Hay fever is an allergic reaction to airborne particles that primarily affects the nose and eyes.
It is caused by outdoor allergens, and perennial allergic rhinitis by indoor allergens. Symptoms of hay fever resemble a cold, except that they occur only at particular times: during certain seasons or weather patterns (hay fever), and around certain animals or small household pests (perennial allergic rhinitis).
Millions of people are affected by allergic rhinitis. Many people who have allergic rhinitis also have asthma.
Causes of Hay Fever
The body's immune system is designed to fight harmful substances like bacteria and viruses. But hay fever, the immune system overresponds to substances that are harmless to most people -- like pollen, mold, and pet dander -- and launches an assault.
This attack is called an allergic reaction. In an allergic reaction, substances called histamine (among other chemicals) are released. Histamines contribute to the symptoms of Symptoms include runny nose, itchy eyes, itchy skin.
Seasonal allergic rhinitis is caused by an allergic reaction to pollens and spores (depending on the season and area) as they are carried on the wind. Sources include:
Ragweed – the most common seasonal allergen
Grasses
Trees
Fungus (mold growing on dead leaves)
Year-round allergic rhinitis is caused by an allergic reaction to airborne particles from the following:
Animal dander (skin flakes)
Dust and household mites
Cockroaches
Molds growing on wall paper, house plants, carpeting, and upholstery
Symptoms of Hay Fever
Itchy and watery eyes.
Frequent sneezing,runny nose.
Itching on the roof of the mouth.
Coughing
Wheezing or a burning sensation in the throat.
Helpful Herbs for hay fever
Butterbur (Petasites hybridus)
Butterbur has been traditionally used to treat asthma and bronchitis and to reduce mucus. A study of 125 people with hay fever found that an extract of this herb was as effective and less sedating than cetirizine, a commonly prescribed non-sedating antihistamine. The study lasted only 2 weeks, and while it shows promise, it is not known what would be the effect of using butterbur over a longer time period.
Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis)
This herb is considered by some to be a potential treatment for allergic rhinitis because the main active ingredient in it is gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), an essential fatty acid that may relieve allergy symptoms.
Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica/Urtica urens)
Stinging nettle has traditionally been used for treating a variety of conditions, including allergic rhinitis. Studies thus far have been favorable, but not overwhelmingly so.
More research is needed, but you may want to talk to your doctor about whether it is safe for you to try nettle as a possible alternative treatment.
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The First Harvest
First responders arrived at the home initially, followed soon thereafter by paramedics. We picked up the dispatch over the radio scanner and prepared our minds and equipment in trauma room one. This one was a long time coming which surprised us all since the scene was within five minutes of the ER by car. 45 minutes passed before the call came telling us they were inbound.
The ambulance pulled up to the doors and he was brought in on a stretcher. He was SOA- smurfed on arrival, or perhaps I should say cyanotic for the sake of the purists, which really means that his skin was a most unappealing shade of blue. No IV line had been started, and the rescue team were bagging as they hurried him into the ER. 45 minutes on scene, four paramedics accompanying him - the focus of the time on scene had been concentrated on CPR alternating with unsuccessful attempts to intubate.
My heart leapt into my throat as the stretcher was rolled into place beside where I stood waiting, under the saucer shaped overhead exam light, with IV catheter in hand & fluid hung ready to get a line started. With his face partially obscured by venti-mask this bare-chested man lying on the stretcher was the spitting image of a man I deeply cared for- was it... ? No time to pause to know that instant- other things took priority and the IV was started, the ER doc tried to intubate, the parameds kept up CPR and the theater became a whirlwind of fast working professionals, some drawing blood for lab, taking x-rays, connecting the lines for cardiac monitoring etc...
Very quickly I became busy pushing medicines through the IV line, atropine, bicarb, epi, we drained the crash cart in short order and had the house supervisor dashing for more. As I paused between each administration I was able to see the man more distinctly and know he was not the person I thought him to be at first glance, although he could surely have been the man's brother.
All efforts to intubate were unsuccessful as were the medicines we were giving and the jolts from the defibrillator The patient's wife had arrived and we learned that he was on the waiting list for a new heart. With sadness, and after an hour of all out effort in the ER we knew his name would be off that list that night.
The doctor called the code. The patient was pronounced. We removed the signs of our interventions and made him presentable. His wife grieved. The ER physician returned to his call room and the nursing staff began the mountain of tasks and paperwork that follow an unsuccessful code.
My partner had recently been certified for organ harvest and she noted on his driver's license that he had agreed to be a donor and so after providing his wife a bit of time to cry, we had the task of approaching this subject with her. I remember how his wife handled it- she was a hero that night. We watched the time and let her know when we would have to begin at the latest. A wonderful trooper, she departed leaving her husband in our care. It would be the last time she would look upon his features as he was to be cremated.
K and I studied the manual closely, assembled all the necessary items and got started. We worked together and by carefully retracting, snipping and cutting delicately, removing first one eye, and then the other, being sure to get as much optic nerve as possible, pin it, cage the specimens and pack them properly. It's a highly emotional feeling, the first time you actually perform an organ harvest, and as emergency nurses, a scientifically interesting change of routine as well. K and I remained high on our experience the remainder of our tour of duty.
That was the first time I participated in an organ harvest. There have been others since that night, but no matter how many chance and circumstances will bring me to participate in or perform over the course of my nursing career I will never forget Mr. S or his brave wife. I am left filled with awe every time I think about the contribution Mr. S made.
If I were to write a blockbuster movie or a best-selling novel I would never come close to leaving a more meaningful contribution than that of Mr. S and all those who like him donate their organs. My mother had cataracts from an early age and her quality of life was greatly improved by being able to have lens implants. My father, still flying his private plane at age 82, recently had a lens implant done and passed his FAA flight physical. I hope it comforts Mrs. S, as it should, to know that her husband gave of himself so that others would be able to lead better lives. What finer contribution can any of us hope to make? I remember Mr. S with great respect and every once in a while speak quietly and smile while telling him ... Mr. S, you're a hell of a man. Somehow I think he looks down and smiles back...
I hope that the next time you renew your driver's license, or otherwise come across the question of whether or not you would like to become a designated organ donor you will remember Mr. S too and all of the fine people like him and consider checking the box that says yes.
Written as I smile, remembering Mr. S
Sara Ellis RN, BSN has extensive background in nursing at all levels with over 20 years experience in NICU, ICU, and ER (both civilian and military). To learn more about Nursing visit Medi-Smart.com, a site that offers nursing career resources, online nursing degrees, and continuing education for nurses.
How to relieve eczema, itchy skin using all natural remedies
Also called dermatitis, eczema is a noncontagious skin inflammation that produces itchy skin, red, rashlike areas. These occur on the face, scalp, wrists, and hands, as well as at the crease of the elbows, in back of the knees and sometimes elsewhere on the body.
Eczema can spread or worsen if you scratch the affected areas. And persistent scratching or rubbing can bring on chronic eczema, chronic itchy skin, with its distinctive dark, thickened, scaly red patches.
There are different types of eczema, some classified by causes, others by specific symptoms. Atopic dermatitis is marked by a hypersensitivity, or allergy, to a food, inhalant, or other common substance that doesn't bother most people. It tends to be genetically linked, affecting individuals with a family history of hay fever, asthma, or eczema.
Flaking and scaling on the face and scalp are typical of seborrheic dermatitis, while contact dermatitis produces an acute local rash after someone sensitive to it comes in contact with an irritant (say, the nickel in jewelry or the oil on a poison ivy leaf).
A separate type of itchy skin, stasis dermatitis, affects the lower legs and ankles and is associated with insufficient circulation of blood in those areas.
Key Symptoms
Itchy, red rashlike patches of skin that are dry, rough, scaly or cracked
Small red pimplelike blisters
Leaking ("weeping") of fluid, crusting and flaking in affected areas
Chafing and peeling
Thickened, dry patches of skin in persistent cases
Itching, swelling and inflammation in lower legs and around ankles (stasis dermatitis)
What Causes Eczema?
Allergies are a common cause of eczema. People who are susceptible tend to have a personal or family history of allergic reactions to foods, pollen, animal fur or other substances. Many people with eczema also have (or eventually develop) hay fever or asthma, and their bodies often contain above-normal amounts of histamine, a chemical that triggers an allergic defense reaction in the skin when it's released.
Eczema symptoms can be triggered by such foods as milk, eggs, shellfish, nuts, wheat, strawberries, and chocolate.
They can also be aggravated by contact with various substances, including animal fur, plant allergens, such as poison ivy and poison sumac, jewelry containing chrome and especially nickel (watchbands, rings, earrings), cosmetics (including nail polish), fragrances, deodorants and antiperspirants, shaving lotions and skin creams, different types of fabrics (particularly wool and silk), dyes, latex and rubber, leathers, and household cleaning agents (including dishwashing and laundry detergents
Other factors associated with outbreaks of eczema are dry air; too much sun; stress; topical medications and certain drugs, such as penicillin; hot baths; and exposure to dust, pollen, and animal dander.
Treatment and Prevention
Soothing creams and ointments can help to lessen the excruciating itchy skin of eczema--and it's important not to scratch, as this can worsen the condition.
A variety of nutritional supplements can also provide relief.
How Supplements Can Help
Because people respond differently to supplements, many eczema sufferers have to try several before they find one (or a good combination) that works well for them.
Evening primrose oil (in capsules, soft gels, or liquid) contains essential fatty acids that can help revitalize the skin and relieve itching and inflammation. Studies have shown that recommended daily doses of evening primrose oil can reduce the need for creams. Alternatives to evening primrose oil are the less expensive black currant and borage seed oils.
Flaxseed oil contains equal amounts of both omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids, which can be helpful in the treatment of any chronic allergic condition, including eczema.
Fish oils were found to relieve chronic eczema in a double-blind study. They appear to work by reducing levels of leukotriene B-4, a substance in the body involved with the inflammation of eczema. Eating cold-water fish regularly is the best source for fish oils, but if you're not a fish fan, you can always take fish oil capsules.
Grape seed extract is rich in flavonoids (antioxidant substances that inhibit the body's allergic responses). Grape seed extract can help relieve and prevent the itchy skin flare-ups of eczema.
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Raymond Entwistle is the author of How to Blast Your Allergies Away Forever! He cured himself of his hay fever and eczema by discovering an all natural herbal combination formula.