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Allergies - Understanding and Treatment of Allergies

The understanding and treatment of allergies can stop them interfering in your daily life. Allergies can cause you to miss out on activities that you normally enjoy doing.

Allergies affect more than 20% of the adults and children in the United States each year, this means that millions of people are affected. They can affect people at different times of life, during different seasons and even come and go without warning depending on the source of the reaction. There are a number of different culprits that can cause an allergic reaction in people. These include but are not limited to pollen, dust mites, mold, pet dander and foods. If you think that you are suffering from allergies make an appointment with your doctor and get tested to find out what you are allergic to and what your best options are for treatment.

Allergies are many times inherited which means that if one or both of your parents are allergic to something you stand a good chance of suffering also. The specific allergen can vary however, so you cannot assume that because your mother is allergic to dust you will be also. Instead you may develop a reaction to pollen or mold. The genetic link is simply in whether or not you are prone to developing an allergy. Exposure to a substance when your immune system has been weakened is another possible reason for developing a reaction. For example, many people can develop a reaction after a viral infection or during pregnancy.

When trying to understand allergies realise that they occur as a result of your body’s immune system reacting incorrectly to some sort of foreign substance. Your immune system will see pollen or mold as a harmful substance to your body and try and rid itself of the invader. The end result can be sneezing, watery eyes, itching, hives, and even trouble breathing during more severe reactions. For many people the reaction will be mild and require little or no medical intervention. During an extreme allergic reaction, called anaphylaxis, you may initially feel itching which will quickly progress to swelling, pain and vomiting. Anaphylaxis is a potentially life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical assistance.

Most allergies can be managed with the help of your medical profesional. Theby use of antihistamines, decongestants and nasal sprays are the most common front line approaches. There are also lifestyle modifications that you can make to help reduce your exposure to your allergen, such as keeping pets out of the home or maintaining a dust-free environment. If your allergies begin to interfere in your day to day life your doctor may also recommend immunotherapy, also known as allergy shots to “cure” your sensitivity and help you to have symptom-free days. The good news with allergies is that there are many options for managing them effectively. If you suspect that you are suffering from some type of reaction to a particular substance, talk to your doctor today about your choices in allergy treatment.

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