Tag: allergic reactions

Signs And Symptoms Of Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome is perhaps one of the most difficult medical problems to diagnose. In addition to having no specific cause, irritable bowel syndrome cannot also be tested as there are no diagnostic tests that can confirm the condition.

What is IBS?
Irritable bowel syndrome is dysfunction in the large intestine, the part of the digestive system that is responsible for the storage and excretion of solid body wastes. According to experts, it seems that people suffering from irritable bowel syndrome have large intestines that are very sensitive to stimulation, too much so that the slightest change in the bodily function can cause the whole system to go haywire.
Although there are no known causes of the problem, most doctors agree that food intake and the stress that the body experience may play a role in triggering the problem. Similar to allergic reactions, there are certain foods that may irritate the large intestine and lead to either constipation or diarrhea. Milk products for instance, can cause irritable bowel syndrome.

No direct cause
The lack of direct cause is also the reason why there is no diagnostic test that can confirm the diagnosis. Doctors have to rely on the accounts of the patients about their symptoms as well as the medical history. Diagnosis can only be achieved if the set of criteria is fulfilled. This means that the presence of only one symptom is not enough to make a diagnosis. The doctor must find a set of symptoms before drawing conclusions. Thus, it is called a syndrome and not just a disorder. This, however, can be rather confusing as most if not all of the symptoms under irritable bowel syndrome are those that are also present in other diseases.

What are its symptoms?
According to the Rome II Diagnostic Criteria System, often used in the diagnosis of gastrointestinal disorders, a problem is diagnosed as irritable bowel syndrome if there is a 12 month-period of abdominal pain accompanied by two of these three factors, pain is relieved when the person has already excreted the waste material; the onset is associated with a change in the frequency of defecating, either by constipation or diarrhea; or the onset is associated with a change in the appearance of the stool. Accompaniment of these factors must have a duration of at least 12 weeks and is not necessarily consecutive.

Where To Find The Latest Skin Care Information

There is so much skin care information out there today that it can be a bit perplexing to make sense of it all. This article will show you where to look to find the most accurate information and how to use that information to make a decision on your skin care products.

Look at the label on the product itself first. Most of the time, you can find all the information you need right there on the bottle. Cosmetic products are required to list all of the active ingredients and frequently will also list what each ingredient does. If you need more information, you can then research each of these ingredients individually to find out if there are any harmful effects.

To find out if there have been any allergic reactions or consumer problems with a certain product, check any of the skin care information websites on the Internet. Many times, you can find a message board or product review site where people are sharing their own individual experience with the product. Keep in mind that it is often the most dissatisfied customers who post on such sites, not customers who were happy with their purchase. Do not automatically write off a product that has had bad reviews, but you should at least do a little more research before buying.

You can also use the Internet to look up drug interactions or possible side effects. There are many medical websites available for general information. Of course, you should always check with a doctor if you have any preexisting medical conditions that may pose a serious danger. Internet skin care information can still be unreliable and you would not want to take a risk based on some anonymous person’s opinion.

Your friends and family can also be a great source for skin care information. Simply ask around to find out if anyone has stumbled onto a great new skin care product. Pay particular attention to any of your friends who have undergone a major appearance overhaul as it is likely that they have tried out at least one of the skin care products on the market. If the product causes irritation or other side effects, your friend can also pass on her valuable experience and save you some hassle and pain.

If you need expert skin care information, contact a dermatologist. They often have stores of experience with their patients to draw from, so they can tell you if a certain product really works or if it is just marketing hype. They also should know about any dangerous side effects or drug interactions, so it is always a good idea to double-check with a dermatologist before starting any new skin care program.

Always research any new product before beginning to use it, especially if you have any other medical conditions. With all the resources available, there is no reason to take an unnecessary risk because you are uninformed. There is a lot of skin care information out there, it’s just a matter of knowing where to look for it.

Does Food Make You Sick?

Do you often suffer from strange symptoms after eating
certain types of foods? Do you get itchy, break out in
hives, swell up or actually vomit? You could be
suffering from a common food allergy.

Its estimated that over 12 million Americans suffer
from food allergies. Most allergic reactions are mild,
but around 30,000 visits to the emergency room are
reported each year because of the reactions. As many
as 200 deaths each year are attributed to food
allergies.

Studies report up to 8 percent of children have an
allergy to some type of food. The numbers are slightly
smaller for adults, only around 4 percent.

Many children will outgrow their food allergies. But
some will carry these allergies into adulthood and
suffer from them their entire lives.

Eating prepackaged foods, out in restaurants or even
friends homes can cause problems. Its often hard to
tell whats added to the foods we eat.

You hate to ask the cook whats in this?, but
sometimes you just have to. Especially when asking can
mean the difference between an enjoyable meal and a
trip to the emergency room.

With the increased cases of peanut allergies, most
packaged foods have started including on the label the
use of peanut oils and even if the processing of nuts
is handled in the same factory.

Theres no cure for food allergies. So the only thing
you can do is avoid the foods that cause the reactions
you cant deal with.

Allergic To Food?

Food allergies are the most common and prevalent type
of allergy. Up to 12 million Americans suffer from
some type of food allergy.

The most common culprits are eggs, fish and shellfish,
peanuts and other tree nuts.

Children are most commonly allergic to the same foods
but with the addition to milk and other dairy
products.

Corn and corn products also commonly cause allergic
reactions in children.

Most allergic symptoms are often only bothersome, but
they can be life threatening.

The most common symptoms are itching of the mouth,
eyes and skin, hives, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea,
often but not always accompanied by stomach cramps and
wheezing, shortness of breath or trouble swallowing.

The more severe symptoms can include swelling. The
swelling tends to focus on the face area causing
swelling of the eyelids, lips, ears and tongue.

Mood swings and depression is another symptom.

The most severe symptoms can result in death. Around
200 deaths each year are reported from both the
initial allergic reaction and secondary complications.

There is currently no cure for food allergies. While
allergy shots have been developed to help with many
different types of allergies, none have been
successfully made for food allergies.

The people with the allergies usually avoid those
foods that cause the allergic reaction. Epinephrine
can relieve the symptoms, and is often carried by
people diagnosed with food allergies to be used in an
emergency.

Some scientists believe genetic engineering may create
vaccines, but thats still years away.