Allergies begin in the spring: what is important to know and how to recognize?
Allergy is an unusual immune system reaction to normally harmless substances in the environment, called allergens.
Symptoms of Allergies
Allergies can manifest in individual ways, depending on the person and the involved allergen. Possible symptoms of allergies:
- Sneezing, runny nose, congested nose;
- Red, itchy, or watery eyes;
- Skin rashes, hives, dermatitis, or eczema;
- Coughing, shortness of breath attacks;
- Previous systemic and life-threatening anaphylactic reactions;
- Swelling of the lips, tongue, throat;
- Digestive disorders.
What can you be allergic to?
An allergic reaction can be triggered by almost anything, and the body reacts depending on genetic, environmental, lifestyle, or other factors. However, several main types of allergies can be identified, to which symptoms may manifest:
- Allergy to pollen - the most common and frequently occurring allergy, affecting almost 20% of the population;
- Food;
- Medicines;
- Insect venoms;
- Mold;
- Animals - a combination of allergens found in animal saliva, epithelium, and dander;
- Allergy to certain chemicals found in cosmetics or other items.
Allergy to pollen, also known as hay fever, begins when the first tree blossoms appear in March-May. However, it is worth noting that as the climate warms, winters shorten, and the flowering times of plants begin earlier and last longer, prolonging the symptoms of pollen allergies. At the end of May and June, grass blossoms start, which can continue until mid-July. Then, weeds blossom. And when the likelihood of allergies decreases at the end of August, mold allergies can occur in the fall.
ALEX Macroarray Test
The ALEX macroarray test (Allergy Explorer) is the most comprehensive allergy detection from blood. During the test, sensitization to all clinically significant allergen sources and allergen components is determined from just one blood sample. The patient's sensitivity to 282 allergens is examined, and total IgE is determined.
The ALEX allergy test will help to obtain a comprehensive analysis and information about allergens that can cause allergic reactions, specific allergy culprits will be clear, and you will learn about treatment options.
