Allergies and asthma are a major cause of illness and disability, affecting allergic Americans from infants to seniors. Because allergies are cumulative, building in allergic symptom severity with each successive allergen exposure, minimizing exposure to all allergens is vital for all allergic individuals. Fortunately, information about allergies and allergy control products can help allergic people to live normal lives without incurring permanent damage to lungs or risking death from an asthma attack or life-threatening food allergies.
Signs and symptoms of Allergies
• Tingling in the mouth
• Hives, itching or eczema
• Swelling of the lips, face, tongue and throat, or other parts of the body
• Wheezing, nasal congestion or trouble breathing
• Abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting
• Dizziness, lightheadedness or fainting
Decongestants, such as pseudoephedrine and phenylephrine help temporarily relieve the stuffy nose of allergies. Decongestants are found in many medicines and come as pills, nose sprays and nose drops. They are best used only for a short time. Nose sprays and drops shouldn’t be used for more than 3 days because you can become dependent on them. This causes you to feel even more stopped-up when you try to quit using them.
You can buy decongestants without a doctor’s prescription. However, decongestants can raise your blood pressure, so it’s a good idea to talk to your family doctor before using them, especially if you have high blood pressure.
Atopic skin diseases such as eczema, together with a runny nose and asthma, form what is known as an “allergic triad” of the three conditions most commonly associated with symptoms of allergies.
Allergies are caused by an imbalance in a person’s immune system resulting from exposure to an environmental substance or allergen which when present may cause a wide range of symptoms. When a person is allergic to one of these substances, their immune cells release a substance called histamine.
Allergic reactions do not happen the first time you come into contact with the allergen, but at a later point of contact. This is because the body has to develop sensitivity to something before it can become allergic to it.
Seasonal Allergy Symptoms
Typical seasonal allergy symptoms include runny nose, nasal congestion, post nasal drip, itchy nose, itchy eyes, watering, tearing of the eyes, and in some cases in those that have asthma, you can get the typical asthma symptoms which include shortness of breath, wheezing, cough. Those are the primary symptoms of allergies .