Allergens (things that cause an allergy) are too numerous to list but the most common are dust and pollen. Some are also allergic to cats, bees, wasps and certain foods such as dairy products, nuts and fruits. In rare cases people can be allergic to household chemicals and medications such as penicillin. The reaction can range from simply annoying to life threatening. If you know what you’re allergic to you can take steps to avoid it but if you don’t know you’re stuck with the trial and error method.

Doctors can perform allergy tests to determine exactly what you’re allergic to and prescribe ways to prevent any further discomfort. About one in three people will seek a doctor for allergy testing during their lifetime. They usually wait until the pain and discomfort has become unbearable which is totally unnecessary because allergy testing has become increasingly more sophisticated, accurate and affordable.

There are three prime tests for allergens that are causing your body harm. They’re the skin prick, patch and blood tests. All three can be performed in the physician’s office experiencing little discomfort or expense. With the results you can obtain proper medication and/or avoid the cause.

The skin prick test is simple and quick. It can be performed on all age groups including babies. Up to 40 allergens can be tested simultaneously with the pricks done on the back or arm. Each prick is mildly painful depending on your pain tolerance. You can wait for the results, usually available in about 20 minutes. Patients should avoid taking antihistamines and other medications about six weeks prior to testing or inconclusive results may occur.

The patch test is done with various allergens prepared and spread on a small metal disc. These discs are placed on the skin, usually the back, and left on for 48 hours. Patients are cautioned to keep the patches dry until they’re removed and test results are determined.

The blood test is most helpful when unusual or rare allergens are suspected. It also can be performed in the doctor’s office with a small amount of blood drawn from a vein in the arm. The discomfort is minimal but it may take up to two weeks to gain results.

All tests should be interpreted by the doctor after a full review of the patient’s history of allergic reactions. A person’s immune system and how it reacts to certain substances can change as that person ages. There is little need to take the tests unless you’re willing to act on the results. In other words, be prepared to take the needed medications or avoidance measures to prevent recurrence on whatever positive results are indicated.

More than 50 million Americans suffer from at least one form of allergy. That comes to one person in six battling this illness almost year round. It’s become the sixth leading cause of chronic diseases in the United States and the cost for treatment is staggering. Each year, Americans shell out more than 18 billion dollars seeking cures and treatments. Most are never cured and have to be satisfied with symptom relief.

It’s become a common sight to see persons wear a mask while mowing the lawn or doing other work outside. These people usually suffer from pollen or mold induced allergies. You can run but you can’t hide because pollen is necessary for the continuation of life.

Many people move to another part of the country to escape their particular allergy perpetrator. It’s usually just a matter of time until you develop some type of allergy at your new home. As you might imagine, cities in the south and Midwest are among the top ten allergy capitals in the U. S. These include Dallas/ Fort Worth, Tulsa and Oklahoma City.

Seasonal allergies can affect you mildly or be so severe that you’re debilitated to a point you can’t function and do your job. Many athletes never reach their peak performance because of allergies. Pollen and mold induced allergies are typically felt for three seasons, spring, summer and fall but can spell trouble all year. Different locales are more challenging for some people than others. In the southern states allergies can begin as early as January and continue through October.

Debilitation from allergies can come in the form of fatigue sometimes caused from sleeplessness. Nasal congestion and difficulty breathing prevents you from getting a good night’s rest and that leads to more serious problems as your health erodes.

Skin rashes and diseases are sometimes caused by allergies but are difficult to diagnose.
It could be caused from a bad reaction from a certain chemical that you’ve accidentally come in contact with or something you’ve applied yourself such as a soap, shampoo or cosmetic. Skin allergies are normally contained to a small area but sometimes spread over the entire body causing you to miss work either from pain or embarrassment.

Allergies and their debilitating effects should be considered seriously. So many people tend to act tough and say, “Oh, they’ll go away in a month or two.” They may, but you can expect the allergies and the discomfort to return next year at the same time. The sooner you diagnose the cause of the problem, the sooner you’ll find relief and return to a more normal enjoyable lifestyle.

You contract an allergy problem when your body over reacts to substances that don’t cause problems for most people because these are things that we can’t avoid unless we shut ourselves away from life. We can stay inside but many allergens hide within the floors and walls and those that come from the outside will somehow find its way inside.
It’s almost impossible to avoid all of them.

Become aware of the symptoms so treatment can begin immediately whether by you or by a professional. Allergens such as grass and pollen are usually manifested by discomfort in the head area. Your nose and eyes are typically the first to beg for help. Allergies can affect different people by various degrees ranging from mild to moderate to severe.

Mild allergy symptoms are itchy, watery eyes, congestion, postnasal drip and even a rash. Rashes are sometimes caused by the person rubbing and scratching the infected area. Mild reactions normally don’t spread to other parts of the body and are easy contained.

Moderate reactions can include some of the mild symptoms but get more severe and spread to other parts of the body. Itching becomes more intense and you could experience difficulty breathing.

Severe symptoms can consist of swelling not only in the affected area but other parts of the body as well. You can also experience stomach pain, cramps and diarrhea. If these symptoms are allowed to continue you may suffer vomiting, mental confusion or dizziness.

Allergies can lead to asthma and dermatitis if left untreated. Be aware of dark circles under the eyes. This is caused by increased blood flow near the sinuses. Eyes can become red-rimmed and crust over in the eyelid area making them hard to open.

As we get older, most tend to be susceptible to allergies because our immune systems weaken. Our membranes dry with age and nasal passages weaken. Aging systems fall prey to cumulative effects of allergens constantly attacking the body such as smoke and other air pollutants.

Pay attention to any allergic reaction noticed after drinking alcohol. If you suffer from chronic fatigue it could be indicative of an allergy. Remember, irritating substances can be ingested by inhaling, swallowing or by skin contact. If you have five friends, one of you is probably suffering from an allergy.