Can You Have Allergies Without Sneezing

A Wet Hacking Cough Screams Cold

While a cough is common for both allergy flares and colds, the type of cough for each is different. A cold cough is wet and hacking, and often produces mucus or phlegm that gets progressively thicker, often taking on a green or yellow tinge.

Allergy-related coughs usually feel like you have a tickle in your throat. Thats because allergens often irritate the lining of your nose, which triggers your nasal passages to create a watery mucus. This can drip out of your nose and down the back of your throat, creating that tickling sensation.

Nasal Allergy Symptom : Itchy Eyes

Itchy or watery eyes are a common allergy symptom. Although they can be annoying, eye symptoms donât usually cause serious eye or vision problems.

Again, avoiding the triggers that cause your allergies is the best way to help prevent itchy eyes. For example, if youâre allergic to pollen, keep the windows shut when youâre inside and wear sunglasses outside to help protect your eyes. Try not to rub your eyes, since this can irritate them, and avoid wearing contact lenses.

To soothe your eyes, try placing a cold washcloth over them or use artificial tears. Over-the-counter or prescription allergy medications or eyedrops that contain an antihistamine can also help relieve symptoms.

How To Treat Symptoms

If you think you might be having an allergic reaction, you should see a specialist to properly pinpoint what’s ailing you. There are prescription medications available for allergies, as well as over-the-counter treatment, and immunotherapy, or allergy shots.

There are steps you can take at home, too. ” are both outdoors, so you want to try and stay in, keep your windows closed, and wash your hair when you come inside,” Dr. Fineman said. “You need to take into account a lot of things, including not just the total pollen count, but what’s pollinating.”

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Flea Allergies In Cats

Most cats only have minor skin irritation when bitten by fleas. A single flea bite on a cat can cause a severe flea allergy reaction.

This is what happens a flea takes a bite of your cats skin, injecting saliva. That saliva causes an allergic reaction called flea allergy dermatitis .

Symptoms of flea allergy dermatitis

The most common area of involvement on your cat is the rump area near the tail. But can include legs, head, neck, and shoulder.

• intense itching
• constant chewing, licks, scratches a particular area
• hair loss
• your cat has scabs known as miliary lesions on neck and other areas

Diagnosis

If you suspect that your cat might have FAD, you first want to call your Vet. Since cats are amazing at grooming themselves, it might be hard to detect the presence of fleas. Your cats Vet can perform specialized tests for allergies:

• IgE test
• Intradermal allergy test

Cat Dermatitis Treatment

Consult with your Vet on a treatment plan for your cats flea allergy. Make this the first step.

The best way to treat flea allergy dermatitis in cats is through the prevention of flea bites. The best prevention is through flea prevention medication such as:

Another way to treat is through cat allergy medicine such as:

• allergy shots which has only had limited success in the allergy treatment of cats
• Corticoidsteroids used to block allergic reactions and gives instant relief
• Benedryl for cats

What Increases Your Risk

You may be more likely to have allergic rhinitis and other allergies if:

• You have a family history of allergies, especially allergic rhinitis. A child is more likely to have an allergy if both parents have an allergy or have the same type of allergy.
• You are exposed to dust mites, animal dander, or other indoor allergens.
• You are exposed to pollens or molds.

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Background On Food Allergies

An allergic reaction occurs when your body mounts an immune response to something that it identifies as harmful. In an allergic reaction to food, your immune system attacks certain proteins in foods, according to MayoClinic.com. The most common foods that cause allergic reactions are peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish, fish and eggs. Children may be allergic to milk and wheat, too. Your runny nose and sneezing from food allergies are most likely to occur after you eat one of those foods.

Food Allergies At Any Age

Undiagnosed food allergies or sensitivities is a hot topic in health circles from dairy to gluten to legumes, there’s always a new thing to worry about.

True allergies to foods can develop at any age, Dr. Fineman said. “I think that in kids we tend to see probably a higher percentage of food allergies than we do in adults … but I don’t want to say that adults are less likely to develop something,” he said. The most common culprits in all ages are peanuts, tree nuts, dairy, eggs, wheat, soy, fish and shellfish, according to FoodAllergy.org.

All of these foods can cause potentially life-threatening anaphylaxis, so if you’ve ever had such a reaction, you should visit an allergist to find out exactly what you’re allergic to, Dr. Fineman said. Non-anaphylactic allergic reactions can develop at any age, too.

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Common Sneezing Causes And Triggers

Sneezing is often immediately associated with allergies, but there are other causes. While there are different treatments that can address the underlying cause of sneezing or inhibit the sneeze mechanism, one of the best ways to relieve sneezing is to avoid what is triggering it in the first place.

Clear Signs You Have Seasonal Allergies

Dont confuse allergies with a head cold.

For some people, just the thought of being outside during spring or summer makes them want to sneeze.

Some people love spring and summer: Blooming flowers, warm sunshine and chirping birds are a welcome arrival for many people after the dark and cold winter months. For about 8% of American adults, though, the change of seasons spells misery.

Those 20 million people deal with allergic rhinitis, or seasonal allergies, a condition caused when your immune system reacts to something in the environment. In most cases, that something is pollen from trees, grasses and weeds.

Commonly called hay fever, seasonal allergies actually have nothing to do with hay or fevers. That misnomer comes from a long-gone era when symptoms would strike during hay harvests in late summer and early fall, before medical professionals knew what allergies were.

Think you might have seasonal allergies? See how your symptoms match up against these four big signs.

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My Cat Keeps Sneezing Does He Have Allergies

Its possible.

A cat has allergies when its immune system overacts to foreign substances or particles called allergens. This overactive immune system response will result in common allergy symptoms in cats.

Common cat allergies will look something like the following symptoms:

• skin itchiness
• scratching, rubbing or head shaking
• sneezing, coughing or wheezing
• vomiting, diarrhea, gas, and or bloating
• itchy, running eyes
• scabs on cat

When Symptoms May Change

Your symptoms may be better or worse at different times of the year or different times in your life. For example:

• If you are allergic to dust mites, animal dander, or indoor mould, your symptoms may be more severe in winter when you spend more time indoors.
• If you have a pollen allergy, your symptoms may vary based on what plants grow in your area and what season it is.
• If you get pregnant, your symptoms might get worse. Allergic rhinitis can then make asthma and sinusitis worse.
• As you grow older, allergens may affect you less.

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Trapped Bacteria In Nose Throat And Lungs

Mucus production is very much normal and plays a lot of roles, even when a person is much healthy. It normally protects the tissue that normally lines the lungs, throat, as well as the nasal and also the sinus passages, thus keeping moist and thus preventing it from drying out.

It also traps any unwanted bacteria and also the allergens , thus preventing them from spreading through the body and also making an individual sick.

• Mucus has antibodies, or even the enzymes that are designed to get rid of or even neutralize the harmful allergens.
• As is the case with the mucus, phlegm that has a color like green may signal infection.

Any time that an individual observes blood that is contained in the phlegm when they cough up, then he should seek urgent medical attention. Mucus helps to protect the lungs through capturing of the dirt and also the dust as a person inhales.

A person is able to safely swallow the mixture, but many people dont like the sensation that is accompanied with swallowing of the large amounts. The body is able to reabsorb most of the mucus that is produced itself.

Dirt, dust, and also the debris are passed out of the system, and any other bacteria are then killed by the stomach acids.

What If The Snot Texture Changes

The actual texture of your snot has a lot to do with its moisture content. Nasal mucus that flows freely has more water content than snot that is hard. In some cases, drinking more water may help thin your mucus. Changes in texture can happen throughout the duration of an illness.

Watery discharge from the nose may be a warning sign of a cerebrospinal fluid leak. A leak happens when theres a tear in the membranes surrounding your brain, likely from injury or certain medical conditions, like .

Other symptoms of a CSF leak include:

• nausea
• sensitivity to light or sound
• positional headaches for example, you may feel more pain while sitting up versus lying down

If you suspect you may have a CSF leak, seek medical attention.

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Colds And Allergies: Whats The Difference

Many of my patients are not sure how to tell the difference between a common cold and allergies. Its easy to get confused, since colds and allergies share some of the same symptoms. Heres how you can tell if your symptoms are related to a cold virus or allergies:

• Duration: Colds dont usually last longer than 5 to 7 days, but allergies can last as long as youre exposed to the thing youre allergic to, the allergen.
• Onset of Symptoms: Cold viruses take about three days to cause symptoms. The sneezing, watery eyes, etc., from an allergy can happen as soon as you are in contact with the allergen.
• Allergy Symptom Characteristic: Allergies never cause a fever or body aches. The following symptoms are more common in allergy sufferers : itchy, watery eyes clear mucus that doesnt turn yellow and symptoms that are triggered when seasons change.
• Cold Symptom Characteristics: The following symptoms are more common in cold virus infections : cough sore throat thick, yellow mucus and winter-time onset. Unlike allergies, the common cold is often accompanied by fever and body aches.

Is It A Cold Or An Allergy Should You Call Your Primary Care Provider

Your child has a runny nose and a headache. You are worried it might be more than just a cold, but youre not sure. How do you tell the difference between a cold, allergies and a chest infection? Should you call your primary care provider?

Juhee Lee, MD, an attending physician with the Division of Allergy and Immunology at Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia , offers guidance to parents on:

• Recognizing the symptoms of different conditions that cause nasal congestion
• When to call your primary care provider
• What specialists can help

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Despite Symptoms Its Not The Flu

COVID-19 is not the flu.

As one of a class of pathogens known as coronaviruses, its actually more closely related to the common cold than the seasonal flu.

However, despite some overlap, the typical symptoms of COVID-19 are more similar to the flu than the common cold .

The new delta variant of COVID-19, however, may have more cold-like symptoms.

In terms of differentiating between flu and COVID-19, it can be almost impossible to distinguish, Dr. Jake Deutsch, co-founder and clinical director of Cure Urgent Care centers and Specialty Infusion in New York. Thats why people are recommended to have flu vaccinations so it can at least minimize the risk of flu in light of everything else.

Fevers, body aches, coughing, sneezing could all be equally attributed to them both, so it really means that if theres a concern for flu, theres a concern for COVID-19, Deutsch said.

If you have a mild case of COVID-19, the flu, or a cold, treatment is geared toward management of symptoms, said Cutler.

Generally, acetaminophen is recommended for fevers, he said. Cough drops and cough syrups can also help keep mucus secretions thinner. If there is associated nasal congestion, antihistamines may be useful.

Can I Prevent Myself From Getting Allergy Symptoms

In terms of preventing allergic reactions, the first step is to find out what youre allergic to. Doctors who specialize in allergy and immunology can help patients discover what might be causing their specific allergies with skin, patch, and blood tests. For example, sometimes its difficult to know if your allergy trigger is pollen, pets, mold spores, or a combination of different triggers. Once you have an understanding of your allergy trigger, its best to avoid contact with them as much as possible. Depending on the category of allergy that you have, you may want to try the following:

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Next Steps & Resources:

• Meet our source: Vijay Halari, M.D.
• To make an appointment with Dr. Halari, or a doctor near you, call 800-822-8905 or visit our website.

The material provided through HealthU is intended to be used as general information only and should not replace the advice of your physician. Always consult your physician for individual care.

What Can You Tell By The Color And Consistency Of Phlegm

When the lungs become infected, either from bronchitis or pneumonia , they often create more mucus.

Infection may cause mucus to change from a clear or light yellow thinner liquid to a darker thicker one. Mucus can become darker yellow or green. The dead white blood cells and other changes from the bodys response to infection cause this color change. The change in color may mean that your body is fighting off an infection. But not always.

There is some evidence that green or yellow phlegm is more often caused by a bacterial infection . Its just not a guarantee, so your doctor will look at other symptoms to decide which type of infection you havea bacterial one or a viral one.

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Irritants And Other Sneezing Triggers

Remember those old cartoons when black pepper was used to launch a character into a sneezing attack? Black pepper acts as a chemical irritant on the nerves in the nasal mucosa, which causes sneezing.

Other chemical irritants that cause sneezing include strong odors, perfumes, and tobacco smoke. These triggers cause non-allergic rhinitis, as there are no allergic antibodies behind the symptoms.

Physical irritants such as bright sunlight can also cause sneezing. The nasoocular reflex involves a connection between the eyes and nose, which causes stimulation of nerves within the nasal mucous membranes. Sneezing is the end result.

Sneezing from chemical and physical irritants is not due to the release of histamine, so most antihistamines would not be expected to help in these cases either.

Instead, various nasal sprays, including nasal steroids, some nasal antihistamines, and anticholinergic nasal sprays may be helpful for treating sneezing caused by chemical and physical irritants.

Other Tests For Allergies

In most cases, you do not need testing. But your doctor may suggest some tests to make sure that another condition is not causing your symptoms. These tests include:

• Imaging tests, such as X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs. These tests can show if you have a sinus infection , chronic inflammation of the sinus lining, structural defects of the nose, or, in rare cases, cancer.
• Rhinoscopy or nasalendoscopy. Both of these tests look for nasal polyps and other problems that may block the nasal cavity.
• Mucociliary clearance testing. This test looks for abnormal cilia in people who have very thick nasal discharge. Cilia are tiny hairs on the lining of the nasal passages. These tiny hairs beat back and forth to remove particles from the nose. Certain rare diseases can cause problems in the cilia, which can lead to more nasal discharge.

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Is There A Seasonal Pattern To The Congestion

• The cold and the flu tend to hit in the fall and winter.
• Recurring nasal congestion in the spring, summer or fall, especially if it happens every year, could indicate allergies to pollen from trees, grass or weeds.
• Chronic year-round nasal congestion could be a sign of allergy to dust mites or pets.
• Chronic nasal congestion can also be seen in children with enlarged tonsils and adenoids.

Why Do I Sneeze And Cough All The Time

You can live your whole life without having any issues with allergies and suddenly develop wheezing, coughing, red eyes, and yup, sneezing thanks to adult-onset seasonal allergies. One sign your sneezing might be due to seasonal allergies: Many people with seasonal allergies have machine gun-style

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