-Sportif aktivite eklemlerin doğal genişlik derecesinin korunmasına ve gelişmesine olanak sağlar, ankiloza (eklemlerin katılaşması) karşı mücadele eder.

-beslenmeyi ve kıkırdakların devinme yeteneklerini kolaylaştırarak eklemlerin en iyi şekilde korunmasını ve bakımını sağlar,

-kemik düzeyinde; kalsiyum tutulmasını kolaylaştırır, yaşlı insanlarda sıklıkla görülen osteoporose hastalığına karşı mükemmel bir korunma aracıdır.

-kas tonusunun iyileşmesi sayesinde; sportif aktivite kalça, dizler ve özellikle omurga düzeyindeki ağrıların önüne geçilmesine olanak sağlar,

-bel ağrılarına karşı en iyi ilaçtır fakat, şayet omurganızın durumuna salık verilmeyen sporları ya da kötü jimnastik hareketleri yaparsanız, zararlı da olabilir,

2. Kalp-damar sistemi; salık verilmeyenler hariç, düzenli antrenmanlar kalp-damar sisteminin işlevi üzerine yararlı etkilere sahiptir; kas yapıda olan kalp, kasılma kapasitesini yükseltir ve büyük bir etkinlik gücüne ulaşır, böylece kan organizmanın dokularına en iyi bir şekilde dağılım gösterir. Diğer taraftan fizik aktivite iki önemli kalp-damar hastalıkları risk faktörüne karşı etkili biçimde mücadele eder; arteriyel hipertansiyonu düşürür, aterosikleroza karşı en iyi ilaçtır; dolaşımı iyileştirir ve sporcunun beslenmesine dikkatini zorunlu kılar; böylece, damar sistemi üzerine zararlı etkileri çok iyi bilinen, alkol ve sigara gibi toksik etkileri olan maddelerden uzak durulur.

Özetle;
-kalbin çalışma sistemini düzenler, efektif ve ekonomik çalıştırır,

-periferik damar direnci azalacağından kalp üzerindeki yük kalkar,

-hipertansiyon düzelir,

-dolaşım hızlanır, bundan dolayı metabolik artıkların atılımı kalaylaşır,

-pulmoner oksijenasyon yeteneği artar

3. Dış görünüm; spor bedeni geliştirir ve belli bir görünüş sağlar, fakat zayıflatmaz. Terleme ile kilo kaybı düşünülmemelidir, ter ile kaybedilen su daha sonra geri alınır. Fizik aktivite sellülite karşı etkili mücadele yöntemidir, kasları uyumlu hale getirir, aşırı kilo alımına yol açmaz (eğer body-building ile uğraşmıyorsanız).

4. Psikolojik yararlar; bu etkiler uygulanan spor türüne bağlıdır ki bunlar en az fizik etkiler kadar önemlidir. Spor;

-kendine güveni uyandırır, hırsı artırır,

-heyecanı ve stresi azaltır,

-bedenin bilincine varılır, seksüel yaşamın düzenine katkı sağlar,

-beynin daha iyi oksijenlenmesi sayesinde, zekasal etkinliği yükseltir,

-gurup düşüncesi, bireyler arasında ilişkiler, karşılıklı olarak saygı kavramı gelişir,

-zevk alma duyusu gelişir; bu beyinden salgılanan hormonlar ile olur; endorfinler; aile ve mesleki kaygılardan kurtulmaya olanak sağlar.

Aerobik aktivite; yürüyüş, bisiklet, jog, yüzme gibi aktiviteleri içerir. Anaerobik aktivite kısa süreli yüksek şiddetli çalışmalardır. Tenis, ağırlık kaldırma, kısa süreli hızlı koşular, futbol, basketbol, henbol gibi aktivitelerde anaerobi hakimdir.

Şayet bu tür çalışmalara yeni başlıyor iseniz, yürüyüş-hızlı yürüyüş başlanmak önerilir, bu tür aktivite haftada 5-6 kere 1 saatten az olmamak kaydıyla uygulanmalıdır. Bir hafta sonra çok düşük tempoda koşuları programınıza alabilirsiniz. Koşuların tempo ayarlamasının önemli olduğunu belirtmiştik. Diğer yöntemlerin yanında, koşu hızını ayarlamak için; solunum sıklığından yararlanılır, şöyle ki; koşu, rahatça soluk alıp verebileceğimiz bir tempoda gerçekleşmelidir. En kolay tempo ayarlama adım sayısı ile yapılır, 4-5 adımda yavaş yavaş soluk alınır, göğüs kafesi şişirilir, yine 4-5 adımda yavaş yavaş karın kasları kasılarak soluk verilir. Bu davranış solunum kaslarının güçlenmesine ve daha etkili solunuma olanak sağlar. Bu davranış biçimi ayni zamanda “solunum eğitimi” çalışmasıdır. Akciğerlerdeki havayı çok az yenileyebildiği için, kısa süreli sık solunum yapmak önerilmez.

Çalışmalar bu şekilde mi devam edecek? İnsan organizması mükemmel bir yapıya ve eşi benzeri olmayan sistemlere sahiptir. Bilinçli ve düzenli yüklenmeler ile onun kapasitelerini artırabilirsiniz, aşırı yüklenmeler ile tüm sistemleri felçe uğratabilirsiniz. Satın aldığınız bir araba saatte 200 km sürat yapıyorsa, 5 sene sonra saatte 201 km hız yapmaz, belki de daha düşük bir hız yapacaktır. Oysa ki, spor branşlarında dünya rekorları devamlı yenilenmektedir. Bu bilimsel ve düzenli çalışmalar ile sağlanmaktadır. Kısaca, sağlıklı gelişim için uygulanacak yüklenmeler azar azar giderek artan yoğunlukta olmalı, organizma yükleri “sindirmeli” dir.

İlerleyen çalışmalarda, hızınızı, azar azar, eforunuzun sınırlarına kadar, derin ve hızlı nefes alacak duruma gelinceye kadar ya da bu durumu sürdüremeyeceğinizi düşünene kadar artırın. Bu noktaya kadar her şey aerobiktir ki onun anlamı; enerji eldesi oksijenin varlığında gerçekleşiyor demektir. Eğer egzersiz yoğunluğunu arttırmayı sürdürürseniz, anaerobik enerji üretimine baş vurursunuz, bu anda solunum sıklığı artar ve kanda laktik asit birikimi başlar. Bu durumda egzersizi kesmek zorunda kalabilirsiniz. Laktik asit hem bir enerji taşıyıcı ve hem de şiddetli eforun ürettiği, artan çalışma yoğunluğunu gösteren bir işarettir.

Aşırı eforun ürettiği laktik asit ve yüksek düzeydeki karbondioksitle beraber yüksek solunum, genel rahatsızlık ve stres duygusu oluşur. Aerobik egzersiz, çok sözü geçen anaerobi eşiğin altındaki egzersiz olarak tanımlanabilir.

Glikoz molekülünün aerobik metabolizması anaerobikten çok daha verimlidir; aerobik metabolizma, 1 mol glikozdan 38 yüksek enerji bileşimli adenosine trifosfat (ATP) adlı moleküller üretirken, anaerobik metabolizma sadece 2 molekül üretilir ve aerobik metabolizma daha az laktik asit üretir. Yani aerobik egzersiz daha hoş ve dinlendiricidir, sıkmaz ve aşırı yormaz. Birikmiş yağların aerobik kullanımı ilerleyen efor periyotlarında gerekli enerji için uygun bir rezerv oluştur. Aerobik egzersiz, uygun bir şekilde birkaç dakikadan saatlerce uzatılabilir. Orta düzeyde aerobik egzersiz esnasında, bir söyleşi de yapılabilir.

Aldatanlar dikkat! Giderek artan panik atak hastalığı konusunda tıp dünyası bir kara kutuyu daha açtı!

Aldatma panik atağı tetikleyen bir durum mudur ?
Klinik deneyimlerimiz bu sonucu doğruladı. Çapkın erkek panik atak hastalığının en güçlü adayı. Aldatmayla ilgili kendini suçlasa da yine de bu eylemi yapmaktan vazgeçemeyen erkeklerde de panik atak çok hızlı gelişebiliyor. Bu durumda beynin hipotalamus bölgesi yanlış alarm veriyor. Onun aşırı duyarlılığı genetik yatkınlığı olan kişilerde panik atak hastalığının oluşmasını hızlandırıyor. Ailesinin dağılmasından korktuğu halde eşini aldatan erkeklerde, hayatlarının olmadık bir döneminde panik atak gözleniyor. Aldatmayı kültür olarak onaylayan toplumlarda ise panik atağa daha az rastlanıyor. Öte yandan, aldatılmayı düşünmek bile bazen bilinçaltında panik atağa yol açabiliyor. Kişinin rüyasında aldatıldığını görmesi bile, panik atak geçirmesine sebep olabiliyor.

Kadınlar dikkat!

Aldatan kadınlarda da panik atak gözleniyor mu ?
Bu konuda kadın erkek ayrımı yapmak istemiyorum. Ancak hastalığın kadınlarda erkeklerden 2-3 kat daha fazla gözlendiğini söyleyebilirim. Kadınların kendilerini suçlama eğilimleri daha fazla olduğundan, aldatan kadınlarda depresyona çok fazla rastlıyoruz. Hastalıkta kadınlarında kişilik ve karakter yapısı yine çok önemli. Erkeklerde bedensel algıyı düzenleyen alan daha duyarlı iken, kadınlarda duygusal algı alanı daha hassas olduğundan, hastalıktan etkilenme dereceleri aynı oranda fazla oluyor.

Panik atağın ‘geliyorum’ diyen sinyalleri var mı ?
Sık sık nefes darlığı hissetme, çarpıntı, el titremesi ilk belirtiler arasındadır. Kaygıyı bedensel yaşayan kişilerde heyecan, üşüme, titreme ve mide sorunları da hastalıkla ilgili ilk sinyaller olabilir. Sigarayı aniden bırakan kişilerin bedensel anlamda aşırı tepkiler vermeleri de panik atak göstergesi olabilir. Yüzlerinde sivilce çıktığında “Eyvah kanser mi oldum?” diyenler ya da vücutları uyuştuğunda hemen felç olduklarını düşünenlerde panik atağa rastlanma riski fazladır. Kontrol edilemeyen stres sonrası kişi panik atak için aday haline gelir. Heyecanlı kişilerde de aynı risk vardır. Bu belirtiler sık görülüyorsa bir müddet sonra panik atağa dönüşür.

Yüksek kaygı tetikliyor

Panik atak Büyükşehir veya elit kesim hastalığı mıdır ?
Modern yaşamda yaşam standartları yüksek, hayatı seven, hastalanırsa kaybedecek şeyleri çok olan kişilerde bu hastalığa daha sık rastlanır. Bedenlerini çok seven kişiler ve sağlık kaygısı yüksek olanlar da risk grubundadır. Ölümden korkan kişilerde de çok görülür. Hastalık kişinin hayattan beklentisi derecesinde kişiyi etkiler. Büyükşehir’de yaşayanların ya da elit kişilerin, hayatta kaybetmek istemedikleri maddi-manevi birçok şey vardır. Bunları kaybetmekten korkan kişilerde kaygı daha yüksek olur. Fiziksel en ufak bir belirti başladığında ise, bu kişiler hemen atak yaşadıklarını zannederler.

Panik atak insanların birbirlerine söylemeleriyle yayılan moda bir hastalık mıdır ?
Kişiler “Depresyondayım” demek yerine “Panik atak oldum” demeyi tercih ediyor. Daha çok entelektüel düzeyi yüksek grupta gözlendiğinden, kişiler kendilerini bu şekilde ifade etmeyi seçiyor. Bu, aşırı hareketli çocukların ebeveynlerinin çocuklarını hiperaktif diye tanımlamalarına benziyor. Hastalık sosyal yaşamı da çok fazla etkilemediğinden diğer kişilerce pozitif algılanabiliyor. Modern hayatın hızlı yaşamı bu hastalığı daha kabul edilebilir görüyor. Bu sayede de insanlar, panik atak olduklarını çevreleriyle çok rahat bir biçimde paylaşabiliyor.

Vatan

Kaynak: http://www.haberturk.com/haber.asp?id=46022&cat=220&dt=2007/11/30

Fights Amyloid-Beta Peptides

A study has shown that it lowers levels of the amyloid-beta peptides, which are responsible for the plaques leading to Alzheimer’s disease.

Scientists administered resveratrol to cellsthat produce human amyloid-beta; they found that levels of amyloid-beta in the treated cells dropped significantly.

Further Research Needed

It is uncertain, however, if simply eating a resveratrol-rich diet will have the same effect; follow-up research is therefore being conducted to identify the molecular mechanisms that resveratrol triggers to fight Alzheimer’s. The compound may act by stimulating the proteasome, a multi-protein complex that can digest other proteins.

Could Fight Other Diseases

Resveratrol may also be effective in fighting other human amyloid-related diseases such as Huntington’s, Parkinson’s and prion diseases. It can, for example, protect neurons against amyloid-like polyglutamines, which accompany Huntington’s disease.

Journal of Biological Chemistry November 11, 2005; 280(45): 37377-37382 Science Daily November 4, 2005

Dr. Mercola’s Comment:I’ve been telling you about resveratrol, the natural polyphenol found in grapes, peanuts, berries and red wine that fights cancer, for quite a while now. It always amazes me how science continues to uncover more and more benefits of simple natural whole food products.

While alcoholic beverageshave some benefit they are not your best source of these beneficial nutrients. If you want to boost your consumption of resveratrol, stick with natural sources like whole grape skins (pass up the meat of the grape, which has no resveratrol but a lot of extra fructose).

Although red wine also contains resveratrol, and many health experts feel it is fine in moderation, I am not so certain about this. This is largely because I am convinced the alcohol itself is actually a neurotoxin, which means it can poison your brain. Additionally, it has the strong potential to seriously disrupt your delicate hormone balance.

Alzheimer’s is serious business and we are in the midst of an Alzheimer’s epidemic. Grape skins that have reservatrol are useful but only a small part of a Total Health apporach to reduce all chronic illness. I also urge you to review my recent guidelines that can protect you from Alzheimer’s without taking a drug:

*Follow the nutrition plan paying special attention to avoiding sugar
*Eat plenty of high-quality omega-3 fish oil
*Avoid most fish and remove mercury
*Exercise for three to five hours per week
*Eat a nutritious diet based on your body’s unique metabolic type
*Eat plenty of vegetables (also according to your metabolic type)
*Avoid flu vaccinations
*Try Wild Blueberry IQ, an all-natural, whole fruit softgel made from wild blueberries, which have high anthocyanin and antioxidant content that are known to guard against Alzheimer’s and other neurological diseases
*Keep your mind active
*Since worry accelerates your risk of Alzheimer’s, learn an effective energy psychology tool like the Emotional Freedom Technique

But, the degree of relief depends upon many other factors that are under your control. One type of air filter is the ionic air purifier. There are other kinds of air purifiers that may better suit your needs. There are filters that use electric attraction, and carbon filters to further cleanse and remove the impurities in the air. There are also filters which are placed in your home’s A/C unit. Through this, the filter cleans the air that is ventilated throughout your house. This would definitely increase the air quality in your house. If you are allergic to dust, then you should know the most effective ways to remove dust in your home. Using air purifiers is one solution. These aim to reduce the allergenic substances in your environment that is surrounding your home.

So what is an air purifier? An air purifier is equipment which is normally located in one room or area, and its primary job is to cleanse and filter the air. An air purifier may work differently depending upon its model and what it is made of. There are those units that you are obliged to clean and check on every once in a while and need replacement periodically. Some purifiers use a method of ionization to capture and remove allergen particles in the air and force airborne particulates to stick to exterior surfaces and the air cleaner sucks them up later on.

Using air purifiers is very beneficial to many families. Some families have air purifiers in each of their rooms and bedrooms. These filters, however, require regular cleaning. Some doctors recommend not using carpets and using vinyl flooring instead. Dust mite encasements are advised for use on all beddings in the house to prevent dust mites. Some families even have a portable air filter they take with them while they are on their vacation to ensure that they stay in a hotel room that is as safe as their house.

If you are using an air filter that needs some replacement or cleansing on a regular basis, you should examine it periodically to lengthen the life of your equipment. However, be careful in examining and checking the equipment. Follow the instructions or hire heating or cooling personnel to check it and replace parts. To ensure that you completely remove the dust, be sure to steam clean the carpets or remove carpeting altogether.

Please remember, allergy shots will not give you permanent cure, and you very well know it. In a moment of desperation, just to get rid of the suffering any how, for the time being, such shots are the accepted mode. After all, what are these allergy shots? They do not contain any magic potion. They actually contain a very small amount of the stuff that you are allergic to.

The question again is- what you are allergic to? It may be dust, sawdust, smoke or any other fine particles! It may be any type of food. It is better you have a detailed discussion with your doctor and he will help you figure out what foods and climatic conditions are detrimental to your system.

These are hard times of pollution. Don’t think that you are indoors and you are safe from allergy headache. There are many indoor pollutants that may be causing your headache, unknowingly! You may catch allergy just when you start the desert cooler–an invisible cloud of dust has entered your system through nostrils! There are many air-borne, invisible substances, through which you may suffer from allergy headache.

You go for a morning walk, with the hope of filling your lungs with fresh oxygen! A truck passes across you and the emission of carbon dioxide has irritated you. By the time you return home, you already have the headache. The stench from the passing garbage truck may cause you serious problems of allergy. Similarly if you pass across an industrial area, second hand smoke, volatile organic compounds, carbon monoxide, the flying ash, chemical discharge from the factories, may all initiate allergy headache to you.

Developing enough resistance power in your inner system is only the permanent cure for your allergy headache! With proper disposition on all fronts, and with utmost care, allergy headache can definitely be beaten!

By allergy the immune system react against a substance that it is not supposed to react against, and the reaction is often exaggerated. Objects containing substances that commonly cause allergy are domestic dust, animal hair, household chemicals, chlorine, microorganisms, pollen, nuts, citrus fruits and seafood. Also bacteria and parasites can cause inappropriately strong immune reactions.

THE MECHANISMS OF ALLERGY

The total set of reactions occurring by allergy is very complicated. Many of these are the same as by normal immune reaction, even though they occur when they should not take place, Here are listed some of these reactions:

By exposure to a new substance, cells in the immune system learn to recognize that substance (allergen), and it learns to produce anti-bodies towards the substance, and a certain amount of antibodies is produced. The type of anti-bodies called IgE is the most important by allergic reactions.

IgE will glue itself to some cells in the blood called mast-cells, and stick out from the surface of these cells. By following exposures to antigens, these will attach themselves to the IgE-ends sticking out from the mast-cells. This will trigger the mast-cells to produce histamine and other signal substances. These signal substances will then spread through the surrounding tissues.

The signal substances will then trigger the walls of small blood vessels to leak fluid into the tissues and accumulate in the tissues. This will cause tissue swelling. They also will cause blood vessels to widen and thus increase the blood stream in the tissues. The consequence of this will be swelling and redness in the affected body parts. The signal substances will also make glands in the tissue produce more mucus, making symptoms like running nose and tight throat.

The new exposures to the antigens will also provoke even more anti-body production. The antibodies will also glue allergens together to bigger complexes. These complexes can clog small blood vessels and in other ways disturb the function of the affected organ.

The allergen-antibody-complexes are then recognized by the cells and other mechanisms that the body uses to collect and eliminate garbage. Eater-cells gather and engulf the complexes.

The immune system also will make enzymes that attack the antigens to break them down. Also this production is stimulated when antigens attach themselves to anti-bodies at cell surfaces. But these enzymes are not entirely specific, and can also to some extend break down components of the body’s own tissue, causing harm and disease symptoms.

WHAT CAUSES THE IMMUNE SYSTEM TO REACT WITH ALLERGY TO A SUBSTANCE

In the beginning of the life of a person, the immune system has the potency to react against most substances in the body itself and the surroundings. However, there are mechanisms that learn the immune system to recognize normal substances found in the daily life in the early infanthood, and suppress the reactions against these. If this learning mechanism is disturbed, allergy can develop.

Allergy can also develop if a small child is never exposed to substances that later will be a normal ingredient of his daily life. In this case the immune system will not get the chance to suppress the reaction against this substance. Letting a small child grow up in an exaggerated clean and sterile environment can therefore cause allergies.

On the other hand, certain elements not being a port of a normal environment can cause allergies by repeated and massive exposure. Examples of such substances are chlorine.

TYPES OF ALLERGIES

Allergy varies according to the compound that causes the immunological reaction. An allergic condition also often implies reaction against a combination of several substances. Common substances causing allergy are: Pollen, domestic dust, mites in domestic dust, moulds and mould spores, chlorine, chemicals in soaps and cosmetics, animal hair, seafood, strawberry, fish, parasites, medicines like anaesthetics and antibiotics.

An allergic condition may periodically get better or worse according to the concentration of the allergen in the environment. A typical example is pollen allergy with peaks in the pollination season of grass or treas.

An allergic person will often get symptoms from several tissues in the body, but the symptoms are often most prominent at one body part and give very specific symptoms at that site. Examples of specific conditions often caused by allergy are eczema in the skin and asthma in the lungs and lower airpipe.

THE SYMPTOMS OF ALLERGY

Any organ can exhibit allergic reactions, but often the symptoms are confined mainly to one organ or organ system.

By allergic reactions in the respiratory system there will be symptoms like: Itching and soreness in the throat and nose cavities, swelling of the airway tissues, increased amount of secrets in the airway cavities and coughing. There may also be asthmatic symptoms or fully developed asthma. The main symptom of asthma is cramping that constricts the airways all the way down into the lungs (constriction of the trachea and tracholes).

By allergic reactions in the skin, there will be symptoms like: Redness, swelling, red spots, itching and soars.

HOW TO PREVENT ALLERGY

To prevent allergies in an individual the best way, one must begin in early childhood.

A child must be allowed to get in contact with natural elements like earth, dirt, animals, plants, physical contact with other humans, and the like. This exposure to natural elements must occur before an allergy has developed. In this way the immune system will learn to recognize common and harmless elements, and not overreact against this later in life.

Research projects have found out that children having much and early contact with pet animals like cats and dogs have a less chance of getting allergic problems later than children not having contact with pets. This is contrary to what many people believe.

On the other hands, every person should be protected from early childhood from certain elements normally not found in a natural environment, for example chlorine, soaps and cosmetics with artificial substances, and food containing unnatural additives.

METHODS TO TREAT ALLERGY

The first approach in the treatment of manifest allergy is avoiding exposure to substances causing the allergic reactions. Even though exposure to natural substances can prevent allergy, exposure to an allergen should be avoided when an allergy already has developed. Ways of doing this is:

• Avoiding food one reacts against.
• Avoiding contact with animals one have an allergic reaction towards.
• Keeping rooms, clothes beds and furniture well cleaned.
• Avoiding use of cleaners, soaps and cosmetics with unnatural additives.
• Avoiding foods, drinks and snacks with unnatural additives.
• Avoiding daily exposure to chlorine and other chemicals.
• In cooperation with your doctor change medicines you use that may cause allergy with others.
• Avoiding growth of moulds in the environment. This is done by well cleaning and keeping the environment dry.

Children are often exposed to allergens at school, and adults are often exposed at work. Parents with allergic children must inspect the school environment and require from the school administration and teachers that practically possible environmental measures are provided to keep the school free from allergens. An employee should require the same from his employer.

If you do not know exactly everything you react against, you can try to stop exposure to one factor after another, until you feel that the allergy alleviates, and then keep this factor out of your daily life for the future.

Sometimes avoiding allergens is difficult to accomplish, or make the lifestyle to restricted to be acceptable. Then one must apply medical treatment that alleviates the allergy.

A common way of treating allergy is applying medication that block the effect of the substance histamine, and thereby alleviate or prevent the symptoms occurring when the antigen get into the body.

Another way is desensitisation treatment. By this treatment one let the body get a controlled and gradually increasing exposure to the allergens over a time period, and when this period is over, one let the body get recurrent exposure to a controlled dose at regular time intervals. By this treatment the response from the immune system from the allergens gradually decrease, partly because the immune system thereby learns to recognize the allergens as harmless, and partly because the antibodies against the allergens are used up.

There are also natural products on the marked that contain ingredients that help the immune system to react more appropriately. Important effects of these products are reduced histamine secretion and increased histamine metabolism. Examples of ingredients in such medicines are: Methylsulfonyl methane, vitamin C, vitamin E, Echinacea purpurea, Quercetin, grape Seed, Stinging nettle, Coleus Forskolin

WHAT ARE YOU ALLERGIC TO?

By establishing whether the animal is actually the cause of an allergy is certainly the best starting point. However, that can be a difficult task if you already have an animal since the allergens are extremely difficult to remove entirely.

If an existing pet can be removed and the home thoroughly cleaned (carpets, walls, furniture etc.) you MAY be able to verify the allergy in several months. Obviously that is not the easiest solution.

Having the child stay with a friend or relative for a week (as long as there are no pets in the home) may show an improvement that might indicate an allergy to the family pet.

A visit to the doctor can confirm an allergy with a simple test. The tests vary, but some can be mildly uncomfortable and would probably not be considered if the allergy symptoms were mild.

Some allergy symptoms are compounded by exposure to several allergens. By identifying other sources and removing them you may find the reaction to pets is lessened and not a barrier to enjoying their presence.

CREATING AN ALLERGY FRIENDLY HOME

There are several steps you can take to reduce the build up of allergens and bring relief to allergy sufferers.

The first recommendation is to have hardwood or other smooth surface for your flooring. Carpets hold far more of the particles that cause allergies and hard flooring makes it easy to clean.

Leather furniture is also ideal for homes with pet allergies. For the same reason as hard flooring is more suitable than carpet, leather holds far less allergens than fabric.

Keep a seat for the allergy sufferer that pets are not allowed to sit on. Also be certain that animals do not sleep on the beds or enter the bedrooms of allergy sufferers. Consider keeping the sleeping area of the home as a pet-free zone.

MAKING YOUR PET AS HYPO-ALLERGENIC AS POSSIBLE

There are even things you can do with your pet to reduce the allergic effects of having them in your home.

Frequent grooming and bathing with a mild soap to prevent over drying will reduce the dander that is one of the main causes of pet allergies. It would be recommended that someone without allergies take on this task.

Washing hands after playing with a pet and avoiding touching your face with unwashed hands will also help. Since some individuals are also allergic to the saliva of pets it would be sensible to not allow your pet to lick you.

In the case of more serious allergies or asthma it may be best that no pet share the home. For older children or adults it may be possible to find a medication or treatment which makes the situation tolerable if they prefer to keep the pet despite the allergy.

Does Scent-Free Mean Sneeze-Free?

When an allergen is incoming (pollen, bee sting, ragweed, etc.) the immune system springs into action and fights off allergens, so it only makes sense that the more foreign bodies that enter your system like chemicals, pollution and strong scents, the harder the immune system has to work and thus the more tired you become. One fragrance may not affect you, but when you’re bombarded with fragrances, odors and chemicals all day long the numbers can add up. The encounter of these chemicals day after day during your allergy season can start to break down the immune system and make you susceptible to exaggerated allergic reactions such as hives or skin swelling. Allergy season doesn’t have to equal exhaustion, but you’ll have to pitch in and take a few steps to avoid immune system overload.

So, how can you do this? When you know your allergy season is approaching, adopt a scent-free chemical-free lifestyle. (Don’t worry, you don’t have to live in a bubble and make everything from scratch.) Take a stroll down the laundry aisle of the local supermarket and you’ll see perfume-free, allergen-free, and/or dye-free products. Why? Allergies, sensitive skin and asthma are a growing epidemic in this country and manufacturers can no longer ignore the need for scent free and chemical free products.

Everyday Cleaners to Avoid During Allergy Season

Cleaning is a good thing, certainly no one wants to be around stinky people, but unfortunately some of the ingredients in cleaners can cause or aggravate the allergy/asthma problem. For example, ammonia is found in window cleaners and many general cleaning products. It is actually a powerful eye irritant and may trigger asthma attacks. According to the Office of Environmental Affairs in Colorado, Paradichloro–benzene which is found in toilet bowl cleaners and fumigants is a possible cancer-causing agent. Aside from being toxic to pets, furniture polish and heavy duty cleaners have the same ingredient as many pet flea treatments which is petroleum distillates which is known to irritate eyes, skin and the respiratory system. Those disinfectant sprays you put into the air actually contain Sodium Hypochlorite (bleach) that is not only corrosive but can irritate the eyes, skin respiratory system and may especially irritate people with heart and respiratory conditions.

There are some excellent homemade alternatives to harsh cleaners that clean just as well, but without strong odors or irritation. Here are some quick, safe and great working cleaners:

Recipes for Natural Cleaners

You’ll notice that the recipes listed below are made with everyday household items—not complicated ingredients you have to get from the local high school’s chemistry lab. So, what gives? Will vinegar, baking soda and lemon really clean? Yes and here’s a quick breakdown of why. Lemon has natural cleaning properties and also a pleasant scent (same with orange which you can substitute.) Vinegar is a gentle cleaner and polisher, but it doesn’t have the most pleasing scent which is why it is often paired with lemon juice. Baking soda is an abrasive which makes it good for scrubbing and as an added bonus it neutralizes odors. If you’re a non-believer and want to test out its odor neutralizing ability add a cup of baking soda to your next load of laundry. Be sure to use your most scented laundry detergent or fabric softener. Before putting the wet clothes into the dryer, have a good whiff. You won’t smell a thing because the baking soda zapped the scent as well as any offending odors.

Heavy Duty Cleaners

To get rid of soap scum, shine up your shower doors, tile and sinks use a cup of baking soda, two tablespoons of lemon juice and a tablespoon of dish soap. Add just enough water to create a mild scrub (you don’t want to dissolve all of the baking soda.) Take this into the shower or bath with you and before exiting scrub down the walls, doors and tiles, then rinse. This natural cleaner gets rid of thick soap scum and build up without the nauseating odors. You can also use this to clean and disinfect sinks and toilets.

Window Cleaner

For the best window cleaner you’ll ever use, fill a medium-sized spray bottle half-way with water. Fill another quarter with vinegar then add about one tablespoon of lemon juice and one teaspoon of dish soap. Gently rotate (don’t shake) the bottle to mix up the cleaner. Spray this on glass, appliances, counter and any other non-wood surface you wish to clean.

Furniture Polish

Instead of heavily-scented wood polishers and cleaners, use olive oil. You will be pleasantly- surprised with the results and your home will smell like a bakery!

Toilet Bowl Cleaner

A mixture of vinegar and lemon juice with a little bit of dish soap is perfect for cleaning toilets inside and out. For thick rings and stains inside the toilet bowl, add some baking soda and scrub with a toilet brush. This cleaner is good for anything you want to glimmer and shine including non-wood floors. Now stand back and admire your work—ooh, sparkly.

It sounds simple, but by eliminating unnatural scents and chemicals, as well as pollution and the actual allergen that is bothering you, you can make your allergy season easier to get through!