We are a few short weeks away from the beginning of spring in the United States, when more than 50 million Americans may be affected by seasonal allergies. Allergies are one of the most common chronic illnesses. An allergy occurs when the body’s immune system sees a substance (referred to as an allergen) as harmful and overreacts to it. Allergies affect as many as 30% of adults and 40% of children in the U.S. The most common allergy symptoms make you uncomfortable, while others can be life-threatening.
Allergens can be inhaled into your nose and lungs, ingested through the mouth, absorbed through the eyes and skin, or injected into the body. The severity of symptoms during an allergic reaction can vary widely based on the allergen, infection vector, and individual reaction. Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction include:
- Itchy, watery eyes
- Itchy nose
- Sneezing
- Runny nose
- Rashes
- Hives
- Stomach cramps
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Bloating
- Swelling
- Redness
- Pain
- Tongue swelling
- Cough
- Throat closing
- Wheezing
- Chest tightness, loss of breath
- Feeling faint, light-headed, or “blacking out”
- A sense of “impending doom”
Asthma, affecting over 25 million Americans, may or may not be related to allergies and can cause similar symptoms. There are two types of asthma — allergic (or extrinsic) and