Allergies, more so a disorder than a disease, affect a person’s immune system. Allergens are the trigger for an allergic reaction and these allergens are most commonly found in the environment. Most allergic reactions are acquired over time by the immune system, are very rapid and are predictable. Most people, who have suffered from allergies for an extended period of time, know when their body is going to have a reaction to an allergen. The most common allergic reactions are from food, asthma, venom of a bee or wasp, hives, hay fever, eczema and/or grasses and weeds.
Not all allergies are harmless. Some are so severe that they can become life threatening. People who have an allergy to a certain food are in danger of an anaphylactic reaction, which could lead to death. Food allergies can cause swelling of the throat and restriction of the airwaves if medicine isn’t administered immediately. People who are allergic to bee stings, if the medicine is not administered immediately, can also face a life threatening situation.
There are different tests that doctors and allergists use to determine whether or not someone is allergic to a specific thing. Treatments available are medication in the form of steroids, anti histamines, other oral medications and even immunotherapy to desensitize the response of one’s body to an allergen.
Some of the most common allergies are to ragweed, dogs, cats, dust mites and tobacco smoke. How can you tell if you have allergies? The symptoms are easy to pinpoint. They are watery eyes, itchy eyes, coughing, wheezing, sneezing and even itchy areas on the skin. It is also possible to be allergic to medicines such as aspirin, Tylenol and even penicillin. If someone with allergies to these medications happens to take one, a doctor should be consulted immediately. When someone is stung by a bee or a wasp, eats a food they are allergic to, or takes medication they are allergic to, the most common form of treatment on the spot is an injection of epinephrine. Epinephrine will ease the reaction to the allergen and allow time for transport to a doctor or hospital for further treatment.
Many allergies occur because of high pollen counts in localized areas or pollutants in the air. These cause redness of the eyes, an itchy nose, sneezing and coughing on a regular basis. Allergies can also be tied to family history. Parents that suffer from allergies are more likely to have children that suffer from allergies, if not the exact same ones. Doctors use two different tests to determine allergic reactions. They are skin testing and blood testing. With skin testing, a doctor or nurse will prick your arm or back with various needles containing allergens. If you have a certain reaction then you are allergic. Blood tests are used more commonly to determine if a patient is allergic to different types of medicine.
Treatment for allergies comes in many different forms. Patients can take oral medications, steroids, allergy shots and even immunotherapy. The easiest treatment for an allergy is avoiding the allergen at all costs.
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