Health News. Lots of resources and information

Some of the biggest problems that arise in managing a permanent special diet stem from organising them alongside normal family meals. If one or two foods have to be avoided, it is not usually much of a problem to accommodate within ordinary household catering; but if more foods are involved, or if more than one household member has a special diet, then it can become a nightmare of planning and juggling.

One solution that people sometimes adopt is to put the whole household on to the special diet, or something close to it. It is often easier to organise and plan this way, but it has some drawbacks. It often causes stupendous rows, it can be very costly (depending on the foods you have to eat), and it can have one unforeseen consequence – it occasionally reveals that other family members have food allergies and intolerances too, unmasked by the special diet, and they start to get sharp reactions typical of an exclusion diet. It is not a good idea to put anyone through that process without good reason, without supervision or without foresight.

You may well have hidden food sensitivity in your family, given that allergy and food intolerance often run in families, and that mild symptoms often go undetected and unreported. It is better either to leave it alone, or to sort it out systematically, rather than find it out by accident when one family member starts following another’s special diet. So keep the special diet just for the person for whom it is designed.

*130\117\8*

Tags: Allergies
Posted in Allergies | No Comments »

A final factor in judging where chemicals are likely to cause reactions is that of ‘chemical load’ or overload of the system. The load effect is also known as the ‘cocktail effect’. People with chemical sensitivity often appear to react to a wide range of chemicals and their tolerance to specific chemicals can vary. Sometimes they will react to a given chemical and at other times they can tolerate up to a certain amount. One explanation for this may lie with the body’s mechanisms for detoxifying chemicals. From studies of toxic exposures, it has been shown that exposure to two or more chemicals can be much more harmful than exposure to one alone, the reason being that if the same enzyme is required to break down the chemicals, there can be an inadequate supply of the enzyme, and of the catalyst or cofactors needed to help that and other chemical processes in the body. The chemically sensitive person’s ability to cope with chemicals in their environment may, therefore, depend on their overall ‘load’ of chemicals (and hence demands on their enzyme systems). This is perhaps the reason why a tiny extra amount of chemical load can often be enough to take a chemically sensitive person over their tolerance level and cause reactions.

The load effect is important when thinking about what chemicals might cause you to react. Some chemicals are more troublesome than others and consistently cause problems, but your overall load of chemicals may aggravate the situation by overloading your system.

This is why, when talking about avoidance of chemicals below, it is often good to try to reduce your overall load of chemicals, as well as to avoid chemicals to which you know you are specifically sensitive. Reducing overall load can actually improve your tolerance of specific substances.

In addition, some people cross-react to chemicals, that is their bodies recognise substances that are chemically related and react to them.

*61\117\8*

Tags: Allergies
Posted in Allergies | No Comments »

Pure cotton clothing for women has become much more widely available over the last few years, as have silk and linen clothes at more reasonable prices. This section first gives advice on finding relatively safe sources of cotton clothing. Details of silk and linen clothing follow at the end of the section.

Cotton Clothing

Some items of clothing can be hard to find in pure cotton, such as cotton swimwear, pure cotton tracksuits, or unusual or stylish fashion clothes. The sources provided are chosen therefore because they sell unusual clothes, as well as being better tolerated by people with allergies and sensitivities.

Of the High Street suppliers, Benetton pure cotton clothes are generally well tolerated, once they have been washed – especially their corduroy, cotton jersey and tracksuit fabric clothes. They are a very useful source for warm winter clothing if you can tolerate nothing but cotton. Mixed reports are received of Marks and Spencer and Laura Ashley cotton clothes, in cotton poplin and drill in particular. Some people tolerate these very well; others find they do not. Proceed with caution!

While Next’s clothes for children are relatively trouble-free, some of their women’s cotton jersey fashions have higher levels of fabric finishes and cause more problems, even after washing. Again, handle with care! Next now sell a range of formaldehyde-free organic clothes.

Look out for soft cotton Indian or Third World fashions, which are usually relatively untreated. Cotton voiles and cotton lawns are also often better tolerated than stiffer cotton drill or poplin.

*335\117\8*

Tags: Allergies
Posted in Allergies | No Comments »

Here are some guidelines on how to avoid trouble when using building and decorating materials, or if having work done. If you work in the building trade.

Avoiding Trouble at Home

Even if you have decided that you need eventually to replace the materials around you in your home, go gently if you remove or replace them. Unless you are in the unusual position of being able to move out while work is done, and stay out until the place is aired, then do one room or one major task at a time. Give it time to air and give your system time to cope without overload.

If you are a tenant, negotiate with your landlord over what he or she can do for you. You may have to pay yourself for the work you need. If you cannot afford to do a lot of work, then do one room, preferably the bedroom, or your ‘oasis’, and do it thoroughly, rather than do everything partially.

Allow rooms to air for as long as you possibly can, even up to a few weeks, before using them again. Decorate or do work before going on a visit or on holiday, for instance, and air well on return, or ask a neighbour to open windows and air the home while you are away.

Do not decorate or do work in a new baby’s room close to the delivery date; decorate it months before if you can, and if your superstition permits. New babies are more vulnerable than adults to chemical load.

Redecorate infrequently to keep the load, and the inconvenience, down. Get someone else to redecorate or do work for you if you possibly can. If you cannot afford to pay for work to be done, then look for friends who are keen on DIY, and offer to do something for them in return – other household jobs, or car-washing or window cleaning, for instance. Ask your voluntary services or charities if there are groups, such as scouts’ groups, who could help you out.

If you do work yourself, protect your skin and airways with overalls, gloves and face masks. Sander and Kay sell pure cotton work overalls by post (address below). Ventilate thoroughly while working and take frequent breaks. Wash hair and bathe or shower immediately after doing work.

Use low-hazard materials as far as possible. Details are given below. Use solvent-free materials wherever possible. Avoid using wallpaper or lining paper, especially if you are allergic to moulds. Avoid using particle board (see below) if you are able to.

If you are starting from scratch, or replacing old structures or materials, use materials which are inert, such as ceramic tiles, cork, cement, glass, marble, stone, most woods, or materials which do not need repainting, such as metal or varnished wood. Doors, window frames, skirtings, wall panels and cupboard doors can be made from unpainted wood, sealed with a clear varnish which needs redoing very seldom. >PLANTS AND TREES for choice of wood, and see Varnishes (below). Ceramic tiles can be used for floors, work surfaces, even walls. Kitchen work surfaces can also be made from sealed wood, stainless steel or tiles.

*267\117\8*

Tags: Allergies
Posted in Allergies | No Comments »

Choose With Care Where You Go On Holiday

Coastal areas are generally more favourable than inland areas. Alpine or other high altitude areas are relatively free of pollens, with short pollen seasons and often with micro-climates that discourage pollen production. In some countries, such as Spain or Portugal, pollens are produced virtually all year round and you may have problems. The Pollen Research Unit has information on pollen counts and major allergens for most parts of the world.

Important Events

Important events, such as school and college exams, or sports events and school outings often take place at peak summer pollen times. In the case of exams, if you or your child are affected by allergy to the extent that your performance is reduced, make sure that the people responsible know, if necessary providing a doctor’s note. Ask if you can take exams in a place better protected from pollens – say, at home so that you do not have to go outside that day. Be assertive if pollens make you or your child very unwell – many people view allergy as a minor inconvenience without realising how disabling it can be.

*199\117\8*

Tags: Allergies
Posted in Allergies | No Comments »