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Tag: allergies

Why are your eyes watering?

March 7th, 2018 by The Hello Doctor Team

Your eyes are watering again! Is it the wind, allergies, or something else? Here’s what you need to know.

Tears have different functions in your body: they keep your eyes lubricated, wash away dust and help with emotional release when you cry. They are an important part of your immune system and help protect against infection.

There are glands under the skin of your upper eyelids called lacrimal glands, which produce tears made of salt and water.

When you blink, tears spread to keep your eyes moist. Some of the glands produce oils that keep your tears from evaporating too fast, or spilling out of your eyes.

Tears drain down small holes called canaliculi, found on the inner side of the eye into a tear sac. They will then flow into a channel called the tear duct, inside your nose.

When you produce too many tears, your tear ducts become overwhelmed. This causes watery eyes. If your tears don’t have the right balance of water, salt and oils, your eyes can become too dry. The resulting irritation makes your tear ducts overproduce tears, making your eyes watery.

Teary eye culprits

  • Blocked tear ducts (when a tear duct can’t open and tears can’t drain from the eyes properly).
  • The common cold.
  • Dry eyes (decreased production of tears).
  • Substances in your eye.
  • Ingrown eyelashes (triachiasis).
  • Pink eye (conjunctivitis).
  • An eye injury like a scratch or having something in your eye (small stone, an eyelash or dirt).
  • Ectropion (when your eyelid turns outwards).
  • Hay fever (an allergy caused by pollen or dust).
  • If your eyelashes are too long, they may irritate your eyes, causing them to tear.

Remedies for watery eyes

Watery eyes usually subside without treatment but if it’s chronic, there are ways to treat it.

  • Over-the-counter eye drops.
  • Treating the allergies that make your eyes watery.
  • A warm, wet towel placed on your eyes several times a day to will help with blocked tear ducts.
  • Regular breaks from reading, using your Smartphone, watching TV, or using the computer.

Prevent watery eyes

  • Keep your eyes protected from sunlight with sunglasses, goggles or a wide-brimmed hat.
  • If you have allergies, stay away from allergens like pollen and take an antihistamine at least thirty minutes before entering an environment with allergens.
  • Don’t rub your eyes if they become itchy or irritated.
  • Wash your hands regularly to get rid of germs.
  • Keep make-up brushes sterilised and don’t share items like eye-drops, make-up brushes or bedding.

Good to know

If you have other symptoms like reduced vision, pain or swelling around the eyes and a feeling that something is in your eyes, then you should see your doctor. If you have a blocked duct, it’s important to talk to your doctor as it may fill with fluid, become swollen, inflamed and infected.

References:

How to raise allergy-free kids

March 7th, 2018 by The Hello Doctor Team

Convincing your child to eat their broccoli is hard enough, and it’s only worse if they have food-allergies!

A food allergy occurs when the immune system falsely communicates that a certain protein in a food is harmful. Once you have an allergy, an allergic reaction happens every time you eat that specific food. A baby’s chance of developing an allergy is increased if his siblings have also been diagnosed with an allergic condition like eczema, asthma, hay fever or a food allergy.

How does it work?

Food allergies are developed when a protein called Immunoglobulin E (IgE) and a mast cell interact. IgE moves around your blood and a mast cell is found in all body tissues, including common sites of allergic reactions like the nose, lungs, skin and gastrointestinal tract.

If a food allergen is eaten and the food is digested, IgE is produced in large amounts. IgE then attaches itself to the surface of the mast cells. The next time the food is eaten, it communicates with specific IgE on the mast cells to release chemicals called histamine. This causes different allergic reactions going forward.

Foods that cause allergies are called allergens. Common allergens are:

  • Eggs
  • Dairy products like milk
  • Peanuts
  • Tree nuts (almonds, cashews, walnuts)
  • Soy
  • Seafood
  • Wheat
  • Sesame

But there is good news: it is possible for your child to outgrow certain allergies. And there is even better news: you could potentially prevent certain allergies, if you start early with the following practices:

Breastfeed your baby

If you’re able to breastfeed your baby, then do so. It’s the least likely source of nutrition that would cause an allergic reaction in your baby and breast milk easy to digest. It will also strengthen your baby’s immune system, making him less susceptible to infections and illnesses.

Offer possible food allergens regularly

Feed your baby common food allergens like dairy products, egg and nuts, a few times a week. This will help them maintain a tolerance to these foods and prevent food allergies from developing.

Feed your baby whole foods early

A recent study found that babies who are fed homemade whole foods developed fewer allergies than babies whose diets consisted of processed baby food. This is because eating whole macronutrients helps stimulate cells that work for the good of your immune system. So, if your baby can swallow whole foods (between four and six months), include fish, fruit, poultry and veggies in his diet.

Get rid of dust mites

Airborne substances like dust mites may trigger asthma and other allergy symptoms in your child which will increase the risk of him developing food allergies. Use allergen-impermeable covers on pillows and mattresses, and remove carpets and upholstered furniture from your child’s room.

Watch your diet when you’re pregnant

It’s tempting to eat whatever you want during your pregnancy, but it’s important to include wholegrains, vegetables, fish, white meat and fruit in your diet. Research has shown that pregnant women who have strong digestive tracts and healthy gut floras pass this down to their babies. Nuts and other common allergens during pregnancy have also been shown to help build up your baby’s tolerance to possible allergies.

Treat your baby’s eczema

Controlling your baby’s eczema will minimise the chance of developing allergies as healthy skin acts as a barrier to protect us from allergens. Talk to your doctor if you’re struggling to treat your baby’s skin. If necessary, your doctor may suggest a visit to a paediatric allergist or dermatologist.

References:

Why do I have dark rings under my eyes?

January 5th, 2018 by The Hello Doctor Team

Eek! You have a date tonight and there are dark circles under your eyes… again. You’ve tried sleeping for eight hours every night, but this doesn’t seem to make any difference. What now?

A lot of people suffer from these dark rings. The dark rings are basically just the blood vessels underneath the eyes that are visible through the skin. The skin around the eyes are naturally very thin, so depending on hydration, blood flow and the colour and thickness of the skin, these dark rings may be more or less visible.

Lack sleep and too much alcohol are the two most common causes for these pesky rings. But if you’ve been getting enough shut-eye and keeping your drinks to a decent limit, there may be other causes to consider.

Panda-eye culprits

  • Genetics: If you’ve had dark circles under your eyes since you were a child, it’s possible you’ve inherited it.
  • Allergies: Your stuffy nose could be causing more harm than you think. Nasal congestion can affect the skin under your eyes when it dilates the blood vessels that drain that area.
  • Too much sleep: It’s not just a lack of sleep that’s an issue. Oversleeping can cause the blood vessels in the eye area dilate, making the dark colour noticeable.
  • Iron deficiency: A lack of iron can prevent blood from carrying enough oxygen to your eye tissues.
  • Stress: If you’re often stressed, your dark circles appear more visible. This is because more blood is directed to your main organs, leaving your face looking pasty and drained.
  • Rubbing your eyes: The most sensitive part of your face is under your eyes. Rubbing may cause the capillaries around your eyes to break or leak, leaving you with bruise-like shadows.

Lighten up  

  1. Place a cold washcloth or a bag of frozen vegetables underneath your eyes to constrict blood vessels and help with the dark circles.
  2. Elevate your head with an extra pillow in bed. This helps stop too much blood from collecting in the blood vessels under the skin around your eyes.
  3. Up your intake of Vitamin C and other antioxidants. These nutrients and vitamins help fight off free radicals (unstable molecules that damage cells) which cause your skin to become thinner and see-through.
  4. Don’t neglect the under eye skin during your beauty routine. Gently, cleanse, tone and moisturise that area regularly.
  5. If all else fails, try beauty products (like a good concealer) to mask the problem area.

Good to know

  • Wear sunglasses when you’re outside. The sun can also cause dark circles underneath your eyes.
  • Beauty products which contain alpha hydroxy acids help to thicken the skin around your eyes, making dark circles less visible.
  • Too much salt in your diet cause water to accumulate throughout your body, including your eyes, which could potentially cause dark circles.

References

How to stay in control of your Asthma

October 27th, 2017 by The Hello Doctor Team

If you suffer from asthma and take medication for it, then you likely already know what triggers an attack for you. Allergies and intensive exercise are common triggers for most people, but the good news is that both of these triggers can be managed – it just takes a bit of know-how and vigilance.

What Actually Causes Asthma In The First Place?

It’s very difficult to nail down exactly causes a person to become asthmatic, but doctors believe it could come down to genetic predisposition and under-exposure to allergens at an early age. Under-exposure would happen if a child is brought up in an overly clean and sterile home environment. You see moms, a bit of dirt isn’t so bad!

What Are The Most Common Asthma Triggers?

We spoke Hello Doctor’s resident GP, Dr Kotze, to find out what the most common asthma triggers are, and here’s her top list of triggers:

  • Allergens such as dust mites, pollen, animal fur or feathers
  • Chest and airway infections, upper respiratory infections caused by cold and flu viruses, or sinus infections
  • Airborne irritants: chemical fumes, cigarette smoke and pollution
  • Medicines: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory painkillers including aspirin and ibuprofen
  • Alcohol and foods containing sulphites: sulphites are used as preservatives in concentrated fruit juice, jam, prawns, certain wines, and processed or convenience meals
  • Weather conditions: sudden changes in temperature, wind, poor air quality, cold and hot air, humidity
  • Emotional factors: stress or laughing
  • Living conditions: damp or mouldy walls, chemicals in carpets and flooring materials, and dust mites
  • Intense exercise: some people find their asthma symptoms are worse when they exercise. This doesn’t mean you should avoid exercising, you just need to make sure you warm up slowly before you do start exercising, to help prevent an attack
  • Severe heartburn

How Do I Stay Healthy With Asthma?

Asthma affects people of all ages, young and old, and the chances are your asthma started when you were still young. When it comes to staying healthy, the most important thing you can do is to know what triggers your asthma, and how you can control it. If you’re able to do this, you should be able to reduce symptoms and the number of attacks you have.

Make sure you have regular check-ups – at least twice a year – with your doctor, to help ensure your asthma is under control and that you’re taking the right medication. It’s very important that you know how to use your inhaler correctly, and that your close friends and family also know how to use it in case of an emergency. Always carry your inhaler with you!

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What happens when you sneeze?

August 28th, 2017 by The Hello Doctor Team

Everyone sneezes. In fact, the average healthy person does so up to four times a day. But why, exactly, do we sneeze?

The mechanics of sneezing

Part of your nose’s job is to make sure the air you breathe is clean, and free of dirt and bacteria. Your nose traps dirt and bacteria in mucus, but sometimes debris can enter your nose and irritate the sensitive mucus membranes inside your nose and throat.

When these membranes become irritated, a message is sent to your brain to sneeze. Sneezing is your body’s way of removing an irritation from your nose.

Your brain then sends a message to the muscles involved in creating a sneeze, including the muscles in your abdomen, chest, diaphragm, and throat. These muscles have to work together, and in the right order to send the irritation out of your nose.

Before you sneeze, you take a deep breath and hold it. The muscles in your chest tighten, and the pressure of air in your lungs increases. Your eyes close, your tongue presses against the roof of your mouth, and suddenly your breath comes out quickly through your nose.

“Achooo!”-triggers

Common causes of sneezing include:

  • Allergens like pollen, dust and animal dander.
  • Viruses like the common cold or flu.
  • Environmental irritants like smoke, pollution and mould.

Injury inside your nose, and breathing cold air can also irritate the inside of your nose and set off a sneeze.

Stop the sneeze

  • Avoid your sneeze triggers. Make simple changes in your home to reduce your exposure to irritants. Open the windows and doors to improve indoor ventilation, or get an air filtration system to clean the air in your home. Vacuum and mop up regularly to get rid of dust. Wash your bed sheets and other linens in hot water to kill dust mites. If you have pets that shed, cut their hair or remove them from your home.
  • If an allergy is causing you to sneeze, avoid it. Ask your doctor to help you recognise the allergen and how to treat the cause. Over-the-counter and prescription medications antihistamines may help to relieve your symptoms. If you have severe allergies, your doctor may recommend allergy shots. These contain the extracts of purified allergens. Exposing your body to allergens can help keep your body from reacting to allergens in the future.
  • If you have an infection like the common cold or flu, use a nasal spray to help relieve a congested or runny nose. Nasal sprays that have a corticosteroid in them can reduce inflammation in your nasal passages and decrease the likelihood of sneezing. To speed up your recovery and put an end to sneezing, take an antiviral medication, rest up and drink lots of fluids.

Is sneezing healthy?

It may be annoying, but sneezing is good for you. It’s an important part of your immune process, and helps protect your body against bacteria and viruses. So, the next time you feel a sneeze coming on, let it out. It’s your body’s way of keeping you safe.

Holding in a sneeze can be dangerous. A sneeze is so powerful that keeping it in can rupture your eardrums, cause your nose to bleed, or damage the blood vessels in your eyes and brain.

Fun facts about sneezing

  1. A sneeze can travel about 160 km per hour. That’s faster than your car!
  2. You can’t sneeze with your eyes open. When your brain receives the signal to sneeze, it also signals your eyes to automatically close.
  3. You can’t sneeze in your sleep. While you’re sleeping, the nerves involved in sneezing are resting too.
  4. Your heart doesn’t stop when you sneeze. When you sneeze, the pressure in your chest changes and alters your blood flow. This can change the rhythm of your heartbeat, but doesn’t cause your heart to stop.
  5. The longest sneezing spree ever recorded lasted a total of 978 days. The record was set by Donna Griffiths of Worcestershire, England, who sneezed continuously from 13 January 1981 until 16 September 1983.

References

Stop a rash in its tracks

May 15th, 2017 by The Hello Doctor Team

You’ve noticed a patch of redness on your skin. It’s slightly swollen and scratchy to the touch, and itchy beyond belief. It’s a rash.

A rash is an irritated area of skin. The affected area may become bumpy, scaly or red in colour. A rash is usually caused by skin inflammation, which can have many causes. These include allergies, medications, cosmetics, and diseases like chickenpox, measles, and eczema.

Rashes are common at all ages, and almost everyone will have some type of rash at some point.  Treatment will depend on the cause, but most rashes can be treated at home. Here’s how:

  • Wash the affected area with mild soap and warm water. Don’t scrub your skin.
  • Gently pat dry. Avoid rubbing.
  • Apply an unscented moisturising lotion to the area. If the rash is very itchy, use an over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream. Calamine lotion may also help with itchiness and discomfort.
  • If the itch becomes too much or stops you from your normal daily activities, try an antihistamine.
  • Let the rash breathe. Leave the area exposed to air as much as possible.
  • Wear clothing made from natural fibres like cotton. This allows the skin to circulate over the affected area.
  • If you experience any pain, take a painkiller.

You can also try an oatmeal bath. Oatmeal is known to reduce swelling and soothe irritated skin. Simply add half a cup of finely ground oatmeal to a warm bath and soak up. Pat your skin gently when you get out, and avoid harsh rubbing as you dry. If getting into a bath full of oatmeal doesn’t appeal to you, there are many over-the-counter oatmeal bath mixes, lotions, and soaps you can try.

What not to do

  • Don’t use fragranced soaps to clean the rash.
  • Avoid touching and scratching the area. This may worsen the rash and lead to scars and infection.
  • Don’t wear wool and synthetic fabrics next to your skin.
  • Don’t use strong detergents to wash your clothes. Rather use a mild soap.
  • Stay out of the sun. Keep the area cool and moisturised. Heat can dry out the skin and worsen the rash.

When to see your doctor

Get medical help immediately if:

  • The rash does not respond to treatment or gets worse.
  • You experience any new symptoms like increasing pain, fever, dizziness, vomitting, and diarrhoea.
  • The rash lasts longer than two weeks.

References:

Four Valentine’s recipes for fussy eaters

February 11th, 2017 by The Hello Doctor Team

It’s almost the month of love, and you’re in the mood to bake something sweet. But you have food allergies… so now what? Whether you’re working around your own or a loved one’s food allergy, it can be a hassle – especially on Valentine’s Day. But it doesn’t have to be a romantic bust.

Try these scrumptious, allergy-friendly recipes for the most common food allergies. (And, of course, don’t overindulge in the sweet treats! We wouldn’t want you to get ill.)

Allergic to eggs?

Most baked goods call for eggs, which can be frustrating if you can’t eat them. That does not mean you have to give them up forever. Give these simple eggless sugar cookies a go.

No-egg heart cookies

Ingredients

  • 120g margarine.
  • 70g icing sugar.
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract.
  • 200g all-purpose flour.

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 180°C.
  2. Grease a baking tray and set aside.
  3. Cream the margarine, sugar and vanilla extract until fluffy. Add the all-purpose flour all at once, and mix gently until the mixture is well combined. Then, wrap the mixture in cling film and refrigerate for 20 minutes.
  4. Roll the dough out to your desired thickness, and cut into heart shapes using a cookie cutter. Then, place the cookies on the baking tray and bake for about seven minutes, until golden.
  5. Take it out of the oven to cool, and enjoy.

Tip: These cookies are good on their own, but a few sprinkles never hurt anyone. Jazz yours up with some pink icing and 100s and 1000s.

Allergic to peanuts?

Brittle isn’t just for peanuts. This nut-free version of the old classic is just as delicious, and your Valentine will think so too.

Pumpkin seed brittle

Ingredients

  • ÂĽ unsalted butter.
  • ½ cup brown sugar.
  • ÂĽ cup honey.
  • 1 cup pumpkin seeds.

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 180°C.
  2. Give the pumpkin seeds a thorough rinse. Drain them in a colander and dry lightly with a paper towel. Then, spread the seeds onto a baking sheet and bake for seven to 10 minutes, until light brown and crispy.
  3. Grease a new baking sheet with butter and set aside.
  4. Melt the butter in a small saucepan over a medium heat. Stir in the brown sugar and honey. Bring to a boil. Cook the mixture for about six minutes, until it is amber in colour. Then, stir in the pumpkin seeds. Cook the mixture for another two minutes.
  5. Pour the mixture onto the prepared baking sheet. Let it cool completely before breaking it into pieces.

Tip: Enjoy the brittle as is or broken over vanilla ice cream.

Allergic to dairy?

No dairy? No problem. Dig into this creamy cheesecake you’d never guess contains no dairy.

Raw raspberry cheesecake

Ingredients

For the base:

  • 2 cups almonds.
  • 1 cup dried dates.
  • Sprinkle of desiccated coconut.

For the filling:

  • 3 cups chopped cashews, soaked for two hours.
  • ½ cup lemon juice.
  • ½ cup agave nectar.
  • Âľ cup coconut oil.
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.
  • ½ teaspoon salt.
  • 1 cup fresh/frozen raspberries.

Method

  1. To make the base, soak the dates in some warm water for 10 minutes. Squeeze out the excess water. Then, process the dates and almonds in a food processor until it clumps together.
  2. Sprinkle the coconut on the bottom of a greased cake tin. Then, press the crust into the cake tin on top of the coconut.
  3. To make the filling, blend the cashews, lemon juice, agave nectar, coconut oil, vanilla extract, salt, and raspberries together until smooth. Pour the mixture on top of the crust, smoothing evenly with a spatula.
  4. Put it in the fridge for a few hours until firm and ready to serve.

Tip: Top the cheesecake with a few raspberries for a pop of colour.

Allergic to wheat?

Gluten-free desserts don’t need to be boring and tasteless. These brownies prove it.

Flourless fudge brownies

Ingredients

  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter.
  • Âľ cups sugar.
  • 250g semisweet chocolate, chopped.
  • 2 eggs, room temperature.
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.
  • 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder.
  • 3 tablespoons cornstarch.
  • ÂĽ teaspoon salt.

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 180°C.
  2. Line a square pan with baking paper. Butter it lightly and set aside.
  3. In a small saucepan, melt the butter over a low heat. Then, add the sugar. Once the sugar has incorporated, add the chocolate, stirring until smooth. Remove from the heat and beat for two minutes with a mixer or whisk. Add the eggs, one at a time. Then add the vanilla extract.
  4. Using a sieve, sift the cocoa powder and cornstarch into the saucepan. Then, add the salt. Stir together. Then, beat the batter vigorously for one to two minutes, until it’s smooth and glossy.
  5. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 20-30 minutes or until the brownies are set in the centre. Remove from the oven and leave to cool in the pan for 45 minutes before removing and slicing.

Tip: Add chopped nuts or chocolate chips for a more decadent and irresistible brownie, yumminess guaranteed!

References:

 

Prevent peanut allergies in your baby

January 6th, 2017 by The Hello Doctor Team

Want to hear something nuts? Peanut allergies kill more people than any other food allergy. Even the smallest trace of peanuts, slipped into your restaurant order or snack, can be fatal for someone who is allergic. Your throat swells up, you find it difficult to breathe… it’s truly an awful experience. But science has found a way to prevent this. The answer? Fight fire with fire, or rather, peanuts with peanuts.

Continue reading “Prevent peanut allergies in your baby”

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