Every year, it is estimated that over fifty million Americans are affected with some type of allergy. Many of these hypersensitive reactions, such as mild seasonal hay fever can be handled with over-the-counter drugs or with no treatment at all. On the other hand, some allergies can have a big effect on your life and in some cases, even become life threatening. If this is the case, you should see a doctor for a complete review and allergy testing.
Numerous folks consider allergy season to be the spring and autumn periods and feel that they do not experience as many symptoms during the summer months. Additionally, while the majority of people are shivering from the cold in the winter, allergy sufferers are breathing a sigh of relief. Unfortunately, numerous folks suffer from summer allergies or what translates to summertime congestion and respiratory difficulties.
Allergic Hives or urticaria, are red, itchy bumps near the surface of the skin. Like many other allergies, they are the result of overproduction of histamine and any reaction can be caused by a wide variety of things. In many cases, skin hives are the consequence of a food allergy. Eggs, peanuts, shellfish, milk and other foods can cause hives. The bumps are not generally painful but the itchiness is uncomfortable and the hives can become worse by scratching.
If you suffer from an allergy to dust mites, you may think that normal household dust is the cause of your suffering. However, dust in itself is not generally an allergen, even for sensitive folks. It is dust mites that are the common cause of allergic reactions since they live on the small particles that are in everyone's home. As they produce feces and their bodies decay, they introduce proteins into the environment that the immune system may judge to be foreign invaders. That in turn triggers a release of antibodies called IgE or immunoglobulin E. Those stimulate the release of histamine, which creates the common allergy symptoms such as watery, itchy eyes (conjunctivitis), runny nose (allergic rhinitis or hay fever) and others.
There is little good news associated with finding out that you are allergic. Unfortunately, all too many folks have first hand experience of allergies and allergic reactions. The itchy eyes, runny nose, skin rash and other assorted symptoms are uncomfortably recognizable. However a more exact medical definition of the causes of allergies may well be helpful, since it is the first step towards diagnosis along with treatment for the correct condition.
