Can You Die From Seasonal Allergies

What Is An Allergy Test

An allergist performs tests to pinpoint the cause of your allergic reactions.

There are two kinds of tests:

• Skin tests: The doctor pricks the surface of the skin, usually on the upper arm, and injects a tiny amount of suspected allergens. If an allergy exists, the skin will react by becoming inflamed, red and swollen, which may cause temporary discomfort. Skin tests give fast resultsusually within a half hour or 24 to 48 hours.
• Blood tests: Blood is drawn and sent to a lab. The disadvantage is that it may take several days for the results to come back. However, more allergens can be tested with blood tests than with skin tests, Blood tests are used to identify seasonal allergies as well as perennial allergies, plus allergies to food, medications, and insect bites or stings. If you have chronic skin conditions such as psoriasis or eczema, blood tests are recommended instead of skin tests to prevent further irritation.

Its important to tell your allergist about any medications you are taking because some can compromise your allergy test results.

When To Go To The Er

Most of us battle our allergens by avoiding trigger foods, taking over-the-counter allergy medications, wearing medical bracelets and steering clear of suspicious plants. But what if that isn’t enough? Often, we take our medical symptoms too lightly, especially when we haven’t experienced them before. With a severe allergic reaction, this can be fatal.

Life-threatening allergic reactions can happen rapidly and without warning. They can even be triggered by things we were previously able to tolerate. According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology , it’s not uncommon to have a “normal” reaction to an insect sting the first few times and then experience increasingly severe reactions with each subsequent sting.

Dealing with a severe allergic reaction can be frightening, especially when it’s your child who is affected. According to theCDC, food allergies are a growing food safety and public health concern that affects about 1 in 13 children, or about 2 students per classroom. Avoiding the allergen trigger is the only way to prevent a reaction.

Gan Su, DO, an emergency medicine physician at Medical City Arlington, says the main signs that should send you running to an emergency room with an allergic reaction include:

• Hives all over your body
• Breathing problems

Some symptoms of allergies and allergic reactions can mimic other conditions, such as colds, flu and COVID-19.

Get Tested And Give It A Shot

If you’re having reactions that can’t be controlled with medications or other forms of treatment, you may want to have an allergy test so you’ll know exactly what your triggers are.

Your doctor may then suggest allergy shots, most commonly used to treat hay fever, allergic asthma and insect stings. Allergy shots don’t work for all people nor are they used to treat all types of allergies, such as food allergies.

One treatment that is often prescribed for food allergiesas well as for those caused by insects, medications and latexis an epinephrine injection. This is a prefilled, pen-sized device containing liquid medication that works to relax the muscles of the airway at the first sign of a serious allergic reaction.

People who have a known or suspected allergy to insects should carry at least one self-injectable epinephrine pen at all times the ACAAI recommends two for those who have had a past severe allergic reaction.

Keep in mind that an injection is like first aid for an allergic reaction: It’s a great first line of defense and can save your life, but it doesn’t take the place of medical treatment. You need to call for help or get to an emergency room after using your injection.

Medical City Healthcare provides comprehensive emergency services across North Texas.

At Medical City Healthcare, were dedicated to the care and improvement of human life. So, we hope youll Take Care!

For more information, call ourAsk a Nurse hotline 24/7 or use Find a Doctor online.

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When Should I See An Allergist

An allergist is a healthcare provider specially trained to diagnose and treat people with allergies. They can help you figure out your triggers, discuss treatment options and help you avoid allergens. Talk to an allergist if you:

• Have allergy symptoms that are hard to control or manage.
• Have other medical conditions that make treating allergies more complicated.
• Need daily allergy medication.
• Need more tests to figure out what is causing your reactions.
• Think you may have had an anaphylactic reaction.

Reduce Seasonal Allergy Triggers

• Limit the amount of time you spend outdoors
• Keep windows in your home and car closed
• Invest in an air purifier for your home and office
• Shower and launder clothing after being outside
• Exercise towards evening when pollen counts tend to be lower

Did you know that exposure to common seasonal allergens like pollen, can worsen asthma symptoms? Learn more about how to manage seasonal allergies and treat asthma flare-ups.

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Dont Suffer In Silence

Avoiding allergy treatment can not only lead to other health issues, but it can also lead to low productivity, and reduced performance. Not to mention the constant irritation that can dampen every daily experience.

Therefore, it is essential you visit health professionals who can advise you on the best way to treat and manage your symptoms. With the technology and treatments readily available, there is no reason you should have to suffer in silence, no matter how mild your symptoms are. It might not lead to anaphylaxis, but it still needs seeing to.

At the London Allergy and Immunology Centre, our consultants take you through your options step by step, making sure you get the best possible solution to your allergy problems. So, get in touch with us today on 02031 433 449, or book an appointment here.

Are Allergies Worse In Childhood Or Adulthood

Per the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology and 2013 data, 28 million kids across the United States have allergies. As many as 50 million adults may get reactions to allergens as well.

While more adults have allergies in the United States than children, is there an age group that has it worse? Research that appeared in a 2012 article at MassGeneral Hospital for Children in Massachusetts suggests that adults may be the most at risk for intense, serious symptoms. Adult behaviors such as taking certain medications and drinking alcohol may increase risk for severe anaphylaxis. Exercise and having asthma can also increase reaction severity. Of course, young children who cannot communicate symptoms can also have severe reactions which go unnoticed and progress to dangerous levels.

A severe allergic reaction, which can be triggered by foods or venom , is called anaphylaxis. This is a life-threatening emergency condition in which the patient goes into shock, cannot breathe, and may have vomiting, nausea, and skin rashes. Anaphylaxis symptoms can occur instantaneously or sometimes minutes after eating an allergen or being stung. Epinephrine can control cases of anaphylaxis that are caught immediately. The longer the patient goes without treatment, the greater the likelihood that death can occur. For this reason patients with a history of severe anaphylaxis are encouraged to always have an in date epinephrine injector available.

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Can You Develop Seasonal Allergies Later In Life

Reviewed by Theresa H. Care Delivery Manager & Family Nurse Practitioner

Ah, the changing seasons. The budding trees, blooming flowers and sprouting grasses. The itchy eyes, sneezing fits and scratchy throat. Wait a minute. You never had seasonal allergies before. Whats going on? Can you develop seasonal allergies as an adult? Yep turns out you can. In fact, you can develop allergies at any age.

In this post

• Get relief from seasonal allergy symptoms

How Can You Prevent Them

Seasonal allergies, such as hay fever , are often caused by being exposed to pollen. To reduce your exposure:

• Keep your house and car windows closed.
• Limit the time you spend outside when pollen counts are high .
• Wear a pollen mask or dust mask if you need to mow the lawn.
• Limit your mowing tasks if you can.
• Rinse your eyes with cool water or saline eyedrops to remove clinging pollen after you come indoors.
• Take a shower and change your clothes after you work or play outside.

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What Happens In Your Body When You Have Allergies

Millions of people in the U.S. suffer from seasonal allergies. And, if you notice symptoms like itchy eyes and a stuffy nose after spending time outside, youre probably one of them.

These types of symptoms happen when your bodys immune system kicks into high gear and overacts to something in your environment. In the case of seasonal allergies, common allergens like pollen and mold cause the immune system to produce antibodies called Immunoglobulin E .

These IgE antibodies carry messages to the cells in your eyes, nasal passages, throat and airways to release the chemical histamine. When this happens, an inflammatory response is triggered and you experience those annoying allergy symptoms.

Common seasonal allergy symptoms

• Dark circles & puffiness under eyes
• Stuffed up & runny nose
• Scratchy & sore throat

An allergic reaction is essentially your bodys way of protecting you from what it believes to be dangerous foreign invaders. By triggering an inflammatory response, your body is attempting to block allergens while also triggering an immune response to ward off possible infection.

What Are Seasonal Allergies

Allergies occur when your body’s defence system overreacts to certain substances. The immune system treats a harmless substance as if it were a harmful germ or virus. Many things can cause this to happen. Examples include pollens, medicine, food, dust, animal dander, and mould.

Your allergies are seasonal if you have symptoms just at certain times of the year. In that case, you are probably allergic to pollens from certain trees, grasses, or weeds.

Allergies can be mild or severe. Over-the-counter allergy medicine may help with some symptoms. Read and follow all instructions on the label.

Managing your allergies is an important part of staying healthy. Your doctor may suggest that you have tests to help find the cause of your allergies. When you know what things trigger your symptoms, you can avoid them. This can prevent allergy symptoms and other health problems.

In some cases, immunotherapy might help. For this treatment, you get shots or use pills that have a small amount of certain allergens in them. Your body “gets used to” the allergen, so you react less to it over time. This kind of treatment may help prevent or reduce some allergy symptoms.

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Can You Develop Allergies Later In Life

It is certainly possible to develop allergies in adulthood. Adult-onset allergies can occur seemingly out of nowhere due to exposure to new allergens in the environment, family history and changes in the immune system. The most common food allergies in adults are peanuts, fish, shellfish such as shrimp, lobster and tree nuts .

Theres no way to avoid getting adult-onset allergies if youre susceptible to them, since you cant reasonably expect to know every trigger that could cause an allergic reaction and then avoid it. In addition, there is some recent research that indicates avoiding allergens can make it more likely for an individual to develop allergies, because the immune system is unfamiliar with more substances.

Tips For Relieving Seasonal Allergy Itchy Skin

If you suffer from itchy skin caused by seasonal allergies, there are a few things you can do to get relief.

• Use a humidifier: A humidifier can help add moisture to the air, which can help relieve dry, itchy skin, especially if the inside of your nose feels itchy often.
• Take a cool bath or shower: This can help soothe your skin and reduce itchiness. Adding oatmeal or baking soda to your bath can also be helpful.
• Spot treat an itchy area with a cold pack or a bucket of cold water to reduce inflammation and itchiness.
• Apply a moisturizer to help prevent dryness and itching. Look for products that contain ingredients like glycerin or hyaluronic acid.
• Avoid triggers: If you know what triggers your itchy skin , try to avoid them as much as possible.
• Try an OTC allergy itch cream with the active pharmaceutical ingredient hydrocortisone. These creams may help relieve itchiness and inflammation as you use them daily. The healing effect builds over time.
• Try a menthol cream that acts to cool the area that feels itchy.
• If you are an adult, use a numbing product with lidocaine to reduce the sensation of itchiness. Be careful not to apply this product to large areas of the body.

If you suffer from itchy skin caused by seasonal allergies and have tried these tips without relief, be sure to see a doctor. They can help you determine if an allergy causes your itchy skin and find long-lasting ways to combat the itch.

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Connecting The Dots On Health

Stinson says that connecting climate-induced trends in allergenicity with public health impacts could be challenging. It will require that scientists have better access to pollen data than they currently do in addition to health outcomes data that might be correlated with rising pollen exposure levels.

Findings from studies of ragweed in urban versus rural settings suggest that some city dwellers might be disproportionately affected by climate change with respect to seasonal allergies.

Weinberger, of Brown University, has studied the relationship between daily spring pollen counts and health outcomes in New York City. Results published last year showed that mid-spring peaks in tree pollen were associated with over-the-counter allergy medication sales and emergency room visits for asthma attacks, especially among children.28 By contrast, unpublished research shes conducted showed no similar relationship between allergy drug sales and peak exposures to ragweed pollen in the fall. Weinberger says thats possibly because allergy medication purchased in the spring might last for months in the absence of sales data, researchers wouldnt be able to detect a relationship to symptoms.

Over The Counter Remedies

If reducing your exposure to allergy triggers isnt possible or effective and you cant stop sneezing, over-the-counter or prescription allergy medications can provide some relief. Your local drugstore should offer a variety of products depending on your symptoms and whether you prefer tablets, nasal spray, or eye drops.

If you have an allergic reaction that spreads throughout the body, an oral medication may be the most effective at relieving symptoms. Otherwise, choosing a nasal spray or eye drop OTC or prescription medication may be best for targeting certain symptoms.

Before beginning any new treatment or medication, you should speak with your doctor.

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Why Adults Develop Allergies

A lot of people think that youre born with allergies or can only develop them during early childhood. But the truth is that a lot of people develop allergies during their 20s, 40s and even beyond suddenly becoming sensitive to certain foods or things in their environment like ragweed and mold. Why? The truth is that doctors dont really know why adults develop allergies, but they do have some theories.

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What Are Adult Onset Allergies

Adult-onset allergies are those allergy symptoms that manifest later in life. This could be anywhere from younger adulthood, such as in a persons 20s, to a persons senior years, when they are 70 or 80 years old. Typically, if you lived through your 20s and your 30s without any new allergies, the chances of getting adult-onset allergies diminishes.

The strangest part about adult-onset allergies is that you can wake up today irritated by an allergen that didnt bother you yesterday. You could have been in contact with said allergen every single day for years with no adverse effects. Now, you have a runny nose, itching eyes and uncontrollable sneezing around that allergen.

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What Should I Do If I Develop Adult Onset Allergies

If you believe you have developed allergies as an adult, avoid any suspected allergens while you are waiting to see your allergist. Your allergist may order some tests such as blood or skin tests to further evaluate your allergies.

If allergy testing confirms a diagnosis of allergy, your allergist will work with you to develop a treatment plan including avoidance measures, medications, and/or other treatment options such as immunotherapy for environmental allergies.

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Are Allergies In Kids Different Than In Adults

It can be especially difficult to control allergies in kids, Dr. Leeds says, adding that kids tend to spend more time outdoors and, thus, are exposed to more pollen. A high pollen count day is not going to deter them from going to the playground, says Dr. Leeds. Thats unlike an adult who might say, ‘Im going to drive my car to work, keep the windows rolled up, and not take that walk during lunch.’

Another difference is that allergies in adults are usually well-established, while in kids there is the hope that they will outgrow them, Dr. Leeds says.

With kids, we talk about the concept of atopy, which is an allergic predisposition, she says. For a child with a strong family history of any allergiesand especially for those who develop symptoms early in lifedoctors look out for the four main allergic diseases: eczema, food allergies, nasal allergies, and asthma. These allergic diseases, in general, are increasing in prevalence, she says.