Why Adults Aren’t Immune From First-Time Allergies

Those lucky enough to skate through childhood and adolescence without itchy, watery eyes aren’t immune from allergies for life. Developing adult-onset allergies — from seasonal allergies to food allergies — is possible no matter how old you are.

Allergies develop when your immune system mistakenly identifies a substance such as pollen, mold, animal dander, or food as harmful. That substance is referred to as an allergen. The allergen stimulates immune system cells to release certain chemicals, such as histamine, which then lead to allergy symptoms.

Depending on the allergen, allergy symptoms can involve the nasal passages, eyes, sinuses, airways, skin, and digestive system. Reactions can vary from mild to severe and, in some cases, cause anaphylaxis, a life-threatening condition.

Why Allergies Now?

There’s a lot experts still don’t know about allergies, including what triggers them. They do know, however, that the prevalence of allergic rhinitis, also called hay fever, is increasing in the United States and around the world.

Most theories as to why allergy symptoms have increased focus on “higher concentrations of airborne pollutants, rising dust mite populations, less ventilation in homes and offices, dietary factors, and sedentary lifestyles,” says Deborah Pockross, MD, a physician at Kenilworth Medical Associates in Kenilworth, Illinois, and staff doctor at Northshore University Health System in Evanston.

Another theory is the so-called hygiene hypothesis — meaning “a more sanitary environment [and less exposure to bacteria] increases susceptibility to allergic disease by suppressing the natural development of the immune system,” Dr. Pockross explains. In other words, our living conditions and food are so clean they don’t offer our immune systems enough to do, so our systems overreact to allergens instead.

Who Is at Risk for Adult-Onset Allergies?

Most people who are diagnosed with allergies as adults probably had an allergic episode earlier in life that they don’t remember. Often allergies follow a predictable course: eczema and food allergies in babies and toddlers, then hay fever symptoms in mid-to-late childhood. Allergy symptoms may fade during the teen years, only to return when you’re an adult.

Some people, however, do experience allergy symptoms for the first time in adulthood. This most often happens in your twenties, thirties, and forties rather than in later years. “As we age, our immune system does weaken — that is why more seniors get pneumonia than 20-year-olds,” says Anthony J. Weido, MD, president of Allergy & Asthma Associates in Houston, Texas, and the Gulf Coast area. “As the immune system weakens, the hyper-allergic reaction also weakens,” he says.

Any type of allergy can occur in adulthood, including hay fever, pet allergies, and dust mite and mold allergies as well as insect bite, drug, and food allergies. Again, experts aren’t entirely sure why this happens, but theories include:

• being exposed to allergens when the immune system is weakened, such as during an illness or pregnancy
• not being exposed to a high enough level of the allergen as a child but reaching that threshold in adulthood
• moving to a new location with different trees, plants, and grasses
• getting a pet

Managing Allergy Symptoms

If you’re bothered by mild allergy symptoms from hay fever and the like, it’s fine to try over-the-counter antihistamines. If this doesn’t help, consult your doctor to rule out other conditions and possibly get a referral to a specialist. An allergy expert can help determine specific triggers, suggest ways to avoid them, and perhaps offer medications.

If you suspect you have a food allergy, take it very seriously, as it can be life-threatening. Be sure to work closely with a board-certified allergist who will teach you about avoiding unexpected sources of the food and managing your allergy symptoms.

Allergies can be unpleasant no matter how young or old you are, but your medical team can help you identify your allergy triggers and find solutions.

What Causes a Person to Develop Allergies?

Posted on: April 15, 2021

Allergies can come in many shapes and sizes. While some people can enjoy beautiful weather, others avoid going outdoors at all costs. The same situation may occur for people watching others enjoy an endless variety of foods while they must be very selective. Those people who suffer from the incessant symptoms of food or environmental allergies may wonder, why?

Have you ever wondered what causes your stuffy nose and sneezing? It’s not just a string of bad luck; whether your allergy symptoms occur in direct result to the local pollen count, different types of food or your neighbor’s cat, there are certain responses from our immune system that lead to our level of reaction.

In this article, we’ll explain exactly what causes a person to develop allergies, when this can happen, and whether allergic symptoms are worse in adulthood or childhood.

What Causes a Person to Develop Allergies?

The body’s immune system generates different antibodies to protect us from illnesses. For allergies, the immune system generates Immunoglobulin E, also known as IgE, to aid in combating your allergy symptoms. IgE is a chemical messenger that travels to cells to relay information that a chemical defense against a foreign invader is needed. Allergic individuals have high IgE levels against benign environmental exposures such as pollen or dander. Food can also cause high levels of IgE.

With time, the immune system develops what’s known as immunological memory. Normally this is a helpful immune response which can enable your body to respond more quickly.  This is what allows vaccines to work. In allergy, however, this response is magnified, and your repeat exposures cause recurrent overreactions of the immune system.  This produces an allergic response that may include sneezing, coughing, sniffling and congestion or increased asthma symptoms. IgE antibodies are custom made for each type of allergen. This is why you can be allergic to one or two specific foods or pollens and tolerate others without a problem.

When Does a Person Develop Allergies?

Allergies can develop at any point in a person’s life. One factor that increases your chance is your family history. If one parent is allergic there is a 30-50% chance of their offspring developing allergies. This jumps to 60-80% if both parents are allergic.

In many cases, allergies first present early in life, during infancy or the toddler years. Most of these allergies will be lifelong concerns, although some can resolve on their own.

Can You Develop Allergies Later in Life?

It is certainly possible to develop allergies in adulthood. Adult-onset allergies can occur seemingly out of nowhere due to exposure to new allergens in the environment, family history and changes in the immune system. The most common food allergies in adults are peanuts, fish, shellfish such as shrimp, lobster and tree nuts (almonds, walnuts, pecans and cashews).

There’s no way to avoid getting adult-onset allergies if you’re susceptible to them, since you can’t reasonably expect to know every trigger that could cause an allergic reaction and then avoid it. In addition, there is some recent research that indicates avoiding allergens can make it more likely for an individual to develop allergies, because the immune system is unfamiliar with more substances.

What Are Adult Onset Allergies?

Adult-onset allergies are those allergy symptoms that manifest later in life. This could be anywhere from younger adulthood, such as in a person’s 20s, to a person’s senior years, when they are 70 or 80 years old. Typically, if you lived through your 20s and your 30s without any new allergies, the chances of getting adult-onset allergies diminishes.

The strangest part about adult-onset allergies is that you can wake up today irritated by an allergen that didn’t bother you yesterday. You could have been in contact with said allergen every single day for years with no adverse effects. Now, you have a runny nose, itching eyes and uncontrollable sneezing around that allergen.

               See related: How to Keep Your Charlotte Seasonal Allergies in Check

How Do Adult Onset Allergies Develop?

If you’re predisposed to a certain type of allergy, but you’ve never been around that allergen before, it can seem like your symptoms have materialized out of nowhere. Say, for instance, you never had pets growing up. You’re allergic to pet dander, but you’d never know it. Then, your roommate decides to get a dog, and your allergies start going crazy.

So yes, even though it may seem like you just woke up with allergies one day, there’s usually a medical explanation for why it’s happened. Unfortunately, that explanation can be difficult to pinpoint, especially when you’re simply becoming aware of an allergy you may have had for some time.

In other cases, allergies do develop on their own. You may notice changes suddenly, or monitor a gradual shift in your reaction to a specific substance. Adult onset allergies typically develop differently in different people.

What Causes Allergies Later in Life?

Just like childhood allergies, we do not completely understand why some people develop allergies and others don’t. We do know there are complex genetic and environmental factors involved.  Scientists have proposed theories about why allergies occur, including the “hygiene hypothesis” that attributes allergic disease in part to the use of antimicrobials and the high standard of cleanliness in modern societies.

Adults can also present with new-onset environmental allergies. In some cases, the patient may have had a tendency to develop allergies all along, but their environment changed, putting them in more contact with the triggering allergen (for example, a new pet in the home).

What Should I Do if I Develop Adult Onset Allergies?

If you believe you have developed allergies as an adult, avoid any suspected allergens while you are waiting to see your allergist. Your allergist may order some tests such as blood or skin tests to further evaluate your allergies.

If allergy testing confirms a diagnosis of allergy, your allergist will work with you to develop a treatment plan including avoidance measures, medications, and/or other treatment options such as immunotherapy (allergy shots or allergy drops) for environmental allergies.

Are Allergies Worse in Childhood or Adulthood?

Per the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI) and 2013 data, 28 million kids across the United States have allergies. As many as 50 million adults may get reactions to allergens as well.

While more adults have allergies in the United States than children, is there an age group that has it worse? Research that appeared in a 2012 article at MassGeneral Hospital for Children in Massachusetts suggests that adults may be the most at risk for intense, serious symptoms. Adult behaviors such as taking certain medications (like ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers, and NSAIDs, even aspirin) and drinking alcohol may increase risk for severe anaphylaxis. Exercise and having asthma can also increase reaction severity.  Of course, young children who cannot communicate symptoms can also have severe reactions which go unnoticed and progress to dangerous levels.

A severe allergic reaction, which can be triggered by foods or venom (insect stings), is called anaphylaxis. This is a life-threatening emergency condition in which the patient goes into shock, cannot breathe, and may have vomiting, nausea, and skin rashes. Anaphylaxis can occur instantaneously or sometimes minutes after eating an allergen or being stung. Epinephrine can control cases of anaphylaxis that are caught immediately. The longer the patient goes without treatment, the greater the likelihood that death can occur. For this reason patients with a history of severe anaphylaxis are encouraged to always have an in date epinephrine injector available.

Which Allergies Are Most Common?

While we’ve talked about allergies to things like dander and pollen, these are not the most frequent adult-onset allergies.  Per the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology or ACAAI and data published in 2017 from their Annual Scientific Meeting, the most frequent adult-onset allergies are those to food. In fact, food comprised nearly 50 percent of these allergies!

Which foods triggered the most allergies? Peanuts, shellfish, and tree nuts. The study discovered that Caucasian people were less likely to have peanut and shellfish allergies compared to Hispanic, Asian, and black people of adult age (18 years old or more).

While, back in 2008, the rate of tree nut allergies among adults was only 0.5 percent, it’s jumped by 260 percent. As of 2017, when the study was published, that rate was now 1.8 percent.

In addition, in 2004, only 2.5 percent of adults were allergic to shellfish. Today, that number has seen a 44-percent spike, as 3.6 percent are affected by this seafood allergy in the United States alone.

The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology or AAAAI added that younger children aged one through three years old were also getting more food allergies. That said, they had fewer instances of shellfish allergies specifically.

               See related: New Recommendations for Exposing Children to Peanuts

Why does this happen? The verdict is still out. Medical and scientific researchers alike are still working on figuring out why adults have a higher likelihood of getting a shellfish allergy compared to children. One purported reason could be that the allergy is always present, just sitting dormant, like we mentioned above. Another is that since the average person doesn’t eat shellfish in childhood but may in adulthood, their eating habits could lead to allergies.

Can Allergies Be Prevented?

Unfortunately, you cannot prevent the manifestation of adult-onset allergies. As we mentioned, these allergies sometimes spring up where none existed before. Other times, exposure to the allergen triggers a reaction. For those reasons, it’s difficult to say with certainty which triggers you should avoid.

While you can’t always prevent adult-onset allergies, you can treat them as they develop. If, for instance, you notice you get an adverse reaction after eating shellfish or peanuts, you should refrain from eating these foods right away. Instead, set up an appointment with an allergy provider who can test your to see what is causing your symptoms

In the case of food allergies, the best treatment is avoidance. For pet dander, pollen, and other standard allergy triggers, you can try medications, including steroid nasal sprays and antihistamines, to alleviate uncomfortable symptoms. You can also try to keep yourself away from these allergens via lifestyle adjustments.

Can Allergies Stop on Their Own?

A question commonly asked at diagnosis is how likely is it that my allergy will improve with time? The severity and types of symptoms you had at your initial reaction and the number of foods to which you are allergic can help predict your chances of “outgrowing” the allergy. In addition, we know that milk, egg and soy allergies most often improve with time while peanut, tree nut, fish and shellfish are less likely to improve.

It’s not recommended you simply assume that you’ve outgrown a reaction to an allergen; instead, you should visit an allergist for testing. For food allergies, if your test results indicate that it is safe, you will participate in an in office oral food challenge to determine if you still have symptoms.

How Do You Treat Allergies?

Most allergy treatment involves prescription or over-the-counter antihistamines, which treat allergy symptoms. As mentioned, Epinephrine is also used to treat severe allergic reactions.

Other allergy treatments include various forms of immunotherapy, most commonly allergy shots and allergy drops. Both allergy shots and allergy drops expose the immune system to small amounts of one or more allergens at predetermined intervals. Allergen doses start small, then gradually increase. The goal of the treatment is to retrain the immune system to recognize the allergen as not dangerous, decreasing the frequency or severity of allergy symptoms.

Allergy shots and allergy drops are the only current treatment methods that reduce sensitivity to an allergen itself, instead of just treating the allergy symptoms. If you’re interested in either option, speak to an experienced allergist.

Know Where to Go for Allergy Care: Carolina Asthma & Allergy Center

Allergies can begin in childhood, adulthood and anytime in between. If you’re dealing with a new or persistent case of allergies, we encourage you to reach out to us at Carolina Asthma & Allergy. We serve patients throughout North and South Carolina and work with traditional allergy treatment methods as well as allergy shots and allergy drops.

Our board-certified doctors are experts in food allergies, asthma, insect bite allergies and other uncommon, yet often serious allergies that require specialized care. We even offer anaphylaxis prevention and treatment, immunotherapy care and treatments for the lungs, skin, throat, nose, ears, and eyes. To set up your appointment today, contact us today!

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What Causes Allergies Later in Life?

Posted on: August 27, 2018

With the back-and-forth summer temperatures (dipping from over 90 degrees Fahrenheit down to almost the 70s), your allergy symptoms might have started back up. You probably have a friend or family member…

Can Allergies Be Cured?

Posted on: August 24, 2018

Many times when we receive a diagnosis we are given medications which can help our body heal and, with time, we are sometimes cured. Yet allergy medications work only for symptom control….

Yes, You Can Get Them for the First Time

Let’s be clear: Allergies aren’t kids’ stuff. Well, they’re not just kids’ stuff.

That scratchy throat you thought was just a cold? The runny nose you figured was the flu? That run-down feeling you just can’t shake?

Sure, you may be paying into Social Security or have a kid in college. You might even have grandkids. But even though you’re an adult, you could have allergies even if you’ve never had them before.

“The interesting thing is, the majority of people get allergies for the first time — when I say allergies, I mean like allergic rhinitis, asthma, those kinds of things — as a kid,” says Kevin McGrath, MD, an allergist in Wethersfield, CT. “But we often see the onset in a lot of adults, around the 30s and 40s, and another group in the 50s and 60s. It can go in any age group.”

So anybody can come down with an allergy? At any age? For the first time?

“I’ve seen people in their 60s and 70s that are retired, never had any allergy symptoms or asthma and suddenly develop it,” McGrath says. “It’s pretty frustrating if somebody finally gets to retire and they walk out the door to play golf, they’ve never had trouble before, and suddenly they do.”

How Common Are They?

Nearly 18 million adults in the United States have hay fever, or allergic rhinitis. It’s caused by pollens, weeds, grasses, and molds. Many more have allergic reactions to other things in the environment, like dust mites, dogs, and cats. Some are allergic to foods, like peanuts or shellfish. Still others are allergic to medicines, like penicillin.

Doctors don’t know exactly how many adults are diagnosed with allergies for the first time. But nasal allergies affect more Americans every years, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.

“As the population is aging, we’re seeing that people can have late-onset allergies,” says Beth Corn, MD, an allergist in New York City. “Now, it could be that some people were not diagnosed; they might have really had allergies earlier on. It just might be that people are also a little bit more aware now of allergies.”

Continued

Whatever the case, allergies are all over, and they’re big business. They’re the sixth-leading cause of chronic illness in the U.S., according to the CDC. And they cost Americans more than $18 billion a year.

Continued

We know what causes allergies: Your immune system overreacts to an allergen (like your dog or a shrimp cocktail). You sneeze, sniffle, itch, or cough. But why this happens to you, when your Uncle Fred is on their third shrimp cocktail, is unclear.

Allergies that pop up for the first time in adults are even more mysterious. Why is it that when you were a kid, your best buddy was your cat Muffinmitts, but now the fur ball next door makes your eyes itch so bad you want to claw them out?

“That’s the thing about allergies,” Corn says. “You’re fine, you’re fine, you’re fine … until you’re not.”

Nobody knows why.

“Most people are exposed to most of the [allergens] over their entire life,” McGrath says. “So why does it suddenly turn on? If we understood exactly what turned it on, we could probably turn it off. That would be the holy grail of allergy.”

For now, we’ve got to learn to manage allergy symptoms. The rules are the same for adults as they are for kids:

Continued

Both McGrath and Corn say they see plenty of adults who are shocked to learn that the cough they’ve developed isn’t due to a cold, but an allergy.

“They’re a little surprised, but I think for the most part they’re happy. Because now they have a reason for why they’re feeling the way that they feel,” Corn says. “When you’re older, you realize that in the spectrum of things that you can have … if all you’re getting is allergies, then you’re really happy with that.”

A Shot of Hope

Allergies can sneak up on you. That cough may not be just a tickle, but a nasal drip because of an allergy, Corn says. That dead-tired feeling you have might not be you getting older. It may be an allergen that’s keeping you from getting a good night’s sleep.

Continued

“The fatigue of allergies is huge. The allergic rhinitis, the inflammation, kicks [adults] out of a deep sleep. So they don’t get rest,” McGrath says. “The allergy injections are one of the few things that are really very good at reversing that fatigue. The quality-of-life improvement is huge.”

Continued

Both doctors say that if you’re an adult who suddenly has allergies, shots can help you feel better. But they also understand why you might be squeamish. Especially at first, when doctors have to apply specific allergens to your skin to see what bugs you.

“Everybody thinks it’s going to be so awful,” McGrath says. “And then they go through it and go, ‘Man, if I knew this is all it was, I would have been in here a long time ago.’”

Once you know what you’re allergic to, doctors can know how to treat you. And once you know that, dealing with allergies really does become kids’ stuff.

Can Allergies Go Away or Develop as You Age? – Health Essentials from Cleveland Clinic

Allergies aren’t just for kids. Some adults may actually experience
a change in allergies as they age. From developing springtime allergies for the
first time, to realizing that your family cat doesn’t cause you the misery it
once did – allergies can shift and change at different phases of your life. 

Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy

“Allergies are an inappropriate immune system response to something in the environment,” says allergist Alice Hoyt, MD. “It could be cat dander, pollen, dust mites or even peanuts. But it’s an inappropriate response because there’s no reason for your body to be intolerant to such allergens.”

An allergen, like pollen, is something that a person is allergic to. Tolerance and intolerance is how your body identifies with allergens. You can lose tolerance towards something and have allergy symptoms upon exposure to it, or you can develop tolerance and not have allergy symptoms upon exposure.

Welcome to the club

Allergies are one of the most common chronic disorders
worldwide, and allergies can be developed in adulthood. Dr. Hoyt says that if
you find yourself feeling run down, with a chronic cough or itchy eyes for no
rhyme or reason, it might be time to question if it’s allergies – even if you’ve
never had allergies before in your life.

It’s the classic case of the college student who goes away to
school and comes home over break to find that she’s sneezing and her nose runs
every time she’s near the family cat. The girl has likely lost her tolerance to
cat dander when she was away and now she’s experiencing allergy symptoms.  

The reverse could even happen if you’ve been introduced to a dog or cat, and a few months or years later the animal doesn’t bother you anymore because you’ve built up a tolerance to it.

Some research even suggests that having a dog reduces your risk of developing asthma and other future allergies later in life. Experts say that a dogs brings in more bacteria to your home, which actually helps to strengthen the immune system.

“Developing tolerance towards something is basically the same way allergy shots work – slowly introducing the allergen over the course of several months then continuing exposure for years,” says Dr. Hoyt. “You’re training your body to accept the allergen and to have a normal, appropriate reaction to it.”

Time changes everything

There are some people who have enjoyed the springtime for
years, and then for some reason, one May day their nose suddenly starts running
and they feel miserable.

Over time, it’s possible to lose your tolerance towards pollen, food, medications, materials and insect venom, such as bee stings. The immune system is constantly changing.

So if you’ve found yourself feeling crummy and you can’t seem to pinpoint what’s triggering it – see an allergist. At the least, you can rule out adult onset allergies, and your doctor can work with you to start feeling more like yourself again.

Board Certified Family Practice Physician

Do you have an annoying cough that won’t go away? Have you been feeling run down but don’t know why? Allergy symptoms can sneak up on you throughout your entire life, even when you’re well into your 70s. But why? If you have allergy symptoms, Ranjit S. Grewal, MD at Houston Family MD, can help, no matter when they start.

What’s behind allergies

Allergies affect more than 50 million men, women, and children in the United States each year. When you have allergies, your immune system has an abnormal response to something harmless. This reaction causes your body to release certain chemicals — like histamines — which cause your allergy symptoms to develop. 

Common substances that trigger allergy symptoms include:

• Pollen, dust mites, and mold
• Animal dander
• Foods like fish, nuts, or eggs
• Insect bites or stings
• Materials like latex
• Medications like penicillin

Allergy symptoms can vary in severity from itchy and watery eyes to swelling in your tongue or airways. There can even be a dangerous, life-threatening response known as anaphylaxis. For some, these reactions begin in childhood. But, for many, they don’t start until adulthood. 

Taking a closer look at adult-onset allergies

It’s easy to assume that being allergy-free as a kid means you’ll be allergy-free as an adult. But your immune system can start misfiring no matter how old you are and regardless of your personal history. Adult-onset allergies can also be due to any allergen, from airborne substances and insect bites to foods or medications.

Allergy symptoms in both children and adults — especially seasonal allergies like hay fever — are on the rise worldwide. There’s still a lot of mystery surrounding allergies and what causes your body to overreact to certain substances, but several theories could explain the increase in allergy cases. One centers on more exposure to higher concentrations of certain triggers, sedentary lifestyles, and dietary changes. We could also be more susceptible to allergic reactions because of cleaner and more sanitary environments, which could suppress the way our immune systems develop. 

When you develop allergies and adulthood, additional factors can come into play. First, your immune system naturally weakens as you age. This makes you more vulnerable to specific issues, including respiratory infections like pneumonia. It’s also possible that you had allergy symptoms as a child that faded away, only to return later in life.

Some reasons why allergy symptoms might occur in adulthood include:

• Being exposed to allergy triggers when you have a weakened immune system
• Not having enough allergen exposure as a child
• Moving to a new area with different grasses, plants, and trees
• Getting a new pet, like a cat when you’ve only had dogs

Whether your allergy symptoms strike in adulthood or childhood, Dr. Grewal can provide relief.

Managing allergy symptoms

The secret to keeping your allergies under control involves identifying your specific triggers. After performing on-site allergy testing, Dr. Grewal can develop a personalized approach to help keep your symptoms under control. These therapies often include:

• Immunotherapy or allergy shots
• Medications, like antihistamines, corticosteroids, or decongestants
• Saline nasal rinses
• Cortisone creams for skin reactions

Dr. Grewal might also recommend avoiding the allergens that trigger your reaction, but this approach may not be possible or realistic in all cases. For a personal consultation, call our office in Cypress, Texas, at 281-477-0525 or use our online booking tool to set up your appointment today. You can also send a message to Dr. Grewal and the team here on our website. 

Why Do I Suddenly Have Allergies?

If you know someone who experiences seasonal allergies, you may be aware of the fact that this time of the year is particularly challenging. As the flowers, grass and trees bloom during the summer months, an abundance of pollen and various allergens circulate throughout the air.

In the United States statistics indicate that as much as 18 million people experience allergic rhinitis and hay fever as a result of the pollens from grass, mold and weeds. It’s also worth noting that some people experience environmental allergies to things such as dust mites and animals.

While you may be aware of this, did you know that people’s allergies change? Even though you may have never had allergies, did you know that this could be the first year that you experience allergies as an adult?

Emerging Evidence
Doctors themselves are unaware of the total amount of adults that get diagnosed with allergies yearly. But, statistics that were gathered from the American College of Allergy and Immunology indicates that more and more adults are experiencing adult-onset allergies for the first time in their lives.

Kevin McGrath – an MD allergist who works in Wethersfield, CT, proclaimed that a vast majority of people get allergies for the first time as a child. But, he said he also sees an onset in adults around the age of 30-50. In fact, he proclaims that based on his personal work experience with affected patients, he has seen people in their 70s and 60s who never had asthma or allergy symptoms, suddenly develop it.

How Common Is It?
Doctors proclaim that the population is living longer than they used to, as a result of medical advances. In this aging population, more and more allergists are treating adults who developed symptoms for the first time. However, experts also highlight that some people may have had mild symptoms when they were younger that went unnoticed.

As they get older, they naturally became more aware of the signals their body was sending and it is believed that some adults may have had it as a child, but they were not officially diagnosed with it until they became much older and more aware of the signals their body was sending them.

What Causes You To Develop Allergies In The First Place?
Allergies typically appear early on in your life, but it can develop at any point and become a lifelong issue. Genetics plays a critical role in who eventually develops allergies and having a family history of this condition, places you at a significantly higher risk of developing it at some point in your life.

But in general, individuals develop allergies when their body perceives various substances like pollen, hair, and mold as being harmful. Once the brain becomes aware that you have come into contact with some of these substances, it awakens the immune system and subsequently causes it to release histamine.

Histamine is a chemical which is directly responsible for all allergy-related symptom. Experts believe that many people do not develop allergies until later on in life because when you are young you have a robust and healthy immune system that doesn’t overact to allergens. But, as you get older, your immune system gets less efficient and causes it to overreact to the aforementioned allergens, causing you to develop adult-onset allergies.

Can You Develop Allergies Later in Life?

If you’ve never suffered from allergies in your life, you might be confused if you suddenly develop itchy eyes or a runny nose in spring. Can you develop allergies later in life?

The short answer is: yes. Allergies – whether seasonal or food related – can develop at any stage of life. But how do you develop allergies later in life, and how can they be treated?

How Can You Develop Allergies Later in Life?

An allergic reaction happens when the body comes into contact with a specific substance – food, pollen, mold, pet dander, etc. – that the immune system mistakenly identifies as harmful. That substance (known as an allergen) stimulates the immune system to produce antibodies called immunoglobulin E (IgE), whose typical role is to fight off infections. When the body misdirects IgE against an allergen, the antibodies attach themselves to certain cells, causing these cells to release a chemical called histamine. Histamine in turn causes inflammation, producing classic seasonal allergy symptoms such as red, watery eyes and itching. Depending on the allergen, allergic reactions can involve the eyes, sinuses, nasal passages, airways, skin, or digestive system, and can range from mild to severe.

When a person develops allergies later in life, it is typically due to a change in environment. Often, the person is exposed to a new allergen or begins to encounter a familiar one at higher levels than before. For example, you could move to a new geographical area that has different plants or pollutants, or get a new pet. You might also develop an allergy to a chemical to which you are exposed regularly. Long-term exposure to certain chemicals can cause you to lose your tolerance for them.

Then there are adult-onset allergies that are harder to explain, such as food allergies, 15% of which have an adult onset. New food allergies likely have to do with changes in the immune system (which weakens as we age) and/or changes in the gut microbiome. Being exposed to allergens when the immune system is weakened, such as during an illness or pregnancy, also increases the risk of developing allergies.

How Are Adult-Onset Allergies Treated?

If you suspect you have developed seasonal or food allergies, your doctor can perform allergy testing to confirm the diagnosis. This can be done through blood tests to check for specific forms of immunoglobulin E or skin tests detecting reactions. Once an allergy is confirmed, your doctor will help you develop a treatment plan, which can include:

For Allergy Relief, Call Anchor Wellness Center

If you are suffering from allergies, call Anchor Wellness Center today at (832) 246-8437 and schedule an appointment with Dr. Minni Malhotra, MD, FAARM, ABAARM. Board Certified in Family Medicine as well as Board Certified with the American Board of Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine, Dr. Malhotra can provide you with a treatment plan that gives you relief from your allergy symptoms.

90,000 Can allergies occur if you are already an adult? And get through?

There are several theories as to why allergies are spreading rapidly. The main one is that we began to live in a cleaner world. Therefore, the immune system does not have enough work and it looks for enemies of our body where they actually do not exist. Many allergies develop during childhood and then go away. But can an allergy occur in an adult? And get through? Let’s deal with the answers further.

An allergy occurs when your body decides that a foreign substance, such as pollen or pet dander, is dangerous. And it triggers a response of the immune system, designed to fight this substance.

This fight is usually unjustified. After all, substances that cause an allergic reaction are, by definition, harmless. In this case, the immune system mistakenly recognizes them as threatening it.

How allergy develops

Allergy develops in two phases.

Phase 1. Sensitization

First, the immune system reacts to certain substances by producing antibodies – immunoglobulins E (IgE). The process of their production is called sensitization.

Depending on whether you are allergic to pollen or food , , these antibodies are localized in your respiratory tract, including your nose, throat, trachea, and lungs. Or in the mouth, gastrointestinal tract, and skin.

Phase 2.Allergic response

When you re-experience the influence of a particular allergen, there are more antibodies in the body. They encourage the body to release substances that cause inflammation symptoms, including histamine. Its synthesis leads to dilation of blood vessels, intense mucus production, itching and swelling of the airways.

This allergic reaction is designed to stop the penetration of allergens into the body. And to prevent any irritation or infection that may be caused by them.In fact, the body, mistakenly believing that it is dealing with infectious agents, tries to stop them.

Since the first symptoms appeared and you do not treat your condition, each time you come into contact with an allergen, the described (or other) manifestations of allergy may occur.

For mild inhalation allergies, you may experience puffy eyes, a stuffy nose, and an itchy throat. Severe allergies can include hives, diarrhea, and breathing problems.

Often, if left untreated, the allergic condition worsens.In particular, hay fever – sensitivity to pollen – can provoke the development of asthma. And also be accompanied by manifestations of angioedema.

When allergy usually develops

Most people develop their first allergy symptoms at a young age: about 1 in 5 children have some type of allergy or asthma.

Many people outgrow their allergies by the age of 20-30. They simply develop a tolerance for those allergens to which they have reacted before.

This applies in particular to certain food triggers. Such as milk, eggs, wheat and other grains.

However, allergy symptoms can occur at any time in your life. You may even develop allergies to things that you haven’t had before.

It is not known exactly why some allergies appear in adulthood, especially in the 20s and 30s.

How and why can you develop allergies later in life? How can you treat this new allergy and can you expect the new or existing allergy to disappear over time?

Adult allergies: common conditions

Consider three groups of the most common factors that cause allergies in an adult.

Seasonal allergies

Seasonal allergy, or hay fever, is most common in adults. It is caused by pollen – the flying sperm of plants. He gets through the air to the pistils of the flower.

Pollen proteins are the molecules that our immune system aggressively reacts to. Various plants producing potentially allergenic pollen are adapted to wind pollination. Therefore, there is usually a lot of pollen in the air.

And its allergenic plants are thrown away at different times: trees – in spring, cereals – in spring and summer, weeds – in the second half of summer and autumn.

With the air we breathe, pollen can enter the respiratory tract. And allergy-prone people gradually develop sensitivity to pollen grains.

Pet allergy

Do you have a cat or a dog? This means you are constantly exposed to their dandruff or skin flakes. They are separated from the skin of the animal and released into the air.

They can also contain chemicals from urine and saliva, whose proteins can also cause allergies.

Food allergy

Nearly 11% of adults are thought to have some type of food allergy. And almost half of them report their first noticeable symptoms in adulthood. Especially if you are allergic to certain types of fish.

Other common food allergens in adults:

Food allergies develop in many children. However, the symptoms become less severe as they get older.

Why do adults develop allergies?

It is not entirely clear why allergies can develop in adulthood.

Researchers believe that a severe allergic reaction in childhood, even one episode of symptoms, may increase the likelihood of developing allergies in adulthood. For example, when you are repeatedly exposed to this allergen at higher concentrations.

In some cases, this connection is easy to see and may represent what is known as the atopic march: children with food allergies or skin conditions such as eczema may develop seasonal allergy symptoms as they grow older.For example sneezing, itching, and sore throat.

Then the symptoms disappear for a while. They may return at age 20, 30, or even 40 after exposure to an allergen.

Possible factors against which allergy manifests itself in an adult:

• Influence of allergens during the period of decreased immune function. This happens when you are sick, pregnant, or have another condition that affects the immune system.
• Slight exposure to allergens in childhood.If you have not been exposed to sufficient levels of allergens from an early age, you will not develop a tolerance for them until maturity.
• Moving to a new home or workplace with new allergens. These can be plants and fungal spores that you haven’t encountered before.
• Have a pet for the first time.

Research shows that allergy symptoms can occur after extended absences from pets.

Can allergies go away with time?

The short answer is yes.

Even if you develop allergies as an adult, you may find that allergies begin to disappear at the age of 50 or more.

This can be explained by the fact that with age, the immune function decreases, and therefore the body’s response to allergens becomes less pronounced.

Some allergies that you had as a child may go away during adolescence and, perhaps, somehow manifest themselves only a few times during your life until they disappear forever.

However, there is no need to delude ourselves.

It is better not to wait out the allergy, but to treat it. Indeed, with a general improvement in the standard of living and medicine in general, doctors are also observing the aging of allergic reactions.

And in Ukraine there have already appeared patients whose first manifestations of allergy were registered at the age of 70.

Treatment

Here are some possible ways to prevent symptoms from occurring. And also treat mild seasonal, severe food or contact allergies:

• Take antihistamines.They can help reduce or control your symptoms.
• Obtain an Allergy Passport with Multi-Component Molecular Allergy Diagnostics. It will help your doctor understand which allergens are causing the reaction. Once it is clear what you are allergic to, your doctor can help you develop a strategy to avoid exposure to the allergen or to minimize its effects.
• Carry an epinephrine auto-injector with you if your doctor has diagnosed you are at risk of developing anaphylaxis.Its constant presence is important in a situation where you accidentally experience the influence of an allergic trigger that can cause an anaphylactic reaction. Signs of this are a sharp drop in blood pressure and swelling of the throat / narrowing of the airways. This makes breathing difficult or impossible.
• Consider taking a course of allergen specific immunotherapy (ASIT). These injections or the use of sublingual drugs gradually build up a tolerance to allergy pathogens.

Another name for this method is allergenic immunotherapy (AIT).Only an allergist can pick it up for you.

High quality drugs for AIT are also available in Ukraine. These are allergens of the Spanish company Inmunotek (Inmunotek): injectable drug “Alxoid” (Alxoid) and sublingual spray “Oraltek” (Oraltek).

Tell loved ones or colleagues at work about your allergies. This will help them know how to deal with an allergic reaction with severe or life-threatening symptoms.

When to see a doctor

Some allergy symptoms are mild.They can be treated by reducing exposure to the allergen or with medication.

But some of the symptoms are serious enough or even life threatening. In particular, anaphylaxis, which often accompanies food allergies.

Seek emergency medical attention or ask someone nearby for help if you experience any of the following symptoms:

• dizziness;
• Severe swelling of the tongue or throat;
• rash or hives all over the body;
• abdominal cramps;
• vomiting;
• diarrhea;
• feeling confused or disoriented;
• fever;
• swelling and constriction of the throat;
• wheezing;
• low blood pressure;
• convulsions;
• loss of consciousness.

So:

Allergies can develop at any time during a lifetime.

Some of the reactions may be mild and may be affected by seasonal fluctuations in the amount of the allergen in the air. Others are serious and even life-threatening.

See your doctor as soon as you start noticing new allergy symptoms. It’s important to know as early as possible which treatment options, medications, or lifestyle changes will help reduce or keep your symptoms under control.

Spring allergy

Spring allergy

Buds bloom on trees, young greenery wakes up before our eyes, birds hum their merry songs, and very soon the season of amazing flowering will begin, which for some people on earth is the most painful and unpleasant. It is in the spring that allergy sufferers most often show signs of allergy. As you know, spring allergy is closely related to the flowering of plants, the wind-pollinated pollen of which is a powerful allergen.Diseases caused by pollen are called pollinosis.

According to statistics, 20-40% of the population all over the world are susceptible to allergic reactions. And what is even more disappointing – every year the number of allergy sufferers is increasing.

Allergy is a reaction of the immune system to an unfavorable irritant that can enter the body from the outside or develop in the body itself. The predisposition to allergic reactions is hereditary, according to statistics, if parents are allergic, then in 50% of cases their children will also be predisposed to allergic reactions.

In a modern person, seasonal allergies can occur for the first time at any age. If you have never had an allergy, but once you woke up in the spring or summer with itchy eyes and a stuffy nose, you have a direct road to an allergist. So everyone can get into the risk group of “victims of allergies”.

In addition, seasonal allergies peak between April and mid-July. For some people, allergies persist throughout the year, except for the months when it snows.It all depends on the level of sensitivity, and for each person it is purely individual. This variation is due to the fact that different plants bloom and disperse pollen at different times.

Such common trees as aspen, ash, alder, beech, poplar, elm, maple, oak, willow are the most common causes of allergies. There are even more shrubs, flowers and grasses, and on warm and dry windy days, pollen, actively spreading through the air for many kilometers, makes the life of allergy sufferers simply unbearable.

It is still possible to live on rainy days, since most of the pollen is washed off and the air is cleared, but good weather often becomes a real torture. These same allergens can cause bronchial asthma, a condition characterized by narrowing of the airways, difficulty breathing, wheezing and coughing; hives, exacerbation of allergic dermatitis or Quincke’s edema.

The special insidiousness of spring allergy is in its similarity to the symptoms of the common cold, and it often happens that people are treated with antibiotics and only eventually realize that this treatment is ineffective.

Spring allergy manifests itself in different ways: conjunctivitis, inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eyes (swelling, redness, dryness, itching, and sometimes pain in the eyes), runny nose or nasal congestion, sore throat, which is not accompanied by pain, dry cough, itchy ears and nose.

Skin manifestations are rare, but it is worth mentioning them: urticaria, itching, dryness, peeling of the skin.

Symptoms can occur singly or in any combination and of varying intensity.They are usually worse in dry, hot weather, in the morning and outside. But indoors, during the rain and in the evenings, they significantly weaken. But even with weak, rare manifestations of the disease, it is worth thinking seriously about how to cure hay fever, because it is fraught not only with unpleasant sensations, but also with various complications.

Of course, it would be an ideal solution to change your place of residence during the seasonal dusting of plants, but in most cases this is impossible, so you have to deal with allergies.

Treatment of each allergy sufferer is individual. In addition to medication, several measures can help alleviate allergy symptoms:

• Try not to go out on picnics and out-of-town trips during the flowering period.
• Stop drinking alcohol. Since alcohol is incompatible with taking antihistamines. Cosmetics, which may contain plant extracts, should be removed further during an exacerbation.
• It is recommended to wear sunglasses outdoors, and to walk in the evenings, after rain, when most of the pollen is nailed to the ground.
• When working in the yard during hazardous hours, use a gauze bandage that will create a reliable barrier to the penetration of pollen to the mucous membranes.
• Regular damp cleaning, nets on the windows (vents), humidification of the air in the apartment will reduce the risk of an allergen entering the living space.
• By showering and changing clothes, you can easily get rid of pollen. It is also necessary to bathe more often pets that live near you and are on the street.
• And one more recommendation – do not dry your clothes outdoors during the flowering period.

Do not start or not treat allergies. If from year to year, during the spring flowering period, you are worried about a runny nose, cough or symptoms of conjunctivitis, be sure to consult an allergist, not only your health depends on this, but also the health of your children and grandchildren.

Unfortunately, science has not yet known a remedy that would be one hundred percent able to get rid of allergies.Therefore, the fight against allergies is mainly aimed at suppressing histamines and preventing contact with allergens. But if you do it professionally, you can minimize the manifestation of the body’s allergic reaction.

90,000 Can allergies be defeated? | Our Krasnoyarsk Territory

Among the many diseases, allergy is one of the main places. Anything can act as an external stimulus for immunity – cold, sun, flowering plants, wool, dust, sweat and saliva of animals, as well as food and many other things.Despite the prevalence of the disease, medicine has not come to the same opinion about the methods of treatment and the reasons for its occurrence.

What you can’t sneeze on

Genes with a tainted reputation are to blame for everything

Every third resident of the Krasnoyarsk Territory suffers from allergies. The reason is not only heredity, but also a change in eating habits and a deteriorating environment.

What is allergy, how terrible is this disease and is it possible to get rid of it – these questions are answered by Chief Allergist of the Ministry of Health of the Krasnoyarsk Territory, Head of the Department of Internal Diseases of the Krasnoyarsk State Medical University Irina DEMKO.

– Irina Vladimirovna, we are used to referring to an allergy as a skin rash or a seasonal runny nose. What is this disease really, how serious is it?

– Allergy is a breakdown in the immune system, which is responsible for susceptibility to infectious diseases, to external agents. That is, the protection of our body is violated. There is a congenital predisposition to overproduction of class E immunoglobulin, which underlies a number of allergic diseases.It is inherited. If one of the parents suffers from allergies, then the risk of developing it in the offspring is 50%, if both – 70%. The child may develop bronchial asthma, atopic dermatitis, hay fever, manifested by rhinoconjunctivitis, and other diseases. By the way, bronchial asthma can appear in a person and with an unfavorable combination of genes of parents who suffered from diabetes mellitus, rheumatic heart disease, and other systemic diseases.

– But allergic diseases can be not only congenital, they also appear in adulthood …

– Genetics plays a huge role, but this is not the main thing.There are factors that can cause changes in the immune system. The development of bronchial asthma, for example, can lead to frequent respiratory viral infections in children, pathology of the gastrointestinal tract (when the contents of the stomach and esophagus are thrown into the trachea, bronchial hyperactivity and bronchial asthma occur), environmental ecology (exposure to harmful industrial pollutants, which are in the atmosphere – first of all, car exhaust, CO, sulfur and nitrogen oxide), smoking (if a mother smokes or a father fumigates a pregnant woman, then the risk of developing respiratory pathology in a child is very high).The ecology of food is of great importance – now there are many products made synthetically, with the use of food additives, dyes.

– Judging by this list of factors, there should be an epidemic of bronchial asthma in the Krasnoyarsk Territory?

– Not only in the region, but all over the world. Moreover, the number of patients with bronchial asthma is increasing very quickly. If in the mid-2000s there were 250 million asthmatics in the world, then in 2010 there were 300 million people, and in 2013 – 350 million.In the Krasnoyarsk Territory today, about 37 thousand adults and children suffer from asthma, three years ago there were 25 thousand. In 2014 alone, asthma was first diagnosed in 2,041 people. Undoubtedly, the detectability has improved. But late diagnosis is also high. We have participated in research carried out by the World Health Organization as part of the Respiratory and Allergic Diseases Initiative. The rural and urban population was surveyed for the presence of bronchial asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.We interviewed and examined more than 15 thousand people with an unfavorable factor – smoking – and symptoms: cough, sputum, shortness of breath. It turned out that the actual number of patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the region is 1.7 times higher. People just don’t go to doctors. I’m not even talking about allergic rhinitis. It is believed that a quarter of the world’s population suffers from it.

– Allergic rhinitis is a seasonal manifestation of allergies. What allergens are most common in the region?

– Rhinitis is an allergic disease when there is constant nasal discharge, nasal congestion, sneezing in response to some environmental factors.They can be household: house dust containing mites, epidermal: hair of cats and dogs, horse dander, human hair, fish food, pollen plant allergens. Now, by the way, the season of pollen allergy is just beginning – spring, summer, autumn. In the Krasnoyarsk Territory, the first place is occupied by an allergen – house dust mite, which is contained in upholstered furniture, bedding, and epidermal – the hair of cats and dogs. In second place is pollen allergy. Although we have a short summer, the pollination season (when pollen spreads over long distances, especially in dry, windy weather) is sufficient.By the way, not all plants can be allergens, but only those pollinated by the wind – they have small pollen. In April – May the season of pollination of alder, poplar, birch, pine, June – July – meadow grasses, dandelion, wormwood. By the way, there are so many different types of wormwood in the region that allergy sufferers can experience symptoms even in October. August, September – cereals, weeds. At this time on the streets you can meet especially a lot of people wearing dark glasses and handkerchiefs. They develop tearing, redness of the eyes, nasal congestion and flow.

– When does poplar fluff fly?

– It is mistakenly believed that there is an allergy to poplar fluff. It’s just that the seed of the poplar collects the pollen of the meadow grasses. The rain will pass, and together with the fluff, a yellow-green coating appears on the puddles – this is pollen. Allergy sufferers tolerate wet weather more easily, but it dries out – and people will start reacting to pollen again. We recommend that allergy sufferers protect themselves well during this period. Some leave for other regions or countries where specific plants have already faded or do not grow at all.

– Is the allergy curable?

– You cannot be cured. An acquired or congenital allergy lasts a lifetime. But you can maintain a good quality of life. The most effective method of “treating” an allergy is to eliminate contact with the allergen. If you react to animals, then it is better not to keep them in the house, if you remove carpets, replace upholstered furniture and sleep on mattresses with special anti-allergenic covers for house dust, follow the rules of nutrition and behavior in a specific period for pollen.This is primary prevention. We teach how to prevent illness in our school for asthmatics. Secondary – treatment with allergens during periods when there are no exacerbations or symptoms.

– How dangerous are these diseases, allergies can lead to a critical condition or even death?

– In 2014, five people died from bronchial asthma in the region. At first glance, this is not much, but we believe that people should not die from this disease. We will deal with each case separately.

People who are allergic to vegetation may have cross-allergies to food, herbal teas. Therefore, symptoms can occur not only during the pollination period. Last year we rescued a woman who was allergic to birch. But the birch pollination season ended, and the patient suddenly developed a cough and shortness of breath. She decided that she had a cold, and climbed into the phyto barrel. After that, I was inhalated with chamomile, drank tea with raspberries and honey (and for allergy sufferers, honey is prohibited, because it contains a large amount of pollen).She was admitted to the intensive care unit in serious condition – in status asthmaticus.

There may be another complication – anaphylactic shock, Quincke’s edema, which occurs on an insect bite and develops with lightning speed. And if there is no specialist nearby, a person can die from suffocation or a drop in pressure. There is a severe reaction to food and drugs. Therefore, I have a bad attitude towards advertising of drugs, including those for allergies. After all, the body can react to them too. We had a case where a patient drank an advertised drug for use on airplanes.It has antiemetic and anti-allergic effects. This drug gave a severe allergic skin reaction, the patient was not saved, she died.

Treatment and drug therapy for any allergy must be prescribed by a doctor. Self-medication in this case is not allowed.

Causes of allergies

• Psychological problems

Nowadays it is difficult to maintain inner peace, because constant psychological breakdowns have a negative effect on the nervous system.Scandals at home with family, problems with superiors at work, misunderstanding on the part of relatives, difficult age in children and other similar factors make a person constantly experience stress, depression, depression, lack of mood and even appetite. On this basis, the immunity is greatly weakened, as a result of which an allergy may occur to any factor.

• Improper nutrition

Today, more and more people are used to eating food purchased in a store and heated in a microwave oven or cooked in a few minutes.Such junk food includes convenience foods, instant noodles, tea bags, canned foods, as well as cigarettes, low-quality alcohol, and more. This food contains a large amount of preservatives, dyes and other substances that adversely affect the digestive and nervous systems, liver and other organs.

The body is constantly experiencing nicotine intoxication, which negatively affects human health, in particular, his immune system.And weak immunity, as you know, is the cause of allergic reactions to various irritants.

Household dust contains microparticles of human skin and hair, as well as animal skin and hair. Once in the body, these particles cause an allergic reaction.

• Food allergy (one of the most widespread types of allergy)

Foods such as citrus fruits, dairy and fermented milk products, sea fish and seafood, exotic fruits and vegetables are the most common allergens.Food allergy in adults develops much more slowly than in children.

Often vermouth, liqueur, various cocktails can provoke an allergy attack, because they contain a large amount of dyes and other artificial additives. It is also worth noting that the more wine is stored, the higher its ability to cause allergies, since the concentration of special substances in such a drink only increases over the years.

• Medicines

Medicines, sometimes a mixture of many different chemicals, can provoke an allergic reaction to any component in their composition, so allergy sufferers need to take medication only after consulting a doctor.

If you find any red spots or rash on the body, accompanied by itching and peeling, you should immediately contact a medical institution for qualified medical help.

Small, and how disgusting!

Household dust is a very “weighty” allergen. But few people know that its main component is a small tick invisible to the naked eye, the body diameter of which is about 0.3 mm.

Allergies are caused by two types of mites that live in your apartment – Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and Dermatophagoides farinae.They feed on the scales of the stratum corneum of the human skin. These crumbs live in beds and bedding – pillows, mattresses, blankets. Just where a person loses a large amount of horny scales when rubbing the skin during sleep. However, the mites are not satisfied with the scales alone. They live in symbiosis with microscopic molds found in mattresses.

Scientists assure: there are more ticks in the bed than on the bedroom floor. One gram of dust from a mattress can contain from 2 to 15 thousand mites.The fact is that the body of a sleeping person warms up the bed to 20-30 degrees and creates moisture. And these are ideal conditions for the life of both ticks and mold.

By the way, allergy sufferers can react not only to house dust mites themselves, but also to their excrement. By its nature, it is an ideal allergen.

What to do? Experts advise to ventilate the bed well, and not just make it up. Even if the bedroom is cool and dry (as it should be in a sleeping room), you should additionally ventilate sheets, knock out blankets and pillows at least twice a week, and vacuum the mattress daily.Do the same with armchairs, sofas, carpets, curtains and curtains.

Another tip: sleeping accessories containing natural materials – wool, cotton, feathers, down – can be replaced with synthetic ones. In synthetics, not a single creature gets along. Change floor carpets to linoleum, and heavy curtains to economical blinds.

Look what you take

Alcohol

Experts advise not to drink alcohol. It increases blood flow and thus accelerates the absorption of food components of the gastric and intestinal mucosa.In addition, alcohol increases the effects of food allergens. The reason for intolerance to wine in most cases is that it contains sulfur, mold, histamine, and sometimes chicken egg white.

Beer intolerances can be caused by hops, yeast and other ingredients such as malt.

Most people tolerate clean vodka and fruit wines well. However, it should be remembered that vodka and liqueurs are often supplemented with extracts and aromatic substances with the taste of herbs, spices, nuts or fruits.

Genetically modified products

There are more than 120 species of genetically modified plants: soybeans, corn, rice, cotton, pumpkin, cucumber, pepper, potatoes and others. Scientists around the world are warning about the allergenicity of modified foods. Nevertheless, transgenic proteins are widely used in baby food, including in infant formula, as well as in sausages, confectionery, and drinks. There are about 300 such products in our country.

Know additives in the face

E100 – curcumin. The color is orange-yellow, made from a plant of the ginger family.

E101 – riboflavin (vitamin B2). The color is yellow, vitamin.

E102 – tartrazine. The color is yellow, used in soft drinks, confectionery. Not recommended for children to avoid allergic reactions.

E104 – yellow quinoline. Banned in some countries.

E107 – yellow 2G. Not recommended for children to avoid allergic reactions. May cause allergies in people with asthma. Traditionally used in the production of soft drinks.

E110 – yellow “sunset” FCF. Typical products: spirits, pastries, instant soups. May cause allergic reactions: rash, swelling, nausea.

E120 – carmines. Used in sweets, ice cream, yoghurts, drinks.Can cause allergic reactions ranging from a simple rash to anaphylactic shock.

E122 – carmoisine. The color is red. Allergy sufferers, asthmatics, children should be avoided. Typical products: sweets, marzipans, jellies.

E123 – amaranth. Banned (not used in the US since 1976).

E124 – ponceau 4R, crimson 4R. The color is red. Should be avoided by children, asthmatics and people allergic to aspirin.

E127 – erythrocin.Forbidden. May increase thyroid hormone levels and cause photosensitivity.

E128 – red 2G. Banned in some countries.

E129 – charming red speaker. May cause allergic skin reactions. Typical products: fruit fillings, biscuits, cakes.

E131 – blue patented V. Prohibited in some countries.

E132 – indigo carmine. Should be avoided by people prone to allergies.Causes reactions: nausea, vomiting, rash, high blood pressure, shortness of breath.

E133 – shiny blue. Not recommended for children to avoid allergic reactions.

E140 – chlorophyll, chlorophyllin. Color from green to olive. Natural dye, has no side effects.

E141 – copper complexes of chlorophyll and chlorophyllin. Olive color. Side effects are unknown.

Special diet

• People who are allergic to tree pollen should not eat most stone fruits and fruits, as well as nuts, celery, dill and carrots.

• If you are allergic to cereal meadow grasses, you should limit your consumption of bread and baked goods. The ban includes bread kvass, pasta, semolina, bread crumbs, ice cream, halva, legumes, sorrel.

• Allergy to Asteraceae, for example, wormwood, requires excluding melon, watermelon, herbs, hot spices from the diet. You should be very careful about sunflower oil and its derivatives – mayonnaise, mustard, halva.It is necessary to give up the “wormwood” alcoholic beverages – vermouth and absinthe. Phyto-gatherings with coltsfoot, succession, yarrow are prohibited.

• If you are allergic to quinoa, you should not eat spinach or beets. Avoid also peaches, pears, mangoes, kiwi, pineapples, honey and mustard.

• If you are allergic to aspirin or salicylates, you need to minimize the consumption of citrus fruits, berries, peaches, melons, plums, cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes, potatoes. We must also be careful with regard to medicinal herbs.Salicylates are present in willow bark, raspberry leaves, meadowsweet, marsh cinquefoil, peony, and marsh root.

No. 22/710

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90,000 How to overcome vitamin deficiency and help the body after winter

Spring is the time of the awakening of nature, the sun begins to peep more often, and the temperature values ​​are approaching zero, but despite this, many of us notice that the body as a whole feels weak and depleted.How to cope with vitamin deficiency, what products to dilute your diet, as well as what habits it is better to give up RIA Novosti told the general practitioner of the city polyclinic №64 of the Moscow health department Victoria Agaltsova.

Avitaminosis or hypovitaminosis?

As the doctor said, there are two concepts – hypovitaminosis or vitamin deficiency – behind which there is a seasonal lack of vitamins in autumn and spring. However, hypovitaminosis is characterized by the fact that in the body in an insufficient amount, but nevertheless, certain vitamins are present.Avitaminosis, on the other hand, is a more serious disorder in the work of the human body. With vitamin deficiency, there is a critical shortage or complete absence of one or more vitamins.

“There can be many common causes of vitamin deficiency of any kind: a poor diet, lack of fresh vegetables and fruits, herbs, cereals, meat, eggs, milk or cottage cheese; diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, in which vitamins are not absorbed by the intestinal villi and they just don’t get into the blood, “Agaltsova said.

It can also happen due to addictions that disrupt the synthesis and absorption of vitamins. The causes of vitamin deficiency can be chronic stress, constant fatigue and taking medications that “turn off” the effect of vitamins.

The fact that vitamins are lacking can be evidenced by various changes in the body. So, according to Agaltsova, the hair becomes dull, splits excessively and begins to fall out strongly, the nails become fragile and begin to exfoliate, the skin becomes dry and pale, sometimes a little grayish, the lips quickly dry out and crack, and herpes may also appear on them.

“Eyesight becomes not so sharp, and sometimes even worsens. Blood may appear during brushing, as bleeding gums increase; a person often begins to suffer from colds and SARS, old chronic diseases are aggravated and more frequent,” the doctor added.

She also noted that often a person with vitamin deficiency has a bad mood, he is apathetic, has difficulty getting up in the morning, while the brain function worsens.

What vitamins are lacking in the body?

If a person begins to notice that his visual acuity is impaired, there is a burning sensation in the eyes and dryness, the skin is peeling, the hair has become dull, the teeth have acquired a yellowish tint, all this may indicate a lack of vitamin A.In order to replenish the vitamin deficiency, you should include milk and dairy products, liver, seafood, as well as currants, gooseberries, apricots, carrots and spinach in your diet. At the same time, as the doctor noted, all products with vitamin A must be consumed daily, otherwise the treatment will be ineffective.

Agaltsova said that vitamin B1 deficiency is characterized by premature aging of the skin, muscle weakness, arrhythmia and respiratory failure. It also develops itchy skin, shortness of breath, and worsens appetite.”The thiamine deficiency is replenished by eating yeast, baked goods, wholemeal flour and vitamin complexes,” she said.

B2 deficiency manifests itself in weight loss and appetite, skin lesions, inflammation of the internal oral cavity, photosensitivity. The largest amount of the substance is found in cereals and peas, in meat and milk. Vitamin B3, or niacin, affects the regulation of sleep – during the day a person wants to sleep, and at night he suffers from insomnia. Also, its deficiency causes increased skin sensitivity, hair loss and discoloration, depression.To fill the gap, it is necessary to eat a lot of greens, fruits and vegetables, dairy products and chicken eggs, as well as animal and chicken liver.

With a lack of vitamin B5, according to the doctor, the pigmentation of both skin and hair is disturbed – spots appear on the body, the hair changes pigmentation and falls out strongly. A lot of pantothenic acid (B5) can be found in meat and fish, poultry, milk, vegetables, nuts and legumes.

“Lack of vitamin B6 causes bouts of nausea and seizures at night, cognitive dysfunction and even psychosis.It is replenished with egg yolks, liver and potatoes, spinach, carrots and nuts, “Agaltsova said. kidney and liver, fresh vegetables and herbs, as well as cereals and nuts

Serious disorders in the form of psychosis or even paralysis, according to the doctor, can cause vitamin B12 deficiency.At the same time, replenishing the deficiency is problematic, since the substance is contained in products only in small quantities – it is practically absent in plants, and a little in meat products – in veal and beef liver, seafood and fish, as well as in mutton.

“Each vitamin from the group of B vitamins differs in its specific symptoms. However, these substances must enter the body in a complex, and not separately, since they are closely interrelated,” Agaltsova emphasized.

Speaking about vitamin C, she said that when it is lacking, bleeding of the gums increases, caries develops, breathing problems appear and digestion is disturbed, fatigue and weakness also increase.For treatment, it is necessary to introduce large doses of ascorbic acid into the diet, for example, through foods – vegetables and berries, black currants, tomatoes and spinach, or through tablets and injections.

If the human body lacks vitamin D, cavities, joint pain, cramps, stoop and weight loss can occur. To compensate for its deficiency, you should eat beef and pork liver, chicken eggs, dairy products and fatty fish. In addition, the doctor may prescribe ultraviolet irradiation and calcium supplementation.

Agaltsova said that vitamin E is very dependent on the external and internal environment of the body and is easily destroyed by toxic substances such as alcohol or nicotine. With a vitamin deficiency, aging processes are accelerated, the skin quickly fades, and vision is impaired.

“For treatment, the patient is prescribed a diet rich in tocopherol (vitamin E): eggs, cabbage and spinach, celery and carrots. Very useful vegetable fats – olive oil, sesame and flaxseed oil. Also, a large amount of tocopherol is found in herbs such as motherwort, mint and rose hips, rowan and sea buckthorn.Therefore, it is recommended to use herbal teas from these herbal mixtures, “she said, adding that fish oil, sea fish, almonds and nuts are also rich in this vitamin.

In case of a lack of vitamin H, which can be caused by taking antibiotics, it is necessary to eat more soy and eggs, namely yolks, peas and cauliflower, liver and mushrooms.

Vitamin K deficiency, as the doctor said, characterizes severe and prolonged bleeding even with tiny lesions, bleeding gums, digestive problems, anemia, general lethargy and weakness.In this case, you need to eat green cabbage and pork liver, broccoli and spinach, also a little vitamin is found in lamb and veal.

The best treatment for a disease is its prevention

In order not to have to treat hypoavitaminosis or vitamin deficiency, it is necessary to carry out prophylaxis. So, according to Agaltsova, one should eat healthy and varied foods, lead a healthy lifestyle, give up bad habits, and also balance the daily routine and walk in the fresh air every day.

“It is necessary to timely treat all emerging diseases, because they can lead to vitamin deficiency. For preventive purposes, drink multivitamin complexes in the autumn-spring season, take vitamins during the period when the body is as weak as possible – in childhood, in adolescence, during pregnancy and lactation, in old age, “- concluded the doctor.

Link to publication: https://ria.ru/society/20180313/1516267369.html

90,000 CAN YOU DEVELOP ALLERGY IN MATURITY? WHAT SCIENCE SAYS – HEALTH

Content:

An allergy occurs when your body detects a foreign substance, such as pollen or pet dander, and activates an immune response to fight it.

How allergies develop

Allergens develop in two phases.

Phase 1

First, your immune system reacts to certain substances by making antibodies called immunoglobulin E (IgE). This part is called sensitization.

Depending on whether you are allergic to pollen or food, these antibodies are localized in your airways, including your nose, mouth, throat, windpipe and lungs, in your gastrointestinal (GI) tract and on your skin …

Phase 2

If you are again exposed to this allergen, your body releases inflammatory substances, including the chemical histamine. This causes dilation of blood vessels, mucus production, itching of the skin, and swelling of the tissues of the airways.

This allergic reaction is designed to prevent the ingress of allergens and combat any irritation or infection that may be caused by ingested allergens. Basically, you can think of an allergy as an overreaction to these allergens.

From now on, your body will react in a similar way when exposed to this allergen in the future. With mild airborne allergies, symptoms of eye puffiness, nasal congestion, and itchy throat may occur. And if you are severely allergic, you may have hives, diarrhea, and shortness of breath.

When do allergies usually develop

Most people remember the first time they had allergy symptoms at a young age – about one in five children has some type of allergy or asthma.

Many people outgrow their allergies by the age of 20-30 as they become tolerant of their allergens, especially food allergens such as milk, eggs and grains.

But allergies can develop at any time in life. You may be allergic to something that you have not been allergic to before.

It is not clear why some allergies develop in adulthood, especially by the age of 20-30.

Let’s take a look at how and why you can develop allergies later in life, how to cure a new allergy, and whether you can expect a new or existing allergy to heal over time.

General allergies in adults

Seasonal allergies

Seasonal allergies are most common in adults. Pollen, ragweed and other plant allergens increase at certain times of the year, usually in spring or fall.

Pet allergies

Do you have a feline or dog friend? Constant exposure to their dandruff or skin flakes that flake off and airborne, and chemicals from urine and saliva that get on dandruff can cause you to become allergic.

Food Allergies

About 11 percent of adults in the United States have some type of food allergy, and nearly half of them first notice symptoms in adulthood, especially in certain fish species.

Other common food allergens in adults are peanuts and tree nuts, and pollen from fruits and vegetables.

Many children develop food allergies and often have less and less severe symptoms as they get older.

Why is this happening?

It is not entirely clear why allergies can develop in adulthood.

Researchers believe that a severe allergic reaction in childhood, even a single episode of symptoms, may increase the likelihood of developing allergies in adulthood when you are repeatedly exposed to this allergen at higher levels.

In some cases, these connections are easy to see and represent the so-called atopic march. Children with food allergies or skin conditions such as eczema may develop seasonal allergy symptoms as they get older, such as sneezing, itching, and sore throat.

Then the symptoms disappear for a while. They can return in your 20s, 30s and 40s when you encounter an allergy trigger. Possible triggers of allergy in adults may include:

• Exposure to allergens when your immune system is diminishing. This happens when you are sick, pregnant, or have a medical condition that compromises your immune system.
• Little contact with the allergen in childhood. You may not have been exposed to levels high enough to cause a reaction until adulthood.
• Moving to a new home or workplace with new allergens. These may be plants and trees that you have not encountered before.
• Have a pet for the first time. Research shows that this can also happen after a long period of absence of pets.

Can allergies go away over time?

The short answer is yes.

Even if you develop allergies as an adult, you may find that they start to disappear again when you are 50 or older.

This is because your immune function declines with age, so the immune response to allergens also becomes less severe.

Some childhood allergies may also disappear when you are a teenager and come of age, perhaps only showing up a few times in your life until they disappear forever.

Treatment

Here are some possible treatments for your allergy, whether you have a mild seasonal allergy, a severe food allergy, or contact allergies:

• Take antihistamines. Antihistamines, such as cetirizine (Zyrtec) or diphenhydramine (Benadryl), may reduce or keep your symptoms under control. Take them before you encounter an allergen.
• Do a skin test. This test can help you see which allergens are causing your reactions. Once you know what you are allergic to, you can try to avoid or minimize your exposure to that allergen.
• Consider getting allergy shots (immunotherapy). Shots can gradually increase your immunity to allergy triggers over the years after regular shots.
• Keep an adrenaline autoinjector (EpiPen) nearby. Having an EpiPen is important if you accidentally encounter an allergy trigger that can lead to low blood pressure and swelling of the throat / narrowing of the airways, making it difficult or impossible to breathe (anaphylaxis).
• Tell others about your allergies. If your symptoms are serious or life-threatening, they will learn how to treat you if you have an allergic reaction.

When to see a doctor

Some allergy symptoms are mild and can be treated by reducing exposure to the allergen or taking medication.

But some symptoms are serious enough to disrupt your life, or even life-threatening.

Seek emergency medical attention or someone for help if you notice any of the following symptoms:

• feeling abnormally dizzy
• abnormal swelling of the tongue or throat
• rash or hives all over the body
• abdominal cramps
• diarrhea
• feeling confused or disoriented
• high fever
• anaphylaxis (swelling and closing of the throat, wheezing, low blood pressure)
• seizures
• loss of consciousness

Bottom Line

You can develop allergies at any time in your life.

Some may be mild and subject to seasonal fluctuations in the amount of this allergen in the air. Others can be serious or life-threatening.

See your doctor if you start noticing new allergy symptoms to find out what treatment options, medications, or lifestyle changes can help reduce or control your symptoms.

90,000 Can you develop allergies in adulthood? What Science says

An allergy occurs when your body detects a foreign substance, such as pollen grain or pet dander, and activates the immune system’s response to fight it.

How allergies develop

Allergens develop in two phases.

Phase 1

First, your immune system reacts to certain substances by creating antibodies called immunoglobulin E (IgE). This part is called sensitization.

Depending on your allergy, such as pollen or food, these antibodies are localized in your respiratory tract, including your nose, mouth, throat, airways and lungs, gastrointestinal tract, and skin.

Phase 2

If you are again exposed to this allergen, your body releases inflammatory substances, including the chemical histamine. This leads to dilated blood vessels, mucus production, itchy skin, and swelling of the tissues in the airways.

This allergic reaction is designed to stop the ingress of allergens and fight any irritation or infection that may be caused by allergens that get inside.Basically, you can think of allergies as an overreaction to these allergens.

Since then, your body reacts in a similar way when exposed to this allergen in the future. With mild air allergies, you may experience symptoms of eye puffiness, nasal congestion, and itchy throat. And with severe allergies, you may have hives, diarrhea, and breathing problems.

When allergy usually develops

Most people remember the first symptoms of allergy at a young age – about 1 in 5 children have some kind of allergy or asthma.

Many people outgrow their allergies at the age of 20-30 as they become tolerant of their allergens, especially food allergens such as milk, eggs and cereals.

But you can develop allergies at any time in your life. You may even be allergic to something that you have not been allergic to before.

It is not clear why some allergies develop in adulthood, especially between the ages of 20-30.

Let’s see how and why you can develop allergies later in life, how you can treat a new allergy, and whether you can expect a new allergy or an existing one to go away over time.

Common adult allergies

Seasonal allergies

The most common allergies in adults are seasonal. Pollen, ragweed and other plant allergens grow at certain times of the year, usually in the spring or fall.

Pet allergy

Have a feline or dog friend? Constant exposure to dandruff or skin flakes that stick together and get into the air, and chemicals from urine and saliva that get on the dandruff can make you allergic.

Food Allergies

Nearly 11 percent of adults in the United States have some form of food allergy, and nearly half of them report first noticing symptoms as adults, especially in some fish species.

Other common food allergens in adults are peanuts and tree nuts, and fruit and vegetable pollen.

Many children develop food allergies and often become less and less severe as they get older.

Why is this happening?

It is not entirely clear why allergies can develop in adulthood.

Researchers believe that a severe allergic reaction in childhood, even one episode of symptoms, may increase the likelihood of an adult developing allergy when you are repeatedly exposed to this allergen at higher levels.

In some cases, these links are easy to see and represent what is known as the atopic march.Children with food allergies or skin conditions such as eczema may develop seasonal allergy symptoms such as sneezing, itching, and sore throat as they get older.

Then the symptoms disappear for a while. They can return in your 20s, 30s and 40s when you are exposed to allergies. Possible triggers of allergy in adults may include:

• Exposure to allergens with decreased immune function . This happens when you are sick, pregnant, or suffering from a compromised immune system.
• Having little exposure to the allergen during childhood . You may not have been exposed to high enough levels to trigger a reaction until adulthood.
• Moving to a new home or work with new allergens . This can include plants and trees that you have not encountered before.
• Having a pet for the first time . Research shows that this can happen after a long period of absence of pets.

Can allergies go away over time?

The short answer is yes.

Even if you develop allergies as an adult, you may notice that they start to disappear again when you turn 50 or older.

This is due to the fact that with age your immune function decreases, so the immune response to allergens also becomes less pronounced.

Some allergies that you have as a child may also disappear when you are a teenager, and in adulthood may only appear a few times in your life before they disappear forever.

Treatment

Here are some possible treatments for allergies, whether they are mild seasonal allergies, heavy food or contact allergies:

• Take antihistamines . Antihistamines, such as cetirizine (Zyrtec) or diphenhydramine (Benadryl), can reduce or control your symptoms. Take them before you are exposed to the allergen.
• Take the skin prick test . This test will help you see which allergens are causing your reactions.Once you know what you are allergic to, you can try to avoid that allergen or minimize your exposure.
• Consider allergy shots (immunotherapy) . These shots can gradually improve your immunity to allergic reactions over the years after regular shots.
• Keep an adrenaline autoinjector (EpiPen) nearby . Having an EpiPen is important in case you are accidentally exposed to allergies that can lead to low blood pressure and swelling of the throat / airways, making breathing difficult or impossible (anaphylaxis).
• Tell others about your allergy . If your symptoms are serious or life-threatening, they will know how to treat you if you have an allergic reaction.

When to see a doctor

Some allergy symptoms are mild and can be treated by reducing exposure to the allergen or taking medications.

But some symptoms are serious enough to disrupt your life or even threaten your life.

Seek emergency medical attention or ask someone for help if you notice any of the following symptoms:

• feeling dizzy
• Abnormal swelling of the tongue or throat 90 120
• rash or urticaria all over the body
• abdominal cramps 90 120
• vomiting
• diarrhea
• feeling embarrassed or disoriented
• high temperature
• anaphylaxis (swelling and closing of the throat, shortness of breath, low blood pressure)
• seizures
• loss of consciousness

Essence

You can develop allergies at any time during your life.

Some of these can be mild and are subject to seasonal fluctuations in the amount of this allergen in the air.