What are Allergies?

Allergies are quite common. According to the American Academy of Allergy and Immunology, one out of every six Americans suffers from an allergic condition. More than 35 million Americans suffer from seasonal allergic rhinitis, for instance, and this is only one form of allergy. Millions more suffer from food allergies (e.g., lactose intolerance), allergies to medications (e.g., penicillin hypersensitivity), and even contact dermatitis...a type of allergic reaction that occurs when your skin comes into contact with an irritating substance such as dyes used in clothing, shoes, hair products, cosmetics, and metals (especially nickel).

Some of the common symptoms associated with allergies include:

• Sneezing
• Wheezing
• Sinus pain
• Runny Nose
• Coughing
• Rash or hives
• Swelling
• Itchy ears, nose, throat or palate (roof of the mouth)
• Shortness of breath
• Headaches

Common indoor allergens and asthma triggers include:

• Pet fur or feathers, saliva, urine and dander.
• House-dust mites.
• Cockroach waste and dust from decomposed carcasses.
• Indoor mold and mildew spores.
• Tobacco smoke and wood smoke.
• Cleaning solutions, paint, and pesticides.
• Perfumes and hairspray.

Common outdoor allergens and asthma triggers include:

• Pollen from trees, grasses, and weeds.
• Outdoor mold and mildew spores.
• Changes in humidity.
• Exposure to cold air.
• Industrial emissions and other air pollutants.
• Exposure to chemicals or airborne pollutants at work can trigger asthma. In some cases of work-related asthma a single, high-dose exposure to ammonia, chlorine gas, or hydrochloric acid can cause the onset of asthma. Work-related or aggravated asthma can also result from long-term, continuous exposures to some chemicals.

Anaphylaxis: the most serious allergic reaction

Anaphylaxis is an acute allergic reaction which affects the whole body and requires immediate medical attention. Many people who are severely allergic may have this reaction. Symptoms include anxiety, itching of the skin, headache, nausea and vomiting, sneezing and coughing, abdominal cramps, hives and swelling of tissues such as lips and joints, diarrhea, shortness of breath and wheezing, low blood pressure, convulsions, and loss of consciousness. (You may have a friend, for example, who is extremely allergic to bee or wasp stings and carries a self-injecting epinephrine syringe when outdoors.) A quick, decisive epinephrine injection can literally be a life-saver in the case of exposure to an allergen that has previously caused an anaphylactic reaction.

Updated: November 6, 2007

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