Common Causes of Allergies
Allergies come in many forms. The most common causes of allergies are the particles in the air. Hay fever is the most common allergic disease. Allergy symptoms include itchy, watery eyes, sneezing, runny, stuffy or itchy nose and fatigue. The symptoms are a lot like cold symptoms but they usually last longer. Dark circles under the eyes or postnasal drip may also accompany hay fever. You can often discover the cause of an allergy by noting when symptoms occur. Symptoms that occur at the same time each year especially during spring and early summer or fall are often caused by tree, grass or weed pollen. Allergies that persist all year long may be due to dust, mites in household dust, cock-roaches, mold spores, or pets and their bedding. They also seem to run in families. Parents with hay fever often have children with allergies. Hay fever may develop in children but is more common in teens and adults.
A few people have severe allergies to insect stings or to certain foods or drugs, especially antibiotics such as penicillin. For these people the allergic reactions is sudden and severe and may cause breathing difficulty and a drop in blood pressure which is call anaphylactic shock.
This type of reaction is a medical emergency and prompt care is needed. if you have ever had a sever allergic reaction your doctor may suggest that you carry an epinephrine syringe designed for giving yourself a shot that will decrease the severity of the reaction. If you have had an allergic reaction to a food or drug wear a medical alert bracelet that will tell health professionals about your allergy in case you cannot.
