Showing posts with label cat allergy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cat allergy. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
More on Cat Allergy
Why are cats so allergic? One reason is that we get closer to cats than to other furry pets. That's why I ask how many cats you have. The record so far is 14. Can you beat that? I then ask if the cat comes into your bedroom. Does the cat jump on the bed? Does the cat sleep on your pillow? If you cannot bear to dismiss Mr. Whiskers from your bedroom, then change the bedlinen frequently, and wash your bed linen at a high temperature often so remove the cat protein.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Mr. Whiskers Lives for Another Day
I hope it's not a case of misery loves company, but I do tend to see conditions in groups. Take this last week, for example. At the beginning of the week, it was "post-nasal drip" time, and at the end of the week, positive reactions to cat. Most people who have allergic reactions to cats know well enough that they are sensitive around Mr. Whiskers - sneezing, itchy watery eyes, or itchy skin. But for those who suffer from recurrent sinus infections, or post-nasal drip, they are often aware of any triggers. It's in those patients that we can find positive reactions to dust, mold or pet dander. Even though you may test positive, I know it's going to be heartbreaking not to allow your kitty to sleep on the pillow anymore, but you may feel a lot better if you do.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Mr. Whiskers Caused my Runny Nose!
Cat Allergies (from WebMD)
Life with cat allergies -- whether they're yours or a family member's -- can raise a lot of questions. Could a cat allergy explain your son's never-ending cold symptoms? Will you regret giving in to your daughter's demands for a kitten, despite your allergies? Will a so-called hypoallergenic cat allow you to have the pet you've always wanted without making you a sneezing, sniffling mess?
Here are some answers -- what you need to know about cat allergies, from causes to treatments.
What causes cat allergies?
About 10% of the U.S. population has pet allergies, and cats are among the most common culprits. Cat allergies are twice as common as dog allergies. But contrary to what you might think, it's not the fur or hair that's the real problem. People with cat allergies are really allergic to proteins in the cat's saliva, urine, and dander (dried flakes of skin).
How do these tiny proteins cause such a big allergic reaction in your body? People with allergies have oversensitive immune systems. Their bodies mistake harmless things -- like cat dander -- for dangerous invaders, and attack them as they would bacteria or viruses. The symptoms of the allergy are the side effects of your body's assault on the allergen, or trigger.
Keep in mind that even if you don't have an actual cat allergy, your cat can still indirectly cause your allergies to flare up. Outside cats can bring in pollen, mold, and other allergens on their fur.
And what about so-called "hypoallergenic" cats? While some breeds -- like the "hairless" sphinx -- are said to be less likely to trigger symptoms of cat allergies than others, any cat has the potential to cause problems. This is true regardless of its breed, hair length, or how much it sheds. So if you know that you or another family member is allergic to cats, getting one -- no matter what the breed -- is not a good idea.
What are the symptoms of cat allergies?
Symptoms of cat allergies can include:
* coughing and wheezing
* hives or a rash on the chest and face
* red, itchy eyes
* redness of the skin where a cat has scratched, bitten, or licked you
* runny, itchy, stuffy nose
* sneezing
Symptoms of a cat allergy might develop in just a few minutes or take hours to appear. About 20% to 30% of people with allergic asthma have severe flare-ups after coming in contact with a cat.
How would I know if I have a cat allergy?
Although the symptoms of a cat allergy may seem fairly obvious, it's not always the cat that causes them. So it's a good idea to get confirmation from your doctor. After all, you wouldn't want to blame Mr. Whiskers unjustly.
Your doctor can do a skin or blood test to see if you're allergic. So the doctor may also want you to try living without a cat for a few months to see how it affects your allergy symptoms.
Life with cat allergies -- whether they're yours or a family member's -- can raise a lot of questions. Could a cat allergy explain your son's never-ending cold symptoms? Will you regret giving in to your daughter's demands for a kitten, despite your allergies? Will a so-called hypoallergenic cat allow you to have the pet you've always wanted without making you a sneezing, sniffling mess?
Here are some answers -- what you need to know about cat allergies, from causes to treatments.
What causes cat allergies?
About 10% of the U.S. population has pet allergies, and cats are among the most common culprits. Cat allergies are twice as common as dog allergies. But contrary to what you might think, it's not the fur or hair that's the real problem. People with cat allergies are really allergic to proteins in the cat's saliva, urine, and dander (dried flakes of skin).
How do these tiny proteins cause such a big allergic reaction in your body? People with allergies have oversensitive immune systems. Their bodies mistake harmless things -- like cat dander -- for dangerous invaders, and attack them as they would bacteria or viruses. The symptoms of the allergy are the side effects of your body's assault on the allergen, or trigger.
Keep in mind that even if you don't have an actual cat allergy, your cat can still indirectly cause your allergies to flare up. Outside cats can bring in pollen, mold, and other allergens on their fur.
And what about so-called "hypoallergenic" cats? While some breeds -- like the "hairless" sphinx -- are said to be less likely to trigger symptoms of cat allergies than others, any cat has the potential to cause problems. This is true regardless of its breed, hair length, or how much it sheds. So if you know that you or another family member is allergic to cats, getting one -- no matter what the breed -- is not a good idea.
What are the symptoms of cat allergies?
Symptoms of cat allergies can include:
* coughing and wheezing
* hives or a rash on the chest and face
* red, itchy eyes
* redness of the skin where a cat has scratched, bitten, or licked you
* runny, itchy, stuffy nose
* sneezing
Symptoms of a cat allergy might develop in just a few minutes or take hours to appear. About 20% to 30% of people with allergic asthma have severe flare-ups after coming in contact with a cat.
How would I know if I have a cat allergy?
Although the symptoms of a cat allergy may seem fairly obvious, it's not always the cat that causes them. So it's a good idea to get confirmation from your doctor. After all, you wouldn't want to blame Mr. Whiskers unjustly.
Your doctor can do a skin or blood test to see if you're allergic. So the doctor may also want you to try living without a cat for a few months to see how it affects your allergy symptoms.
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