The
most common symptoms caused by allergies are:
-
runny or blocked nose
-
sore, red and itchy
eyes
-
coughing
-
dry, itchy throat
and tongue
-
wheezing and shortness
of breath
-
diarrhea
-
vomiting
-
itchy skin or rash
Some of the symptoms
caused by allergies can also be produced by other conditions. If you think
you may have an allergy, it is important to see your doctor. The earlier
you take action, the more chance you have of controlling your symptoms.
The
most common allergens (substances that cause allergies) are:
- alcohol
- bee & wasp stings
- bird feathers
- food (especially peanuts or other
nuts, dairy products, fish & seafood, sesame seeds,
wheat & citrus fruits)
- gluten intolerance (wheat, rye,
barley or oats)
- house dust mites
- latex
- medicines
- mould
- nickel
- pets
Why
do people get allergies?
No one knows exactly why people have
allergies but you are more likely to have them if they are
in your family. This is particularly true for asthma, eczema,
hay fever and perennial allergic rhinitis. If you have one
parent who suffers from allergies, you have about a one in
three chance of being allergic to something. If both your
parents are affected, the risk increases to two in three chances.
Why are more people developing allergies
nowadays? There are many theories about this and much more
research is needed, but experts agree that it is to do with
the effect of our current lifestyle on the immune system.
Allergies may be due to a combination of factors:
- our warm, well-sealed homes which
harbour some of the major allergens such as house dust mites
- the fact that so few people nowadays
develop major infectious childhood diseases such as measles
and mumps, which may offer protection against allergies
- a diet that is high in fats and
low in fruit and vegetables
- the fact that we come into contact
with many more substances than our ancestors did.
Allergies may also be partly due to
increased pollution from vehicle exhausts, although other
forms of pollution have actually decreased.
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