November 07, 2011 Food Allergies: the Hidden Culprit< Back By Henry C. Sobo, M.D.

FOOD ALLERGIES: THE HIDDEN CULPRIT

You may have food allergies and not even know it ! That’s because the typical symptoms that people identify as related to allergies–watery, itchy eyes, or sinus congestion, or a rash- are just the tip of the iceberg. Because there are many more effects that are not as commonly recognized as related to allergies, many people don’t get the help that they need.

 A very important point about food allergies is that the symptom onset may be delayed , making the allergy even more difficult for the doctor to detect. Let’s take the case of  migraine headaches which may be triggered by food sensitivities. the person who suffers from them has never noticed that the headache occurs after any particular type of food is ingested. That’s because the onset of the headache may not necessarily start shortly after the food is ingested. the headache may not even occur on the same day, but may arise the day after.

Other symptoms which may be related to food allergies include anxiety, irritability, , asthma,  joint pain, and irritable bowel.  many times  a variety of medical specialists may be  consulted looking for  a diagnosis related to that body part   where the person has symptoms.

One person may see a neurologist for recurring headaches, while another sees a gastroenterologist for abdominal cramping and diarrhea. another perosn is a  repeat visitor to the dermatologist’s office because of recurring rashes  These people have  very different symptoms which have the same cause-food sensitivities.  Consider yet another scenario  which causes something of  a medical mystery. A person feeling very fatigued is tested by their doctor for ailments typically known to cause fatigue- anemia or thyroid problems, for example. the doctor doesn’t find anything wrong and sometimes concludes "it’s all in the patient’s head". what might  never considered is that food sensitivities themselves may manifest in some people as generalized fatigue, and when they have muscular and joint pains  they may suffer form fibromyalgia -chronic fatigue syndrome.

I have had the distinct pleasure of seeing symptoms , some of which have been troublesome for years, relieved when the true underlying cause was discovered and treated. For instance some patients who describe themselves as having a “ sensitive stomach” suffering from abdominal discomfortfor years , find themselves relieved of these symptoms when the offending food sensitivities are identified and avoided. others who see themselves as “headache prone” and assume that stress is responsible, find relief when they know what foods to avoid.

A simple in office testing procedure can be done to properly identify these food sensitivities. It is also important to understand that a program of desensitization can relieve the person of their symptoms so that it is possible to eventually reintroduce the food into the diet without adverse effects.

Henry C. Sobo, M.D. practices Integrative Medicine in Stanford, CT.  For more information see his website at drsobo.com or call the office at 203-348-8805

Address: 111 High Ridge Road, Stamford, CT Email: 

Wednesday April 6, 2011

Spring finally has arrived after the long Berkshire winter. Gone is most of the snow, but pollens, grasses and weeds are emerging. Many children have seasonal allergies that occur during the spring months. Seasonal allergies also can be referred to as hay fever and allergic rhinitis.

Common symptoms of seasonal allergies include a stuffy or runny nose with clear drainage, sneezing, itchy eyes and nose, sore throat, throat clearing and a cough that may be worse at night and in the morning. Some children have an “allergic salute” a common habit which consists of rubbing their nose upward which can lead to a small crease in the skin of the nose. Children with seasonal allergies commonly have “allergic shiners” which are dark circles under the eyes caused by nasal congestion.

Seasonal allergies tend to occur in certain families and are more common in children that have eczema or asthma. Children who are exposed to secondhand cigarette smoke, air pollution and pets tend to have seasonal allergies. Untreated seasonal allergies can make asthma worse, cause a secondary sinus infection, ear infections and poor concentration in school.

To prevent seasonal allergy symptoms it is good to keep windows closed in the car and at home to avoid exposure to pollens and limit outdoor activities when pollen counts are highest (early morning for tree pollen in the spring, afternoon and early evening for grasses in the summer and midday for ragweed in the fall).

If you think your child has seasonal allergies, consult your primary-care physician about treatment. Seasonal allergy symptoms can be controlled with antihistamines, decongestants and topical steroid nasal spray. It is best to start using seasonal allergy medicines just before your child’s seasonal allergy begins and continue the medicines every day through the season. Saline nose drops one to three times a day also can help seasonal allergies by helping sinuses drain. Some children, despite seasonal allergy treatment, may need to see an allergy specialist.

Nancy Hopper is a registered nurse and holds a bachelor of science degree in nursing. she has been the school nurse at Craneville Elementary School for four years, and she is also a staff nurse at Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield.

CINCINNATI, March 31 (UPI) — Parents often have a hard time in the spring determining whether children’s sneezing is due to a cold or allergies, a Cincinnati pediatric allergist says.

“Runny, stuffy or itchy noses, sneezing, coughing, fatigue and headaches can all be symptoms of both allergies and colds but when parents pay close attention to minor details they will be able to tell the difference,” Dr. Michelle Lierl of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center says in a statement. “Children who have springtime or fall allergies have much more itching of their noses; they often have fits of sneezing and usually rub their noses in an upward motion. they also complain about an itchy, scratchy throat or itchy eyes, whereas with a cold, they don’t.”

Lierl says nasal discharge for allergy patients is usually clear and is watery, while cold patients usually have yellowish mucus discharge.

There is a blood test — the Immunocap — that can screen for allergy to specific foods or airborne allergens and can be ordered by any doctor, but it is important patients or their parents to talk with their doctors.

“Children experiencing seasonal allergy symptoms should be tested for environmental allergens present during that season and not for food allergies or allergens present during seasons when they had no symptoms,” Lierl 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 have never had allergies but my nose has been really bothering me lately and I sneeze a LOT…could it be the start of allergies!?

Symptoms: coughing a lot, sometimes sneezing, off and on running nose- mostly when you are outside, watery eyes, and itchy eyes!

My seasonal allergies are absoloutley driving me crazy. I have a runny/stuffy nose, insanely itchy eyes, and an itchy throat. I'm allergic to about everything outdoors, plus animal hair. My prescribed medications aren't working at all. How can I stop the symptoms without medication?

Please don't suggest to avoid the things I'm allergic to. It's hard to avoid the outside.

You don't want to go see a regular physician because they will just want you to get shots and put you on more meds which don't do nothing it just supresses the symptoms instead of getting to the root of the problem. I too used to suffer from horrible allergies to where I needed an inhaler and couldn't even breathe and yes to stuff out side too. I started to take this stuff called ALJ or Histablock.

ALJ is an herbal blend that actually helps in not just taking the symptoms away but builds your immune system to fight it. for instance if you are allergic to cotton if you start to take it every time you have an attack or reaction until your symptoms stop then next time you get a smell of it your immune system will fight it off naturally and eventually you won't have a reaction to it at all.

With Histablock it does the same thing but is much more stronger. usually works with in 20 minutes. I take 4 every hour until the symptoms stop with Histablock and with ALJ I take 2 every hour until symptoms stop.

There's a really simple natural way to relieve your allergies. You rinse out your nose! it sounds gross and painful, but it's not. well, maybe a little gross. When I do it, it relieves my allergies for days! it even helps when I have a cold. the article below has instructions and a video that will show you how. (It's a bit tricky, but definitely worth the trouble.)