Food allergies seem to be getting more and more common in the UK. Currently, over 5% of children in the UK have a food allergy, according to the UK Food Standards Agency. It is estimated that as many as 21 million people are living with allergy in Europe. It is now the most common chronic disease in Europe. One in five patients with allergies lives every day with the fear of going into shock, having an attack or dying from a reaction.

Most food allergies show up in infants as they are weaned onto solid foods. Some of these allergies will usually clear up before adulthood. Detecting food allergies is critical to raising healthy children. Parents, teachers, watchers and caregivers need to watch out for signs.

Know the Triggers

Symptoms of food allergies happen when there’s an overreaction of the immune system. Trying to protect the body, it releases antibodies to attack the food as it should to any dangerous foreign substance like a virus.

If you suspect that your child has a food allergy, don’t try to test your theory at home. Visit a provider of public or private health care for children. They’ll help identify which type of food is causing the problem and develop a plan for treatment.

The 8 most popular food allergy triggers are:

1. Cow milk and related products

2. Chicken, eggs and related products

3. Peanuts and related products.

4. Tree nuts (such as walnuts and cashews) and related products.

5. Soy milk and related products.

6. Wheat and related products

7. Fish and related products

8. Shellfish (such as shrimp) and related products

Know the Symptoms

Children cannot always explain food allergy symptoms. Food allergies can affect their breathing, skin, heart and intestinal tract. Parents, teachers, watchers and caregivers may need to interpret a child’s feelings. They need to be able to recognise food allergy symptoms. They could be having an allergic reaction or attack if they say something like; “Something is stuck in my throat”, or “I feel dizzy”. This should happen less than an hour after eating food, or not at all.

Symptoms can include:

● Swelling of the lips, tongue and/or throat.

● Swelling of other parts of the body.

● Itching inside the mouth.

● Itching on other parts of the body.

● Trouble in breathing.

● Pain in the stomach.

● Diarrhoea.

● Vomiting.

● Dizziness or Fainting.

● Hives and Eczema

Know when to get help

If a child seems unable to breathe or swallow after eating, call 999 immediately. Some children have severe reactions to food called anaphylaxis. This should be treated as an emergency.

Symptoms can include:

● Loss of consciousness.

● Fainting.

● Chest pain.

● Shortness of breath.

● Turning blue.

Children who suffer from anaphylaxis and the adults who care for them should always have an epinephrine or adrenaline auto-injector handy all the time. Guys and St Thomas Private Health Care is a recognised leader in providing paediatric allergy care in the UK. They offer consultations and testing for food, respiratory, gastro-intestinal, drug and venom allergy.

Not all bad reactions to foods are allergies. Some children are intolerant to some foods. The major difference between them is that intolerance only involves the digestive system. Food intolerance usually isn’t serious. A child who is intolerant to a type of food may be able to eat small portions of it. They both share a few symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and stomach pain. This can sometimes make it difficult for parents to recognise food allergies.

It’s annoying to have a fungal infection. It starts with annoyance and it eventually becomes too painful to bear. You might not be able to walk properly for the next few days. The good thing is that you can find ways to reduce the risk of having these infections.

Keep your hands and feet dry

After bathing, cooking or washing the dishes, you have to wipe your hands and feet clean. You may also use a blower if you want to hasten the drying process. Before you wear your socks, you have to dry your feet first; otherwise, you hasten the growth of fungi.

Always wear clean socks

If it’s your habit to wear socks several times, you need to change them. You will increase the possibility of a fungal infection if not. Wear clean cotton socks. Use natural materials only and avoid synthetic ones since they are not breathable. Hence, your feet start to moisten after a while.

Never share towels and shoes

Even if you share with family members, it doesn’t guarantee that it will be safe for you. Sharing things at home or elsewhere could facilitate the spread of infection. Thoroughly wash and dry the towels first before using them if they’re not yours.

Regularly clip your nails

Long nails could also lead to infection. Make sure that you clip your nails often and keep them short. It’s also easier to trap dirt when you have long nails. Use your own clippers or scissors and don’t share them with anyone.

Replace old shoes

You might have a favorite pair of shoes and you don’t want to throw them away. The problem is when you already know that they got contaminated. It’s time that you let go of them no matter how much you still love using them. You can buy a new pair that look the same if you want.

Immediately treat athlete’s foot

If you have a history of athlete’s foot, it’s easier for you to suffer from nail fungal infections. Therefore, you need to treat the problem as soon as possible. Find a way to stop it so that it won’t lead to complications like fungal infections. Athlete’s foot also has something to do with the lack of proper hygiene.

Treating the problem might take a while

The reason why you have to reduce the risks of fungal infection is that it could take a while to solve it. You won’t do your regular tasks because you will suffer from constant pain.

The good thing is that you can use treatments like fungal nail infection cream if you want to stop the problem. Be consistent in the application so that the problem will soon go away.

When you experience a fungal infection or if it’s a problem that keeps coming back, you need to change your lifestyle. You will most likely see the problem again if you don’t change your ways. Maintain proper hygiene at home or anywhere you go.

 

 

For many people, health insurance can be a frustrating and confusing type of insurance because they don’t have a lot of understanding. Most people don’t know what questions to ask before choosing a health insurance plan and so they end up with inappropriate or unsuitable plans that cost them a lot and don’t provide any substantial benefits in return. You certainly want to avoid such scenarios and the only way to do that is to know what questions to ask an insurance company before you purchase health insurance. Read on to find out what they are:

• How much are the premiums?

As with all other kinds of insurance, there are two costs that need to be considered in health insurance. The monthly premium is the first cost, which refers to the amount you pay every month to the insurance company for maintaining coverage. Typically, a higher coverage means that you either have a lower deductible or get more coverage, whereas it is opposite for a lower premium. If you don’t have a lot of medical needs, opting for an insurance plan that has a lower premium might be a better solution. Also, you need to consider your monthly budget before deciding how much premium you can afford to pay.

• What are your individual health needs?

When it comes to choosing a health insurance plan, you need to take your individual health needs into account. For instance, if you are someone who rarely needs a doctor, you can opt for a health insurance plan that’s cheaper and provides less services. But, if you require a lot of healthcare or suffer from a problem, you will need to think about the specific services you require and choose accordingly. In addition, you should always give some thought to future costs like if you are planning to undergo a procedure, then you need to incorporate it into your health plan.

• What type of plan are you choosing?

Before purchasing health insurance, you should know what kind of plan you are getting. The cost of an HMO (health maintenance organization) is less, but you have to choose a primary care provider and get referrals for specialists. Likewise, you don’t get coverage for out-of-network emergencies. PPO (preferred provider organization) is your second option, which is pricier, but you don’t need referrals for a specialist and get coverage for out-of-network emergencies. You can also get a hybrid plan known as POS (point of service). There is also an EPO (exclusive provider network) plan that’s cheaper than a PPO, doesn’t require referrals for specialists, but doesn’t cover out-of-network treatments.

• Who are the network providers?

If you have a primary healthcare provider, you need to consider if they are supported by your health insurance plan’s network. You can simply contact the provider directly and ask them which insurance companies they accept. Otherwise, you may have to switch to providers that are supported by your health insurance plan.

Ask these questions and you will be able to choose a better health insurance plan for your needs.

 

People are constantly looking for ways to make their skin appear extremely healthy. With so many different techniques that work, it’s a surprise that people still go along with trends that are bad for the skin. NovaBelle Cream, a solution that only uses natural ingredients, is one skin treatment that stands out.

However, not everything works out the same. If any of these below are suggested, start looking elsewhere. More often than not, these trends end up being more harm than good.

Charcoal peel-off masks

It seems like anything involving charcoal is trending these days. While it does provide some health benefits, it’s hard to look past the fact that peel-off masks made of charcoal remove healthy skin cells from a lot of people. That simply can’t happen if a person truly wants healthy skin.

Charcoal also does not mix well with retinol, and other harsh ingredients. All these treatments at once on the skin can cause the top layer to peel off. Instead of leaving the skin hydrated and glowing, it can dry everything out.

Organic doesn’t mean safe and effective

It’s very easy to fall into the trap that anything organic is going to be safe for the skin. That’s just not the case, as natural products can still cause harm if not used the right way.

Not everyone is going to have bad reactions to certain natural ingredients, but lavender, citrus oils, and coconut oil all seem to be the main culprits when a person has an issue to deal with. Always try something new on a small amount of skin to understand just how the reaction will be.

Parabens still have a lot of uncertainty

No one is quite sure about the science of parabens at this time. They are preservatives that extend the life of skincare products, but they could affect other parts of the body. Some people even believe that there is a possible link between parabens and breast cancer.

Instead of going with the unknown, it’s better to just stay with something that has been a little more research. That will help a person avoid having any serious complications whatsoever.

Electronic face brushes

Most people think that an electronic facial brush would be a great way to save time and energy. However, there is a learning curve to understand just how much pressure should be applied. Not only that, but these brushes are nearly impossible to keep clean every single day. That makes them a haven for bacteria to grow.

Some tasks just don’t need assistance. There is not a need to use an electronic brush all the time. Instead, just use some nice manual strokes to get things done.

Steam rooms aren’t always a positive

A lot of people love the feeling of a nice steam room, but it’s not all a positive experience inside there. If a person stays a little bit too long, it could lead to some severely dehydrated skin. It’s important to limit the amount of time spent in a steam room, because less is almost always going to be more.

Everyone wants to look good, but some beauty trends can be bad for your skin. Unfortunately, there are a lot of beauty trends that are downright dangerous. Learn more about skin health plus exclusive tips and tricks from our website: https://novabellecream.wordpress.com/.