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What Are Allergies Caused By

Can Allergies Be Controlled

Allergies Caused by Remodeling & Painting : Allergy-Proofing Your Home

Avoidance is the best defense against allergies. But if you are unable to avoid the bothersome allergens, medication may be taken to relieve symptoms. Medications may help relieve symptoms, but they do not alter the allergy immune response. If symptoms cannot be controlled by medication, allergy shots may be prescribed. Allergy shots can put your allergies into remission over time and are a good alternative for people who dont want to take medicine regularly.

Dont suffer from untreated allergies. Schedule an appointment today with one of our board-certified allergists, and move towards a clearer tomorrow.

Inhalant Allergies: Causes Symptoms And Treatment

Allergies are caused by your body reacting to substances in the air that you breathe.

Although airborne allergies are caused by harmless things, your body identifies these substances as foreign. This leads to your allergy symptomssneezing, congestion, runny nose, and more.

Inhalant allergies commonly include indoor allergens and outdoor allergens .

Learn more about the causes, symptoms, and treatment of inhalant allergies in this article.

S For Managing Your Sore Throat

The first step in managing your allergy-induced sore throats is visiting a professional. From there, we can determine the root cause of your allergy, and help you create a personalized plan for removing the trigger from your life and/or ways to manage your allergies when removing the trigger isnt a realistic solution.

Short Term Relief

Providing short-term relief for a sore throat can usually be accomplished through the use of simple but effective home remedies. Drink warm liquids, especially tea with honey or lemon, and chicken broth or bouillon. Cold liquids can also help. Suck on Popsicles, hard candy, or throat lozenges to soothe irritation. Gargle with warm salt water several times a day. Use a humidifier or vaporizer to moisten the air.

Long Term Relief

More long-term solutions can involve immunotherapy, which is a series of allergy shots designed to build up your bodys immune system against the allergen causing you and your body stress.

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Animal Dander And Cockroaches

Dander are flecks of skin shed by cats, dogs and even birds. Dander can trigger allergies. You might also react to the proteins from oil glands in an animal’s skin or proteins from an animal’s saliva.

It may take two or more years for you to develop an allergy like this. Once you have symptoms, though, they may last until you donât come into contact with the animal anymore. If you donât have pets, it might be cockroaches that youâre allergic to.

Symptoms include sneezing, congestion, and itchy and watery eyes.

Do this:

  • Avoid the animals that cause your allergies when possible. If youâre allergic to your pet, ask your doctor if thereâs anything you can do that would help, like keeping it off your bed and couches.
  • Bathe your pet every week. Get someone who isnât allergic to do it if you can.
  • You can also take medications such as antihistamines, decongestants, and nasal steroids to help. Allergy shots might also help.
  • If you have cockroach allergies, be sure to keep trash in closed containers and take it out of your home promptly. You may also want to consider getting an exterminator.

Signs And Symptoms Of Asthma

What is the root cause of skin allergies?

To establish a diagnosis of asthma, the clinician should determine that:

  • Episodic symptoms of airflow obstruction or airway hyperresponsiveness are present.
  • Airflow obstruction is at least partially reversible.
  • Alternative diagnoses are excluded.

Recommended methods to establish the diagnosis are:

  • Detailed medical history.
  • Physical exam focusing on the upper respiratory tract, chest, and skin.
  • Spirometry to demonstrate obstruction and assess reversibility, including in children 5 years of age or older. Reversibility is determined either by an increase in FEV1 of 12 percent from baseline or by an increase 10 percent of predicted FEV1 after inhalation of a short-acting bronchodilator.

Additional studies are not routinely necessary but may be useful when considering alternative diagnoses:

It is important to consider a diagnosis of asthma if certain elements of the clinical history are present they are not diagnostic by themselves but increase the probability of a diagnosis of asthma:

  • Wheezinghigh-pitched whistling sounds when breathing outespecially in children.
  • History of any of the following:
  • Cough, worse particularly at night
  • Recurrent wheeze
  • Symptoms occur or worsen at night, awakening the patient.
  • Spirometry is needed to establish a diagnosis of asthma.

  • Hyper expansion of the thorax, especially in children use of accessory muscles appearance of hunched shoulders and chest deformity.
  • Rhinosinusitis,
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    Symptoms Of Hay Fever

    Growing seasons cause plants to bloom and molds to multiply, so youll usually experience your at the same time every year. The timing can help you confirm that your symptoms are due to hay fever and not a viral infection.

    Symptoms associated with hay fever include:

    Year-round triggers for hay fever include:

    • cockroaches
    • pet dander, such as from , , or birds
    • spores from fungi and molds that grow indoors

    These allergens set off a chain reaction after they get into your system. A hay fever cough is an aftereffect of postnasal drip.

    Postnasal drip occurs when allergens irritate the lining of your nose. This triggers your nasal passages to produce mucus, a sticky substance thats supposed to remove harmful or dirty particles from the air. Mucus associated with allergens tends to be more watery than the mucus your body produces when you arent sick or experiencing allergies. This watery mucus drips out of your nose and down your throat. This tickles the throat and leads to a hay fever cough.

    This cough usually comes with a constant tickling feeling in the throat. If youre exposed to your allergen when youre outdoors, your coughing will most likely be more frequent in the daytime.

    However, your cough will generally be worse at night. This effect is largely due to gravity. During the day, you stand and sit up more than at night. Mucus cant drain as easily at night when youre lying down.

    Can Allergies Be Prevented

    Unfortunately, you cannot prevent the manifestation of adult-onset allergies. As we mentioned, these allergies sometimes spring up where none existed before. Other times, exposure to the allergen triggers a reaction. For those reasons, its difficult to say with certainty which triggers you should avoid.

    While you cant always prevent adult-onset allergies, you can treat them as they develop. If, for instance, you notice you get an adverse reaction after eating shellfish or peanuts, you should refrain from eating these foods right away. Instead, set up an appointment with an allergy provider who can test your to see what is causing your symptoms

    In the case of food allergies, the best treatment is avoidance. For pet dander, pollen, and other standard allergy triggers, you can try medications, including steroid nasal sprays and antihistamines, to alleviate uncomfortable symptoms. You can also try to keep yourself away from these allergens via lifestyle adjustments.

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    Which Areas Of The Body May Be Affected

    People experience different symptoms, depending on the allergen and where it enters the body. Allergic reactions can involve many parts of the body at the same time.

    Nose, eyes, sinuses and throat

    When allergens are breathed in, the release of histamine causes the lining of the nose to produce more mucus and become swollen and inflamed. It causes the nose to run and itch, and violent sneezing may occur. Eyes may start to water and people may get a sore throat.

    Lungs and chest

    Asthma can be triggered during an allergic reaction. When an allergen is breathed in, the lining of the passages in the lungs swells and makes breathing difficult.

    Stomach and bowel

    Foods that commonly cause allergy include peanuts, seafood, dairy products and eggs. Cow’s milk allergy in infants may occur and can cause eczema, asthma, colic and stomach upset. Some people cannot digest lactose . Lactose intolerance causes stomach upsets, but should not be confused with allergy.

    Skin

    Skin problems that can be triggered by allergy include atopic dermatitis and urticaria .

    Hay Fever Management And Treatment

    Symptoms & Causes of Nasal Allergies – Michael Gatto, MD

    Avoid triggers by making changes to your home and to your behavior.

    • Keep windows closed during high pollen periods use air conditioning in your home and car.
    • Wear glasses or sunglasses when outdoors to keep pollen out of your eyes.
    • Use mite-proof bedding covers to limit exposure to dust mites and a dehumidifier to control mold. .
    • Wash your hands after petting any animal, and have a nonallergic person help with pet grooming, preferably in a well-ventilated area or outside.

    What people dont realize is most of the over-the-counter medicines are designed for milder allergies. For the people who have more moderate to severe allergy problems, its very rare that over the counter medicines are enough.

    Allergist James Sublett, MD

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    Tips To Avoid Foods That May Cause Allergies

    To avoid foods to which you have an allergy, learn the terms used to describe these foods on food labels, for example:

    • milk protein milk, non-fat milk solids, cheese, yoghurt, caseinates, whey, lactose
    • lactose milk, lactose
    • ASCIA Guidelines for prevention of food anaphylactic reactions in schools, preschools and childcare centres, 2015 update, Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy. More information here.
    • Osborne NJ, Koplin JJ, Martin PE, et al 2011, Prevalence of challenge-proven IgE-mediated food allergy using population-based sampling and predetermined challenge criteria in infants, J Allergy Clin Immunol, vol. 127, no. 3, pp. 668-676. More information here.
    • About food allergies, The Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network. More information here.
    • Anaphylaxis, Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, Victorian Government. More information here.
    • ASCIA Guidelines infant feeding and allergy prevention, 2016, Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy. More information here.
    • Allergens, Food Allergy Research and Education. More information here.

    Know Where To Go For Allergy Care: Carolina Asthma & Allergy Center

    Allergies can begin in childhood, adulthood and anytime in between. If youre dealing with a new or persistent case of allergies, we encourage you to reach out to us at Carolina Asthma & Allergy. We serve patients throughout North and South Carolina and work with traditional allergy treatment methods as well as allergy shots and allergy drops.

    Our board-certified doctors are experts in food allergies, asthma, insect bite allergies and other uncommon, yet often serious allergies that require specialized care. We even offer anaphylaxis prevention and treatment, immunotherapy care and treatments for the lungs, skin, throat, nose, ears, and eyes. To set up your appointment today, contact us today!

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    When To Contact A Doctor

    In many instances, ACC will resolve on its own once a person avoids the allergen or irritant.

    The AAD notes that a person should contact a dermatologist or allergist if the rash is persistent or returns.

    A dermatologist or allergist will perform a patch test to try to identify the trigger, according to the AAD.

    During a patch test, a dermatologist will place small amounts of potential allergens on the skin and place patches on top. A person should leave the patches in place for 48 hours.

    After 48 hours, a dermatologist will remove the patches and see if any allergic reactions have occurred.

    After 47 days, a person should return to the dermatologist as it can take time for allergic reactions to occur.

    It is important to note that the first round of patch testing may fail because there are so many allergens that can cause a reaction. A person may have to undergo a few rounds of patch testing.

    A person should also contact a doctor if signs of infection appear.

    Could A New Medication Be Causing My Throat Clearing

    Allergies: Types, Symptoms, Causes, Risk Factor and Treatments

    Certain medications can cause throat clearing as a side effect. A class of blood pressure and heart medications called ACE inhibitors can cause coughing and throat clearing due to a buildup of substances that irritate the airways. Inhaled steroids can also cause throat clearing in this case, the medication causes direct irritation to the larynx.

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    Is It Allergies Or A Cold

    Sometimes it can be hard to tell the difference between allergies and the common cold. There are more than a hundred strains of cold viruses. Each tends to become widespread at certain times of the year, which is why you may mistake a cold for a seasonal allergy. Allergies occur at the same time every year and last as long as the allergen is in the air . Allergies cause itching of the nose and eyes along with other nasal symptoms. Colds last about one week and have less itching of the nose and eyes.

    Is It An Allergy Or Something Else

    Like allergies, a cold and the flu affect the respiratory system and they share some symptoms, such as a runny nose and coughing.

    One difference between them is the itchiness associated with many allergic reactions.

    “Typically, an allergy will have itchiness of the eyes, nose, and throat,” says Bassett. “With a cold, you’re more likely to have a sore throat, decrease in appetite, and you just don’t feel well.”

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    What Causes Allergic Rhinitis

    You have an allergy when your body overreacts to things that dont cause problems for most people. These things are called allergens. If you have allergies, your body releases chemicals when you are exposed to an allergen. One such chemical is called histamine. Histamine is your bodys defense against the allergen. The release of histamine causes your symptoms.

    Hay fever is an allergic reaction to pollen. Pollen comes from flowering trees, grass, and weeds. If you are allergic to pollen, you will notice your symptoms are worse on hot, dry days when wind carries the pollen. On rainy days, pollen often is washed to the ground, which means you are less likely to breathe it.

    • Allergies that occur in the spring are often due to tree pollen.
    • Allergies that occur in the summer are often due to grass and weed pollen.
    • Allergies that occur in the fall are often due to ragweed.

    Allergens that can cause perennial allergic rhinitis include:

    Types Of Allergens Causing Allergic Rhinoconjunctivitis

    What Causes Seasonal Allergies?

    Allergic Rhinoconjunctivitis, also known as hay fever, is one of the most common allergies. This allergic reaction is usually caused by pollens and dust mites. This type of allergy can cause inflammation or swelling of the nose, as well as cause symptoms in the eyes. The main symptoms that these cause, is sneezing, congestion, and itchy/ watery eyes.

    Treatment for Allergic Rhinoconjunctivitis can be your every day over the counter allergy medication, or prescription medication depending on the severity of the condition. Some medications include antihistamines, intranasal cromolyn, intranasal steroids, oral anti-leukotrienes, oral decongestants and more. The main treatment for Allergic Rhinoconjunctivitis is to avoid allergens that cause these symptoms.

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    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.

    When To See An Allergist

    See an allergist if you develop unexplained wheezing that keeps coming back or along with other symptoms, such as rapid breathing or problems taking in air.

    If you begin wheezing after being stung by an insect, taking medication or eating something you are allergic to, then get emergency treatment. You should also seek emergency treatment if you have difficulty breathing or your skin turns blue.

    If you have mild wheezing that comes with a cold or an upper respiratory infection, you might not need treatment.

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    What Is The Prognosis Of Allergies

    People with allergies have an excellent prognosis. Many children outgrow allergies over time, particularly food and medication allergies, such as penicillin. On the other hand, allergies can develop at any age. Allergies should not affect life expectancy, and with proper management, the majority of individuals with allergies should maintain an acceptable quality of life.

    Toxins Interacting With Proteins

    Guy Under A Protective Dome In A Protective Mask. The ...

    Another non-food protein reaction, urushiol-induced contact dermatitis, originates after contact with poison ivy, eastern poison oak, western poison oak, or poison sumac. Urushiol, which is not itself a protein, acts as a hapten and chemically reacts with, binds to, and changes the shape of integral membrane proteins on exposed skin cells. The immune system does not recognize the affected cells as normal parts of the body, causing a T-cell-mediated immune response. Of these poisonous plants, sumac is the most virulent. The resulting dermatological response to the reaction between urushiol and membrane proteins includes redness, swelling, papules, vesicles, blisters, and streaking.

    Estimates vary on the percentage of the population that will have an immune system response. Approximately 25 percent of the population will have a strong allergic response to urushiol. In general, approximately 80 percent to 90 percent of adults will develop a rash if they are exposed to .0050 milligrams of purified urushiol, but some people are so sensitive that it takes only a molecular trace on the skin to initiate an allergic reaction.

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