For the millions of instances that our immune system works with us, protecting our bodies from harmful foreign invaders and disease, it also sometimes works against us. Outside substances can cause our bodies to go into overdrive, and our sensitized and over-reactive immune systems start to wreak havoc in the form of watery eyes, running noses, and pounding headaches. The allergic response has hit.
I lived most of my life thinking none of those Claritin ads applied to me, until I realized that allergies could start at any age. I came home one day from a bike ride in San Francisco and noticed that my eyes and nose were runny and that I was extremely tired—all symptoms of an overactive histamine response, otherwise known as seasonal allergies.
Although runny nose and burning eyes are annoying, some people have more serious allergies that they aren’t aware of. Stomach troubles, rashes, and other ailments are shrugged off as a bad meal, stress, or the inevitable perils of old age. And sometimes those are the causes. But they can also be due to an external allergen—be it food, dust, pollen—or something that you haven’t yet realized you are allergic to.
What Is It?
Symptoms:
- Stuffy or runny nose
- Itchy, red, watery eyes
- Throat irritation
- Congestions
- Wheezing
- Fatigue
- Rash
You may have:
Allergic rhinitis (hay fever) which is due to seasonal pollen. Symptoms are most prevalent during March through November. They may also be perennial allergic rhinitis due to indoor allergens such as dust mites, animal dander, or mold.
Symptoms:
- Itchy, red patches, bumps, or welts on skin
- Generalized skin rash
You may have:
Hives, also known as uticaria. They can last for a few hours or days. If the swelling occurs below the skin, rather than on top of the skin, it is known as angioedema, which is usually characterized by swelling around eyes and face. The cause of these and related conditions are usually hard to pinpoint; it can arise from general allergic reactions, chemicals in foods and cosmetics, bug bites, exposure to sun, and medicine.
Symptoms:
- Abdominal pain
- Angioedema (swelling, especially around eyes, lips, tongue)
- Difficulty swallowing
- Diarrhea
- Hoarse voice
- Itching around the face
- Fainting
- Shortness of breath and wheezing
- Rash
You may have:
A food allergy, if the symptoms present almost immediately after eating the offending food. The reaction can range from mild, causing only hives or itching, to severe, known as anaphylactic shock. This can lead to death and is the most serious reaction. Foods that often cause allergic reactions are nuts, fish, shellfish, soy, wheat, eggs, and milk. Although many people have gastrointestinal problems after drinking milk or consuming some of the above, these are food intolerances, rather than true allergic responses.
Other causes of anaphylactic reactions are wasp and bee stings, latex (usually a mild reaction, severe reactions are rare), drug injections, and alcohol (usually a mild reaction).
Symptoms:
- Itchy rash
- Burning and irritation on the skin
You may have:
Allergic contact dermatitis, a localized reaction to an allergen. Plants—like poison oak, poison ivy, or sumac—can cause this type of reaction. Latex, cosmetics, chemicals, and nickel can also cause local irritation. Sometimes these allergens can cause a systemic reaction.
Symptoms:
- Itching or swelling around mouth, lips, tongue, throat
- Localized mild rash
You may have:
If these symptoms occur after eating some types of fruit, vegetables, or nuts, you may have oral allergy syndrome, or OAS. It is not a food allergy, but rather a cross reaction to the pollen found in these plants. Many people who have OAS also suffer from hay fever.
