Hay fever (also called allergic rhinitis) affects 24% Australians. Symptoms include sneezing, a runny nose (which can make your nose feel stuffy or stuffy) and itchy eyes. People might also experience itching within the nose, throat, or ears.

However, COVID continues to be spreading, and other viruses can cause cold-like symptoms. So how do you know which one you have?

Remind me how hay fever causes symptoms?

Hay fever This happens when a person becomes “allergic” to an allergen trigger. This implies that the human body is all the time prepared to answer this trigger.

Triggers may include airborne allergens (resembling tree, grass and flower pollen), mold spores, animals or house dust mites, which live mainly in people’s mattresses and bedding and feed on shed skin.

When the body is exposed to a trigger, it produces IgE (immunoglobulin E) antibodies. They cause the discharge of many chemicals produced by the body, including histamine, which causes hay fever symptoms.

In individuals with asthma, asthma symptoms (coughing, wheezing, chest tightness or difficulty respiratory) may worsen after exposure to airborne allergens. Spring, and sometimes summer, can be the worst time for individuals with allergies to grass, trees or flowers.

However, house and pet dust mite symptoms normally occur year-round.

What else may very well be causing my symptoms?

Hay fever doesn’t cause fever, sore throat, muscle aches, weakness, lack of taste or smell, or expectoration of mucus.

These symptoms are likely brought on by a virus resembling COVID, influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), or the “common cold” (often brought on by rhinoviruses). These conditions can occur year-round, and symptoms overlap:

The coronavirus continues to be surrounding us. RSV and flu rates seem higher than before the Covid-19 pandemic, but that would be the case as a consequence of more testing.

So if you have a fever, sore throat, muscle aches, weakness, fatigue or are coughing up mucus, stay home and avoid being around other people to scale back the transmission of the virus.

People with Covid-19 symptoms can take a rapid antigen test (RAT), preferably when symptoms beginthen isolate until symptoms subside. Only one negative RAT coronavirus infection can’t be ruled out if symptoms are still present, so if symptoms are still present, test again 24-48 hours after the primary test.

You can now test for Covid-19, RSV and flu at: connected RAT. But again, a negative test doesn’t rule out the virus. If symptoms persist, test again 24-48 hours after the previous test.

If it’s hay fever, how do you treat it?

Treatment involves blocking the discharge of histamine within the body by taking antihistamines, which help relieve symptoms.

Doctors, nurses and pharmacists can develop: hay fever care plan. This may include using a nasal spray containing a topical corticosteroid to assist reduce swelling contained in the nose that’s causing shortness of breath or blockage.

Nasal sprays ought to be provided using the right technique and used for several weeks to operate properly. Often these sprays can also help reduce itchy eyes brought on by hay fever.

Drying bedding and pajamas inside during spring relieve symptomsidentical to placing a a little bit of Vaseline within the nostrils when going outside. The pollen sticks to the Vaseline, and gently blowing your nose later removes it.

People with asthma also needs to have it asthma planwritten by a doctor or nurse explaining how one can adjust medicines to alleviate and forestall asthma during hay fever season or when exposed to allergens.

People with asthma should be like that too warn against stormswhere pollen can break down into smaller particles, enter the respiratory tract and cause a serious asthma attack or even death.

What if it’s Covid, RSV or the flu?

Australians aged 70 years and over and others with underlying health conditions who have tested positive for Covid-19 qualifies for the usage of antiviral drugs to scale back the danger of severe disease.

Most other individuals with Covid-19, RSV and flu will recuperate at home with rest, fluids and paracetamol to alleviate symptoms. However, some groups are at greater risk of developing serious illness and will require additional treatment or hospitalization.

For RSVthis includes premature babies, infants aged 12 months and younger, children under two years of age with other medical conditions, adults over the age of 75, individuals with heart and lung disease or conditions that impair the immune system’s response.

In the case of influenza, people at higher risk individuals with severe illness include pregnant women, Aboriginal people, people under the age of 5 or over 65, or individuals with long-term health conditions resembling kidney, heart, lung or liver disease, diabetes and compromised immunity.

If you are concerned about serious symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 or influenza, seek the advice of your doctor or call 000 in an emergency.

If your symptoms are mild but persist and you’re unsure what’s causing them, make an appointment together with your doctor or nurse. Even though it’s hay fever season, we’d like to avoid the spread of other serious infections.

According to a report by the American Association for Cancer Research published in September 2024. Researchers warn that alcohol consumption is related to an increased risk of cancerespecially if alcohol consumption begins early in life.

According to the report, “Excessive alcohol consumption increases the risk of six different types of cancer: certain types of head and neck cancer, esophageal squamous cell cancer, and breast, colon, liver, and stomach cancer.”

The report also indicated that as a result of the lack of public awareness of the relationship between alcohol and cancer, a social information campaign is mandatory to construct awareness of the potential risks related to alcohol consumption. According to the report, 40% of recent cancer cases are related to preventable risk aspects, including excessive alcohol consumption.

According to the report: “Unfortunately, awareness of the link between alcohol and cancer remains low, highlighting the need for public information campaigns such as cancer warning labels on alcoholic beverages, together with effective clinical strategies to reduce alcohol burden. related cancers.”

According to , then research raises serious doubts about the positioning and perception of alcohol as a “lubricant” in various situations and is predicated on existing research that warns that alcohol consumption results in an increased risk of cancer.

Even more sobering is the process by which alcohol can damage your DNA.

As a byproduct of the chemical reactions that happen in the human body to interrupt down alcohol, the body produces a substance called acetaldehyde, which might literally rewrite DNA, creating mutations that may ultimately produce cancer cells.

In addition, alcohol can interfere with the absorption of vitamins and nutrients (which is why some prescription medications include warnings to not eat alcohol), alter hormone levels, and make it easier for harmful chemicals to penetrate sensitive cells in the mouth and throat.

Although some research suggests that some types of alcohol are higher than others (see various studies reporting moderate consumption of red wine as a health profit), these studies don’t link cancer risk. Moreover, ethanol, the chemical name of alcohol itself, is a carcinogen.

Although most Americans (about 50%) are unaware of the overall increase in cancer risk from alcohol, the CNN report indicates that The mocktail and soft drink industry is booming.

According to Ben Jordan, the desire to scale back the negative effects of ethanol led him to create a line of machines that you could buy or rent that remove alcohol from beer.

“I wanted to drink beer at parties and in social settings, but I didn’t want the effects of ethanol,” he told CNN. Jordan recalls that non-alcoholic beer options were “pretty bad” back then.

According to Jordan, non-alcoholic beer could eventually account for as much as one-fifth of the U.S. beer market. “The situation in the non-alcoholic beer industry currently looks very positive,” Jordan added.

Duane Stanford, editor of the magazine, told CNN that the alcohol industry can be seeing the potential advantages of soft drinks as alcohol sales have declined lately.

“Now there is real market power that can create these solutions and really work on them. There is money to be made. So people are figuring it out,” Stanford said.

Stanford continued by musing that so long as corporations are capable of create value in the minds of consumers, they are going to proceed to incur higher costs related to soft drinks.

“Highly mobile young consumers who want these types of products for a specific lifestyle – if you offer them quality and something they really want to have and stand for, they will pay those prices,” Stanford said.

Braids are one of the wanted protective hairstyles. Whether you have a cute box braided bob or an extended and wavy boho style, the sensation of leaving your chair with fresh tresses and knowing that you might be taking an prolonged break from styling your personal hair is unmatched. Years of braiding have taught a lot of us to be patient with the tenderness that usually appears after a visit. But when the discomfort becomes more severe, a much bigger problem may arise, reminiscent of an allergic reaction. Recently, TikTok has exploded with videos showing first-hand what this looks like.

Across the country, individuals are sharing clips of their experiences with allergic reactions after braiding their hair. Swelling, hives and unbearable itching are a few of the most typical symptoms people face. While these issues is probably not recent, they’ve sparked necessary discussion concerning the composition of hair braiding products and the importance of scalp health when installing protective hairstyles.

Several videos have gone viral on TikTok claiming that the purity of synthetic hair is the predominant explanation for allergic reactions. But what exactly does this mean within the context of bundled hair and the way do the symptoms manifest themselves? Since the cold months are a preferred time for protective styling, we’re getting to the basis of this problem to higher understand how to cope with it and forestall it from progressing.

What does an allergic reaction to braids appear like?

We all know the pain of a brand new braid. Even for a brief time frame, it could possibly be troublesome to cope with. An allergic reaction takes discomfort to one other level. “Itching, redness, or an eczema-like rash on the scalp are common symptoms of an allergic reaction to braids,” she says Nana Boakyemedical doctor, board-certified dermatologist and founder Dermatology Bergen and eponymous skincare brand, Dr. Say Beauty. But this may occasionally be just the start. He explains that in additional severe cases, folliculitis, a condition called folliculitis, may develop, leading to tender bumps or breakouts on the scalp.

Experiencing these symptoms for the primary time will be confusing for most individuals. In many videos shared on TikTok, women admitted that they had experienced similar problems up to now, not realizing that they were developing an allergy. For Kadidja Dossofounder Dosso Beauty, leader in hypoallergenic hair braiding and extensions, this experience was an eye opener for me. “After braiding my hair, I noticed I had little bumps all over my forehead and my scalp was burning and burning, which I hadn’t felt before,” she says. “I knew it had to be an allergic reaction.”

What causes an allergic reaction to braids?

According to Boakye, allergic reactions will be triggered by several various factors, including the products used and the extension cords themselves. Gel and mousse are sometimes used when braiding, and although these may cause a reaction, the issue is usually the braiding of the hair. “I had no doubts and immediately knew that it should be hair, because that is where the reactions happen. The problem affected not only the scalp and hair roots, but additionally the neck and shoulders,” says Dosso. Many women on TikTok have an analogous story, with hives, rashes and inflammation on their foreheads, cheeks and ears where their hair is falling out.

Braids of any style often require hair extensions to add length and volume to the hairstyle, and most frequently synthetic extensions are used. Jodi LogerfoDNP, APRN, FNP-BC, board-certified in family medicine and dermatology, explains that synthetic hair extensions are typically made out of fibers reminiscent of kanekalon or toyokalon and will contain chemical additives or dyes. “Kanekalon is a common culprit in allergic reactions, and in some people the skin may react negatively to it, causing inflammation, irritation and other allergic symptoms,” he says.

Boakye echoes this, noting that “synthetic hair is usually product of materials reminiscent of acrylonitrile and vinyl chloride, which emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These chemicals are known irritants and are even classified as carcinogens, making them potential culprits of allergic reactions.

How to avoid an allergic reaction?

Getting rid of your hair braiding allergy is less complicated than you think. The first step is to use clean hair – and no, that does not imply it’s freshly washed. Kanekalon is inexpensive and versatile for tressing, and ridding it of poisons reduces the chance of unwanted effects. “Pre-washing synthetic hair with a clarifying cleanser or soaking it in apple cider vinegar (ACV) can help remove some chemical irritants,” says Boakye.

Washing with ACV can be certainly one of the highest recommendations on TikTok for people experiencing a reaction. IN one movie, with over 9 million views, the TikToker who cut off her braids after just five days shows how to soak her braids in apple cider vinegar. Other videos boast the advantages of rinsing the scalp with ACV to alleviate symptoms while the braids are still in place.

Purchasing pre-cleaned hair extensions, reminiscent of Dosso Beauty’s hypoallergenic braid hair extensions, is one other method people select to avoid the potential of an allergic reaction. As a dermatologically tested product, the extensions are suitable for temperamental and sensitive skin types.

In addition to hypoallergenic products, Logerfo notes that human hair extensions are less likely to contain irritating chemicals and can also reduce the chance of an allergic reaction.

Relieving symptoms

Scalp care is important when wearing braids. However, that is much more necessary when allergic reactions are involved. To protect your scalp, Boakye recommends applying soothing creams before installation and ensuring your braids aren’t tied too tightly, as excess tension can worsen irritation and lead to further damage. It can be really useful not to wear this style for long periods of time. If you have experienced an allergic reaction up to now, it is suggested that you keep your braids in for a maximum of 4 weeks to minimize long-term exposure to potential irritants and maintain a healthy scalp.