This is not an easy question! The answer is certainly not unique.

If proven allergy to fur animals should first be preventative advice not to acquire pets. Located at the child risk group, ie if the mother or father or both parents have allergies (see table below chapter on prevention) should also be reluctant to acquire a dog or cat.

Otherwise, we must mention the studies that have come in recent years showing that animals in the family when it is born a child, reduces the chances that this child is allergic. The theory is that it’s a kind of tolerance development for the animal, while bacteria and more from the animal stimulates the child’s immune system in a beneficial manner. Allergy development that is “not a desired track” of the immune system is then subdued. But all the results from the studies are not entirely clear and there will be a need for more research before or can recommend someone to acquire pets for preventing asthma and allergies.

Any advice on animal acquisition must be treated entirely separately. There are often many aspects of such cases. And remember that it may be difficult to get rid of a pet you have tied up close to.

The goal of asthma treatment according to international guidelines (GINA) are:

* The best possible control of daily and nocturnal symptoms
* At least the possible use by seizure medicine
* No limitations in daily activities
* Approximate normal lung function
* Avoid serious asthma attacks

The most important principle is a personalized asthma treatment that gives the fewest possible problems and limitations in daily life. Everybody should have a separate management plan from their doctor, who describes the medication to take is taken, how often and how to change the medication in periods when asthma is changing.

Allergy vaccination is associated with some risk of side effects. It can involve mild symptoms such as nasal congestion, itchy eyes and throat, or of serious, possibly life-threatening symptoms in terms of shortness of breath, or allergic shock. The risk is highest immediately after injection. Therefore, treatment should be carried out by special units where there are contingency that can handle any severe reactions and one should not leave the treatment area until 30 minutes after the last dose is given. During the first day after an injection will also experience local reactions such as swelling in the skin and you should avoid strong physical activity for 24 hours after the vaccine has been set.

The most common side effects of vaccination in the tablet form of Grazax are local allergic reactions in the mouth, mostly mild to moderate.

Allergy vaccination is not recommended for children under 5 years. Neither of people with poorly controlled asthma, severe cardiovascular disease or cancer. Treatment should not start during a pregnancy.

Allergy vaccination should not be started during the pollen season and a higher dosage to be completed before the pollen season starts. For example, pollen allergy occur in the period from July to February, the grass in the period from September to April, and for many types of grass the period from October to April.

Allergy vaccination requires that allergies are detected with positive tests and / or blood test. Lung function assessment should be done before treatment begins.

Expenses for pollen vaccines reimbursed by social security for reimbursement regulations. For other vaccines, it must apply for individual reimbursement.

The tablet-based allergy vaccination with Grazax be a solid tablet daily for three years, and the treatment should be started four months before the pollen season. Treatment should be started up by a specialist with expertise allergic.

Grazax entitled to reimbursement for moderate to severe seasonal grass pollen allergy for at least two years and where other therapies do not provide adequate control of the disease or give side effects. This also assumes that patients do not receive injections with other allergen.

With asthma being such a common ailment, it is unsurprising that the development of drugs used to treat the illness has advanced greatly and with continued success.

While the doctor will prescribe for you an inhaler with which you can direct drugs into your airways instantly, there are a number of things you can do to help yourself fight against the asthma alongside the prescribed drugs.

Finding the key treatment

It is important to find out why you suffer from asthma; asthma is a condition in which the sufferer cannot breathe to full capacity, and finds lung capacity severely restricted. This is because the muscles in the relevant areas contract in response to attacks from toxins that cause what we know as an allergic reaction.

The trick is to find the cause, or trigger, that brings this reaction on in the first place.

For many it can be inhaling pollen that is carried din the air, and this is known as hay fever. There are many natural hay fever tablets on the market, from medicinal ones to herbal, and if you are to try one of these please check with your doctor first that it will not have an adverse effect on your prescribed medication.

The importance of the diet

An equally common cause of allergic reaction that leads to asthma is what we eat – you may be including in your diet items that the body is averse to, hence the importance of deducing what it may be that causes an allergic reaction.

We do this by elimination, in which we isolate certain foodstuffs for specific exclusion form our daily diet for set times. If, with one of these removed, symptoms disappear than we know we have found the trigger.

Dairy intolerance

Common culprits are dairy products – milk, yoghurt and cheese – and also wheat products such as bread. These need to be eliminated from the diet if they are responsible for allergic reaction.

Likewise, what we don’t eat can have an effect, too, as there are many foodstuffs that can have a beneficial effect in the fight against asthma.

Onions are a recommended source of oxidants that work to help the heart keep beating at a healthy rate. This aids a healthy blood flow, something absolutely vital to the strength of our vital organs, and to the correct operation of the immune system that protects against allergic attacks.

Garlic and spices

Also to be eaten with benefit are garlic and many of the hot spices, as these aid the heart, and honey, mixed with hot water and lemon juice, is an example of a soothing and beneficial drink that has been found to aid asthma systems thanks to its restorative qualities in relation to the airways.

A healthy and balanced diet – one that can be varied and enjoyable, too – coupled with regular exercise to keep the heart in trim, and avoidance of foods that adversely affect your system, can be a sensible aid to asthma alongside your prescribed medication.