Allergies

Our bodies have an immune system that fights off germs and other invaders. Sometimes, this system mistakenly identifies harmless substances as threats. These harmless substances, called allergens, can be things like pollen, pet fur, bee stings, or certain foods. Even some medicines can act as allergens for some people.

Normally, the immune system produces proteins called antibodies to fight off harmful germs. But in an allergic reaction, the immune system makes antibodies that target a specific allergen, even though it's not harmful. When the body encounters that allergen again, the immune system reacts, sending signals to inflame parts of the body, like the skin, nose, lungs, or stomach.

The way people react to allergens varies. Some people might just have a little itchy skin or a runny nose. Others might have a severe, potentially life-threatening reaction called anaphylaxis. This reaction can cause swelling, trouble breathing, and a drop in blood pressure. While there's no cure for most allergies, there are many ways to manage symptoms and make life easier.

Different types of allergies cause different symptoms. An allergy happens when your body mistakenly reacts to something harmless, like pollen, food, or certain medicines. These reactions can affect various parts of your body, including your:

• Breathing system (airways, sinuses, and nose): This can lead to symptoms like sneezing, a runny or stuffy nose, itchy or watery eyes (allergic conjunctivitis), and a feeling of tiredness (fatigue).

• Skin: Symptoms can include hives (itchy welts), itching, rashes (red or brown patches, which might be harder to see on darker skin), dry or cracked skin, and swelling.

• Digestive system: Food allergies can cause symptoms like stomach cramps, vomiting, diarrhea, and tingling in your mouth. Swelling of the lips, tongue, face, or throat can also occur.

• Overall body: In some cases, allergies can trigger a serious reaction called anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis is a medical emergency that needs immediate attention. It can cause a wide range of symptoms, including:

  • Breathing problems: Coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness.
  • Circulation problems: A drop in blood pressure, dizziness, fainting, a rapid or weak pulse.
  • Skin reactions: Hives, flushing (change in skin color), and swelling.
  • Digestive issues: Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
  • Other symptoms: A feeling of impending doom.

Specific Examples of Allergic Reactions:

• Hay Fever (Allergic Rhinitis): Causes sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes and nose, and fatigue.

• Food Allergies: Can cause tingling in the mouth, swelling of the face and throat, hives, stomach problems, and potentially anaphylaxis.

• Insect Sting Allergies: Often cause pain and swelling at the sting site, hives all over the body, flushing, and breathing problems.

• Medicine Allergies: Can lead to hives, itching, swelling (especially of the face), wheezing, shortness of breath, vomiting, diarrhea, and dizziness.

• Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis): This skin condition is an allergic reaction that causes itching, red or brown patches (which might be harder to see on darker skin tones), and flaky, peeling, or cracked skin.

When to Seek Medical Help:

If you have allergy symptoms that don't get better with over-the-counter medications, see a healthcare professional. If you experience any new symptoms after starting a new medicine, call the doctor who prescribed it immediately.

Anaphylaxis is a medical emergency. If you experience anaphylaxis, call 911 or your local emergency number immediately. Use any prescribed epinephrine auto-injector (like an EpiPen) right away. Even if your symptoms improve after using the epinephrine, go to the emergency room. This is crucial because symptoms can return after the medicine wears off.

Long-Term Management:

If you've had a severe allergic reaction or anaphylaxis in the past, it's important to make an appointment with an allergist. An allergist is a doctor specializing in allergies and immune system conditions. They can perform allergy tests and create a long-term plan to manage your condition.

If you have allergy symptoms that don't get better with over-the-counter medicine, you should see a doctor. Similarly, if you develop new symptoms after starting a new medication, contact the doctor who prescribed it immediately.

A serious allergic reaction, called anaphylaxis, is a medical emergency. If you experience this, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. Anaphylaxis needs immediate treatment with a special medicine called epinephrine, often given as an injection. If you have an epinephrine auto-injector (like an Auvi-Q or EpiPen), use it right away as directed.

Even if your symptoms improve after an epinephrine shot, you should still go to the emergency room. Doctors need to monitor you to make sure your symptoms don't return when the medicine wears off.

If you've had a severe allergic reaction or anaphylaxis in the past, make an appointment with your doctor. Managing severe allergies and anaphylaxis often requires careful testing and a long-term treatment plan. You may need to see a specialist called an allergist, who is trained in diagnosing and treating allergies and other immune system problems.

Allergies happen when your body's immune system, which fights off germs, mistakenly sees a harmless substance as a threat. Your immune system makes special proteins called antibodies to attack this perceived threat, even though it's not harmful. These antibodies stay ready for the next encounter with the substance. When you're exposed to that substance again, called an allergen, the antibodies release chemicals that trigger allergy symptoms.

Many different things can cause allergies. Common triggers include:

• Things in the air: Pollen from flowers and trees, flakes of skin from pets (dander), tiny bugs that live in dust (dust mites), and mold spores can all cause allergic reactions.

• Foods: Some foods are more likely to cause allergies than others. These include peanuts, tree nuts (like walnuts and almonds), wheat, soy, fish, shellfish, eggs, and milk.

• Insect bites and stings: A bee sting or a wasp sting can trigger a reaction in some people.

• Medications: Certain medicines, especially penicillin and penicillin-like antibiotics, can cause allergic reactions.

• Things you touch: Latex, found in some gloves and medical supplies, and other substances can lead to skin reactions in sensitive individuals.

This means that your immune system overreacts to something harmless, leading to uncomfortable or even serious symptoms.

Allergy risks are higher if:

• Your family has a history of allergies or asthma. This means if your parents, grandparents, or other close relatives have allergies like hay fever (seasonal allergies), hives (itchy welts), or eczema (dry, itchy skin), you might be more likely to develop allergies too. This is because genes play a role in how our bodies react to different things.

• You are a child. Children are more prone to developing allergies than adults. Their immune systems are still developing, and they're exposed to more new things.

• You have asthma or another allergic condition. If you already have asthma, you have a higher chance of having other allergies, like food allergies or allergies to pet dander. This is because people with one allergic condition often have others.

Allergies can increase your chances of developing other health problems, called complications. Here are some examples:

• Anaphylaxis: A serious allergic reaction can happen if you have a severe allergy. Common things that can trigger this include food, medicine, latex, and insect stings. This reaction can be life-threatening, so it's very important to know the signs and get immediate medical help if you suspect anaphylaxis.

• Asthma: People with allergies are more prone to developing asthma. Asthma is a condition where the airways in your lungs narrow, making breathing difficult. This often happens when your immune system reacts to something in your environment, like pollen or pet dander. This type of asthma is sometimes called allergy-induced asthma.

• Sinus, ear, and lung infections: Having hay fever or asthma can make you more likely to get infections in your sinuses, ears, or lungs. This is because allergies can weaken your immune system's ability to fight off these infections. For example, ongoing inflammation from allergies in the nasal passages can make it easier for bacteria to grow. Similarly, the inflammation in the lungs that asthma causes can create an environment where infections can take hold.

Managing allergies involves different strategies depending on the specific allergy. Here are some general tips to help prevent reactions:

1. Avoid Your Triggers: Even if you're getting treatment for allergy symptoms, it's important to stay away from things that cause them. For example, if you're allergic to pollen, keep your windows and doors closed on high-pollen days. If you're allergic to dust mites, regularly dust, vacuum, and wash your bedding. Using "mite-proof" covers for pillows, comforters, mattresses, and box springs can also help. Other common triggers include certain foods, pets, and mold. Understanding your specific triggers is key to avoiding reactions.

2. Keep a Record: Tracking your activities, diet, and when your symptoms occur can be very helpful. For example, if you notice your allergy symptoms are worse after eating peanuts, it's important to note that. Also, write down what seems to help relieve your symptoms. This information can be valuable for you and your doctor in identifying what triggers your allergies and how to best manage them.

3. Wear a Medical Alert Device: If you've had a serious allergic reaction in the past, consider wearing a medical alert bracelet or necklace. This helps others know you have a serious allergy, which is crucial if you can't communicate during a reaction. In an emergency, it can save valuable time. These devices are especially important for people who have severe allergies, such as anaphylaxis.

Finding out if you have an allergy involves a process your doctor uses to figure out the cause of your symptoms. This usually includes:

1. Detailed Questions: Your doctor will ask you many questions about your symptoms, like when they happen, how often, and what they feel like. They'll also want to know about any other health conditions you have.

2. Physical Exam: Your doctor will examine you physically to check for any signs related to the allergy. This might include checking your skin, breathing, or other body systems.

3. Symptom Diary: Your doctor will likely ask you to keep a careful record of your symptoms, including what you were doing, what you ate, and when the symptoms started. This helps them understand the pattern of your symptoms.

If you suspect a food allergy, your doctor will likely ask for additional information:

4. Food Diary: You'll need to keep a detailed record of everything you eat, including the amounts and times.

5. Dietary Changes: Your doctor will ask if you've stopped eating any foods recently, especially those you suspect might be causing the problem.

Your doctor might also recommend these tests. It's important to know that these tests aren't always perfectly accurate.

1. Skin Tests:

• A skin test involves a healthcare professional using a tiny needle to gently prick or scratch your skin. They expose a small area of your skin to tiny amounts of proteins from substances you might be allergic to. If you're allergic, a raised bump (hives) will likely appear at the test site.
• If the simple skin prick test doesn't show an allergy, but your doctor still suspects one, they may do a more detailed skin test called an intradermal skin test. In this test, a small amount of the suspected allergen is injected just under the skin's surface.

2. Blood Tests:

• A blood test measures the levels of antibodies your body makes to fight substances it considers harmful (allergens). These antibodies are called immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies. The test, often called specific IgE (sIgE) testing, or radioallergosorbent test (RAST) or ImmunoCAP testing, checks for these antibodies in your blood. A sample is sent to a lab to see if you have a reaction to the suspected allergens.

If your doctor thinks your symptoms might not be due to an allergy, other tests might be needed to find the underlying cause.

Managing Allergies: Different Treatment Options

Dealing with allergies can be challenging, but several effective treatments are available. These approaches can help you control your symptoms and improve your quality of life.

1. Avoiding Allergens (Avoidance): This is often the first and most important step. Your doctor can help you identify your specific allergy triggers, like pollen, dust mites, or certain foods. Once you know what triggers your reactions, you can take steps to avoid them as much as possible. This might include using air purifiers, keeping your home clean, or changing your routines to limit exposure.

2. Medications: Different medications can help reduce your body's allergic response and ease symptoms. Your doctor will recommend the most suitable type based on your allergy and its severity. These can come in various forms, such as pills, liquids, nasal sprays, or eye drops. These medications can help control symptoms like sneezing, itching, and runny noses.

3. Immunotherapy: This treatment is particularly helpful for severe allergies or those that don't respond well to other treatments. Immunotherapy works by gradually exposing your body to small amounts of the allergen. This helps train your immune system to not overreact.

• Allergy Shots: One form of immunotherapy involves a series of shots containing purified allergen extracts. These shots are typically given over several years, gradually increasing the dose to build tolerance.

• Sublingual Immunotherapy (SLIT): Another method is using small tablets placed under the tongue until they dissolve. These tablets, which contain diluted allergens, are used to treat some allergies, like pollen allergies.

4. Emergency Epinephrine: For severe allergies, carrying an emergency epinephrine auto-injector (like an EpiPen) is crucial. If you experience a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis), this shot can quickly counteract the reaction and buy you time until you get to the hospital. This shot can temporarily stop the symptoms of a severe allergic reaction.

These treatment options can be combined to create a personalized plan for managing your allergies. Always consult with your doctor to determine the best course of action for your specific situation.