|
Allergy Relief / Seasonal Allergy / Allergies: seasonal or not, sufferers are everywhere
Allergies: seasonal or not, sufferers are everywhere
Roxanne Pinto
A bagel, spaghetti, and a sandwich. Sound harmless enough? Not to Palo Alto High School sophomore Rachel Williams. Although these foods may be harmless to most people, to Williams their ingestion means hours of discomfort because they contain wheat.
"I become anemic," Williams says. "I have an iron deficiency and my allergy exacerbates it. One time I ate a bagel, and then I forgot and ate a sandwich and it was really bad. Usually, I get major stomach aches and sometimes I throw up when I eat it. My reaction depends on how much I have."
Williams is one of many Paly individuals who suffer from out-of-the-ordinary allergic reactions. According to NIAID, 40 to 50 million Americans suffer from allergic diseases. An allergy is the overreaction of the immune system to a substance that would normally be harmless, according to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). These substances are called allergens.
The most common allergens are dust, pollen, pet hair (including wools), insect bites, shellfish and nuts, according to WebMD, an online medical information resource. With spring in full swing, sufferers of common allergies are everywhere. Since it is high time for pollen, simply being outdoors can evoke reactions from many people.
Approximately 11 million Americans suffer from respiratory allergies, according to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. "My allergy is merely [to] pollen," senior Bryan Grant says. "During spring, pollen is on anything. I sneeze, have a runny nose and get itchy eyes, and I have to take Claritin every day." Less common reactions deserve more attention simply because they are rare. The more rare the reaction, such as to grapes or wheat, the more difficult the dilemma of avoidance can be.
"The grape allergy is one I have never heard of anyone having," Paly chemistry teacher Carolyn Csongradi says of her own allergic reaction. "It extends to all kinds of vinegars and to raisins too." This can be a real issue when approaching food at a buffet dinner or in a foreign restaurant. "[The allergy] caused me lots of grief in French restaurants as you can imagine. [I] got very sick in Chile once because they gave me a salad with Dijon mustard in the dressing."
Once the victim has come in contact with the allergen, the reaction can manifest itself in a number of ways. The most severe reactions include swelling of the face, eyes or tongue, wheezing, fear of anxiety, abdominal cramps or pain, vomiting or nausea, weakness, light-headedness, difficulty breathing, chest pain and unconsciousness, according to The Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network, a periodical focused primarily on spreading allergy information. Csongradi's reaction however, similar to her allergy, is not common. "My allergy used to manifest itself by my throwing up about four hours after I ingested the grapes," Csongradi says. "Now I itch all over within a few seconds."
There are, of course, stranger reactions on Paly campus. "My lips swell up," junior Anique Drumright says. "When I was in second grade, I was called a monster because my lips turned green." She is allergic to food coloring, cinnamon, certain antibiotics and common spring allergens such as pollen. "When my immune system is down, sometimes I get hives." She says its tough to resist foods with bright artificial colors, but relatively easy to avoid sitting on bare grass. "I get an itchy throat and red eyes a lot of the time when I sit outside, so I try to bring a blanket with me to sit on."
Another strange sensitivity that plagues Paly students is monosodium glutamate, a powder flavor enhancement commonly found in dried noodle packages. "When I figured out that I got headaches all the time because I ate Top Ramen, I said I was allergic to [MSG]. I don't eat junk food anymore," Grant says.
A few Paly students who suffer from allergies choose not to take medication. Such is the case of senior Dami-Lola Wusu. "My reaction to milk," Wusu says, "can be a variation of things. I get stomachaches, right? And stomachaches lead to other things…." This reaction to dairy is commonly called lactose intolerance because it stems from a response to the chemical lactose in milk. "It causes severe social problems," Wusu says. "People walk away from me, I can't blame them. The worst reaction is to yogurt, but any dairy does it."
If allergy sufferers want to avoid their symptoms and still have normal diets, they have to find alternatives. "I order lots of food online," Williams says. "I have corn pasta. We've tried all these disgusting substitute foods. They have gluten-free Web sites, and you can order wheat-free food."
All of these reactions require the sufferer to practice a certain amount of care in social situations. Foods made by friends do not always have an ingredients column, and almost all allergens are difficult to spot by eye. These precautions taken by allergy victims can often make life difficult to maintain, but it is possible to find foods that are alternatives to the allergen.
"So how do I party?" Csongradi says. "My personal favorite is a single malt Scotch and I've tasted many a good one."
How to take care of an allergic reaction victim:
- Calm the person- Identify the allergen and cease contact- If the person develops and itchy rash, apply calamine lotion- Check airway, breathing, and circulation if the victim of the reaction is having trouble breathing- Call emergency medical assistance - If needed, begin rescue breathing and CPR- If the person has emergency allergy medication, aid them in self administration- Take steps to prevent shock: have the person lie flat, elevate the feet about 12 inches and cover him/her with a coat or blanket
From http://voice.paly.net/view_feedback.php?id=10793
Previous Page: Teva and Perrigo to market allergy drug Next Page: New tools help MDs treat allergies
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this site is for educational purposes only, and should not be used as a substitute for personal care by a licensed physician. Please see your physician for diagnosis and treatment of any concerning symptoms or medical condition.
|
