“A person who is allergic needs to be an advocate for himself, because it’s always better to be safe than sorry,” says Dr. Rohit Divekar, a Mayo Clinic allergic diseases specialist.

You can make it easier for someone with allergies by being aware of some common holiday triggers.

Watch: The Mayo Clinic Minute

Journalists: Broadcast-quality video pkg (0:59) is in the downloads. Read the script.

Often the center of the celebration, the Christmas tree can also be the reason for your sneezing.

"You can get runny nose, congestion," explains Dr. Divekar.

That's because holiday trees can carry allergens like mold and dust.

"You can also have lower respiratory symptoms," adds Dr. Divekar. "And these can manifest in wheezing, cough, chest tightness – especially if you have asthma."

The smoke from a crackling fire can cause similar problems for a person with asthma. Even scented holiday candles can make some people uncomfortable.

"And it does trigger symptoms, although not necessarily allergic in nature," explains Dr. Divekar.

On the other hand, nuts and other ingredients baked into holiday treats can cause a serious reaction for a person with a food allergy.

Dr. Divekar recommends updating prescriptions during the holidays, especially rescue medications.

"Be a little more careful as to what you eat or what you’re exposed to, and that will go a long way in making sure your holidays are full of fun and happiness," says Dr. Divekar.

The post Mayo Clinic Minute: Holiday allergy triggers appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

“A person who is allergic needs to be an advocate for himself, because it’s always better to be safe than sorry,” says Dr. Rohit Divekar, a Mayo Clinic allergic diseases specialist.

You can make it easier for someone with allergies by being aware of some common holiday triggers.

Watch: The Mayo Clinic Minute

Journalists: Broadcast-quality video pkg (0:59) is in the downloads. Read the script.

Often the center of the celebration, the Christmas tree can also be the reason for your sneezing.

"You can get runny nose, congestion," explains Dr. Divekar.

That's because holiday trees can carry allergens like mold and dust.

"You can also have lower respiratory symptoms," adds Dr. Divekar. "And these can manifest in wheezing, cough, chest tightness – especially if you have asthma."

The smoke from a crackling fire can cause similar problems for a person with asthma. Even scented holiday candles can make some people uncomfortable.

"And it does trigger symptoms, although not necessarily allergic in nature," explains Dr. Divekar.

On the other hand, nuts and other ingredients baked into holiday treats can cause a serious reaction for a person with a food allergy.

Dr. Divekar recommends updating prescriptions during the holidays, especially rescue medications.

"Be a little more careful as to what you eat or what you’re exposed to, and that will go a long way in making sure your holidays are full of fun and happiness," says Dr. Divekar.

The post Mayo Clinic Minute: Heads-up on holiday allergies appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

In this Mayo Clinic Minute, Dr. Rohit Divekar, an allergy and immunology specialist, and Dr. Pritish Tosh, an infectious diseases specialist ─ both at Mayo Clinic ─ explain the hygiene hypothesis and why society becoming increasingly clean could be to blame. Ian Roth reports.

Watch: The Mayo Clinic Minute

Journalists: Broadcast-quality video pkg (1:00) is in the downloads. Read the script.

The post Mayo Clinic Minute: Allergies and the cleanliness conundrum appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Watch: The Mayo Clinic Minute

Journalists: A broadcast-quality video pkg (1:00) is in the downloads. Read the script.

The post Mayo Clinic Minute: Reducing dust mite allergies appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

In actuality, the entire respiratory tract is getting in on the act. “Proteins on pollens can trigger an inflammatory cascade, starting with the nasal passages, the sinuses, the throat, the trachea, and, of course, the lungs and the airways,” says Mayo Clinic allergy and immunology expert, Dr. Rohit Divekar. “It can have serious consequences, particularly if you have other health issues.”

Dennis Douda shares some of Dr. Divekar’s advice.

Watch: The Mayo Clinic Minute

Journalists: Broadcast-quality video (1:00) is available in the downloads. Read the script.

The post Mayo Clinic Minute: Surviving seasonal allergies appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

“It can be particularly trying for somebody who has allergies,” says Mayo Clinic allergic diseases specialist Dr. Rohit Divekar. “A person who is allergic needs to be an advocate for himself, because it’s always better to be safe than sorry.”

You can make it easier for a person with allergies by being aware of some common holiday allergy triggers. Dr. Divekar explains in this Mayo Clinic Minute reported by Jeff Olsen.

Watch: The Mayo Clinic Minute

Journalists: Broadcast-quality video pkg (0:59) is in the downloads. Read the script.

The post Mayo Clinic Minute: Avoid holiday allergy issues appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: What would cause someone to become lactose-intolerant later in life? I’m in my 40s and have never had an issue with dairy, but, now, I can’t seem to have it without problems. Do I need to see a doctor to be tested for allergies, or should I just avoid dairy?

ANSWER: Lactose intolerance isn’t a true allergy, and it can develop at any age. In some people, lactose intolerance may be triggered by another medical condition, such as Crohn’s disease. In others, it develops without a specific underlying cause. It would be a good idea to have your condition evaluated by your doctor to confirm that what you’re dealing with truly is lactose intolerance.

Lactose intolerance results from a problem with the carbohydrate lactose, a type of sugar found in dairy products. When you eat or drink dairy products, enzymes in your small intestine digest lactose, so the body can make energy. In people with lactose intolerance, a certain enzyme, called lactase, is missing from the body. When those people eat dairy products, the body has no way to break down the lactose. This leads to fermentation of the sugar in the intestines and triggers symptoms, such as diarrhea, nausea, abdominal cramps, bloating and gas.

Sometimes, lactose intolerance develops when the small intestine’s production of lactase decreases after an illness, injury or surgery involving the small intestine. This is called secondary lactose intolerance. Among the diseases associated with this kind of lactose intolerance are celiac disease, bacterial overgrowth and Crohn’s disease. Treatment of the underlying disorder may restore lactase levels and improve symptoms.

More common than secondary lactose intolerance is primary lactose intolerance. People who develop primary lactose intolerance start life making normal levels of lactase — a necessity for infants, who get all their nutrition from milk. As children replace milk with other foods, lactase production normally decreases. It stays high enough, though, to digest the amount of dairy in a typical adult diet. In primary lactose intolerance, lactase production declines below normal at some point for reasons that are unclear. The low amount of lactase then makes milk products difficult to digest and leads to lactose intolerance symptoms.

Your doctor can confirm a diagnosis of lactose intolerance with a clinical test. One that’s often used is a lactose tolerance test. It assesses your body’s reaction to a dose of lactose. After you consume a drink containing lactose, a sample of your blood is taken to measure glucose levels. If your glucose level does not rise, it means your body isn’t properly digesting and absorbing the lactose.

Alternatively, another test called the hydrogen breath test may be used. This test also requires you to consume a drink that contains high levels of lactose. Your doctor next measures the amount of hydrogen in your breath. Normally, very little hydrogen is detectable. However, if your body doesn’t digest the lactose, the fermentation reaction in your colon releases hydrogen and other gases. Your intestines absorb those gases, and you exhale them. Larger-than-normal amounts of hydrogen measured during this test are a sign that your body isn’t fully digesting and absorbing lactose.

If you have lactose intolerance, there isn’t a way to cure it. The most effective way for people with lactose intolerance to get relief from symptoms is to lower the amount of dairy products they eat. You may be able to use dairy products that have reduced levels of lactose or are lactose-free. Some people who have lactose intolerance benefit from taking lactase enzyme supplements, as well.

If test results do not point to lactose intolerance, your doctor may recommend additional tests to check for another condition that could be causing your symptoms, such as a milk allergy, intestinal disorders or other problems within your digestive tract. — Dr. Rohit Divekar, Allergic Diseases, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota

The post Mayo Clinic Q and A: Lactose Intolerance Can Develop at Any Age appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: Are over-the-counter allergy medications safe to take year-round? I’ve been taking them for a couple of years, and they seem to help. Are there any other allergy treatments I should think about using instead?

ANSWER: Allergy medications that you can buy without a prescription are considered relatively safe and can be taken on a long-term basis. These medications may not be the best treatment option, however, if your allergy symptoms are severe or if symptoms persist despite medication. In those situations, consult a physician who is a board-certified allergist. He or she can assess your condition and may be able to recommend a more effective allergy treatment.

There are three main ways to manage allergies: Take medications, receive immunotherapy and make changes to your environment to lessen your exposure to substances that trigger an allergic reaction.

Many people try over-the-counter allergy medications first. While a number of these medications exist, the most common contain an antihistamine agent. This blocks histamine — a key molecule in allergic inflammation — from binding to its receptor on the cells.

If you choose a nonprescription antihistamine, make sure you know what ingredients are included in the medication. Those that contain diphenhydramine or chlorpheniramine are older-generation, short-acting drugs that often cause drowsiness. Other side effects of these medications may include dry mouth, blurring of vision, nausea or headaches.

Newer antihistamines that contain cetirizine, loratidine or fexofenadine tend to trigger less drowsiness, and the effects last longer. They may cause some side effects, such as dry mouth or abdominal pain.

Another type of allergy medication that recently was approved for purchase without prescription is intranasal corticosteroid spray, such as fluticasone or triamcinolone nasal spray. These medicines are sprayed or inhaled into the nose to help relieve stuffy nose, nasal irritation and other symptoms of allergies.

For allergic symptoms that are mild, last only a short time or happen only a few months a year, over-the-counter medications generally are a good choice. If your symptoms are severe, persist continuously or do not respond well to nonprescription medication, consultation with an allergist is recommended.

An allergist can clarify whether your symptoms truly are being caused by allergies versus some other conditions that can mimic allergies, such as nonallergic rhinitis.

If symptoms are due to an allergy, an allergist often can identify the cause and pinpoint what is triggering your reaction. Once an allergy is diagnosed, treatment could be a combination of prescription and nonprescription medications. Or, other strategies, such as allergen avoidance and allergen immunotherapy, may be appropriate.

Allergy symptoms are the result of an immune response to a substance that usually shouldn’t cause an immune reaction. Changing your habits to avoid exposure to those allergy-causing substances, called allergens, potentially can reduce your symptoms. For example, if you have a ragweed pollen allergy, wearing a tight-fitting face mask can reduce inhalation of pollen when you are outdoors in the fall. Your allergist can suggest allergen avoidance techniques that fit your situation.

The other treatment option, allergen immunotherapy, is available as an injection and in an oral tablet form. The injection form — sometimes referred to as an allergy shot — has been around for almost 100 years. It has been studied in great scientific detail and often can be very effective in relieving allergy symptoms. Oral immunotherapy to grass and ragweed recently was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and others are in the works. These therapies often are effective, but they may have some treatment-specific concerns that your allergist can review with you.

The bottom line is that nonprescription allergy medications can be considered safe. But, if you have to take them all of the time, or if they aren’t doing enough to relieve your symptoms, it’s time to talk with an allergist to investigate your condition and find a better treatment approach. — Dr. Rohit Divekar, Allergic Diseases, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota

The post Mayo Clinic Q and A: OTC Allergy Medications May Not Be Best Treatment Option appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Here's the Mayo Clinic Radio podcast.

The post Hepatitis C / Food Allergies / Hemorrhoids / Cancer and Luck: Mayo Clinic Radio appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

On Mayo Clinic Radio, infectious diseases specialist Dr. Stacey Rizza outlines the risk factors for contracting hepatitis C, especially for people born between 1945 and 1965. Also on the program, allergy specialist Dr. Rohit Divekar explains why it's important to diagnose food allergies before they lead to life-threatening reactions. Colorectal surgeon Dr. John Pemberton discusses the causes of hemorrhoids and how they're treated. And, does luck play a role in whether or not you get cancer? Oncologist Dr. Timothy Moynihan reviews studies that analyze luck and cancer risk.

The post 4/16/16 #MayoClinicRadio Podcast: Hep C, Food Allergies, Hemorrhoids appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.