Allergies occur when your immune system mistakenly sees something typically harmless as dangerous, and produces antibodies against it. This reaction may produce symptoms ranging from hay fever and hives to life-threatening anaphylaxis.
Allergies can be caused by foods, pollen, pet dander, medicines or insect stings; or even hereditary.
Symptoms
Allergies are an immune system response to substances the body identifies as potentially harmful. When exposed to allergens such as pollen or food allergens, your immune system produces antibodies as tags alerting your body of its presence; those antibodies attach themselves to cells in your skin, eyes, nose or digestive tract and trigger them to release chemicals that lead to symptoms like sneezing, runny noses or itchy, watery eyes – symptoms you might recognize from having had allergies before!
Symptoms can depend on both the type and quantity of allergens you encounter and where. Breathing in allergens can result in runny noses, sneezing fits, itchiness in the throat or nose and congestion; when exposed directly they may cause red, itchy eyes (allergic shiners) or hives on the skin; eating food which causes allergic reactions can produce anything from mild nausea and vomiting to life-threatening anaphylaxis reactions.
Allergic symptoms may be alleviated through allergen avoidance, over-the-counter (OTC) medications and prescription medicines – including allergy shots (immunotherapy). Consult your primary care doctor first about allergies; they’ll listen to your symptoms and connect you with specialists such as an allergist or otolaryngologist for further evaluation and treatment.
Treatment
At allergy season or around cats and dogs, allergies can wreak havoc with your quality of life. Therefore, it’s vital that you consult with a primary care provider about managing and preventing flare-ups of allergy symptoms – either physically in-person or remotely via video visit – so they can identify what triggers them as well as refer you to an allergist/otolaryngologist (ear, nose and throat doctor) for additional testing and treatment options.
Allergies are your immune system’s response to harmless proteins that it perceives as threats, such as pollen. When faced with something you are allergic to, your immune system reacts by producing immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies to fight it; these bind with mast cells in your skin, nasal passages and organs connecting from mouth to anus (respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts) before releasing chemicals such as histamines to protect the body against its foreign invader.
Antihistamines work by blocking histamine release and can relieve allergy symptoms like runny nose, sneezing, itchy eyes and hives. Your healthcare professional may also prescribe other medications to manage allergy symptoms like nasal sprays and steroid eye drops; injection immunotherapy (allergy shots) works gradually build tolerance by injecting small doses of allergens over time into the body through injection immunotherapy shots.
Preventive Care
Allergies can create serious difficulties for those living with them, interfering with work, school and family life while making outdoor activities difficult during peak allergy seasons. Furthermore, allergies can limit a person’s diet, impacting dining out at restaurants and trying new foods; those suffering from food allergies often experience chronic inflammation in their digestive tract that makes absorption of essential nutrients difficult.
Many allergy symptoms can be managed using over-the-counter medications such as antihistamines, decongestants and nasal sprays. If these remedies don’t provide sufficient relief, speaking to a doctor might bring additional help in the form of stronger medications or immunotherapy (allergy shots), which gradually desensitize your immune system to allergens and can improve long-term quality of life.
Allergies can be treated and managed through regular preventive care services such as screening tests and regular checkups, which allow health professionals to detect illnesses early when treatment may be simpler and reduce disease risks or improve overall health – for instance, receiving flu vaccinations and maintaining a healthy weight can reduce heart disease risk.
Medications
Many medications cause unwanted side effects that are sometimes unpleasant. However, some individuals can develop allergic reactions that go beyond mere side effects of medications – in such instances requiring emergency medical assistance immediately if symptoms such as itching, swelling, breathing difficulty or hives appear while taking medicine – known as anaphylaxis. While most allergic reactions to medication are mild in nature but severe reactions could prove life-threatening or even lethal.
Allergies can lead to a range of symptoms, from sneezing and itchy watery eyes to runny nose and sinusitis. Allergies may even trigger ear infections, sinusitis and asthma attacks as well as interfering with sleep and leading to fatigue and “brain fog.” Some individuals living with allergies experience depression or anxiety as the discomfort and stress associated with daily life becomes even greater.
Antihistamines are among the most frequently prescribed allergy medicines and work by blocking histamine release in your body to alleviate symptoms. Examples of such antihistamines include cetirizine (Zyrtec(r), Aller-Tec(r), Wall-Zyr(r) and fexofenadine (Allergra(r), Aller-Ease(r) Aller-Fex(r), Wal-Fex(r). If your allergies are particularly severe, however, your doctor may prescribe an emergency epinephrine injector. This injection allows quick responses by increasing blood flow to your skin area which reduces swelling and prevent shock; your doctor will explain how to use your injection in case an emergency arises.
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