Allergy Season

If you are one of the people sneezing or dealing with itchy eyes right now—you are not alone. The fluctuating temperatures in the past few days have signalled the return of the allergy season.

Allergies can change with the seasons and need to be kept under control with proper treatment. They are caused by the body’s reaction to substances called allergens that trigger the immune system to react as if they were attacking the body.

Some of the common symptoms of allergies could be chronic cold-like symptoms that last for more than a week or develop at the same time every year. These include a runny nose, sneezing and itchy, watery eyes. Allergies are often ignored as you may not even realise you have them because runny noses and sneezing are common symptoms of a cold. Allergies could also cause itchy and dry rashes on the back of the knees or the back of the neck.

If you feel that you are suffering from some of the above-mentioned reactions, then it is a good idea to get an allergy test done. A skin reaction test involves exposing your body to known allergens via a pinprick. If the skin becomes swollen at the test spot, it is an indication that you are having an allergic reaction. After that your doctor will develop a plan of action to treat the allergies through medication. It is best to get these checked in time as severe allergies can lead to serious complications such as asthma, sinus problems and other illnesses.

To keep allergies at bay you should also practice vacuuming frequently and decrease allergens like dust brought in from outdoors. Also, eat healthy foods to which you are not sensitive to and keep your house free of irritants such as cigarette smoke, strong perfumes, and cleaning agents like bleach.

Managing allergies is essential and once you know your triggers and how to avoid them you can make the right choices for good health and vitality.