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Allergies

You may have heard of allergies, but do you actually know what they are?

 

Allergies are a common health problem that many people experience. When someone has allergies, their body reacts to certain things in the environment that normally won't hurt you. Examples of these things includes pollen, food, pet fur, medications and more. These things are called allergens.

 

When a person with allergies comes into contact with an allergen, their immune system (the body's defense system) creates antibodies that alert the body that the substance will harm their body. Although the substance won't harm the body, the body's reaction can. The reaction from your immune system can cause skin rashes and itchiness, flu-like symptoms, swelling of the mouth or throat, trouble breathing or tummy issues.

 

These symptoms, along with the listed symptoms below in the symptoms section, range from mild to a medical emergency. A medical emergency of an allergy is called anaphylaxis.

 

Anaphylaxis

 

Anaphylaxis gets its own header because if you're worried about a personal allergy or an allergy of someone close to you, you need to know what anaphylaxis is. Anaphylaxis happens when an allergy is so severe that it could cause the body to go into shock which could lead to death if not treated quickly.

 

So, what things can cause allergies in people?

 

There are 100s of things that can cause allergies, but they will most likely fall in one of these categories:

 

  • things found in the air - this includes pollen, skin cells attached to animal fur or feathers (animal dander), dust mites, cockroaches and mold.

 

  • things you can touch - The most common form of this is an allergy to latex, which can be found in rubbery gloves, condoms, rubber balls, band-aids, balloons and more.

 

  • medications - Medicines with penicillin in them are well known for causing allergic reactions in people, but any medication can cause a reaction, so pay attention to how medications affect you.

 

  • food - There are a lot of food allergies out there, but common ones include allergies to nuts, soy, shellfish, eggs, lactose and wheat.

 

  • insect stings - While everyone can get stung by an insect, some people can get allergic reactions from them. Common insect sting reactions include strings from bees, fire ants, hornets, wasps and yellow jackets.

 

Who's more likely to have an allergy?

 

Allergies can be connected to your genes. Specifically, if your parents have allergies, you may also have similar allergies. Other people who are more likely to have allergies are people with asthma.

 

 

How do I know I have an allergy?

 

If you think you might have allergies, it's important to see a doctor for a proper diagnosis. A doctor that treats allergies is called an allergist.

 

The doctor will ask you questions about your symptoms and may perform an allergy test. There are a few types of allergy tests, but the most common ones are a skin prick test and a blood test.

 

skin prick test

 

One common test is a skin prick test, where a small amount of allergen is placed on your skin to see if it causes a reaction. The allergist will most likely test multiple allergens that could affect you and see how you react to each one.

 

blood test

 

A blood (IgE) test will be used to measure the amount of allergen-specific antibodies in your blood, however it is not as sensitive as a skin prick test. This means that an allergen may cause a reaction on your skin, but you may not have antibodies for the allergen in your blood.

 

 

Treating allergies and living with them

 

Treatment of allergies depends on the type of allergy you have. For food allergies, medication allergies and latex allergies, you can avoid coming into contact with these things. If you have a food allergy, you will want to let a restaurant or someone else preparing your food to know beforehand. If you're allergic to latex or medications, make sure to tell your medical team if you are at a doctor's office or hospital.

 

Allergies that come from allergens in the air can be slightly harder to avoid. One option is to take over-the-counter antihistamines, which can help relieve common symptoms of sneezing, itching, and runny nose. Nasal sprays can also be used to reduce congestion, and if you have asthma, make sure to keep your inhaler on you for use.

 

In more severe cases, your doctor may prescribe stronger medications or recommend immunotherapy (allergy shots), which can help your body build up a tolerance to allergens over time. Your tolerance with immunotherapy is built up by injecting small doses of the allergen into your body, gradually over time, so that your body can tolerate it better.

 

If you have a severe allergy, such as a food or insect allergy, you should always carry emergency epinephrine (an EpiPen) with you. This treatment is used for a severe allergic reaction, and can help manage your symptoms until you get to a hospital for treatment.

You may have heard of allergies, but do you actually know what they are?

 

Allergies are a common health problem that many people experience. When someone has allergies, their body reacts to certain things in the environment that normally won't hurt you. Examples of these things includes pollen, food, pet fur, medications and more. These things are called allergens.

 

When a person with allergies comes into contact with an allergen, their immune system (the body's defense system) creates antibodies that alert the body that the substance will harm their body. Although the substance won't harm the body, the body's reaction can. The reaction from your immune system can cause skin rashes and itchiness, flu-like symptoms, swelling of the mouth or throat, trouble breathing or tummy issues.

 

These symptoms, along with the listed symptoms below in the symptoms section, range from mild to a medical emergency. A medical emergency of an allergy is called anaphylaxis.

 

Anaphylaxis

 

Anaphylaxis gets its own header because if you're worried about a personal allergy or an allergy of someone close to you, you need to know what anaphylaxis is. Anaphylaxis happens when an allergy is so severe that it could cause the body to go into shock which could lead to death if not treated quickly.

 

So, what things can cause allergies in people?

 

There are 100s of things that can cause allergies, but they will most likely fall in one of these categories:

 

  • things found in the air - this includes pollen, skin cells attached to animal fur or feathers (animal dander), dust mites, cockroaches and mold.

 

  • things you can touch - The most common form of this is an allergy to latex, which can be found in rubbery gloves, condoms, rubber balls, band-aids, balloons and more.

 

  • medications - Medicines with penicillin in them are well known for causing allergic reactions in people, but any medication can cause a reaction, so pay attention to how medications affect you.

 

  • food - There are a lot of food allergies out there, but common ones include allergies to nuts, soy, shellfish, eggs, lactose and wheat.

 

  • insect stings - While everyone can get stung by an insect, some people can get allergic reactions from them. Common insect sting reactions include strings from bees, fire ants, hornets, wasps and yellow jackets.

 

Who's more likely to have an allergy?

 

Allergies can be connected to your genes. Specifically, if your parents have allergies, you may also have similar allergies. Other people who are more likely to have allergies are people with asthma.

 

 

How do I know I have an allergy?

 

If you think you might have allergies, it's important to see a doctor for a proper diagnosis. A doctor that treats allergies is called an allergist.

 

The doctor will ask you questions about your symptoms and may perform an allergy test. There are a few types of allergy tests, but the most common ones are a skin prick test and a blood test.

 

skin prick test

 

One common test is a skin prick test, where a small amount of allergen is placed on your skin to see if it causes a reaction. The allergist will most likely test multiple allergens that could affect you and see how you react to each one.

 

blood test

 

A blood (IgE) test will be used to measure the amount of allergen-specific antibodies in your blood, however it is not as sensitive as a skin prick test. This means that an allergen may cause a reaction on your skin, but you may not have antibodies for the allergen in your blood.

 

 

Treating allergies and living with them

 

Treatment of allergies depends on the type of allergy you have. For food allergies, medication allergies and latex allergies, you can avoid coming into contact with these things. If you have a food allergy, you will want to let a restaurant or someone else preparing your food to know beforehand. If you're allergic to latex or medications, make sure to tell your medical team if you are at a doctor's office or hospital.

 

Allergies that come from allergens in the air can be slightly harder to avoid. One option is to take over-the-counter antihistamines, which can help relieve common symptoms of sneezing, itching, and runny nose. Nasal sprays can also be used to reduce congestion, and if you have asthma, make sure to keep your inhaler on you for use.

 

In more severe cases, your doctor may prescribe stronger medications or recommend immunotherapy (allergy shots), which can help your body build up a tolerance to allergens over time. Your tolerance with immunotherapy is built up by injecting small doses of the allergen into your body, gradually over time, so that your body can tolerate it better.

 

If you have a severe allergy, such as a food or insect allergy, you should always carry emergency epinephrine (an EpiPen) with you. This treatment is used for a severe allergic reaction, and can help manage your symptoms until you get to a hospital for treatment.

Graphic representation of Allergies

Symptom list:

Allergies

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Financial support

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p.s. Just because you have insurance, that doesn't mean that charities or other organizations are not able to support you too.

Emotional support

Whether it's a free counseling session or to find someone with a similar diagnosis, these Germie approved charities might be able to help. Click to explore their offerings!

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