Allergy Explained

Everything you need to know about Allergy

You must have heard people using this term very often. Common people use it to refer to a substance that causes a certain abnormal condition or response. For example:

  • Sneezing when exposed to fragrance, pollen, or dust
  • When some people take nuts, or a certain fruit in their diet, their mouth swells
  • Some people get red, inflamed, itchy skin when they wear a certain type of jewelry such as nickel

In these examples, the allergens are fragrance, dust, pollen nickel, and nuts: these substances elicit allergic responses which are sneezing, inflamed and itchy skin, and swelling of the mouth. And the people having such conditions are said to be allergic or atopic.

But very few people know the biology of an allergy. More specifically, pathophysiology and biochemistry.

What is an allergy?

The immune system of your body is specialized to form antibodies against the agent that invades or intrudes the body. It can be a bacterium, virus, toxin, a chemical drug, or even a splinter. These anti-bodies serve to kill and destroy the invading agent. Otherwise, it may be harmful to the body. This is how the immune system works.

Sometimes, it so happens that the body perceives a substance as a foreign body and attacks for protection. But this substance is harmless and does not elicit such a response in other people. The allergic response is the same reaction but to the wrong substance and without control. Symptoms are variable in their severity.

What causes an allergy?

Always, it is the exposure to the antigen that stimulates the allergic response. Going deeper, the real cause that makes a person hypersensitive is unknown. But genetic predisposition has been observed.

What are the Symptoms of Allergies?

Food Allergy

Symptoms depend on the type of allergy.

For food allergies, symptoms may include:

  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Swelling fatigue

Pollens, dust mites, or pet dander are classic seasonal allergens. Hay fever has been most commonly observed. Its symptoms include:

  • Puffy eyes
  • Runny nose and eyes
  • Clogged ears
  • Fatigue and irritability
  • Headaches
  • Sore throat

Skin allergies largely result from contact with the allergen. And they may also be the consequence of some food allergen. In both cases, common skin allergies include:

  • Eczema
  • Rashes
  • Dermatitis
  • Itching

Anaphylaxis is a symptom of your allergy getting severe. You need medical attention in such a condition.

Allergy testing & diagnosis

Allergy testing

Allergies are tested mainly by observation. But, most often there is a delay in the onset of the reaction after the exposure to the allergen. So, this may not work every time. Your doctor will point the allergen out by tracing back from an unusual object that you may have taken or contacted. An allergy test is then performed for the confirmation of the suspected allergen. Allergy test in Singapore is done through a few options. These options include:

  • Skin Prick Test (SPT)
  • Intradermal Skin Test
  • Blood tests (Specific IgE)
  • Patch test

Allergy treatment

Avoiding the allergen comes naturally. But in many allergies, it is not possible. For that medical treatment is suggested.

Medical Treatment

Medial treatment offers antihistamine, decongestant, and Mast Cell and Leukotriene inhibitor drugs to deal with allergy symptoms. These include:

  • Anti-histamines
  • Chlorpheniramine
  • Fexofenadine
  • Cetirizine
  • Loratadine
  • Diphenhydramine
  • Decongestants
  • Oxymetazoline
  • Desloratadine
  • Pseudoephedrine
  • Corticosteroids
  • Mometasone
  • Fluticasone furoate
  • Budesonide
  • Ciclesonide
  • Fluticasone
  • Mast cell Stabilizers
  • Cromolyn
  • Nedocromil
  • Lodoxamide
  • Leukotriene Inhibitors

Leukotriene is one of the substances that are involved in the whole set up of an allergic response. Leukotriene inhibitors inhibit leukotrienes and thus relieve allergy symptoms.

Immunotherapy

For allergies that cannot be avoided or for which drugs prove ineffective, immunotherapy is an option. Immunotherapy is the type of treatment where an atopic person is exposed to the allergen in gradually increasing amounts over time. This is the training of the body not to react to the substance.

Immunotherapy is done by:

Shots: You go through a series of injections with intervals of one or two weeks. This serves to introduce the allergen to your body.

Sublingual Immunotherapy: In this type, allergen-containing tablets are administered. For example, pollen extracts.

Biological medication: This involves targeting the reactions of the body only that are concerned with eliciting the allergic response.

Epinephrine Shot: An allergic response is uncontrolled. But sometimes it can become life-threatening. Such a condition is characterized by difficult breathing and swallowing. For such conditions, one or two epinephrine shots are life-saving.

Natural Allergy Remedies

  • Avoid the allergen.
  • Cleanse your nose regularly if your allergen is of environmental type
  • Add to your diet items that detox your body
  • Use prebiotics and probiotics
  • Avoid stress. Stress hormones may also be involved in worsening your allergy.
  • Use essential oils in your diet, hot beverages, or topically.
  • Keep your house, workplace, and car clean.

Types of common allergies in Singapore

Every one in three Singaporeans is subject to some allergic conditions. Some of the most common allergies in Singapore are:

  • Dust mites
  • Shellfish
  • Peanuts
  • Galactooligosaccharides (GOS)

When should you consult an allergist?

You may need to consult an allergist not only for treatment and prescription but for diagnosis and confirmation as well. Even after prescription, medications may not prove helpful. Or allergy can simply get worse every time. To sum up, you should consider going to a food allergy test clinic if you experienced any of these:

  • Chronic infections
  • Difficult breathing
  • Your daily activities are crippled
  • Antihistamines and corticosteroids are not helping you
  • You are developing severe and worsening symptoms of asthma

Key Takeaways

When you understand what causes an allergy to develop, it will be easier for you to manage and avoid it. The best way is to avoid the allergen. When it is not possible, you can also go for immunotherapy and medication.

Natural remedies are also a good option to take the allergy slowly and manage it better. You should seek the help and guidance of an allergist like Ear and Allergy Clinic Singapore for the proper diagnosis and the suggested treatment of your allergy. Especially, when it keeps getting worse and leads you to conditions such as anaphylaxis.

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Is Surgery Required For Treating Foot Problems

When Is Surgery Required

Foot surgery is a rare medical procedure that works to correct foot and ankle problems. The decision to undergo foot surgery depends on the severity of the case and what you want. On the other hand, your response to prior treatment and special footwear is also to be considered.

Your surgeon’s take on the issue and your choice of lifestyle will also help decide whether you will get in the surgeon’s room to treat the problems that are caused by the deformation of the bones.

 

What causes foot complications?

Injuries on the foot and even complications like arthritis make the feet painful, cause difficulty when walking and even interfere with your normal walking. Surely, nobody wants to walk funny and even feel pain in their feet as the feet are really sensitive!

 

Common Types of Surgery

Bunions are lumps that occur at the sides of the big toe. This unpleasant condition causes the big toe joint to appear bent. This can be corrected by a bunion surgery, one that straightens the big toe and the metatarsals.

Flat feet surgery is a reconstruction procedure that is carried out to reduce pain on the feet. This is the treatment for cases where someone’s feet arches are rather low and orthotic insoles have not done enough to help. This case arises from the deformation of the foot or a destroyed tendon.

This process is simple and only takes one night to be completed. A plaster cast that runs to the knee will help keep the foot numb and free of pain. The orthopedic surgeon will advise on how to take care of the foot and you will need follow-up appointments to recover fast.

Another condition that needs foot surgery is plantar fasciitis. This is the inflammation of the part of the fascia that is connected to the heel. A plantar fasciitis surgery is required to recover from this, one that takes less than sixty minutes and little time to recover.

Foot surgery, although rare, may turn out to be a great pain reliever when done at the right time. Foot surgery helps to
• Relieve patients of pain
• Improve the function and movement of the feet
• Comfortability when wearing footwear
• Make your feet regain their natural appearance, or even get more attractive

The mention of foot surgery may give chills, make you nervous, or even stressed. However, all it takes is a little research on the topic and you will wave goodbye to your worries.

Conclusion
Research shows that foot and ankle surgery is a process that is rapidly getting common in the corridors of our hospitals. Many are taking to the process to correct the complications of their feet so that they may be able to walk normally and wear normal footwear. It is also recommended early enough as the pain may cause more complications on the feet.

 

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Custom Foot Orthotics Can Help Relieve Plantar Fasciitis, Bunion, Flat Feet Pain

Common Problems

Most people spend some time of their day either standing or walking, and this may be very painful for them if they suffer from a foot-related problem like bunions, plantar fasciitis, or flatness of feet. While some of these foot pain-causing problems like flat feet are hereditary, other problems may be caused by wearing the wrong type of footwear, overuse of feet due to physical activities like running, jogging, being overweight, old age, and walking on surfaces without footwear.

Most people who are suffering from foot pain will contact a podiatrist who will be able to recommend custom orthotics for flat feet and suitable orthotic shoe inserts.

Treatment Options

While the doctor treating the foot pain, may recommend some medicines, ointments to treat the foot pain and recommend lifestyle changes, he or she will usually also ask the patient to get suitable orthotic inserts for shoes made to alleviate the food pain. These shoe inserts are custom designed by the foot doctor for the patient after taking the dimensions of the foot which is in pain and designing suitable inserts to alleviate the pain. The orthotic insoles will reduce the pressure or stress on the foot area which is in pain, and the material is specially selected to maximize the comfort of the patient.

Bunion Cause & Treatment

A bunion is a bony projection that is found at the joint which is found at the base of the big toe on the foot, which is often painful. Some of the causes of bunions on feet are pressing the large toe, against the second toe of the foot, usually caused by wearing tight shoes, high heels, stress, injuries of the foot, due to hereditary factors.

Other than wearing comfortable well-fitting shoes which are not tight, the patient can use customized bunion orthotics to reduce the pain experienced and cure the bunion.

The doctor will design suitable bunion orthotics and teach the patient how to use them to reduce or eliminate the bunions.

Flat Feet Cause & Treatment

The feet of a person, is said to be flat if the foot arches are not providing the necessary support to the feet either partially or completely. While some people have feet that are flat due to hereditary factors, others find that their feet are flat due to aging or damage to their tissues. If not treated, this problem can adversely affect the other joints in the body like the knee, ankles, hips as the stress of carrying the weight of the body are transmitted.

Flat Feet treatment using custom made orthotics

So it is important to get custom orthotic insoles made for flat feet, incorporating the arches so that the feet get the required support. In some cases, if the flatness of feet is not treated other tissues of the foot may also be affected. Speak to your podiatrist whether you need a pair of custom-made flat feet insoles before going out to get one.

 

Plantar Fasciitis Cause & Treatment

The plantar fascia is the tissue that connects the toes to the heel bone, and this tissue can get inflamed due to a number of reasons resulting in plantar fasciitis.

Some of the reasons are walking or running for a long period of time, aging, obesity, and wearing footwear without cushions. Since the condition can be painful and will get aggravated if not treated, it is recommended that the patient consults a doctor specializing in foot pain, to get suitable plantar fasciitis orthotic insoles made for the patient. The orthotics will provide the necessary cushioning for the foot, to reduce the stress on the tissues. According to recent studies, insoles for plantar fasciitis proved to be an effective treatment.…

Welcome To The Foot Institute

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From the initial consultation to the scheduling of surgical procedures, you will receive a customized treatment plan tailored to your concerns.

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