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Allergies can appear when you least expect them to, which can make it tricky if you need to get medication.
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Disclaimer: The information provided on this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any questions or concerns about your health, please talk to a doctor.
Allergies are an overreaction by your body to a specific trigger that doesnโt cause the same reaction in other people. Your body produces an immune response to something that it wrongly views as a threat. This shows as a reaction in your skin, sinuses, digestive system or your airways (or a combination of these).
The severity of allergies can vary from person to person. For some people, an allergic reaction can be a relatively mild reaction, but others can experience anaphylaxis, which is a potentially life-threatening situation. Allergies can appear at any time in your life, even if you havenโt previously experienced them.
Some of the most common allergies include: food allergies, dermatological allergies (when your skin comes into contact with something that causes a reaction), grass and tree pollen (also known as hay fever), animal hair, mould, latex, dust mites, medicines, household chemicals and insect bites.
Allergic reactions can happen to anyone at any time. Itโs thought that they can be hereditary and if you have parents who also experience allergies you may also experience them too. You can also be allergic to more than one thing – even things that are seemingly completely unrelated.
Allergies are most common in children and they can fade in severity as you get older, though they donโt always fade in this way. However, sometimes the opposite can happen and you can develop new allergies in adulthood, even if youโve never previously experienced a reaction to something before.ย
Allergies are really common. Itโs estimated that there are millions of people around the world who are affected by allergies at some point in their lives with as much as 40% of the global population showing sensitivity to factors in their environment.
More and more people are suffering from allergies each year, particularly food allergies. Where you live and your lifestyle can have an effect on your allergies, especially if you have certain types of environmental or food-based allergies.
Allergic diseases and asthma: a global public health concern and a call to action. World Allergy Organization Journal, 7, p.12. 2014.
Food allergy: is prevalence increasing? Internal Medicine Journal, 47(3), pp.256โ261. 2017.
The Hereditary Basis of Allergic Disease. American Journal of Human Genetics, [online] 75(2), pp.349โ350. 2004.
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When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, weโll tell you where this came from. And weโll only present data as clinically reliable if itโs come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
The exact reasons why we experience allergic reactions are relatively unknown, especially the reasons for being allergic to some things but not others. Our environment plays a part in the cause of these allergic reactions, as do our genetics.
One theory is that a lack of exposure to germs at a young age can stop the immune system from working properly. This means that it perceives certain things in your environment as a threat and overreacts with an immune response. Itโs even thought that the size of your family can have an impact, as larger families have more exposure to different types of bacteria.
When you experience an allergic reaction, itโs your body’s reaction to something in the environment that it decides is a threat. Your white blood cells react to protect your body and release histamines, which is what causes the visible symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as inflammation and swelling.
There are some common symptoms of an allergic reaction. These can vary from person to person, and you might experience some of them or all of them during an allergic reaction. Common allergy symptoms include:
The symptoms of an allergic reaction will depend on how you have come into contact with an allergen and whether or not youโve ingested, inhaled or touched whateverโs triggered your allergy. Symptoms will also vary in severity from person to person and can even be different each time your body reacts.
Most allergy reactions are pretty mild and donโt cause any other health problems. But they can be frustrating and uncomfortable to deal with. If you havenโt experienced an allergic reaction before it can feel overwhelming or unexpected.
Some allergic reactions can be really serious. A severe allergic reaction can lead to anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening. Itโs where the body seriously overreacts to an allergen by causing breathing difficulties, wheezing, feeling lightheaded, a fast heartbeat, clammy skin, confusion and even collapsing or becoming unconscious, as well as other symptoms.
If you experience these symptoms, you should call an ambulance immediately, and whateverโs causing the reaction should be avoided. If this has happened previously, a person may carry an emergency adrenaline auto-injector pen (also known as an EpiPen) with them to help deal with symptoms. Anaphylaxis is a serious medical emergency.
Genetic risk factors for the development of allergic disease identified by genome-wide association. Clinical & Experimental Allergy, 45(1), pp.21โ31. 2014.
Too clean, or not too clean: the Hygiene Hypothesis and home hygiene. Clinical Experimental Allergy, 36(4), pp.402โ425. 2006.
Whilst there isnโt a โcureโ for allergies, they can be treated. The treatment you use depends on the type of allergy that you have, and helps you relieve and reduce the symptoms you experience during an allergic reaction. Some medications prevent your body from reacting to allergens in your environment.
For pollen and grass allergies, eye drops, nasal sprays and antihistamine tablets are often used to prevent the allergic reaction from developing. Antihistamine tablets can be used to treat a wide range of allergies and reactions.
Emergency adrenaline pens should only be used to treat anaphylactic shock and shouldnโt be used for milder allergic reactions, as they arenโt safe for general use.
The right treatment for your allergy depends on the nature of your allergic reaction and your own personal preference. Your lifestyle may also make it easier to use some forms of allergy treatment than others.ย
When you speak to our clinicians, talk to them about your health and lifestyle so that they can advise you on a range of suitable treatments that will fit into your daily life.
You can help to tackle allergies if you recognise your triggers and then avoid them. Sometimes this isnโt very easy, especially if youโre allergic to something like grass pollen, so in this case treatment will help you to minimise the discomfort you experience as a result of your allergy. This means that you can continue to enjoy your life without your allergy having a negative impact on it.
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