Understanding allergies: Why your body ‘overreacts’ to certain allergens

Spring is here, and many of you are probably already experiencing the sneezing, runny nose and itchy eyes that comes with it. Seasonal allergies are very common and are an annoying reality of every spring.

Allergies are due to a problem with the body’s immune system. Most allergic reactions happen when the immune system reacts to a false alarm. Normally the immune system attacks harmful things, such as viruses or bacteria, but sometimes it overreacts and responds to things that are normally harmless, such as allergens.

Allergens are substances that can be breathed or swallowed or that come in contact with the skin. Some of the most common allergens are:

• Pollen
• Mold
• Household dust and dust mites
• Animal dander
• Latex
• Food
• Medicine
• Bug stings

“We can have allergic reactions to most anything to which the body is exposed or that enters the body, including foods, medications, chemicals and things in the air,” says Dr. Russell Lake, primary care physician with St. Joseph’s/Candler Primary Care in Richmond Hill. “Some allergies are merely inconvenient while others can be life threatening.”

Related Article: Five common child food allergies and substitute options

Allergies can affect anyone. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that more than 50 million Americans experience allergies each year.

“We are not born with an allergy; the allergic response actually requires a prior exposure to the allergen,” Dr. Lake says. “However, some people are more prone to developing allergies than others such as those with family members who have allergies, asthma and/or eczema.”

To diagnose an allergy, your doctor will give you a physical exam, get your medical history and may do skin and blood tests.

The most effective ways to treat allergies are avoidance of the allergen, allergy shots or medicine. Your physician can help determine which option is best for you.

And while avoiding the allergen may not always be possible, especially springtime in the South, don’t just grin and bear your way through allergy season. Talk to your primary care doctor about treating and managing symptoms of allergies.

Related Article: Quiz: How much do you know about seasonal allergies?