage their allergies and do it very well. but the regular check-ups with a specialist is always recommended so that the condition can be monitored and controlled, and any new medical techniques or drugs used.

I recently went to the doctor to get examined because I have been having trouble breathing (asthma runs in my family). he prescribed an inhaler, but it seemed to make my breathing worse – it felt like my throat was closing up. so I went back to the doctor, and he prescribed prednisone, and it seems to be getting a little better, but even he doesn't know what it is (he said it could possibly be hypervenalation). I'm mostly okay when I am sitting or standing, but when I lay down or try to sleep it gets very hard to breath & it feels like there is something in my throat & i can't get it out, and it kinda feels like my throat is closing up. Are these symptoms of asthma or hypervenalation?

Without seeing you and knowing more history, it sounds more like asthma than hyperventalation.

There are four different levels of asthma. Check the link below.

You might have an allergy to dust mites which could be infesting your entire bed, pillows, blankets, any carpeting and curtains near the bed..
Ask your doctor to have you tested for it.
An allergy can cause asthma symptoms.
If it comes up positive, you need to get a product called (or similar to) Mite Nix, which you have to wash all your bed clothes, curtains, etc. in. You'll also need to get a spray that you have to use on anything you can't throw in the washing machine.
To avoid further infestation, you'll need to buy mattress and pillow protectors that zip over your bedding.
The night after we washed everything in our bedroom, I was able to lay down and not wheeze at all. also, for the first time ever, I woke up without swollen eyes!

It definitely sounds like asthma to me; I experience the same problems when I lie down, and I have had asthma most of my life. It can be hard to get used to an inhaler; if the doctor hasn't given you a spacer, ask him to prescribe one for you. It makes using the inhaler a LOT easier. one of the hallmarks of hyperventilation is that most people experience a bit of tingling in the toes, fingers, and/or lips, so if you're not dealing with that, chances are very good that you have asthma.

I recommend going to see an allergist, as allergies often trigger asthma, and doctors who specialize in allergies are often very knowlegable about treating asthma as well. be persistent, and you CAN get it under control!

I am an Asthmatic and it doesn't sound like you have Asthma at all. to be completely honest it sounds as though you are having panic attacks, which I also have.
If your heart is also racing and you are sweating alot then you might be having some panic attacks, which you should talk to your doctor about.
Otherwise I agree with what others have said, you could possibly be having a reaction to dust mites.
You really need to talk to your doctor about it, and if you feel that they aren't listening to you then you need a second opinion.

I really wish you the best of luck, breathing problems can be really scary.

NEW YORK | Thu Dec 9, 2010 4:19pm EST

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – Under-the-tongue tablets may be a safe alternative to allergy shots for people who don’t get enough relief for their itchy eyes and runny noses with standard drugs, according to scientists who reviewed 60 studies on the treatment.

Allergy shots build up the immune system’s tolerance by exposing it to increasing amounts of the substance that’s bothering it, such as pollen, dust mites or cat dander.

But the shots can be uncomfortable and lead to itching, swelling or other more serious reactions. So researchers have been testing needle-free alternatives, either in a daily tablet or as drops left under the tongue, which patients can self-administer at home — so-called sublingual immunotherapy.

“Sublingual immunotherapy seems to be as effective as other treatments such as antihistamines and nasal steroids,” senior researcher Dr. Stephen Durham of the Royal Brompton Hospital in London said in an e-mail. “And it has the added value of long-term benefits after its discontinuation.”

Pooling the results of earlier studies, including some 5,000 patients, Durham and his colleagues found “allergy tablets” worked better for both adults and children than a dummy tablet lacking the immune triggers, or allergens.

Patients on the active therapy required less medication and reported fewer allergy symptoms than those given the placebo, especially when taking the tablets for 12 months or longer.

And none of them experienced any serious or life-threatening reactions, report the British researchers in the Cochrane Library.

The findings update a 2003 review, which also concluded that allergy tablets may be a good option for some of the 10 to 25 percent of Westerners who struggle with seasonal or chronic allergies.

Dr. Sandra Lin of Johns Hopkins University, in Baltimore, who was not involved in the review, said her patients generally tolerate the new treatment very well. she has, however, seen some minor side effects such as tingling or itching under the tongue.

“Both routes are effective, but it appears that sublingual may be safer than injections,” she told Reuters Health. “Of course, you still need to take precautions.”

Both Lin and Durham note the need for more head-to-head comparisons of the needle and under-the-tongue therapy routes.

The costs of allergy tablets generally range from $1 to $2 a day, but can vary widely depending on the dosage and number of allergens included, Lin noted. since the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not yet approved the treatment, insurance companies usually won’t pay.

Injections, on the other hand, may be covered, although some patients can still pay between $15 and $30 for their weekly injections. After the first year of treatment, however, patients can generally cut back on the frequency.

“And then there’s the hidden costs, like having to take time off from work, drive and park to come into the office,” said Lin.

“I think the convenience of the (sublingual) therapy is really appealing. And I don’t think there are a lot of kids below 6th grade that are willing to tolerate the weekly injections,” she added. “This is opening it up to children.”

SOURCE: link.reuters.com/hyp49q Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, December 2010.

recent studies are saying they don't do anything for those who are allergic to dust mites and their excrement. is there anyone out there who is allergic to dust mites who notices an improvement from using sprays or other dust mite allergen treatments?