What are allergies?
Allergies are abnormal immune system reactions to things that are typically harmless to most people. It can affect a person's eyes, nose, throat, lungs, skin, or gastrointestinal tracts.
What are its causes?
You have an allergy when your body overreacts to things that don't cause problems for most people. These things are called allergens.
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Pollen from trees, grass and weeds
Outdoor allergies due to pollen, trees, or weeds are seasonal.
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Mold
Mold is common where water tends to collect, such as shower curtains, window moldings and damp places. This allergy is usually worse during humid and rainy weather.
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Animal dander
Proteins found in the skin, saliva, and urine of pets such as cats and dogs are allergens. You can be exposed to danger when handling an animal or from house dust that contains dander.
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Dust
Many allergens, including dust mites, are in dust. Dust mites are tiny living creatures found in bedding, mattresses, carpeting and upholstered furniture. They live on dead skin cells and other things found in house dust.
What are the symptoms?
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Hives
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Itchy skin
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Watery eyes
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Runny nose
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Swelling of the lips, tongue, or face
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Coughing, wheezing, or shortness of breath
What are the treatments?
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Antihistamines help reduce the sneezing, runny nose and itchiness of allergies.
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Decongestants, such as pseudoephedrine and phenylephrine help temporarily relieve the stuffy nose of allergies.
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Cromolyn sodium is a nasal spray that helps prevent the body's reaction to allergens.
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Nasal steroid sprays reduce the reaction of the nasal tissues to inhaled allergens.
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Eye drops. If your other medicines are not helping enough with your itchy, watery eyes, your doctor may prescribe eye drops for you.
What are allergy shots?
Allergy shots (also called immunotherapy) contain small amounts of allergens. They're given on a regular schedule so that your body gets used to the allergens and no longer overreacts to them.
Allergy shots are only used when the allergens you're sensitive to can be identified and when you can't avoid them. It takes a few months to years to finish treatment, and you may need to have treatments throughout your life.
Prevention
Allergies cannot be prevented, but they can be treated and controlled. Making changes in your environment can greatly limit your exposure to certain allergens and reduce your symptoms.