Allergy Prevention

An allergy occurs when the body overreacts to the things which don’t typically cause problems for most people. These things are called allergens and the body overreacts to the allergens which causes the symptoms of allergies. The most common allergens include pollen from trees, grass, and weeds. Most allergies occur in the spring, typically late April and May, and are often due to tree pollen. Allergies that occur in the fall, late August to the first hard frost, are often due to ragweed. Mold is a common cause of allergies and is common where water tends to collect, such as shower curtains, damp basements, and window moldings. It may also be found in rotting logs, hay, mulches, compost piles, and leaf piles. This allergy is typically worse during humid or rainy weather.

With so many substances potentially causing problems, it’s logical that allergic diseases are among the major causes of illness and disability in the United States. Thirty-five million people suffer from upper respiratory symptoms that are allergic to airborne pollen. An allergy is a reaction of a person’s immune system to a normally harmless substance. Allergies can be more than just bothersome. While some allergies cause symptoms of rhinitis like sneezing, watery eyes, and runny nose, some may also cause skin irritations like itching, hives, or eczema.

There are no controllable risk factors for adults who wish to decrease their risk of developing allergies. This is due to the fact that allergy development is not related to lifestyle habits. Early childhood exposure to common household microbes, environmental bacteria, and fermented foods may help to reduce a child’s risk of developing allergies as they get older. Childhood exposure to pets, especially during the first year of life when the immune system is still developing, has been associated with a decreased risk of allergies to pet dander. Children are also at special risk of lung damage and illness from inhaled secondhand smoke so children of parents who smoke are at an increased risk for other respiratory illnesses including asthma.

Most risk factors for allergies are out of the control of anyone, it is possible to reduce allergy symptoms by limiting exposure to known allergies. Healthy eating habits and exercise can further strengthen the immune system and help avoid unwanted allergic reactions. Allergies have a genetic component. If one parent has allergies, the changes double that each child will also have an allergy. If both parents have allergies, it is much more likely that their children will also have allergies. Adults typically do not lose their allergies, but children can sometimes outgrow them. There are also people born with a genetic predisposition to allergies, but sometimes they do not develop well into adulthood.

The best way to keep allergy symptoms in control is to minimize the contact with the things which trigger them. Typical allergy triggers include pollen from grass, trees, and weeds, animal dander, dust mites, and mold spores, both indoor and outdoor varieties. To avoid pollen, allergy sufferers should stay indoors during hot, dry, and windy days in the spring, summer, and fall. It is also best to stay indoors in the early morning when the pollen counts tend to be the highest. When an allergy to an animal is the case, is best to not touch the fur or feathers of the animal. Pet allergens may also be found in the saliva of the pet, especially in cats. The easiest way to avoid triggering pet allergies is to avoid animals altogether.