Why Do People Develop Allergies

What Is The Immune System

The purpose of the immune system is to defend itself and keep microorganisms, such as certain bacteria, viruses, and fungi, out of the body, and to destroy any infectious microorganisms that do invade the body. The immune system is made up of a complex and vital network of cells and organs that protect the body from infection.

The organs involved with the immune system are called the lymphoid organs. They affect growth, development, and the release of lymphocytes . The blood vessels and lymphatic vessels are important parts of the lymphoid organs. They carry the lymphocytes to and from different areas in the body. Each lymphoid organ plays a role in the production and activation of lymphocytes.

Lymphoid organs include:

• Lymphatic vessels

• Peyer’s patches

Why Would I Suddenly Develop Allergies

While most people develop adult-onset allergies in their 20s and 30s, its possible to develop allergies later in life as well. It remains unclear why allergies develop during adulthood. There is a genetic component, i.e., allergies can be inherited. Meaning, you have a higher risk of developing allergies if you have a family history of allergies.

Other risk factors for developing allergies as an adult include severe allergies during childhood. It may not be the same allergy. So, if you had food allergies as a child or a skin condition like eczema, you could develop seasonal allergies when youre older with itching, runny nose, sneezing, watery eyes, and sore throat.

Other reasons for adult-onset allergies may include:

• Exposure to allergens during a period when your immune system is weak, such as when youre sick.
• Exposure to new allergens after relocating to a new city, home, or workplace.
• Exposure to allergens through a new pet or keeping a pet after a long time.
• Exposure to high levels of an allergen for the first time as an adult .

What Are Treatment Options For Sudden Adult

On the bright side, allergic symptoms are rarely dangerous. There are several treatments that can help, and many of them are available over-the-counter.

Your doctor may want to do an allergy skin test before confirming a diagnosis. Depending on your diagnosis and severity of symptoms, treatment options may include:

• Finding and avoiding known allergens

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Can Allergies Go Away

A popular question for many people who deal with allergies from an early age is whether you can eventually outgrow them. Well, there is a chance over time that symptoms can lessen, especially when it comes to food allergies. However, you can still be at risk for allergies even though it might not seem that way. Thats why we recommend you reach out to Allergy & ENT Associates to complete allergy testing in Houston as soon as possible. This way, we can determine if you have allergies in a more accurate manner and before you change your lifestyle.

What Is Anaphylactic Shock

Anaphylactic shock, also called anaphylaxis, is a severe, life-threatening reaction to certain allergens. Body tissues may swell, including tissues in the throat. Anaphylactic shock is also characterized by a sudden drop in blood pressure. The following are the most common symptoms of anaphylactic shock. However, each person may experience symptoms differently. Other symptoms may include:

• Itching and hives over most of the body

• Swelling of the throat and tongue or tightness in throat

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath

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Are These Symptoms Allergies

If you believe you have developed allergies, the first thing you can try is over-the-counter antihistamines to help control your symptoms. It is also a good idea to avoid the things you believe you are allergic to until you can be seen by an allergist.

An allergist can perform allergy testing to determine if you have allergies and exactly what is triggering your allergy symptoms. If testing confirms you have allergies, you can work with your doctor to develop a personalized treatment plan.

Why Do People Get Allergies

Anyone with an allergy has their origin story, a tale of how they discovered that their immune system goes haywire when some arbitrarily particular molecule gets into their body. There are hundreds of millions of these stories. In the US alone, an estimated 18 million people suffer from hay fever, and food allergies affect millions of American children. The prevalence of allergies in many other countries is rising. The list of allergens includes but is not limited to latex, gold, pollen , penicillin, insect venom, peanuts, papayas, jellyfish stings, perfume, eggs, the feces of house mites, pecans, salmon, beef and nickel.

Once these substances trigger an allergy, the symptoms can run the gamut from annoying to deadly. Hives appear, lips swell. Hay fever brings sniffles and stinging eyes allergies to food can cause vomiting and diarrhea. For an unlucky minority, allergies can trigger a potentially fatal whole-body reaction known as anaphylactic shock.

For allergy sufferers, the current treatment options are limited: antihistamines can stop the inflammation response, steroids can help dial down the immune system, and EpiPens can save lives. A more permanent option is immunotherapy. Deliberate, controlled exposure to gradually increasing amounts of an allergen can teach the immune system that it isnt dangerous after all.

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What Causes Allergic Reactions

The things that people are allergic to, called allergens, are usually everyday substances that other people can tolerate just fine. Common allergens include peanuts and other nuts, animal hair, pollen, crustaceans and fish, mould, dust mites, insect stings and medications.

When a person is allergic to a substance, their immune system reacts to it when it touches their skin, they breathe it in, or they ingest it. Some allergic reactions are driven by antibodies. Antibodies attach themselves to cells in the body called mast cells. When the allergen comes into contact with the antibodies, the mast cells release substances like histamine, which cause the inflammation and swelling typical of an allergic reaction.

Allergic reactions can affect the nose, eyes, sinuses, throat, skin, stomach, bowel and lungs.

The nose, eyes, sinuses and throat are affected by allergens that are inhaled. During an allergic reaction, these areas can become swollen, inflamed or itchy, with extra mucus produced in the nose and fluid in the eyes.

The lungs are also affected by allergens that are inhaled. Some people with asthma find their condition is triggered by allergens however, it is possible to have asthma that is not caused by allergens, too.

Hives on the skin can be caused by allergens that have been ingested or allergens that have come into contact with the skin.

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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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.

Why Are Allergies Triggered In The First Place

There is a lot about allergies that is still unknown. Including why they are triggered in the first place. One assumption is that you have been exposed to it too much . We do know, however, that a lot more people tend to develop allergies now than ever before. The why has not been fully established from a research perspective. However, one has to wonder that the stress our bodies are being put under, convenience foods and refined sugar, and lack of sleep may play a role. We also keep our homes way more tidy than ever before not fully allowing our immune systems to do their jobs. They do not really have to fight against substances any longer because everything is super clean and germ-free.

If you do develop allergies later in life , this may be caused because you are exposed to something your body classifies as an allergy due to a weakened immune system. You may have not been exposed to an allergen enough as a kid but are now hitting some form of threshold, or you move to a new area where the trees, grasses, etc. are different. Getting a new pet could also be a trigger.

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Why Do Kids Get Allergies

The tendency to develop allergies is often hereditary, which means it can be passed down through genes from parents to their kids. But just because a parent has allergies doesn’t mean that their kids definitely will get them. And someone usually doesn’t inherit a particular allergy, just the likelihood of having allergies. Some kids have allergies even if no family member is allergic. Kids who are allergic to one thing often are allergic to others.

Some kids also have cross-reactions. For example, kids who are allergic to birch pollen might have symptoms when they eat an apple because that apple contains a protein similar to one in the pollen. And for reasons that aren’t clear, people with a latex allergy are more likely to be allergic to foods like kiwi, chestnuts, avocados, and bananas.

A Specialist Explains The Sudden Onset Of Allergic Reactions After Years Without Problems

Some children seem to outgrow allergies. But adults who have never had problems with pollen suddenly can start suffering the runny nose and itchy eyes of hay fever. To find out why, we turned to James Sublett, president-elect of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, and a practicing immunologist in Louisville, Ky.

All in the Family

Allergies are largely genetic. If a parent has allergies, chances are good the children will too. But that doesn’t necessarily mean there will be symptoms. What is inherited is an immune system that is predisposed to allergic reactions. And sometimes the symptoms don’t emerge until later in life, when exposure to allergens, such as pollen, dust mites or mold, build up over time and reach a critical mass.

Dr. Sublett cites a study of college freshmen who tested positive for the presence of immunoglobulin E, a type of antibody generally associated with allergies, but showed no symptoms. The subjects were checked twice more during their lives.

Mold spores can cause year-round allergies. Pollen hits hardest in spring and fall.

“Within their college career, about 20% of the students developed some allergies,” Dr. Sublett says. When the researchers checked the subjects again 20 years later, they found that 40% had allergies. The conclusion: It takes environmental exposure for people to develop full-blown allergies, even if they are genetically predisposed, Dr. Sublett says.

Come and Go

Dust mites

Hurts at Work

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What Are Symptoms Of Adult

When it comes to allergies, symptoms tend to get worse over time, and some may even be life-threatening. A few common signs and symptoms you need to watch out for include:

• Runny nose or nasal congestion: May be triggered by an airborne allergen such as pollen, dust, or pet dander
• Itchy, swollen eyes: May be caused by allergens entering the eyes, such as pollen or ingredients in a new eye cream
• Red and white, raised rash: Also called urticaria, looks like nettlerash and disappears after 20 minutes, and almost always a sign that you have had an allergic reaction to something you have eaten
• Swelling of the lips, tongue, and face: Rarest but most dangerous kind of allergic reaction that can come on very quickly
• May be the result of eating a certain food , taking certain medication, or a wasp sting
• May quickly develop into an anaphylactic shock and be deadly, therefore requiring emergency medical attention

Who Is At Risk For Adult

Most people who are diagnosed with allergies as adults probably had an allergic episode earlier in life that they don’t remember. Often allergies follow a predictable course: eczema and food allergies in babies and toddlers, then hay fever symptoms in mid-to-late childhood. Allergy symptoms may fade during the teen years, only to return when you’re an adult.

Some people, however, do experience allergy symptoms for the first time in adulthood. This most often happens in your twenties, thirties, and forties rather than in later years. “As we age, our immune system does weaken that is why more seniors get pneumonia than 20-year-olds,” says Anthony J. Weido, MD, president of Allergy & Asthma Associates in Houston, Texas, and the Gulf Coast area. “As the immune system weakens, the hyper-allergic reaction also weakens,” he says.

Any type of allergy can occur in adulthood, including hay fever, pet allergies, and dust mite and mold allergies as well as insect bite, drug, and food allergies. Again, experts aren’t entirely sure why this happens, but theories include:

• being exposed to allergens when the immune system is weakened, such as during an illness or pregnancy
• not being exposed to a high enough level of the allergen as a child but reaching that threshold in adulthood
• moving to a new location with different trees, plants, and grasses

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How Do Allergies Happen

If a child with an allergy is exposed to that allergen, their immune system mistakenly believes it’s harming their body. It overreacts, treating the substance as an invader and trying to fight it off. To protect the body, the immune system makes antibodies called immunoglobulin E . These cause certain cells to release chemicals into the bloodstream to defend against the allergen “invader.”

It’s the release of these chemicals that causes allergic reactions. Reactions can affect the eyes, nose, throat, lungs, skin, and gastrointestinal tract. Future exposure to that same allergen will trigger this allergic response again.

What Are The Treatments For Adult

Allergies can affect every aspect of a persons life. If you think youve developed allergies, its important to visit your healthcare provider. Doctors can diagnose an allergy based on your symptoms and allergy testing . You should work with your doctor to develop a treatment plan. Some of the possible treatments for an allergy include:

• Prescription or over-the-counter antihistamines such as diphenhydramine or cetirizine to control your allergy symptoms. Antihistamine medications are available as pills and nasal sprays. Your doctor may ask you to take them at the start of allergy season for prevention.
• Allergy injections work like a vaccine. They can help to slowly build your tolerance to allergy triggers. You may need to take allergy shots regularly for a few years.
• Epinephrine auto-injector is a life-saving device that can help to reverse severe allergy symptoms such as a drop in blood pressure, throat swelling, and difficulty breathing. It is used in case of accidental exposure, such as an insect sting or exposure to other allergens that cause severe reactions.

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Why Adults Become Allergic

Doctors arent exactly sure why people develop allergies beyond childhood, but it may have to do with several factors:

• An aging population. As more people are living longer in the U.S., allergies in adults are becoming more prevalent, according to the medical journal Aging and Disease. As we age, our immune system becomes weaker over time and we are more susceptible to illness, including allergies.
• A changing environment. Climate change is causing the planet to get warmer, which causes flowers to bloom earlier and pollen season to become longer by several weeks, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. There are higher amounts of pollen and mold in our atmosphere, which may cause people who never had allergies to develop symptoms.
• Hypervigilant focus on cleanliness. In the last few decades,we have become increasingly preoccupied with hygiene. The pandemic has only increased our awareness of germs. We use antibacterial soaps, alcohol-based hand sanitizers and bleach for wiping down surfaces. As a result, our immune systems arent used to fighting off minor invaders or germs, and our bodies can overreact with allergy symptoms.