What Causes Allergies

With the promise of warmer weather on the horizon, most people get excited about spending
their summers outside enjoying the beautiful weather, while others avoid going outdoors at all
costs. The same situation goes for some people who get to enjoy a variety of foods while others
have to be extremely selective. Whether you avoid the outdoors or certain food ingredients due
to allergic reactions, you may wonder why.

Nearly 1 in 3 U.S. adults and more than 1 in 4 U.S. children experience seasonal allergies,
eczema, or food allergies. Many allergens are everyday substances that are harmless to most
people. However, anything can be an allergen, if your immune system has an adverse reaction.
Learn what increases your risk of developing allergies, when this can happen, and the associated
symptoms and treatments.

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What Causes Allergies?
The immune system generates different antibodies and white blood cells to protect us from
bacteria, viruses, illness, and other foreign invaders. An allergy is when the immune system
mistakes a harmless substance and generates Immunoglobulin E, also known as IgE. IgE travels
to cells to relay information that a chemical defense against a foreign invader is needed. People
with allergies have high IgE levels against benign environmental exposures such as pollen.

The immune system develops immunological memory which helps your body respond quickly.
With allergies, immunological memory is magnified and your repeated exposures can cause
recurrent overreactions of the immune system. This may look like excessive sneezing, coughing,
congestion, or increased asthma symptoms. There are specific IgE antibodies for each type of
allergen that cause you to have an allergic response to specific foods or pollen and tolerate others
without any allergic responses.

Allergy Symptoms
The symptoms of allergies range from mild to severe. The most severe allergic reaction is
anaphylaxis, which can lead to death without quick adrenaline (epinephrine) administration.
Effective treatments are available to help treat mild allergies. The following are some common
allergic responses:
● Swelling of lips, eyes, and face
● Sneezing or runny nose
● Red, watery, and itchy eyes
● Wheezing or persistent cough
● Trouble breathing
● Swelling of the tongue or tightness of the throat
● Headache
● Skin rash
● Abdominal pain (insect allergy)
● Vomiting (insect allergy)

Anaphylaxis symptoms include:
● Hives, flushing, and itchiness
● Changes in heart rate
● Low blood pressure
● Difficulty breathing
● Swelling
● Dizziness and fainting
● Loss of consciousness

When Do Allergies Develop?
Allergies can develop at any point in a person’s life due to family history, new environmental
allergens, and changes in the immune system. If one parent is allergic to something, there is a
30-50% chance of their offspring developing allergies. This jumps to 60-80% if both parents are
allergic. Most allergies will be lifelong concerns, although some, such as milk and egg allergies,
are more likely to be outgrown in late childhood compared to nut allergies.

What Are Adult-Onset Allergies?
With adult-onset allergies, you may wake up irritated by an allergen that has never bothered you.
Adult-onset allergies are allergy symptoms that manifest later in life, anywhere from a person’s
20s to their 80s. The chances of developing adult-onset allergies lessen if you have not
developed any new allergies in your 20s and 30s. More atopic people (who have existing allergy
conditions) are more likely to develop allergies in adulthood. However, we can’t know what
those allergies are until we’ve been exposed to them.

Similar to childhood allergies, there isn’t a direct answer as to why some people develop
adult-onset allergies and others don’t. Complex genetic and environmental factors are involved,
and adults can develop new allergies if their environment changes. For example, an adult can be
in contact with a new triggering allergy if a new pet enters their home.

If you think you have developed new allergies as an adult, avoid any suspected allergens and
contact an allergist. Your allergist may order tests to confirm a diagnosis and assess a treatment
plan.

Allergy Diagnosis and Tests
If you think you may have an allergy, contact your doctor to help them identify what is causing
your allergic response. Keep track of any exposures and the timing of your symptoms. Notice if
your symptoms arise during a certain time of year, around certain animals, when you eat certain
dishes, etc. Determine any family history of allergies and if anyone else in your household has
similar reactions.

Your doctor may recommend allergy tests such as the following:
● Blood tests: blood tests help measure the levels of IgE antibodies to specific allergens in
the immune system.
● Skin prick tests: a doctor will prick your skin with a small amount of a susceptible
allergen. You may be allergic if the skin reacts and becomes itchy, red, or swollen.
● Patch tests: a doctor may tape a metal disc with a small amount of a suspected allergen
to your back to check for contact eczema. They may check for a skin reaction 48 hours
later, and follow up after 2 days.
Preventing Allergies
The best way to prevent allergic reactions is to avoid exposure to the suspected allergens. For
example, to help reduce exposure to outdoor allergens consider the following:
● Stay indoors during high-pollen hours (before 10 a.m.) to avoid hay fever symptoms.
● Keep windows closed and run an air conditioner on hot days.
● Minimize activities with high exposure to pollen, such as moving the lawn.
● Wash off at the end of the day to remove any pollen accumulated throughout the day.
If you have a food allergy, always check the list of ingredients on food labels and inform your
waiter about any food allergies when dining out. If you are allergic to bee stings, avoid perfumes,
hair sprays, bright colors, and other products that may attract bees.
If you have a history of anaphylaxis, consider wearing a medical identification bracelet or
necklace to alert others in case of a reaction. Ask your doctor if you should carry a pre-loaded
syringe of epinephrine (“Epi-Pen”), a medicine used to treat anaphylaxis.

Allergy Treatments
Treating allergies will depend on what you are allergic to, its severity, your symptoms, age, and
overall health. Most allergy treatment involves prescription or over-the-counter antihistamines,
which treat allergy symptoms.

Another form of allergy treatment is immunotherapy, either in the form of allergy shots or
allergy drops. Both forms of immunotherapy expose the immune system to small amounts of one
or more allergens at predetermined intervals. The doses start small and gradually increase to help
retrain the immune system to recognize the allergen as not dangerous. The goal is to decrease the
frequency or severity of allergy symptoms.

Living With Allergies
Allergies can be breathed, swallowed, or entered through the skin. The most effective ways to
prevent and treat allergies are avoiding the allergen, getting allergy immunotherapy, and taking
prescribed medicine. Allergies can begin in childhood, adulthood, and any time in between. If
you’re dealing with a new or persistent allergy, contact Nova Vita to see how our services can
help manage your symptoms.