Hives also known as "urticaria", this is a skin disorder that can have a variety of causes, including drug allergies, insect bites, food sensitivities, and contact with irritating or allergenic substances. Itching is normally the first symptom, and it can be intense. This is soon followed by the appearance of patches of red, raised wheals that can grow, disappear, and reappear elsewhere, sometimes clearing in the center to form large ring-like areas.
Hives usually last only a few days to weeks, then clear up on their own. A complete medical history and physical examination are often more valuable than laboratory tests for identifying the cause. Some people develop chronic hives, however, the cause of which can be extremely frustrating to track down.
Angioedema is a problem involving a reaction similar to that of hives, but affecting deeper tissues than just the skin, causing more diffuse swelling of the affected area. If angioedema affects the throat, a disorder known as laryngeal angioedema, the swelling can interfere with a person's ability to breathe.
This constitutes a medical emergency. Gasping for breath and sudden, acute wheezing can be signs that laryngeal angioedema may be developing.
EMERGENCY TREATMENT
If you suspect you may be developing laryngeal
angioedema, have someone take you to the emergency room of the nearest
hospital or call for emergency medical assistance immediately. Emergency
personnel will administer epinephrine, in both injectable and
aerosolized forms, along with intravenous antihistamines. Depending on
the severity of the problem and the response to treatment, other
treatment may be required, including the administration of oxygen,
placement of a breathing tube down the airway, or even a tracheostomy,
in which an opening is cut in the front part of the throat for the
insertion of a breathing tube directly below the problem area
Nutrient /
Supplement |
Importance
( 1 - 10 ) |
Helpful notes |
Essential
Fatty acids |
10 |
extremely important
for skin health, they help
strengthen the bodies immune system, and they serve as
anti-inflammatory agents . Essential fatty acids are found in omega fatty acids from fish
oil, flax seed oil, and also in borage seed oil. |
Multi-vitamin
& Mineral supplement |
10 |
contains vitamin E,
vitamin B complex, vitamin C, magnesium, manganese, selenium, and
zinc which all are helpful in
both the treatment and prevention of Hives. A daily supplement
contains nutrients needed for general
health of the whole body system and well being. |
vitamin C |
8 |
is an anti
oxidant and this vitamin also serves as an anti-inflammatory. It is also helpful in
reducing both swelling and itching associated with hives and
related disorders. |
vitamin E |
8 |
promotes
healing in the body and helps regulate the body's immune
response. This vitamin is needed for
good skin health. |
Other Changes To Make
-
drink 6-8 glasses of steam distilled or
filtered water a day
-
eat 50% raw fruits and vegetables (organic is best)
-
nuts, seeds, and whole grains are good
-
juice is good (make your
own with a juice machine)
-
do not worry as much about calories as eating the right foods
-
carrot and celery sticks are good to use as a snack
-
a colon cleansing can be very helpful - (do several times each year)
-
do not drink coffee, alcohol, soda pop, other junk food drinks
-
do not eat processed foods white sugar, white flour, etc...
-
use stress relief like going for walks in the park
(or the 10/90 rule - see
Stress)
-
brown rice is good to eat
-
avoid red meat and animal fats
-
reduce dairy products cheese, milk, and others
-
fast a few days a month
-
get at least 8 hours of sleep
-
exercise light to moderate amounts
-
avoid artificial sweeteners like Aspartame and NutraSweet
-
do not smoke and avoid second hand smoke
-
do not skip meals - just eat better and not as much at each meal
-
do not chew gum - it can cause you to feel hungry
-
do not watch too much TV try reading a book or something else
|