Can adults develop seasonal allergies? It was explained that symptoms and treatment

After decades, you never suddenly sneeze seasonal allergies and you sniff with tens of millions of Americans who suffer from them. What happened?

“People tend to think about allergies as childhood,” and not something that they can get in later life, said Dr. Tolly Epstein, assistant professor at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, which examines allergies and immunology. But “he often develops recent allergies”, especially in the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s, she said. And the symptoms are not always obvious.

Most people with seasonal allergies will sneeze, itchy eyes or hyperemia of their nose. But they can also be accompanied by fatigue, headache or sinus pressure – which, if you have never had allergies before, you can confuse as symptoms of colds, said Dr. Epstein.

If you have recently developed allergy to pollen, you can also experience itching in your mouth after eating some raw fruit and vegetables, said Dr. Andrew Rorie, assistant professor from the Faculty of Allergies and Immunology at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. This is because the immune system sometimes confuses proteins in pollen proteins plants, he said.

What causes the development of seasonal allergies?

Seasonal allergies are reactions to environmental elements, such as pollen or mold spores, which tend to spin in the air in certain times – for example in spring, when plants poll. When you are allergic to something like pollen, your immune system sees him as a threat and causes a chain reaction at the exhibition point. Antibodies in the nose or lungs stimulate the release of chemicals such as histamine, which can lead to sneezing, runny nose or congestion.

Scientists are not entirely sure why you can develop recent allergies or symptoms, never having them before, but there are several potential causes. First of all, climate change means that the allergy season begins earlier and lasts longer, so it makes people more susceptible to the development of symptoms, say experts.

In addition, some infections (such as colds) could threaten the protective mucous membranes, which in turn could weaken the body’s ability to stop allergens from causing the immune system, said Dr. Alkis Togias, head of the branch in the distribution of allergies, immunology and transplantation at the National Institute of Alery and prohibiting.

Where you live and how long you live there, it can also matter. For some people, moving to a recent place can bring relief if they are no longer exposed to allergens that will employ their symptoms. But for others he can introduce recent problems, said Dr. Caroline Sokol, the main researcher at the Center for Immunology and Inflammation at Massachusetts General Hospital. Some can see how their seasonal symptoms at first disappear – usually for about three to five years. “Suddenly, allergies return in full strength,” she said. “But now they are directed against recent decreases.”

Life in the same place can also take into account for a long time. Extended exposure to irritating, such as pollen increase the risk Dr. Sokol said that from allergies, when the body gradually builds an immune response to a substance that he constantly encounters.

There are also early studies suggesting that hormonal fluctuations can affect an allergic reaction. But it is not always worse – for example, while some pregnant women Dr. Rorie said that allergy symptoms are becoming more solemn, others see how they improve. Menopause women It may have fewer allergy symptoms than it used to be, perhaps because of hormonal changes, along with a decreasing immune response, which usually comes with older age.

How do you know if it’s really allergies and what can you do about it?

Dr. Togias said that seasonal allergies can affect the quality of life of people, including their mood and their performance at work: “whatever they do, they won’t do it well.”

But allergy sufferers quickly indicate that sneezing and liquid noses – even in spring – are not necessarily caused by allergies. Technically, the allergy requires the response of the immune system. It is possible that an irritating substance, such as pollen or pollution, simply cause nasalitis without an immune system. If this is the case, it may mean that allergic drugs will not alleviate your symptoms, said Dr. Sokol.

She said that if the drugs act or consistently experience symptoms in days of high pollen, there is a good chance that your suffering is caused by seasonal allergy.

There are widely available treatments that support to alleviate symptoms, including over -the -counter antihistamines and nasal steroid sprays. Many allergists also offer immunotherapy, such as allergic shots, which gradually expose you to allergens such as pollen or ambrosia to reduce the body’s reaction.

Apart from drugs, there are a few uncomplicated steps that you can take to minimize discomfort, said Dr. Jonathan Spergel, head of the allergy program at the Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia.

He said that when you get home, “wash your hands and face” to rinse any allergens. Take a shower before going to bed and sleep with closed windows, he added: “These common sense of things that grandmother told you.”