Five Reasons That You Might Now Have Allergies

Last Updated on: 20th June 2021, 08:38 pm

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Why You Might Have Allergies

Allergies happen when your body’s immune system has reacted badly to something that it thinks is harming your body. Nobody knows why it happens, but it could be because there is a family history of allergies. Or it could be that you now have allergies because you also have asthma and eczema. But one thing that is known for a fact, is that the number of people that have allergies is increasing every year.

People can develop allergies as they get older, even if they never had them as a child. This is probably down to the fact that we live in a germ-free environment these days and it is actually harming our bodies. With Covid-19, we are cleaning our hands more than we ever did. So Our bodies are struggling to deal with germs and making them overreact to normal everyday substances.

Allergy Symptoms

Allergy symptoms can be different for different allergies. Some symptoms are minor but others can be life-threatening and need attention straight away.

• Sneezing, runny or blocked nose – These are the most common symptoms
• Itchy red and watery eyes – Normally alongside sneezing and runny nose.
• Wheezing, a tight chest, a cough – Most common in Asthma sufferers.
• A raised red rash – These are hives and can appear with an allergy to the sun or something you touch.
• Swollen lips, tongue, eyes or face – You will need urgent medical help with this.
• Stomach pain, feeling sick, vomiting or diarrhoea – most common in a reaction to something you have eaten

Testing For Allergies

Getting tested for allergies takes a while if you go through the doctor’s surgeries. You can make an appointment to go and get tested, but at the moment GP’s are still not seeing many patients. Online appointments are more common than we think. Buying a home allergy kit is more convenient and you get results so much quicker.

When you test for allergies at home with Klarify.me Home allergy testing kit it’s easy. You buy the allergy test online. When it arrives, you carefully read the instructions. It takes 30 minutes to do the test, you prick your finger and send the sample off in the envelope provided in the pack. The blood is tested at the lab for 294 allergies and you get a complete report back within 2 weeks.

It shows you what you are allergic to. And can help you to change your lifestyle to feel healthier and happier. Making it easier to deal with allergies in the future. Knowing what to avoid and what you can use or eat will make life easier.

Food

Unfortunately, food is probably one of the worst allergies because we all need food to survive. Food allergies can be so different too, with the symptoms. 250 million people around the world have a food allergy. And most people are allergic to 3 or fewer different foods. There are nearly 200 foods that are reported to cause an allergic reaction in people. Managing these allergies can mean a complete change in your food habits to replace your foods with something safer. We have included drinks in this section too.

The most common food allergies are peanuts. shellfish, eggs, milk, soy nut and wheat allergy (gluten). These days it is easier to find alternatives, with more being developed all of the time. but it is difficult when shops don’t stock gluten-free foods etc. Food allergies normally mean you need to carry an epi-pen around to administer epinephrine, otherwise called adrenaline. This will act quickly to improve breathing, stimulate the heart, raise dropping blood pressure, reverse hives, and reduce swelling of the face, lips, and throat. If you don’t have an epi-pen, seek medical help straight away.

Hay fever

Hay fever affects millions of people across the world and it is caused by an allergic sensitivity to pollens from trees, grass or weeds. Symptoms are similar to a cold. Itchy and watery eyes, a runny or blocked nose, Sneezing and sometimes a headache. You will suffer from hay fever in spring and early summer and sometimes it can get so uncomfortable that you need to see a doctor to get some help with stronger medication.

For minor hay fever symptoms, you can buy anti-histamine tablets from any drug store or supermarket. There will be days where the pollen count is high and you will suffer more from hay fever. Putting Vaseline on your nostrils will stop pollen from going up your nose.

Animals

Pet allergies are normally associated with cats and dogs, but pet allergies can really be triggered by any animal. It is not so much the fur that is causing the allergies, it is in fact the animal skin cells, saliva and urine. These cells contain protein. So when people are exposed to the skin cells, saliva and urine it triggers symptoms. These symptoms are similar to hayfever symptoms, although they may be uncomfortable, they are not usually life-threatening.

If you have a pet allergy, you are best to avoid pets and animals as much as you can. These symptoms can usually be relieved with creams and antihistamines. But sometimes you might need medical help.

Medication

This allergy is one of the most important ones to know if you have it or not. When a doctor gives you medicine, they normally ask if you have an allergy to it. An allergy like this is an abnormal reaction from your immune system to the medication that you are given. Any medication that you use can cause an allergic reaction from herbal medication to aspirin and antibiotics. the most common signs of a medication allergy are hives, rash or fever and a severe allergic reaction can cause anaphylaxis where you will need adrenaline. A medication allergy is most certainly different to a side effect to a medication.