Those who suffer from allergies may also suffer to varying degrees – quite a few need to take some kind of medication for it. In the United States for example, allergies such as rhinitis (inflammation of the nose) tend to affect 40 to 50 million people.
Food Allergies
Food allergies are probably one of the most common and are often the first that many people will think of. Sufferers tend to be allergic to a wide range of foods, and the intolerances themselves can be quite specific. Celiac disease, for example, is an intolerance to gluten. However, this is also another rarer allergy in which a person will be allergic to most processed cereals – meaning that they are unable to eat bread, wheat, oats or anything else that has been processed by modern agricultural farming methods.
Allergies to Grass and Pollen
Grass pollen also tends to be quite a common allergen for a lot of people and the symptoms of this will usually manifest during the summer time. Those with a grass allergy will often try to avoid places where there is a lot of grass, which can sometimes have a serious impact on a person’s quality of life depending on what kind of outdoor activities they do. In cases like this, certain types of medication will be taken.
The most well-known symptom of a grass or pollen allergy tends to be rhinitis when the nose gets inflamed and starts to cause a significant build-up of mucus. While this can be a nuisance in many cases, some people find that symptoms can get so bad that they end up being unable to work, go to school or even sleep.
Skin Allergies
Skin allergies can be quite varied as well. The most common symptom tends to be a hives and eczema, which can have a range of different causes. Eczema, for example, is often caused by contact with specific substances such as perfumes or latex. Other conditions may also be present which can exacerbate it, such as to have particularly dry skin.
What To Do If You Suspect You May Have An Allergy
If you feel that you may have allergic reactions to certain materials or substances, then it is best to first of all try and stop using them and see if there is any improvement. However, the best thing to do is speak to your doctor and try to get an appointment with an allergy specialist. If you suspect you have a skin condition, an appointment with a dermatologist is also a good idea.
The important thing, however, is to avoid kind of medication without consulting a doctor first. There may be a range of other treatments that you can use before trying to resort to stronger medicines.
Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9775329