So..you think you have allergies.....

[Danustouch]

Got Itchy, runny nose, and sinus headdaches?

It might not be allergies....Read This :

http://www.msnbc.com/news/730100.asp

[Flaire-FireStar]

Ewwe...Ick..... Thanks for that, Danu...Might have to show it to Mom about me bro's "allergies:

[SnowStar]

damn, I do have allergies. And I was hoping that maybe all these years I was entirely mistaken and I could save us a good bit on allergy meds from now on. Nope. Gotta keep poppin' the Rx allergy meds year round. (No way in H-E-double drumsticks I'm ever getting shots...needles...EEEEWWW)

[Oridian]

Really cool article Danustouch. And as always, here is my two cents worth:D.

Okay, here goes. Im going to assume that most know what the sympathetic nervous system does in the body. It is the "fight or flight" part of the system that really kicks in when we are scared, excited, and stressed.

Anyway this non-allergic rhinitis is just one aspect of what is called Sterile Inflamation (or Neurogenic Inflamation). What is amounts to is the toxins, fumes, chemicals, etc, that we breathe and are exposed to causes irritation to the bodies tissues and one of the ways the body tries to handle this irritation is to release inflamatory chemicals. These chemicals cause the small diameter nerve fibers (pain carrying fibers) to be stimulated even more and cause even more infamitory chemicals to be released. This stimulation also hits other parts of the nervous system that puts the body in a "fight or flight" state of being. As a side note, many of these individuals probably note problems like poor digestion, heart palpitations, and higher blood pressure as other side effects, amongst other things.

So, the body is stressed out and these toxins are causing further stress. This all sets up for Mast cells to degranulate(release its histamine) just like in an actuall allergic reaction.

Best treatments for these kinds of problems involve inhibiting the bodies perception of the irritations causing the problems. This includes reducing ones stress, diets lower in toxins and allergins, and activities that will make certain parts of the brain work better(parts of the grey matter actually inhibit the perception of pain and other such stimuli).

These mechanisms are also part of why some folks are more prone to hurt when they are stressed out and is part of the mechanism for the asthma that many suffer from.

Ever notice that more and more people are having respiratory problems?

[Danustouch]

Yes Oridian. I have noticed that athsma and allergies are on the rise. I think it has much to do with the quality of air, and quality of life..

Our diets here in America, are not the most healthy, in general. So many artificial additives, so much fast food, etc.

Our work environments, stressful, not the most clean (ask anyone in charge of any company, how often they clean the air vents in the building....most do it once a year, tops.). The stressful hours many people work, stressfull commutes.

Chemichals used in our homes, not only the ones we use to clean, but the ones used in Carpet manufacturing. I read an article a while back, about how some children are becoming very ill at school, because of the new carpeting, and paints that some schools are putting in.

There are so many causes, I believe, in our environment for these illnesses. Some we can prevent, by changes in diet, and environment. Awareness of what is in our foods, in our homes, and in our workplaces. Some things, are not so easy to avoid. And it is still very difficult to know which things will trigger an attack, or episode of respitory problems.

It's a shame....living with respitory problems can be so difficult.

[Oridian]

yep, I think that is pretty much the meat of it as you said. All those things together make for very hard environment in which to be healthy.

Hopefully, I'll get the chance to help relieve many from these kinds of problems and more in the future.

[Danustouch]

That would be great :)