Thousands of people suffer from allergies every year. They are caused by your immune system overreacting to harmless substances like pollen, dust, and food. Allergens are substances that can trigger different symptoms in different parts of the body. In some cases, allergies can be life-threatening or even severe. In this blog post, we'll discuss how to prevent, recognize, and treat allergies.
Causes of Allergies
Allergies have no exact cause, but many factors can increase your risk of developing them. They include:
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Genes may make your immune system more sensitive to certain allergens or affect how your body produces histamines, which cause allergic reactions.
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Pollen, mold, dust mites, animal dander, insect stings, and latex are some of the most common environmental allergens.
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You may be allergic to some drugs you take or apply to your skin, such as antibiotics, painkillers, vaccines, and topical creams.
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Asthma, eczema, sinusitis, and infections are some of the other health conditions that can affect your immune system or make you more prone to allergies.
Symptoms of Allergies
You may experience different symptoms of allergies depending on the type and amount of allergen you are exposed to. Some of the common symptoms are:
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When you touch or ingest an allergen, you may develop rashes, hives, itching, swelling, or redness on your skin.
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If you inhale an allergen, you may experience sneezing, runny nose, congestion, coughing, wheezing, or difficulty breathing.
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After eating or drinking an allergen, you may experience nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, cramps, or bloating.
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An allergen may cause watery eyes, itchy eyes, red eyes, or swelling around your eyes.
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The reaction can cause low blood pressure, rapid heartbeat, swelling of the throat or tongue, difficulty breathing, loss of consciousness, or shock. It can be fatal if not treated immediately.
Diagnosis of Allergies
You will be asked about your medical history, symptoms, and exposure to potential allergens to diagnose allergies. They will also perform a physical examination and some tests to confirm the diagnosis or rule out other possible causes of your symptoms. The tests may include:
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During skin tests, small amounts of allergens are applied to your skin. If you are allergic to the substance, you will develop a red bump or swelling within 15 to 20 minutes.
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The presence of antibodies (proteins that fight against allergens) or histamines (chemicals that cause allergic reactions) in your blood can be determined by blood tests.
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You can perform elimination tests by avoiding certain foods or substances for a period of time and then gradually reintroducing them to see if they cause any symptoms.
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Under medical supervision, challenge tests involve inhaling or ingesting small amounts of allergens to determine if they trigger symptoms.
Treatment of Allergies
Allergies are treated according to the type and severity of your symptoms and the source of your allergen. The main goals of treatment for allergies are to relieve symptoms and prevent future reactions.
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Histamines and other chemicals that cause allergic reactions can be reduced or blocked with the help of medication. Antihistamines (such as Benadryl®), decongestants (such as Sudafed®), corticosteroids (such as Prednisone®), and epinephrine (such as EpiPen®) are some of the medications commonly prescribed for allergies.
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It can be administered as shots, drops, or tablets under the tongue. Immunotherapy involves exposing you to small doses of allergens over time to help your immune system build tolerance.
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It may involve changing your diet, lifestyle, or environment to reduce your exposure to the allergens that cause your symptoms.
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When you experience a severe allergic reaction, such as anaphylaxis, you should seek immediate medical attention. Epinephrine, oxygen, fluids, and other medications may be administered to stabilize your condition.
Prevention of Allergies
As allergies are often caused by factors beyond your control, there is no sure way to prevent them. However, you can take some steps to reduce your risk of developing them or suffering complications associated with them. These include:
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Find out what triggers your symptoms and learn how to avoid or limit exposure to them.
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Take a close look at the labels of the products that you use or consume to see if they contain any potential allergens.
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To avoid coming into contact with allergens in your environment, wear protective gear such as gloves, masks, goggles, or clothing.
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Ensure your environment is clean by vacuuming, dusting, and washing your bedding regularly to eliminate dust mites, mold, and animal dander. Use air filters or humidifiers to improve the air quality in your home.
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Get immunized: Get immunized against diseases that can cause infections or inflammation in your body, such as measles, mumps, rubella, chickenpox, hepatitis B, tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), pneumococci (pneumonia), meningococci (meningitis), influenza (flu), and COVID-19.
