Allergies

Overview

Allergies are one of the most common issues faced by people worldwide. They occur when a foreign substance enters your body, causing your immune system to react. These allergens can include foods, pollen, bee venom, and more. It is when your immune system detects these substances, it produces antibodies to attack, perceiving them as potential threats. This reaction can cause inflammation to your skin, sinuses, or digestive system, even if the substance is not particularly harmful.

What Are Allergies?

Allergies are your body’s overreaction to a usually harmless foreign protein called an allergen, such as pollen or pet dander. When you have an allergy, your immune system mistakenly treats these substances as threats, similar to germs or viruses. This overreaction can lead to various allergic diseases, including hay fever, eczema, hives, asthma, and food allergies with symptoms ranging from mild discomfort to severe, life-threatening reactions known as anaphylaxis.

According to WebMD, an allergen is a substance that triggers an allergic reaction. Common allergens include:

- Dust
- Cockroaches
- Pet dander, fur, urine, and saliva
- Mold
- Pollen
- Certain foods, especially milk, eggs, wheat, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, and shellfish
- Insect venom, particularly from bees, yellow jackets, wasps, hornets, and fire ants
- Latex
- Some medications, especially antibiotics like penicillin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen and naproxen

Symptoms of Allergies

Symptoms for allergies completely depend on the allergen affecting you which can involve your airways, sinuses, nasal passages, skin, or digestive system. An allergic reactions can range from a simple rash to particularly life-threatening situations known as anaphylaxis.

Allergy Type	Examples	Common Symptoms
Food Allergies	Milk, Eggs, Wheat, Soy, Peanuts, Tree Nuts, Shellfish	Itching (generalized or localized), Nausea, Vomiting, Hives, Swelling around mouth, Anaphylaxis
Inhalants	Pets (dander, fur, saliva), Dust Mites, Cockroaches, Molds, Pollens (trees, grass, weeds)	Runny nose, Stuffy nose, Itchy nose, Sneezing, Itchy eyes, Watery eyes, Wheezing, Shortness of breath
Medications	Antibiotics, NSAIDs, Insulin, Chemotherapy drugs	Antibiotics, NSAIDs, Insulin, Chemotherapy drugs
Latex	Rubber gloves, Balloons, Condoms, Bandages, Rubber balls	Skin irritation (contact dermatitis), Hives, Runny nose, Itchy nose, Difficulty breathing
Venoms/Stinging Insects	Bees, Fire ants, Hornets, Wasps, Yellow jackets	Difficulty breathing, Hives, swelling (face, mouth, throat), Wheezing, Difficulty swallowing, Rapid pulse, Dizziness, Drop in blood pressure

Causes of Allergies

When your body mistakenly perceives harmless substances as dangerous invaders and attacks them, causing allergy symptoms. When exposed to these 'invaders,' your immune system creates an antibody causing an allergic reaction.

The antibody acts as a marker that your immune system uses to identify potential threats. So the next time you encounter that allergen again, your immune system responds by activating these antibodies. They signal mast cells, which are stationed in your skin, nose, eyes, and digestive system. Mast cells then alert your immune system to the presence of harmful invaders, like viruses and bacteria.

Prevention of Allergies

To put it in simple words, in order to prevent allergies one must follow strict prevention. If you know what triggers your allergies then avoid these allergens as much as possible. Keeping a track of what you do and what you eat can be helpful.

Category	Actions	Details
Home Environment	Cleaning Routine	Damp-mop floors, vacuum with HEPA filters, use damp cloths to clean surfaces.
	Temperature & Humidity	Keep home between 68°F and 72°F, humidity ≤ 50%.
	Filter Maintenance	Clean or replace small-particle filters in heating/air systems monthly.
	Dust Reduction	Remove dust-collecting items, use plastic bins for toys, and clean surfaces regularly.
	Pest Control	Use traps or hire an exterminator for cockroaches and mice.
	Ventilation & Mold Control	Keep doors/windows closed during peak allergen times, check for leaks, and clean mold with a chlorine solution.
	Bedding Care	Wash sheets and pillowcases weekly with hot water, use dust mite covers.
	No Smoking	Avoid smoking inside the home.
Outdoor Allergens	Timing	Avoid outdoor activities between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when allergens are at their peak.
	Allergy Forecast	Check forecasts and stay indoors during high pollen/mold counts or strong winds.
	Protective Gear	Wear face masks, baseball caps, and sunglasses.
	Minimize Pollen Exposure	Leave shoes at the door, change clothes, shower after being outside, and keep pets out of bedrooms.
	Car & Yard Work	Roll up car windows, use the AC, and have someone else do yard work.

Tests and Treatments for Allergies

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America states that effective allergy treatment is tailored to your medical history, allergy test results, and the severity of your symptoms. Your treatment plan may involve one or more of the following approaches:

1. Avoiding Allergens: Steering clear of substances that trigger your allergies.
2. Medications: Using prescribed or over-the-counter drugs to manage symptoms. Steroids (Corticosteroids) in the form of
- Pills or liquids
- Inhalers
- Nasal sprays
- Creams
- Eye drops
3. Immunotherapy: Receiving allergens via injections or sublingual tablets to build tolerance.

Tests for allergies include skin tests, where your skin is pricked with common allergens to see if a reaction occurs, and blood tests, like the radioallergosorbent test (RAST) or ImmunoCAP testing, which measure allergy-causing antibodies in your body.