5 Common Allergy Types and How to Fight Them!

Ever experienced that a slight change in the environment or your immediate surroundings can cause you a sense of irritation? Well, that is because you might have an allergy. Although its symptoms may pass by as normal, but certain substances or particles present in the environment might be troubling your immune system. Let’s see more about various allergy types, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.

Types of allergy

●     Food allergy occurs when your immune system becomes hypersensitive to a kind of food or a substance in it, treating it as a threat and triggering a counteractive response.

●     Skin allergy can be developed as an allergic reaction to a medication, substance, or food. Eczema and hives are common forms of skin allergy.

●     Dust mites allergy is an indoor allergy that occurs due to the dust or dust mites present in your home or suchlike enclosed spaces.

●     Pet allergy is triggered by certain proteins found in pet animals’ skin cells, urine, saliva, or dead skin flakes (dander) they shed. Animal fur is the most common source of pet allergy.

●     Mold allergy is one of the most typical yet hard-to-overcome allergy types. It may occur due to the tiny mold spores present in the air in both indoors as well as outdoors.

Diagnosis of allergies

Allergy diagnosis is possible through blood tests, intradermal skin test, physician-supervised challenge test, and patch test. All leading allergists and medical experts are well-versed with allergy tests and can help you combat your condition through prescription medications, immunotherapy, and so on.

Prevention of allergy

Allergies are caused by the respective allergens. Hence, the best way of allergy prevention is to stay away from their risk factors. The more you come in contact with the allergy triggers, higher are your chances to experience mild to severe allergic reactions. Quick steps to prevent allergies:

●     Keep your home dry and well-ventilated

●     Clean all the damp areas around you

●     Use HEPA vacuum and filters to clean your home

●     Get rid of carpet and other upholstery

●     Go for wooden furniture instead of latex, vinyl, etc.

Regardless of the allergy you have, you are sure to experience common allergic symptoms such as sneezing, coughing, watery and red eyes, itchy nose, and nasal congestion, or severe signs like asthma, hives, hay fever, rhinitis, etc. In order to be sure of which allergy you have, you will need to consult an allergist or a physician near you.

Mold Allergy: Basics You Should Know Before it Strikes You!

Allergy to mold is one of the most common health conditions that affect a majority of people around the world. When an individual becomes allergic to mold spores or other fungi, know that it could stay with them for the most part of the year.

Mold allergy occurs when the immune system overreacts to mold spores while breathing in. If you too have been experiencing mild to severe mold allergy, and looking for more information on it, you are at the right place!

What are mold allergy causes?

Just like every other outdoor allergy, outdoor mold allergy is caused when an abnormally reactive immune system comes in contact with the mold spores thriving anywhere in the environment.

It all begins when you inhale in tiny air-borne spores. Your body identifies these mold spores as harmful foreign particles and develops allergy-causing antibodies to combat them.

Even when the body has dealt with the mold spores accordingly, it keeps producing antibodies that still “remembers” the harmful foreign particles. This pro-defensive mechanism keeps causing mold allergic reactions, and mold allergy continues to strike.

What kind of molds are dangerous?

Various types of molds are present both inside and outside. However, only a few kinds of molds can trigger allergic reactions. In fact, when you are allergic to a certain type of mold, essentially it would not mean that you are allergic to some other kind of mold as well.

Some of the best known molds to cause allergic reactions include aspergillus, alternaria, cladosporium, and penicillium. Whereas, mold and mildew are types of fungi, and do not belong to any plant or animal family because of the way they breed. 

What are its symptoms?

Mold allergy symptoms are mostly similar to those of other allergies. When you have mold allergy, you will experience prolonged sneezing, runny nose, nasal congestion, itchy skin, watery and red eyes, dry and scaling skin, and cough etc. You might also notice signs of hay fever or allergic rhinitis.

Mold spores can get even more harmful when they attack your lungs and trigger chronic breathing-related problems like asthma and bronchitis.

How to cure mold allergy?

Mold allergy can be difficult to treat. But it is advisable to see an allergist when you notice its symptoms. The best defense against mold allergy is to restrict your exposure to harmful molds. Besides, prescription medicines and immunotherapy can help combat allergic reactions

Pollution Allergy: What are the Causes & Treatments Available?

Air pollution and allergies go hand-in-hand. Allergic reaction caused by pollution is known as pollution allergy. Changes in the environment and chemical substances mixed in the air are the main factors that trigger and increase the worsening of allergic diseases.

As pollution allergens are present everywhere around us, they are sure to affect our health in every possible way. Here, we learn more about pollution allergy.

Causes of pollution allergy

More than genetics and other factors, the unusual increase in common outdoor allergiesis due to changes in the environmental factors. The ongoing industrial development and ever increasing number of vehicles have added more to the woes of human survival. Some of the major causes include:

Vehicular and exhaust fumes: In the world's largest cities, particles emitted from vehicles contribute up to 90% of airborne allergies. These pollutants lead to the growth of certain cells that trigger various types of outdoor allergies.

People living close to roads and high traffic areas are at a greater risk of developing respiratory disorders. As well, their lungs functionality decreases to a great extent overtime. 

Smoke & Tobacco: The smoke and tobacco present in the environment is one of the very common outdoor pollutants. Environmental smoke is directly related to the development of respiratory disorders like asthma and bronchitis.

Pollen: Many people are allergic to pollen, hence pollen is considered to be among the top contributors of outdoor allergies. Pollen from drop seeds, seed pods, fruits, and flowers increase the chances of allergic reactions. Hayfever is one of the most common outdoor allergy symptoms. 

Smog: Another fatal type of air pollution, smog is a combination of gases and certain harmful particles coming in contact with sunlight. These gases include carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, and volatile organic compounds along with ozone. Smoke, dust, sand, and pollen are vital components of smog.

Outdoor allergies treatment

Once diagnosed with common outdoor allergies, it is very important to get on with its treatment as soon as possible to avoid further complications. It is best to see an allergist for relevant over-the-counter (OTC) medications such as an antihistamine. 

In case of severe allergies, doctors might also recommend prescription medications. Do make sure you consult your doctor for OTC best outdoor allergy medicine and its dosage instructions as per your health and other factors. Allergy shots or allergen immunotherapy are also other alternatives to improve immunity and reduce allergy symptoms.