Category: Allergy

Health Conditions That Mimic Asthma Symptoms

Experiencing asthma symptoms doesn’t guarantee an asthma diagnosis. There are numerous health conditions that can mimic asthma by causing trouble breathing, coughing, and wheezing. 

Before assuming that you have asthma, visit a specialist like Dr. Jaime Kratz for an evaluation. Dr. Kratz can determine whether you’re suffering from asthma or a different health condition and ensure that you receive the appropriate treatment.  Continue reading “Health Conditions That Mimic Asthma Symptoms” →

Chronic rhinitis is the term used to describe persistent inflammation in the nose’s inner lining. Rhinitis may be considered chronic if it lasts longer than four consecutive weeks, although it may last for months or even years in some individuals. This condition can be very uncomfortable, but maybe successfully treated with a proper diagnosis. 

What Causes Chronic Rhinitis?

In most cases, it can be caused by allergies. There are several allergens that can trigger rhinitis, such as pollen, mold, dust mites, and pet dander. It can also occur when patients have many different allergy triggers, making them difficult to avoid. However, many treatments are available for allergic rhinitis, including allergy shots.  Continue reading “What is Chronic Rhinitis?” →

Mainly in children, studies have shown that allergy symptoms are linked to a higher risk of ADHD. Understanding this connection and ensuring that children receive the allergy treatment that they need can help preserve their long-term wellbeing. 

What is ADHD?

ADHD stands for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. This condition affects many adults, but is one of the most prevalent mental disorders among children. The main symptoms include hyperactivity, inattention, and impulsivity. Continue reading “The Link Between Allergies and ADHD” →

Common Allergens in Florida During the Winter

Many people associate allergies with springtime, but there are many common allergens that strike in Florida during the winter. To avoid getting blindsided by allergies during the coldest months of the year, keep reading to learn about the most common winter allergens in the Sunshine State. 

Dust

Since people generally spend more time inside during the winter, indoor allergens get their time to shine. Dust is one of the most prevalent indoor allergens. When your heater turns on for the season, it often kicks up dust that’s been sitting in your HVAC system all summer long. As a result, dust can circulate throughout your home and cause allergy symptoms. 

Continue reading “Common Allergens in Florida During the Winter” →

Food allergies are highly common among both adults and children. While virtually any food can trigger an allergic reaction, certain foods more commonly trigger allergies than others. In fact, according to Food Allergy Research and Education, or FARE, eight foods make up 90% of all food allergies. 

What is a Food Allergy?

A food allergy occurs when the immune system mistakenly identifies some of the proteins in food as a threat. In response, the immune system attacks the protein by releasing chemicals such as histamine. This causes inflammation in the body and can lead to various symptoms of an allergic reaction, including trouble breathing, low blood pressure, diarrhea, hives, vomiting, rash, and swelling of the face, tongue, or mouth. Severe food allergies may even cause anaphylaxis.   Continue reading “Common Food Allergies” →

Are you experiencing red, itchy, and watery eyes? If so, you may be suffering from allergic conjunctivitis. This common form of allergies occurs when the eyes are exposed to a certain substance, or allergen, that triggers an immune reaction. 

This generally isn’t serious, but it can be very uncomfortable. Let’s learn more about this condition, how it’s treated, and what can be done to prevent it. 

Defining Allergic Conjunctivitis

Allergic conjunctivitis happens when the eyes come into contact with a substance that the immune system perceives as a threat. In response to the perceived threat, the immune system releases histamine and other substances through a type of white blood cells called mast cells. This process causes the blood vessels in the eyes to dilate, which aggravates nerve endings and triggers increased tear secretion, leading to various symptoms, including: Continue reading “What is Allergic Conjunctivitis?” →

Dry Eyes vs Allergies: How to Tell the Difference

Dry eyes and allergies are both common causes of eye irritation and discomfort. But, these conditions have clear differences and require separate treatments. Understanding the difference between the symptoms of dry eyes and allergies can help you differentiate these conditions and get the proper care that you need.  

Dry Eye

Dry eye is a condition that happens when the eyes don’t produce enough tears for adequate lubrication. This condition may also occur in people who produce low-quality tears, meaning that their tears don’t evenly spread over the surface of the eyes or evaporate too rapidly. Continue reading “Dry Eyes vs Allergies: How to Tell the Difference” →

Pets are invaluable companions that provide opportunities to go outside, exercise, and even socialize with other pet owners. For kids, pets are an excellent way to teach responsibility. While the benefits of owning a pet are plentiful, many people can’t enjoy spending time with them due to allergies. 

If you’re allergic to pet dander, there are still ways for you to be a pet owner. There are many hypoallergenic pets that are no less lovable than the animals that give you allergy symptoms.  Continue reading “Great Hypoallergenic Pets for People with Allergies” →

Tips on Limiting Pet Dander in Your Home to Improve Allergies

Pet dander is one of the most common indoor allergens. But, regardless of the sneezing, coughing, and itchy eyes that can result from our furry friends, they’re a part of our families. 

If you have a pet and suffer from allergy symptoms due to dander, there are strategies that you can use to limit the amount of dander in your home. By keeping the accumulation of dander to a minimum, you can continue loving your family pet without the discomfort of indoor allergy symptoms.   Continue reading “Tips on Limiting Pet Dander in Your Home to Improve Allergies” →

In the United States, approximately 8% of adults and 7% of children have asthma. It’s a prevalent condition with no cure, although there are many effective treatments available to manage the symptoms. There are several factors that may play a role in asthma development, one of which being viral infections.

There is more research yet to be done about the connection between viral infections and the risk of developing asthma. However, with current findings, it’s clear that there is a link between some viruses and asthma development, mainly in children.  Continue reading “How Viral Infections Play a Role in Asthma Development” →