Allergies are the result of an immune system’s overreaction to a foreign substance. When the body comes into contact with an allergen (i.e. pollen), it them releases a chemical called histamine. Histamine causes all of those annoying symptoms that come with allergies: itchy and watery eyes, runny nose, congestion, sore throat, sneezing and hives. A lot of symptoms are similar to those suffering from colds and sinuses. Sick of suffering from allergies? You are not the only one. Understanding what causes allergies, as well as how to treat your specific allergies, can vastly improve your quality of life during allergy season.
Allergic reactions are generally not severe, but some hyper sensitive people do react to certain allergens by going into anaphylactic shock (airways closing off, vomiting, diarrhea or severe stomach pain). These people have to carry an EpiPen with them, which gives them a shot of epinephrine—a form of adrenaline—that will enable them to breathe until they can get emergency medical treatment.
Hopefully, you will not require something that drastic as your allergy remedy. There are over the counter treatments available that can help keep symptoms at bay. Antihistamines work to block the body’s release of histamine. Decongestants can help with sinus and nasal congestion. Nasal sprays can also target nasal congestion, but they are not recommended for more than two to three days due to the occurrence of rebound symptoms. Allergy shots are a more long term treatment option, which is targeted at desensitizing your body’s response to allergens. Allergy shots usually need to be given on a monthly basis over three to five years.
An allergy specialist can perform allergy testing on you, if you are unsure which allergen is causing your symptoms. Many people are allergic to more than one thing. Common culprits include pollen, mold, dust, ragweed and animal dander.
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