Allergies (III)

For most people, allergies are no more than another frustrating fact of life. An immune response is triggered by a substance that is generally harmless, such as a specific food. However, for those who suffer severe allergic reaction, it can be life-threatening.

What is allergy?

 

An allergy is an inappropriate response by the body’s immune system to a substance non-toxic in nature. As our immune system provides the defence against pathogens, it mobilises our white blood cells to rid them. However, there are instances where it spots a non-toxic substance as an invader and overacts, causing damage to the body as such. Pollen, molds, dusts, certain metals, cosmetics, some food additives and foods, chemicals found in soap, washing powder, cleaning supplies contain substances that provoke allergic responses are some common allergens.

Who can be affected?

Compared to a few decades ago, allergic reaction in children seems to be a common complaint these days especially in developed countries. Strangely, the pattern of allergy is also changing. It used to be more incidence of asthma and allergic rhinitis. However, recent studies showed that skin and food allergies are catching up too.


(A)  FOOD allergies are more common in children than adults, given their underdeveloped immune system. However, most children outgrow their food allergies by 5 years old with maturing immunity, with exception of certain allergies like peanuts, tree nuts or shellfish.

 

 

Unlike children, once adults acquire a food allergy, it tends to persist. This adverse reaction can happen during the first trial or a repeat but previously tolerant of. Though food may be taken for the first time, but it may share a similar protein to another food sensitised or allergic to. An allergy syndrome that affects the mouth and tongue may occur after eating certain fresh fruits and vegetables that contain substances similar to certain pollens. For example, melon contains substances similar to ragweed pollen and apples have allergens similar to tree pollen. The prime suspect is auto-immune disorder especially when a protein in the food acts as an allergic component upon entering the body and being mistaken for a harmful substance.


The food range is wider of which seafood such as shrimps and crabs are frequently cited. Other intolerances are corn products, cow’s milk and dairy products, and wheat and other gluten-containing grains. Contrary to most beliefs, food additives, such as dyes, thickeners and preservatives may rarely cause an allergic or intolerance reaction.  Many people believe they have food allergies, while in reality fewer than 1% have true allergies.


Symptoms usually begin immediately, within 2 hours after eating. Rarely, the symptoms may begin hours after eating the offending food. The immune system responds by creating immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies to protect the body. At this point is considered ‘sensitised‘ but not yet allergic.

 

Upon subsequent encounters with the same food invoking the same reaction, it triggers the release of IgE antibodies and chemicals such as histamines. This is confirmed an allergy, with accompanying symptoms like hives, itching, nausea, diarrhoea and vomiting. Other symptoms manifesting include:

 

- Impaired health possibilities like asthma attack, sinusitis or eczema, arthritis, indigestion, abdominal pain, depression, chronic fatigue, fainting.

- Skin rashes, wheezing, nasal congestion, running nose, headache, itching of the mouth, throat, eyes, skin or any area, shortness of breath.

In more severe cases, the throat tightens and the blood pressure drops, loss of consciousness and possibly death. Allergens most frequently associated with this type of drastic reaction are peanuts, nuts, milk, egg and seafood.


(B) SKIN allergies can be broadly categorized into hives with/without swelling and dermatitis (eg. eczema).

- Hives are itchy rashes characterized by localized redness and swelling of the skin with tiny lesions to large itchy welts. About 15% of people develop an episode in their lifetime. The duration can be few days or up to six weeks whilst chronic cases can persist more than six weeks. It can manifest due to swelling in the deeper layers of the skin, most often involves the eyelids, lips, tongue, hands and feet.


-  Dermatitis is an inflammation of the skin and rashes are usually red, scaly and itchy.

Commonly referred to as eczema, it can also result in dryness and hypersensitivity. Owing to hereditary factor and lower immunity, 20% of children end up having this condition by three years old. Thereafter, it should improve as the child gets older. However, some eczema might persist into adulthood. The affected areas are the face, neck, elbow and the back of the knees. The causative agents are food and environmental allergens, stress, weather changes and irritants. As dry skin is the hallmark of eczema, keeping the skin moisturized is necessary to prevent allergens from penetrating it. 

Causes


It is believed to be attributed to industrialization, change in dietary habits and environmental pollutants as the switching on and off of regulatory genes promotes the immune system to be more reactive/allergic. Other possible causes are:


+ Genetic factor

 

The tendency of an individual to produce IgE against something seemingly as innocuous as food appears to be inherited. Generally, people with allergies come from families in which allergies are common - not necessarily to food but perhaps allergies to pollen, fur, feathers or drugs.
 

Statistics showed a person with two allergic parents is more likely to develop food allergies than someone with one allergic parent. The chance of a child getting allergy is 1/3 if a parent has allergies and risen to 3/4 if both have such problems.

 

+ Other allergies like asthma, eczema, allergic rhinitis (mostly inherited)

 

+ Immune system

 

Two components are involved. As mentioned above, an antibody called immunoglobulin E (IgE), which circulates through the blood, and the mast cell, a specialized cell that is found in all tissues of the body, especially the typical sites of allergic reactions such as nose and throat, lungs, skin and gastrointestinal tract.

 

Cells of the immune system are distributed all over our body in organs such as the bone marrow, spleen and lymph nodes. The highest numbers of immune cells surround our gut and thus the gut immune system plays an important role in the development of IgE-mediated food allergy.

 

+ Gut environment

 

- A foetus starts off with a sterile gut and through time, bacteria and other microorganisms from the mother and the surrounding environment colonize the infant’s gut. In a healthy adult, there are no less than 400 different species of beneficial bacteria. Research suggests that these microorganisms are involved in a range of useful functions, such as teaching the gut immune system to recognise foods as harmless.

 

Is likely that changes in the composition of bacteria in the gut (e.g. caused by antibiotics) may result in the development of food allergy. It has been observed by researchers that allergic and non-allergic infants have different mixtures of bacteria in their guts and thus prevention of allergy can be done by changing this mixture. It is found that breastfeeding babies are less likely to develop allergies because infant formula is likely to contain certain allergenic ingredients such as cow’s milk according to a research by the University of Pittsburgh Medical Centre. Hence, pregnant women should avoid cow’s milk and other allergenic foods.

 

- If the food is not broken down properly in the gut, food allergens are given the chance to circulate in the body. This happens in individuals with reduced stomach acidity (e.g. taking too much drugs) who may be predisposed to becoming food allergic or it may worsen the symptoms of a pre-existing food allergy.

 

- Leaky gut syndrome occurs when the lining of the intestinal tract becomes perforated and irritated, with some partially digested food entering the bloodstream and causes an allergic reaction.

 

We can safely conclude from statistics gathered that allergic people tend to have weaker digestive systems due to a lack of friendly bacteria. Low digestive enzymes slow down the breaking process and resultant gas built up that can be re-circulated into the bloodstream, provoking the immune system to produce symptoms.

 

Recommended actions

 

+ Foods to avoid

 

- Common allergic foods to watch out are: chocolate, dairy products, eggs, shellfish, strawberries, wheat, prawns.

- As for eczema sufferers, avoid high-sugar and refined or processed foods as they can stimulate inflammation, along with meats and dairy products containing saturated fats. Coffee may also worsen eczema, so eliminating coffee from the diet may help.

 

+ Foods to include

 

- Counteract with natural products containing flavonoids such as quercitin (found in apples, onions, red wine and black tea) and grape seed extract as they have anti-histamine effect.

- Honey, Omega 3 and primrose oil can help to reduce inflammation.

 

+ Self-test

 

- Finding the specific foods one is allergic to is a challenging task. Many tests have to be carried out with total avoidance of all ‘suspected foods’ and introduce each singly to check for reaction. Elimination and abstinence cannot be practised for an extended time as it affects one’s quality of life and gives undue stress. After long trials it can drain the body of essential nutrients.

 

Before proceeding for elaborate lab test, you may like to conduct a simple allergy test. In a relaxed mode, take count of the number of beats in a minute on your wrist. A normal pulse reading is between 52-70. Take the food you suspect allergic to and wait another 20 mins to do a second reading. If the rate increased more than 10 beats per min, omit this food from your diet for a month and repeat the test. Similar results yield positive correlation. Preferably choose the suspected food in its purest form (not mixing with other ingredients) to determine the culprit responsible.

 

+ Lab test
 

- A better way to detect allergies is to measure the levels of the immune protein IgG (delayed allergy) and IgE (immediate allergy) present on most common foods taken, or known as immune markers of allergy.

 

Source: Straits Times, Mind your Body Jun 2, 2011;

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001820/

Conclusion

For majority of the people, the primary underlying cause for allergies is a weak constitution. A major step to take is to detoxify and strengthen the vital organ - liver.  This is to follow with good supplementation to experience decreased food reactions, and disappearance of accompanying symptoms to enjoy a new lease of life!

VIVA corner

VIVA Omega 3 in triglyceride form is 3 times more absorbable than a non-triglyceride form and has higher content of EPA and DHA available in the market. Both EPA and DHA can inhibit tumor growth and reduce inflammation effectively as explained by the University of Maryland due to its ability to decrease levels of leukotriene B4.

Every scoop of VIVA Floraguard introduces 10.2 billion friendly bacteria into our digestive system. These so-called probiotics help to ease allergic reactions and improve digestion quickly.


VIVA Cellpex has an important ingredient - milk thistle that can help to eliminate toxins and strengthen the liver function. Another key ingredient - grape seed extract has anti-histamine effect.

 

Vivashield with its potent 4 in 1 antioxidant combination has antihistamine actions that can decrease allergy response and support the immune system, rendering help in treating serious skin allergies like psoriasis and eczema symptoms, reducing skin inflammation, itching, redness, scaling and dryness.

My nose is dripping again!

A study conducted by a pharmaceutical company showed about 1 out of 10 persons in Singapore suffering from sinusitis, an inflammation of the nasal sinuses. It is a frustrating experience for 20% of them seeking medication weekly.

An acute sinusitis is frequently caused by bacterial and viral infection eg. a common cold that lasts for a month but is not life-threatening. Kids are vulnerable to such attacks given their weak immunity. It can develop in them as a result of chronic infection of the adenoids and tonsils. In some cases, a dental infection that spreads from the tooth root to the maxillary sinus, inside the cheeks is also possible.

There are severe cases where the spread to the brain causes serious infection and abscess, leading to partial blindness. Sinus surgery has to be performed to drain the sinuses and pus from the affected area. The good news are – nasal sinus allergies tend to get better with age and is treatable.

Chronic sinusitis stretches beyond 2 months when it breaks out due to irritants like air pollution, emotional stress, smoking, and exposure to allergic substances. More severe chronic cases can adversely affect one’s quality of life, especially for those with a greater inborn allergic tendency with allergic rhinitis, nasal allergy, asthma and skin eczema co-exist in the same patient.

Structure/Causes

The sinuses are air-filled spaces in the skull (behind the forehead, nasal bones, cheeks, and eyes) that are lined with mucus membranes to trap foreign particles. Another function of the sinuses is to regulate temperature and humidity of the air that we breathe in. Along the lining is hair-like fibres that clear mucus together with unwanted particles.

Healthy sinuses contain no bacteria or other germs as the mucus is able to drain out and air is able to circulate freely. They are the first line of defence in protecting the lungs against infection.

However, when the sinus openings become blocked or too much mucus builds up, bacteria and other germs can grow more easily. Sinusitis can occur from one of these conditions:

• The hair-like fibres do not work properly due to some medical conditions.
• Colds and allergies may cause too much mucus to be made or block the opening of the sinuses.
• A deviated nasal septum, nasal bone spur or nasal polyps may block the opening of the sinuses.

Our nasal and sinus passages are very narrow and excess mucus collected in the sinuses during a cold or allergy attack can lead to inflammation, blocking the proper drainage paths which most likely cause the flow direct to the throat or nostrils. This situation is aggravated for patients who are allergy-prone with swollen nasal turbinates. Pressure in the sinuses can increase and inflict pain.

Symptoms

Acute sinusitis usually follows a cold that does not improve, or one that worsens after a week of symptoms like:

+ fever
+ cough, often worst at night
+ aching on head, ears, teeth, face
+ difficulty in breathing through the nose and sore throat
+ loss of the sense of smell
+ tenderness over the forehead and cheekbones
+ bad breath

Symptoms of chronic sinusitis are the same as those of acute sinusitis, but tend to be milder and last longer than 12 weeks. For children, symptoms include:

• Cold or respiratory illness that has been improving and then begins to get worse
• High fever, along with a darkened nasal discharge, for at least 3 days
• Nasal discharge, with or without a cough, that has been present for more than 10 days and is not improving

Prevention

+ Stay healthy at all times
+ Seek medical advice if develop thick mucus, yellow-green discharge or facial pain or congestion
+ Avoid the allergens you know and control the environment to prevent such contacts
+ Do without airconditioning during your sleep if possible. If need to improve ventilation, use a fan or humidifier
+  Drink more water
+ Surgery may be recommended for those whose conditions cannot be alleviated by medication

Natural treatment

According to German researchers, horseradish naturally revs up blood flow to the sinus cavities, helping to open and drain clogged sinuses and heal sinus infections more quickly than decongestant sprays do.

Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001670/

VIVA corner

People with compromised immune systems are susceptible to sinusitis and other forms of allergies, some endangering to life. Taking good nutrients may go a long way in treating the condition.

+ VIVA Floraguard with abundant friendly bacteria is crucial for a healthy gastrointestinal tract, especially if antibiotics are applied and kill the good guys as well. It can also promote the growth of our natural killer cells to destroy pathogens.

+ VIVAshield, a combination of 4 potent antioxidants enhances the immune system, protects against cold, flu and other infections.

+ VIVA Dailyguard a strong multivitamins helps to improve overall health and assure proper nutrition.

+ VIVA Biogarlic provides check on bacterial and viral infection and acts as immune system stimulant.



Testimony

Ever since my childhood days, sinus was a problem bothering me so much.  My nose was constantly blocked and clogged badly with mucus especially in the morning causing discomfort and fatigue.   Regular visits to private specialists for special treatments was the only alternative but to no avail as only temporary relief was possible then.

In 2001 I was introduced to VIVA Life Science and decided to try out if it can be remedied. 3 products, namely Green Barley,

Lipoguard and Dailyguard were recommended to detox for better blood circulation and boost the immune system.

Miraculously they worked so well that barely 2 months my sinus was gone.  I continue to take Green Barley daily and suffer no relapse since then.  What a wonder!  No more visits to the nasal specialists and limited visits to doctors for general health problems.  As an additional benefit, my weight has remained consistent even when age catches up.  (hard to guess my age!)

Susan Tan (ID 70000652)

Stay Healthy WITHOUT Airconditioning

  

How many of us can do without airconditioning?  Not possible in a dry and humid climate like Singapore.  It is no longer a luxury but a necessity in our daily life whether in our working place or home.  In fact, majority of us know that airconditioning is bad for the health, and contributes to medical problems like cough, cold, asthma, sinus, dry skin and eyes but simply cannot live without it.

(1)  Respiratory infections

When exposed suddenly to cold and dry air, the lining of the nose becomes irritated and inflamed, and starts to produce mucus.  This nasal congestion problem can extend with mucus dripping into the throat and induce a cough to expel it.  However, if the irritant is not removed, bacteria moves in to thrive on the stagnant fluid.  Excessive amount can cause an infection. People with sensitive nose or nasal allergies are prone to this problem.

Asthma patients also experience attack in such an environment.  This happens when sensitive airways react to a trigger factor like cold and dry air by tightening and becoming inflamed, causing coughing, wheezing and breathing difficulties. Those sufferers should take their medications regularly to minimise the risk of irritation and symptoms.

Not forgetting that aircondition unit itself is a fertile ground for breeding mold and bacteria, such as legionella, responsible for fatal pneumonia.  Just by inhaling the mist of water vapour emitting from the aircon is good enough to introduce harmful bacteria into the body.  This is how the ‘sick building syndrome’ comes about when harmful bacteria get trapped into an aircon unit and travel far and wide in a building sharing a common aircon system spreading its contagious effect.

Advice is to service the airconditioning unit every 3 months, and apply a chemical wash or disinfect yearly.

(2)  Skin woes

Reduced humidity in an aircon space promotes drier skin as the dry air blowing out absorbs moisture from the skin.  The external irritants worsen certain skin conditions like dry skin, eczema and ichthyosis (dry and scaly).  Hence, prolonged exposure to dry air can result in faster degeneration of body cells, causing wrinkle formation and premature aging.  Oil secreted by the sebaceous glands that lubricates the surface of the skin and protects the moisture in the cells is ‘scraped off’ exposing them to the thin air resulting in evaporation.  This results in sagging cells losing the elasticity, radiance and plump-up features.

Advice is to apply moisturiser on the skin 2-3 times a day.

(3)  Dry eyes

Constant exposure to airconditioning leads to faster evaporation of tears, resulting in eye discomfort and fatigue, and blurring of vision.

Use artificial tear eye drops if your eyes are feeling dry.

(4)  Cost savings

Huge savings if you turned off the airconditioning.  Switching to an electric fan can save as much as 90% of the utility bill.  On extremely hot weather, you can turn on the aircon but use an air humidifier to make the air less dry.

Conclusion

For the betterment of our planet, conservation of energy is a prerogative for everyone.  We should help to reduce the amount of fossil fuels burnt to produce energy and the volume of greenhouses gases generated, including carbon dioxide, which are released during the burning process.

Source:  ST Mind your Body, Mar 31, 2011

VIVA corner

Taking VIVAShield helps to strengthen and protect the skin tissue as it contains potent antioxidants that neutralises free radicals.

VIVA Omega 3 helps to replace the oil on the skin lost from the damage caused by long exposure to dry air.

VIVA Refresh detoxifying toner and Rejuvenate Mask can help to restore the healthy tone to the damaged skin by adding moisture, coenzyme 10 and collagen to the hungry and thirsty cells.