What are you actually allergic to when you’re allergic to your pet?

Have you ever wondered what it is about man’s bed friend in Houston, Texas that makes your eyes water and your throat itchy? Maybe you’ve always assumed that it was a cat’s fiery personality that made you sneeze six times in a row. What you are experiencing is an allergic reaction. While it is recommended if you are experiencing these symptoms to get rid of the offending animal, there are some solutions if their cute little face is just too much for you.

First things first, what is an allergy? Your body’s main goal is to protect you. Unfortunately sometimes this does not work out too well and your body mistakes a harmless protein, such as pollen, as a threat and attacks it. To combat the allergen (the harmless protein), your immune system releases a large amount of antibodies called immunoglobulin E (IgE), which release histamine and other chemicals. These chemicals cause the symptoms of an allergic reaction.

Now that we know what an allergy is, we need to figure out what you are allergic to. What part of the pet is causing these symptoms? Turns out, what you are allergic to is the proteins in your pet's urine, saliva or dander (dead skin cells). Contrary to popular belief, you are not allergic to the pet’s hair. The hair can trap these proteins and cause a reaction, but you are reacting to the proteins and not the hair itself.

Typically, the allergens enter your body through the eyes and nose, which irritates the membranes. This leads to a stuffy nose, itchy eyes and constant sneezing.  If the allergens enter the lungs they can lead to breathing problems.

As we already mentioned, the best treatment to relieve these symptoms is to get rid of your furry friend. Calm down. We didn’t mean sending them to “go live on a farm.” Do you think we are monsters?? We mean finding them a good home with a loving family, none of which who have any allergies.

If you cannot bring yourself to send them away, there are a few other solutions.

• Keep the pet out of your bedroom. Even though the kitchen is the “heart of the home,” you actually spend most of your time sleeping. Keeping your pet out of your bedroom will ensure a restful and allergy attack-free night of sleep
• Take out any wall-to-wall carpeting; it just traps the pet dander.
• If you have central heat or central air, invest in a HEPA filter to remove the pet allergens from the air
• Wash your pet every other week; this will remove the build up of allergens in their fur

The last, and most important step is to talk to your Houston area allergist. They deal with various pet allergies in Houston, Texas every day, so they are the experts!

Allergy - Allergic to Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s day is quickly approaching. This means candies and flowers galore. But, what if you live in Houston, Texas and have allergies? There are some simple tips and tricks to get you through this holiday without having an allergic reaction. After all, I bet the dinner you and your special someone have planned at a romantic restaurant is way better than the hospital food you’d have to settle for.

Check the label. Valentine’s candy may be processed at a different facility than their regular-sized versions, don’t assume sometime is safe to eat just because it has been safe to eat in the past. A little extra work will save you aggravation later.

Bake your own treats at home, instead of buying something from a Houston bakery. If you make something yourself, you can be sure it does not contain anything you are allergic to. Valentine’s day is busy time of year for bakers, while they can normally be trusted to follow your specific dietary instructions they may miss them with so much chaos going on this time of year. If you want to get in the holiday spirit, heart shaped molds can be purchased online.

Don’t forget to talk to your date about your food allergy. Kissing someone who had recently eaten something you are allergic to can put you at risk of going into anaphylaxis. Always bring your epi-pen with you, even on a date.

If you or your date has an allergy to pollen, consider buying something besides long-stemmed red roses. Silk flowers provide the same look as the real ones but are non-allergenic and have the added bonus of lasting forever. There are countless other (and more personal gifts) to give instead of flowers. How about a picture frame of a memorable date? Or a mug with a meaningful television quote on it? The sky is the limit. And on the plus side, thinking outside of the box is cheaper and more meaningful than a trip to the Houston florists.

Having an allergy does not have to limit you. In fact, it forces you to think beyond the cliché. If you have any questions about managing your allergies, your Houston allergist is always available to answer questions. They want you to have a safe and happy Valentine’s day.

Food Allergies in a School Setting

Managing your child’s food allergies at a Houston, Texas school does not have to be the hair pulling experiencing it used to be.

·         Familiarize yourself with the schools current procedure for treating an allergic reaction

·         Provide the school with a copy of your child’s food allergy & anaphylaxis emergency care plan, created with the help of your child’s allergist. The plan should contain:

o   A list of all foods your child is allergic to

o   A list of all possible reactions

o   How each symptom should be treated

o   Contact information for your child’s allergist, other medical professionals your child sees and you

·         Provide the school with at least one (preferably two) epinephrine auto-injectors and any other medications used to treat an allergic reaction

o   If your child is able, they should carry an epinephrine auto-injector in their backpack. Texas public schools allow children to receive written permission to carry an epinephrine auto-injector, you should check with your child’s Houston school to confirm their policy

·         Meet with members of the school, such as the school nurse, teachers and administrators to discuss the severity and proper treatment of your child’s food allergy

·         Meet with the director of the food program at your child’s school to determine if your child will need to bring their lunch ever day or if a special lunch can be made for them

·         Meet with your child’s teacher to discuss strategies to avoid an allergic reaction in the classroom – this will be covered on next week’s blog post!