Dealing with a Drip

FitSugar — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 07:30:00 -0700

The season of ragweed is upon us. Are your allergies causing some post nasal drip issues? When your nose creates mucus to trap allergens and germs, a thin film of this stream of goo travels down the back of your throat. Your body then disposes of these microorganisms through your digestive system (that grosses me out a bit even though I know it is perfectly natural).

Under normal circumstances, when ragweed is not spreading its billions of pollen spores about, you swallow the mucus unknowingly. When you're producing more mucus than usual, you may feel the postnasal drip accumulating in the back of your throat, or at least irritating it.

Here are a few ways the Mayo Clinic suggests you deal with the drip!

Steer clean of irritants. Substances that bug your nose will stimulate mucus production so avoid cigarette smoke and sudden temperature changes — like going from extreme heat into air conditioning, for instance.
Stay hydrated: Water is the answer! Drinking plenty of water will help with this postnasal mucus and therefore make it easier to swallow.
Use a humidifier: Moist air helps keep the mucus thin as well.
Neti Pot: Saltwater rinses with a neti pot help rid your nose of mucus building irritants. If you don't "neti" try an over the counter saline spray to thin your mucus and get rid of irritants. You can always make you own solution by dissolving 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of salt in 2 cups of warm water.
Talk to your Doc: If none of the above suggestions help, contact you doctor and hopefully he or she can help.

Source

Peanut Allergies: Progress Made

FitSugar — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 09:30:00 -0800

About 1% of the U.S. population has a peanut allergy. The percentage may seem small, but since reactions can be fatal, finding a way to prevent it is becoming increasingly important. Many schools even ban peanut butter from children's bagged lunches.

That's why this news is so promising. Progress has been made in desensitizing children with peanut allergies using a form of immunotherapy - a common form is allergy shots.

For years, allergists have injected patients with tiny amounts of the allergens that bother them, be it bee stings or pollen, and their bodies have built up a tolerance for them. So when they come in contact with something they are allergic to in the future, their bodies recognize it, and their reaction is next to nothing.

Dr. Scott David Nash from Duke University conducted a study with his team. They decided to try Oral Peanut Immunotherapy. They gave 8 children with known peanut allergies, increasing doses of peanut protein in the form of a flour mixed with applesauce.

The entire test took about 2 years, beginning with trace amounts of peanuts, and working up to eating the equivalent of 1 peanut a day for the last 18 months.

At the end of the study, the 7 children (1 dropped out) who completed it were given a "food challenge" involving 8g of peanut flour, or about 13 peanuts. 5 of the 7 children passed the challenge. This study showed that their immune systems developed a growing tolerance to peanuts.

This is incredible news for people with peanut allergies. The fear they live with, worrying everyday whether or not they'll accidentally touch or eat something containing peanuts is way too agonizing. This gives them some much needed hope.

FitSugar -- Healthy, happy you.

Dealing with a Drip

Peanut Allergies: Progress Made