Allergies - Can you be Cured?
Allergies: Can You Be Cured?
According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, up to 30% of adults and 40% of children are impacted by allergies. The CDC identifies allergies as the 6th leading cause of chronic illness, costing upwards of $18 billion per year to treat. In other words, allergies may be incredibly common – but they can also be quite serious.
Allergies are essentially your body’s immune system overreacting to substances you come in contact with, whether externally or internally. There are a range of things you could be allergic to, including:
- Environmental factors (ex: dust, pollen)
- Animals (ex: cats, insects)
- Food (ex: nuts, berries)
- Drugs / Medicine (ex: aspirin, antibiotics)
- Latex
- Mold
- Skin allergies (eczema)
What happens if you come in contact with an allergen?
Allergy reactions vary depending on the type of allergy and severity of your body’s response to it. Mild allergy symptoms will simply make people uncomfortable, and may include:
- Watery eyes
- Runny nose
- Sneezing / coughing
- Rashes / hives
Medical, food, and insect sting allergies are typically more serious, and symptoms may include:
- Vomiting
- Swelling
- Shortness of breath
- Dizziness
- Itchiness
The most severe outcome is anaphylaxis, a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction that should be treated as a medical emergency. According to the University of Manitoba in Canada, the most commonly affected areas in anaphylaxis are skin and the respiratory systems, followed by gastrointestinal, cardiovascular and the central nervous system.
How do I know if I am allergic to something?
The first step is to observe if you have reactions to certain things – if you find you’re consistently getting a sinus infection in the spring, for example, you may have an allergy to pollen. You’ll want to discuss any observed reactions with your family doctor, who will likely refer you to an allergist.
Even if you don’t have any obvious reactions to food or the environment, an allergy test can help identify things you should avoid – like medication, where it’s often difficult to predict or observe allergies in advance.
Allergists usually run what’s called a skin test. They will prick your arm or back with a drop of various allergens. If you are allergic to something, your skin will swell or turn red within 20 minutes (in some cases, it may take a few hours for reactions to show up). You may feel some itching or tenderness for a few hours afterward, like a mosquito bite.
In some cases, an allergist will run an allergy blood test instead, taking a single vial of blood and testing it against allergens in a lab. This method takes longer and is more expensive, but can provide more accurate results.
What happens after I am diagnosed with an allergy?
The most obvious thing? Avoid your allergens! You’ll also want to politely notify those around you what you’re allergic to. This includes things like mentioning to a friend hosting a dinner party that you’re allergic to shellfish, or informing your doctor before they write you a prescription that you are allergic to amoxicillin.
You should also take care to have another way of identifying allergens, in case of emergencies. UberID® allows you to store all allergen information, giving first responders quick access to any life-threatening allergies. This is particularly critical for medical allergies. For example, hospitals may use intravenous dyes for x-rays or CT scans; if this is an allergy for you and you are unconscious, it’s important to have another way to inform emergency medical personnel.
Are allergies permanent?
Not necessarily. Allergies, and your body’s ability to handle them, can change over time, meaning they can get better, or they can worsen. Depending on the severity and volume of your allergies, you may want to get tested as frequently as every two years. If you notice a worsened reaction, or on the opposite end of the spectrum, no reaction, it might be time to get retested.
Is there a ‘cure’ for allergies?
Some people naturally ‘grow out’ of their allergies (while others ‘gain’ allergies), particularly children. It’s possible that in avoiding an allergy for an extended period of time, your body will stop reacting to it.
Your allergist may also recommend immunotherapy. Think of immunotherapy like immunizations – you’re given small, controlled doses of allergens to help your body build tolerance to allergens and not overreact. Immunotherapy is not a short process. It can take several years before you build up a strong enough tolerance to an allergen, and in some cases, may not work. But in general, studies have shown up to a 70% reduction in allergy symptoms and 70% fall in need for medications, with a very low risk of adverse side effects.