Stress less, sneeze less

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If it’s fall, the symptoms may be back with a vengeance: nasal congestion, runny nose, itchy eyes, sneezing, coughing and fatigue; maybe even wheezing and chest tightness. Sound familiar? If so, you probably have seasonal allergies and have been advised to treat the symptoms with antihistamines or corticosteroid drugs. But why put a Band-Aid on a cut you could have prevented in the first place? There are simple ways to avoid—and treat—allergies. And you can start right now.Allergies are adverse immune reactions to everyday substances that most people can tolerate. “Allergens,” as they’re called, can include inhalants such as pollens (e.g., ragweed), dust, cat hair or mold. Allergens also are found in foods including wheat, peanut or egg. These two types of allergens—food and inhalant—can join forces to increase your suffering. If you’re allergic to ragweed and to milk, for example, your symptoms will be worst during ragweed season, from mid-August through October. One easy way to relieve your symptoms considerably is to eliminate one factor from the equation—in this case, avoiding milk during the autumn.A second important approach to preventing allergies is reducing your “immune load”—that is, eliminating stressors on your immune system above and beyond seasonal allergies.

I often ask my patients to picture their immune system as a kettle. If you picture the kettle filling up with immune burdens as it would with water, eventually it will overflow once you’ve exceeded the immune threshold—the top of the kettle—and you become symptomatic. Your immune system is remarkably resilient and can handle the challenges of increasing assaults, but there is a limit to how much it can tolerate. During ragweed season, the pressure on your immune system due to allergies and sensitivities is greatly increased; you not only have to contend with your normal immune load but also with the new season’s attack of pollen, increasing your body’s burden significantly.

Clearly, minimizing exposure to offending seasonal allergens and sensitivities is a logical and effective way to reduce immune load and annoying symptoms. Of course, this is frequently difficult when allergens are pervasive—how can you completely avoid going outside in ragweed season? You can’t. But by reducing other immune assaults, you stay below the immune threshold and minimize symptoms.

One of the best ways to consistently lower your immune burden—and thus bolster your body’s defenses—is to recognize the compounding influence of anxiety, loneliness, insecurity and other psychological and emotional factors. Stress tends to be people’s biggest immune stressor, in and of itself.

You can improve these conditions by practicing various methods of stress management, including meditation, biofeedback, hypnosis, yoga, massage therapy and relaxation exercises. Deeper emotional issues such as chronic depression should be dealt with through counseling.

You can also alleviate allergy symptoms by modifying your eating habits and avoiding nutritional deficiencies. Try taking dietary supplements such as antioxidants, including vitamin E, carotenoids, selenium and buffered forms of vitamin C; biofiavanoids such as quercetin and proanthocyanidins; essential fatty acids like gamma linolenic acids and the omega-3 fatty acids; and herbs such as Glycerrhiza glabra (licorice). These nutrients can all help to counteract the swelling and inflammation of tissues in the nose and throat that are usually associated with allergic reactions. Meanwhile, staying away from foods full of sugar, hydrogenated fats, chemicals or additives can also relieve immune stress. So can eating a healthful diet packed with fruits and vegetables.

Steering clear of environmental pollutants like smoke, fumes, heavy metals and other toxins, and avoiding viruses and bacteria, are yet other ways to reduce your immune load.

In more severe cases, of course, the immune system is so compromised that allergy shots may be a necessary treatment. Tough cases may also benefit from newer types of immunotherapy, such as enzyme potentiated desensitization. Consult your physician to determine which allergy-fighting approach will best alleviate your seasonal distress.

By utilizing this natural approach year-round, you will not only beat this season’s allergy symptoms, but help prevent next year’s episodes, as well.…

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Reference::http://health.yahoo.com/allergy-living/stress-less-sneeze-less
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What is sleeplessness?

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Getting a good night’s sleep is one of the most important things you can do for yourself. Your body and brain “recharge” themselves during sleep – so if you don’t get enough sleep, you can’t be at your best the next day.

Lack of sleep can:

* Make performing even simple tasks difficult
* Impair short-term memory, concentration and alertness
* Increase the chance of being in an accident
* Slow your body’s ability to fight disease and repair tissue

You’re probably not getting the sleep you need if you:

* Feel groggy and lethargic in the morning
* Feel drowsy during the day
* Need more than 30 minutes to fall asleep
* Wake up frequently during the night and have trouble getting back to sleep

While everyone has different sleep needs, the National Sleep Foundation recommends that most people get eight hours of sleep per night. And it’s not just the number of hours that count – it’s also the quality of the sleep. It’s important to get an uninterrupted, restful night’s sleep.

* Sleeplessness

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Common Causes of Sleeplessness
A recent Gallup survey found that stress, pain, and being too hot or too cold were the most common causes of sleeplessness. Poor sleep habits and using certain drugs and medications can also affect the ability to sleep restfully. If pain keeps you awake at night, you’re not alone. A recent National Sleep Foundation survey found that 56 million Americans experience nighttime pain and sleeplessness, losing an average of more than 20 hours of sleep each month. Many of these people find it difficult to function at their best due to lack of sleep.

Sleep Tips
Follow these tips for a good night’s sleep:

* Avoid substances that may cause sleep disturbances. Rather than relax you, drinking alcohol or smoking tobacco before bedtime may keep you awake. Drink caffeine in moderation, and not in the afternoon or evening.
* Get regular exercise, but avoid strenuous exercise two hours prior to bedtime. Exercise may “wake up” your body so that you can’t sleep.
* Don’t eat a heavy meal just before bedtime. Digesting a heavy meal may make you too uncomfortable to sleep.
* Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day. Many people find that routine behavior helps them get a good night’s sleep.
* Don’t focus on your worries before bedtime. Anxiety is one of the most common causes of sleeplessness.
* If sleeplessness persists continuously for more than two weeks, consult your doctor.

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