I have colds/hayfever and asthma practically all year round (at least one of them) and my mother and aunt think I could be allergic to cats? But how would we know I've lived with cats since I was 3!
132426
Do your eyes get red and itchy. Since peopl are not alergic to the actual cats pursay, and they are allergic to the cat hair when you get cat hair in your eye/ near you eyes then they will get red and itchy. Sometimes you can still be allergic without getting this common symtom so there are tests you can do in the doctors office.
9984
Yes. That's the principle behind getting allergy shots. The doctor doesn't actually give you medicine to counteract the allergy, he's actually giving you gradually increasing doses of the material you're allergic to. For example, ragweed, pollen, cat dandruff, etc.\n\nAllergies are a tricky thing. Some people have no allergies for years and develop it out of the blue. Other people have allergies for years and then have it disappear forever.\n\nIt also depends on what you're allergic to. If you're allergic to ragweed, and ragweed fails to bloom one year, then you won't have allergy symptoms.
155186
Well, let me tell you what I know about asthma.\n\nWhat causes it?  Allergies can trigger it...Many triggers include, dust, dander from animals, pollen, leaf mold, dust mites and I read that roach pooh can trigger it. (UGH)\n\nMy youngest daughter had asthma and outgrew by age 5.\n\nMy oldest daughter began experiencing symptoms when she was eleven. (shortness of breath and wheezing, especially upon exertion) She is 31 years old now and has lots of problems with it. She has been hospitalized several times in the last few years with it. She uses a puffer. Her Dr prescribed her meds for a nebulizer. For her birthday --I bought her a nebulizer.\n\nSeveral of my grandchildren had problems with wheezing when they were infants.\n\nI didn't experience problems with shortness of breath and wheezing until I quit smoking about 6 years ago. I smoked for over thirty years. I have COPD but I also have asthma. \nWith the asthma I experience shortness of breath. Even getting ready to go to work can leave me breathless, at times. When I have overexerted myself, I wheeze. I experience thses symptoms every day.\n\nPeople who bath in perfume or aftershave really tear my lungs up. I get wheezy after a few minutes of inhaling the mess.\n\nWhen the wind blows, dust and allergens send my lungs into a tail spin. Sometimes extremes in temperature affect me too.\n\nI am on  Zyrtec (for allergies), Spiriva (a steroid dry powder inhaler), Advair (another dry powder steroid inhaler), Prednisone (a steroid) and I also have a nebulizer to use when I am having a really rough time.\n\nSometimes emotions and stress can affect Asthma.\n\nThey use to say that asthma wasn't that serious but now they know different. A person can die with a serious attack. \n\nIf you suspect that you, or any person in your family has asthma, Go to a Dr. Only your GP or a pulmonologist can gauge the seriousness of your condition and prescribe medications to alleviate your symptoms and make life a bit easier for you.\n\nTake Care,\n~Linda~
412258
Talk to an immunologist or dietitian. I am a dietetics student and... wait I am reading your post in its entirety.\n\nIt seems like total horseshit. The chances of being allergic to one food in an adult is 1 in 50. \n\nThere is no scientific research that food sensitivities exist to anything but msg, sulfites, and dairy products.\nGet tested an IgE allergy test from your doctor, and then explain your situation.
230097
First of all, you can only have an allergic reaction to something you have previously been exposed to. People are always surprised when they develop an allergy to something they've always been around.. But when you think about it, it's surprising more people don't become allergic to things, with all the exposure we have on a daily basis to so many things. \n\nOptions for determining an allergy are: skin prick tests (aka scratch test), injections of the suspected allergen protein (riskiest), patch testing (literally, a patch containing the allergen protein is stuck to your skin and you wear it for a day), RAST testing (bloodwork), and challenge testing (removing the suspected allergen, then introducing it back to see if there is a reaction, most commonly used with food allergy/intolerances/sensitivities).
522945
You should see an allergy specialist.  \n\nThe fact that it gets worse at night leads me to believe you are allergic to dust mites.  They are microscopic little creatures that love bedding.  It also sounds to me like your allergy is pretty severe.  I'm allergic to dust mites and my only problem has been a little snoring.  I take Clariton at night to help fight it.  \n\nBy any chance, did you by a new pillow around the same time the coughing started?  That could be your source.  There are pillows specially made for people with allergies.
601252
Have you been checked for allergies? Sounds like you might be like my niece. She is allergic to dust, pollen, pollutants in the air...she used to sniffle all year long and now she takes allergy shots. she still has sniffles during big pollen outbreaks but other than that she is fine.
116743
I used to have the same problem when I was younger, turns out I had really bad allergies. I ended up taking allergy shots. I also had to make a conscious effort to stop though. Nasal spray inhalants may help some.
531513
OK, this may be total coincidence, but I used to get colds as much as anyone, and when I moved in with my husband-to-be, we had one HUGE incompatibility: the temperature in the house.  He keeps the house at about 60 degrees in the winter, and 68 in the summer - much colder what I was used to.  But guess what?  I stopped getting colds?  In 20 years, almost to the day, I have gotten maybe 4 colds, honestly.  So my advice is turn down the thermostat!
382706
Quite a lot of people have bad allergies (to things like dust, pollen, and animal dander). Also, influenza is easily passed around, simply by being around a sick person's sneeze, or touching a faucet in a public bathroom (This applies to seasonal colds as well).
55824
I'm sorry, this called my attention cus my (human)love has diabetes, and thought this was a joke, and I never heard of something like this, diabetes in cats??? Anyway, I never leave things up in the air, until I find out more about it, and I'm shocked to hear it's true, sorry guys, and I'm sorry about your dear felines, I love kitties, and I hope you can resolve this, and keep your cats healthy. I think this is a good way to find more... I did! Hope it helps.
94510
Agree with the above posters and also add that in your bedroom, you should have NO carpet, or vacuum a lot!  Your bedding needs to be changed frequently and your mattress vacuumed to get out the 'dust mites'.  Down Comforters/Pillows are usually a no go with Asmtha sufferers because of the dust, but there are some really good comforters out there that are ok for Asthmatics.. just haave to clean them regularly is all :)  \n\nMost Asthmatics I know can't have Cats, dogs and yes, even birds - especially birds (and their dust) can irritate your lungs.
340483
Don't think I would ask her to shave the cat. I think I would look into allergy pills so that you could live with the cat. If you don't want to take allergy pills then you have to wonder....how serious are you about her? There are some good allergy pills that your doc could give you. I am allergic to cats and I just pop an Alavert or something if I know I am going to be around one.
178538
I'm allergic to cats, dogs, mold, pollen ect. I was getting allergy shots once a week but i chose not to do that anymore. It was more of a hassel.\nI just deal with it.\nI have a dog, 2 cats and a rabbit and I don't want to get rid of my pets.\nOver the counter meds don't affect me anymore and the prescriptions are too expensive even with insurance.
528919
i get it too! it really is so annoying. but i'm allergic to cats and pet dander and also dust. but usually taking benadryl works. consult a doctor, and eat something! if i eat a piece of bread it generally dulls the feeling.
138625
It's possible to have a residual asthma-type reaction after a cold because your bronchial tubes are still irritated, without it being asthma. But check with a doctor, specifically an allergist, you could have undiagnosed asthma that only is noticeable when you've had a cold.
675933
I have bad allergies. Have you tried Zyrtec or Zyrtec D, or maybe Singular. My brother has asthma and Singular and Clariten helped the most. I don't know if that helped or not, but if you haven't taken those then try them. The only other advice I could give you is to go to the local allergist and get a test(where they prick you) and then start getting shots. Basically all the shots are is everything you are allergic to, that is so you can build up an "immunity" to them. The shots helped my brother and he no longer has major probs with asthma. Hope you feel better and find a solution. Good Luck,\n                                Chelsea