Now that businesses can use pharmaceutical website templates to sell medicines online, more of us are buying our prescription and non-prescription drugs on the internet. We are also taking advantage of the web as a source of free health advice when we can't make it to the doctor's office.
For example, if you have developed a new allergy as an adult, you may have spent hours reading up on the best treatment options. You may assume that your case is unusual, but adult onset allergy is quite common. Although most people with allergies have had them since childhood, even seniors into their 70's and 80's are affected. One in five people who suffer from hay fever only start showing symptoms as adults.
In the US, the eight most frequently-seen food allergies are tree nuts, cow's milk, eggs, shellfish, peanuts, fish, soy, and wheat. However, it's possible to be allergic to other foods, too, such as celery, mustard seeds, aniseed, peach, and bananas. Pollen, mold, animal dander, dust mites, medications, and ingredients in cosmetics are other oft-reported triggers.
Experts haven't yet discovered a single underlying cause of adult allergies; there is still much research to be done. However, the following may be to blame:
1. Genetics
If you have a parent or sibling with an allergy, you are at greater risk of developing one yourself, either as a child or in later life. What's more, if you already have an allergic condition, you are more likely to develop a new allergy. For example, people with eczema and asthma are especially vulnerable.
2. Illness
Did you suffer a severe infectious illness shortly before your allergy symptoms showed up for the first time? Some researchers believe that if your body has to fight off a serious infection, your immune system could be left permanently changed. This can leave you with a hyper reactive immune system that treats harmless substances as a threat, thus triggering allergy symptoms.
3. Exposure
It can take several years of exposure to a chemical or food to develop an allergy. For example, you may have no problems using a particular cosmetic for years before it starts triggering a skin rash. This reaction, known as atopic dermatitis, usually manifests on the neck, head, or hands. Over a third (42%) of adults with atopic dermatitis didn't have the problem as children. Atopic dermatitis can be extremely itchy and may require medical treatment in the form of creams or medication.
4. Digestive issues
It's possible that, for a minority of people, taking antacids could lead to changes in their digestive systems that make allergic reactions more likely. Antacids reduce the amount of acid in the stomach. This may mean that proteins in common trigger foods like shellfish are less well digested and trigger an immune system response.
5. Lifestyle Changes
Finally, in some cases, your sudden allergy may not be so sudden after all. When you have an unexpected reaction, it may just be that you've been exposed to an allergen for the first time. For example, if you are allergic to cat dander but your family and close friends never kept cats when you were a child or teenager, your cat allergy might not show up until you move in with a partner who has a kitten.
When To Get Help
Unfortunately, adults are much less likely than children to outgrow their allergies. You should assume that if you have an allergy now, you'll have it for life. If you know or suspect you have an allergy, you should get a formal diagnosis from your doctor. Allergy symptoms can be mistaken for other medical conditions, so always consult an expert.
You should be aware that allergies can trigger anaphylaxis, a potentially fatal form of an allergic reaction. Symptoms include a feeling of impending doom, wheezing, a fast heartbeat, losing consciousness, confusion, feeling faint, sweating, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, and clammy skin. They may be accompanied by skin reactions, such as swelling or hives. Anaphylaxis is a medical emergency. Treatment includes oxygen, IV fluids, steroids, and antihistamines.
Your doctor can advise you on treatment options, which range from anti-allergy meds to special injections and patches that help your body learn to tolerate the allergen. If you are at risk of anaphylaxis, you will need to carry epinephrine with you at all times.
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