Monthly Archives: December 2023

How Can I Figure Out What I am Allergic To?

Allergies are elusive, and we can’t always tell what sets us off to sneeze or scratch. For many people, identifying what they are allergic to is a crucial first step on the road toward improved health and well-being. In this article, we are going to see how you can find out what your allergies are.

Understanding allergies

Before jumping into the process of identifying allergens, it’s important to understand what exactly an allergy is. Allergies develop when the immune system overreacts to substances called allergens that are usually harmless. 

The symptoms of allergies can be anything from sneezing and itching to hives, swellings, or even difficulty in breathing, and severe cases may culminate in anaphylaxis.

Identifying the exact allergen causing these responses is key to effective treatment and prevention. You also get to tell the right allergy doctor to see. 

Common types of allergens

Allergens are substances that cause allergic reactions in susceptible individuals. Such reactions can vary from mild symptoms of sneezing or itching to severe responses, including breathing problems and anaphylaxis. Here are some of the most common allergens:

Pollen: Tree, grass, and weed pollen are all common airborne allergens. Allergic rhinitis suffered by many when pollen is in the air, which we know as hay fever.

Dust mites: These tiny insects live in house dust and stimulate allergies. They are especially prevalent in bedding, carpets, and upholstered furniture.

Mold spores: Millions of mold spores are floating around indoors and outdoors. Damp or humid places such as basements and bathrooms are favorable environments for the growth of mold. Allergy to mold spores may result from inhaling.

Pet dander: Allergens are proteins found in the skin, saliva, and urine of animals like cats, dogs, or rodents. Pet dander can be airborne and leave traces on surfaces that cause allergic symptoms.

Insect stings: Some people get allergic reactions to bee stings, wasp stings, and bites of other insects. For certain people, these responses can get very severe and even fatal.

Certain foods: Some of the most common food allergens are milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts (almonds and walnuts), soybeans, and wheat. Fish and shellfish also cause some people to be sensitive. Ranging from mild to severe, food allergies may cause digestive symptoms (abdominal pain), skin reactions, or respiratory problems.

Latex: Latex is a form of rubber used in gloves, balloons, and some medical equipment. Latex allergies sometimes develop, which can cause skin rashes or even respiratory symptoms.

Medications: Antibiotics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) are drugs that can provoke allergic reactions in some people. You need to be aware that certain drugs can cause allergies, and you should seek medical advice.

How to find out what you are allergic to

Keep a Symptom Journal

Keeping a symptom journal is one of the first steps in discovering your allergies. You will need to keep track of when and where your symptoms occur, how severe they are, and what factors set them off.

Include your daily schedule, dietary habits, and environmental statistics. It will also be a valuable reference that you can take with you when discussing your symptoms.

Elimination diet

If you feel that particular foods are causing your allergic reactions, an elimination diet will reveal the culprits.

Elimination diets involve temporarily eliminating suspected allergens from one’s diet for two to four weeks and then reintroducing them gradually while monitoring for reactions.

Among the most common food allergens are milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts such as almonds and walnuts; soybeans (such painstaking effort!); wheat, fish; and shellfish. In the elimination phase, concentrate on simple whole foods that are less likely to be allergenic.

A food diary will chart your diet and symptoms. When restoring foods, do this one by one and in small portions; check for reactions.

Skin prick tests

Environmental allergens such as pollen, dust mites, pet dander, and mold are among those commonly detected by skin prick tests (puncture or scratch tests). Using a tiny needle, such small amounts of allergens are applied to the skin’s surface during this test. If you are allergic to that substance, a small raised bump will develop at the site of testing.

Perhaps more importantly, skin prick tests are not suitable for all. Those with particular types of dermatitis or taking certain medications may require alternative testing methods.

Blood tests

Allergies can also be detected by blood tests, as with the specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) test. IgE is an antibody produced by the immune system against allergens. Thus, healthcare professionals may determine your potential allergens simply by measuring the level of certain IgE antibodies in your blood.

Blood tests are especially effective when skin testing is not possible or there’s concern that a severe allergic reaction might be triggered. However,  they are not as sensitive and generally more expensive than skin tests.

Challenge testing

With a challenge test, suspected allergens are brought into contact with the person in an environment under medical control. The reaction of the individual is observed and monitored. This is a common way of testing for food allergies.

Because of the high risk of severe reactions, it should only be practiced under the direction of a healthcare provider.

Accordingly, challenge testing is usually limited to cases where other diagnostic methods are inconclusive and the specific allergen remains unknown.

Consulting with healthcare professionals

Some home methods provide some hints about possible allergens, but only healthcare professionals can diagnose properly and manage an allergy. Allergists, immunologists, and other specialists receive training to perform an overall assessment. They look at things like your medical history, symptoms, and test results.

According to your individual circumstances, healthcare professionals may recommend a combination of diagnostic methods. They can also advise as to how allergies might be managed by diet, medicines, and even allergy shots (immunotherapy), which enable the immune system to desensitize itself gradually.

Conclusion

The process of identifying allergies can be difficult and even frustrating, but it is essential to managing and preventing reactions.

No matter whether it’s a case of self-monitoring, an elimination diet, skin tests, or blood tests followed by challenge testing should not be premised on giving up.

However, one can give up by asking for help from the environment when difficult decisions need to be made.

Knowing what sets off your allergies allows you to take charge of your health. You also know the right allergy center Germantown MD to visit. 

In this way, you can live your life more healthily and comfortably despite the obstacles raised by allergy problems.

Guide to Surviving Winter Allergy Season

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, up to 60 million people in the United States may experience allergic rhinitis symptoms yearly.

These symptoms, including sneezing, runny nose, and congestion, are triggered by your body’s reactivity to an allergen that it interprets as a threat.

Pollen, which plants release into the air as part of their reproductive cycle, is frequently the cause of seasonal allergies.

The kinds of pollen present, and how much, depend on where you reside.

In addition to irritating the nose, pollen can irritate the eyes and other areas.

According to the CDC, seven out of ten patients with nasal allergy symptoms (allergic rhinitis) will also have itchy, red, or watery eyes.

Are you concerned about winter allergies, and what you can do to limit your exposure this season? Here are a few ideas given by allergy specialist doctor to get you started:

Keep the humidity low.

Dust mites are microscopic pests that dwell in household dust and feed on dead skin and dander generated by humans and animals.

They typically reside in mattresses, drapes, furniture, carpet, and bedding. They thrive in humid environments. So, if you want to use humidifiers in the winter, keep the humidity at or below 50%.

You should even consider a dehumidifier if your home tends to retain moisture during the winter.

Pay attention to your bedroom.

Because many people spend so many hours a day in the bedroom. The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology recommends paying particular attention to removing allergens commonly present in that section of the house.

This involves washing sheets and bedding in warm water once a week and using zippered dust mite coverings on pillows and mattresses.

The National Institute of Environmental Health Services also suggests replacing wool or feather-filled bedding with synthetic fabrics and washing stuffed animals for children.

Be on the lookout for mold.

Consider opening a window or increasing airflow if mold frequently grows in wet areas of the house such as a bathroom.

Remove mold from hard surfaces using soap and water and allow the area to dry thoroughly. Also, as the holidays approach, look at the Christmas trees for mold if someone’s allergy symptoms occur after decorating the tree.

Watch out for allergy signs.

When you think of seasonal allergies, you probably think of sneezing, wheezing, and watery eyes. If you have any of the following symptoms, you most likely have seasonal allergies:

  • Sneezing frequently
  • Itchy or watery eyes
  • Nasal congestion
  • Nasal, ear, or chest congestion
  • Postnasal dripping
  • Throat itch
  • Eyelid puffiness

The symptoms listed above are pretty standard. However, your allergies may manifest differently. Seasonal allergies could also cause these less common symptoms:

  • Wheezing
  • Coughing
  • Unexpected loss of exercise endurance
  • A little headache

To be comfortable during the season, you must keep a close eye on the symptoms and take the necessary steps as soon as possible to curb them.

Reducing exposure to allergens will help. And some of the things you can do to achieve this include:

  • When symptoms show up, keep your windows closed.
  • If you are allergic to indoor allergens, use an air purifier.
  • When conducting yard chores, wear a dust mask.
  • Pollen forecasts can be found on your local weather network, so look at them.
  • Shower and wash your hair at the end of each day to remove pollen from your clothes, hair, and skin.

 As much as reducing exposure is beneficial, it is unlikely to eliminate symptoms. So, stock up on everything from nasal sprays and decongestants to tissues for the expected runny noses and itchy eyes.

Stay moisturized

If you suffer from eczema or dry skin, continue bathing every day during the winter. You also should pat dry and moisturize shortly after stepping out of a bath or shower (within two to three minutes).

The more moisturizing you do, the better. So, keep reapplying creams several times a day.

Work on getting rid of dust.

You should avoid using fans in the winter and keep surfaces clean. Also, when dusting, use a wet towel to minimize stirring up dust mites, or wear a face mask if the area is dusty.

The fewer surfaces dust can gather, the better, so you should eliminate anything you don’t use. If you visit many homes, you will find rarely used tables and other pieces of furniture. You should get rid of these.

Make use of an air purifier. Of course, you don’t want dust in the air. Therefore, an air purifier in the home can be handy.

As much as you should protect yourself when dusting your house, it’s a good idea to wait at least a couple of hours before returning to the room after vacuuming or dusting.

Invest in knowledge

If you or your children are suffering from allergies this winter, consider seeing an allergist and immunologist in your area who can help identify the illness and, if necessary, recommend a treatment plan.

When hiring an allergist, take your time and ensure you are hiring the best.

Like when hiring any other professional, you take your time to vet them, right? You should do the same with an allergy doctor. An excellent way to go about it is to set an appointment.

How easy is it to get hold of the professional? You should be cautious of this. You want to work with a professional who is easy to find. If you don’t want your condition to flare up, and you can’t get hold of the allergy specialist Germantown.

If you suffer from any form of allergies, you can expect to see the allergy specialist several times. You don’t want to interact with someone with a horrible personality, do you? To ensure this doesn’t happen, ensure that the allergist you are working with is pleasant to be with and they are knowledgeable in the area.

Besides getting information from the allergy professional, there are plenty of other places to get information about your condition. You can watch videos, read blogs and articles, and so on. You only need to ensure that an expert is making the information you consume.