Allergies: Why Do People Develop Them?

Introduction

Did you know that over 50 million Americans suffer from allergies each year? Now that the spring allergy season has begun, many people suffer from seasonal allergic rhinitis, commonly known as hay fever. Allergic rhinitis symptoms include sneezing, stuffy nose, itching, and watery eyes.

For some, it means having a stuffy nose that keeps them awake at night. Or maybe to you, it means you have to mute your microphone during a zoom meeting just a blow a loud ‘achoo.’ This must be extremely irritating and not allow you to give your 100% focus to your job or to your study.

What is allergy?

An allergen is a substance that causes a reaction. Then what’s an allergy? An allergy is a hypersensitive reaction of the immune system to something that most people usually do not react to. People who have allergies are generally allergic to more than one thing.

Many individuals outgrow allergies over time, but allergies can also start at any age, including adulthood.

How does an allergic reaction occur?

One of the roles of the immune system is to destroy harmful substances in the body. If a person has an allergy to a substance, their immune system will react as though that substance is harmful and will try to destroy it.

A person’s environment and genetic makeup both play a role in developing allergy. However, there’s a higher chance of developing allergies if a family member already has an allergy, particularly if his parents or siblings are allergic.

Common Allergies & Symptoms

When your immune system spotted the sneaky intruder, you immediately began to feel that itchiness in your body. This produces antibodies that remain alert for that allergen, so when you get exposed to it again, these antibodies release histamine, which causes allergy symptoms.

Most of the time, allergens simply cause mildly uncomfortable symptoms such as:

coughing
itching
sneezing
skin irritation
runny or stuffy nose
throat clearing
nasal congestion
watery eyes

Allergy symptoms can sometimes look similar to other health conditions like the common cold and flu. Usually, allergy symptoms are associated with a specific time of year or exposure to an allergen.

Some types of allergy include food allergies, oral or topical medicine allergies, preservatives, materials in the workplace, detergent allergies, cosmetics allergies, and metal allergies.

Anaphylaxis

While most might have mild symptoms from allergy, some could suffer from a severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction called anaphylaxis.

When you experience anaphylaxis, your body produces a flood of chemicals that causes your blood pressure to drop rapidly and your airways to narrow. Signs and symptoms include a rapid, weak pulse; a skin rash; and nausea and vomiting.

Consult your allergist if you suspect anaphylaxis or have previous symptoms that are anaphylaxis related. Your allergist will ask for specific details regarding all past allergic reactions.

How Can You Prevent and Treat Allergies

Avoid known triggers. When you know the underlying cause of the problem, you’re most likely to get the mindset to avoid it. If you’re allergic to pollen, a good first step is to avoid trees, flowers, and grass, especially during certain times of the year. Or keep an eye on the pollen counts for planning your day, and don’t go outside when the air is filled with stuff that makes you sneeze.
Get tested for allergies. In an allergy test, a certified allergy expert diagnoses if the human body has an allergic reaction to a known substance. Tests include blood tests, skin tests, and elimination diets. Tests can determine which specific pollens, molds, or other substances are irritating to you, and you may require medications to control the symptoms.
Keep a diary. Tracking your activities and what you eat can help find out what triggers your symptoms, when symptoms occur, and what seems to help relieve.
Take your medication. It is smart to ask your allergist about medications you can take when your symptoms are worse. It can help you curb your body’s reaction to such substances. Alternatively, you can also buy over-the-counter drugs like eye drops, nasal steroids, or oral antihistamines.

However, if symptoms persist, it’s best to schedule an appointment with an allergist. You may need medication or immunotherapy.

Conclusion:

While there are treatments for allergy symptoms, we do not yet have treatments that could prevent it from occurring in the first place. Different people have different reactions to allergens; therefore, finding out what your allergy triggers are is the best way to avoid them.

May Spring be allergy-free for you!

Sources +

“Anaphylaxis | AAAAI”. The American Academy Of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, 2021, https://www.aaaai.org/conditions-and-treatments/allergies/anaphylaxis.
“Allergies – Symptoms And Causes”. Mayo Clinic, 2021, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/allergies/symptoms-causes/syc-20351497. Accessed 3 May 2021.
“Seasonal Allergies”. ACAAI Public Website, 2021, https://acaai.org/allergies/seasonal-allergies. Accessed 3 May 2021.