What causes allergies?
Allergies are due to a malfunction of your immune system. When your body senses a foreign substance, such as pollen, dust, or certain foods, your body releases antibodies in defense. You experience inflammation as a result. These inflammations and irritations can appear on your skin, in your sinuses, your digestive tract, or your airways.
Allergies happen when your body reacts this way to a substance that’s otherwise harmless. An allergic reaction can range from mild and annoying to serious and life-threatening.
What are the symptoms of allergies?
Your symptoms depend on the nature of the allergy. Food allergies cause symptoms that can be quite different from pollen allergies. You may suspect an allergy if you experience symptoms that are:
- Respiratory, including increased mucus production, coughing, sneezing, and watery eyes
- Skin, including itching, hives, and rashes
- Digestive, including upset stomach, nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting
Some allergies can cause a severe reaction called anaphylaxis, which causes shock and potentially death. Usually, this reaction happens in the case of a food allergy or insect sting. Symptoms of anaphylaxis include a sudden drop in blood pressure and light-headedness, shortness of breath, rapid pulse, and nausea and vomiting.
If you’re at risk of anaphylactic shock, you’ll need a prescribed epinephrine auto-injector that you use to relieve symptoms right away as you make your way to medical help. Dr. Foucauld can provide such a prescription to keep you safe from a serious reaction.
How are allergies treated?
Treatment for your allergies depends on your triggers. Dr. Foucauld helps you determine these triggers with various methods, including skin testing and blood testing. She may ask you to keep a food log or environmental diary to help determine allergy triggers, too.
Allergy shots, trigger avoidance, and oral medications help prevent and ease the major symptoms of your allergy. Dietary and environmental changes can be critical to helping you control your allergies, too.
You can find relief from the allergy symptoms that interfere with your quality of life. Call the office of Youth and You, or book an appointment using the online tool.
