5 Most Common Allergies
More than 50 million Americans experience allergies every year, making allergies one of the country’s most common conditions. An allergy is a reaction from your immune system to a new and foreign substance in your body, called an allergen.
Symptoms of an Allergic Reaction
Some mild symptoms of an allergic reaction include:
- Coughing
- Sneezing
- Hives
- Rashes
- Itchy eyes
- Runny nose
- Scratchy throat
There are also more severe symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as:
- Low blood pressure
- Breathing problems
- Asthma attacks
- Hives
- Life-threatening anaphylactic shock
There is no exact cure for allergies. However, children frequently outgrow a number of their allergies, as is often the case in egg, milk, soy, and wheat allergies.
What Are The Most Common Allergies?
Pollen
Pollen allergies are one of the most common allergies in the world. Tens of millions of Americans suffer from Pollen allergies. Pollen is a fine yellow powder that is transported from plant to plant by the wind, birds, insects, and other animals to help fertilize plants. Every spring and summer, there are thousands of tiny pollen grains dispersed in the air, which can end up in your nose and throat, resulting in an allergic reaction.
Peanuts
A peanut allergy is the most common food allergy in children, and the second-most common food allergy in adults. Differing from tree nuts in that they grow underground and are a kind of legume, peanuts can cause very severe reactions in affected individuals. Oral immunotherapy for peanut allergies can help increase the oral tolerance of the immune system to reduce the risk of severe or potentially-deadly symptoms, such as anaphylaxis.
Tree Nuts
Tree nut allergies are another very common food allergy in both children and adults, and less than 10% of those affected with the allergy will outgrow it. Some types of tree nuts include:
- Walnuts
- Almonds
- Hazelnuts
- Pecans
- Cashews
- Pistachio
Shellfish
Another lifelong food allergy that is highly prevalent amongst American adults and children is a shellfish allergy. This allergic reaction is prompted by certain proteins in marine animals, which can be categorized into two groups.
- Crustaceans: Shrimp, prawns, crab, lobster
- Mollusks/Bivalves: Clams, mussels, oysters, scallops, octopus, squid, snail
The reactions range from a mild response, such as hives or a stuffy nose, to more severe symptoms.
Animal Dander
Animal dander is composed of microscopic flecks of skin shed by cats, dogs, rodents, birds, and other animals with fur or feathers. Though animal dander is the prominent cause of pet allergies, proteins found in the saliva, urine, and feces of certain pets can also cause mild to severe allergic reactions. Since animal dander easily sticks to furniture, clothing, shoes, bedding, and other belongings, individuals who suffer from pet allergies can experience a reaction even when animals are not present.
Contact Northeast Allergy
At Northeast Allergy, we understand how common it is to experience allergies on a day-to-day basis. If you are struggling with mild or severe symptoms of allergies, contact us here, or call (978) 537-4805 today.
