Why did I get an allergy now?

Why did I get an allergy now?

Are you surprised why you are suddenly sneezing and have watery eyes in when you’ve never had it before? If yes, you needn’t be because it’s not always that you get allergies only from childhood. It’s possible for even an 85-year-old to develop hay fever when she never had the problem before.

How allergies occur

Anyone can get seasonal, food and other allergies even though they never had one before. Allergies occur when a specific substance like food or airborne particle comes in contact with your body.

Your body identifies it as something harmful and produces antibodies called immunoglobulin E (IgE) which attaches itself to some cells. This leads to the cells secreting histamine which triggers inflammation, and allergy symptoms like itching and watery eyes. It’s in extreme cases that victims may suffer from a drop in blood pressure or an anaphylactic shock.

IgE actually fights off infections and is necessary for the body. However, one-fifth of the population has too much of it misdirected to an allergen instead of something harmful.

Possible reasons

While it’s not known what causes the body to react to allergens in adults, it is usually due to environmental changes. Even the victim’s body exposure to something they never had much contact with before can be a cause.

For example exposure to pets after getting married to a spouse who loves pets. Pet dander is a strong allergen and if you were never exposed to indoor animals, you may now get an allergy to pets.

Even moving to a different state or city where there are more allergens like chemicals in the air or cedar pollen, which trigger allergy symptoms.  Westerners who are used to living in really hygienic environments may develop an allergy when exposed to harmless things like dust, peanuts and pet dander.

Diagnosis

There are some sites worth visiting to learn about allergies like uk.klarify.me. You can additionally consult your family doctor or allergist if you suspect an allergy.

Your doctor may conduct like a blood test to check for specific IgE, or skin tests for reactions. In the meantime, avoid foods or things you suspect, especially if you suspect a food allergy. Try the elimination diet where you stop eating foods you suspect and then slowly reintroduce them to see which food triggers a reaction.

Treatment

Once an allergy is confirmed, your doctor may advise avoiding some foods if you have a food allergy. You may be prescribed medications like decongestants and antihistamines if it’s a seasonal allergy. You may be given allergy shots to build your tolerance to some allergens in extreme cases.