Allergy symptoms can vary from very mild to life threatening. The symptoms that you experience will help to give your physician clues about what is causing the allergy, as well as potential treatment protocols and medications which can be used to successfully alleviate your symptoms.
Mild symptoms include rash, itchy watery eyes and nasal congestion. These allergic reactions do not spread to other parts of the body and are very commonly found in individuals who suffer from pollen allergies or seasonal allergies. In these individuals the symptoms occur at the same time of the year every year which gives a good indication to the physician of the exact triggers.
Moderate symptoms will spread to other parts of the body and will include the skin. Some individuals suffer from dry, scaly, red skin, or itchy raised hives. In other circumstances allergies will cause an outbreak of eczema. Moderate allergy symptoms will also include the gastrointestinal tract where individuals may experience nausea, abdominal cramping or diarrhea. The respiratory system can also become involved and the individual may experience difficulty breathing or a flareup of asthma.
A severe allergic response is often called anaphylaxis. This is a very rare but life threatening emergency where the body responds to an allergen in a very sudden way that affects the entire body. The symptoms can begin with a sudden puffiness of the eyes and will progress quickly to more serious symptoms that includes swelling which makes breathing and swallowing difficult, abdominal pain, low blood pressure, wheezing mental confusion or dizziness and the feeling of impending doom.
These allergic reactions are a hyperactive response to proteins which are introduced into the body. Although harmless, the immune system perceives them as “invaders” and sends attack proteins of its own in order to eradicate them. These attack molecules prompts the chemical release of histamine in the body which is often the cause for many of the allergic symptoms an individual will experience.
These potential allergens are actually everywhere in the environment. If there is a protein molecule introduced into the body it only takes an individual with a hyperactive response to classify it as an allergic reaction. Individuals can have reactions to pollen, latex, food allergies, bee stings and even mosquito venom. Some of the more common food allergies are peanut and tree nut allergies.
But by far the most common allergy experienced today are seasonal allergies related to outdoor pollens. Millions of Americans suffer from symptoms which can become debilitating when left untreated. Thankfully, with an improvement in medical technology and pharmaceutical research, physicians are better able to diagnose the protein source of the allergic response and have more medical options for individuals to alleviate their problem.
If you suffer from allergic symptoms there is no need to suffer in silence. By avoiding the allergen which you identify with your physician and using the available medications as well as improving your overall health by eating a balanced diet and taking a multivitamin supplement most people are able to function appropriately throughout their day.
Resources:
MayoClinic: Allergy Symptoms
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/allergies/DS01118/DSECTION=symptoms
American College of Allergy Asthma and Immunology: Symptoms of Allergies
http://www.acaai.org/allergist/allergies/Symptoms/Pages/default.aspx
American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology: Mold Allergy
http://www.aaaai.org/conditions-and-treatments/allergies/mold-allergy.aspx
MedlinePlus: Allergic Rhinitis
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000813.htm
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