Like the body, the immune system changes as you age, and allergies can develop at any time. And with these changes, sometimes what once only caused a slight reaction now results in symptoms severe enough that they impact how you function.
Other times, things you could tolerate begin to cause an allergic reaction. Some of the most common allergies patients develop as they age include cat, dog, and ragweed allergies. Climate change can also worsen your allergies because it can lengthen pollen seasons.
What Causes Allergies
Allergies develop when your immune system overreacts to allergens like pollen or cat dander. Although these allergens are technically harmless, your body sees them as a threat and forms antibodies to destroy them.
Next time you come in contact with that allergen, the antibodies start an immune response to remove the allergen that results in allergy symptoms.
How to Know if You Have Allergies
If you react to something that didn't bother you before, you may wonder if it’s allergies causing your symptoms. Those who’ve never suffered from allergies may not recognize their watery eyes and runny nose as something caused by spring pollen. Instead, they think they have a seasonal cold.
Look for some of the most common seasonal and environmental allergy symptoms, like:
- Red, itchy eyes
- Runny nose
- Stuffy nose
- Congestion
- Sneezing
- Coughing
- Hives
- Skin rashes or redness
To know for sure that you’re experiencing new allergies and what, exactly, is causing them, you need an allergy test. Wyndly’s at-home allergy test kit provides everything you need to administer a test from home and return it to us. Once we get your results, one of our allergy doctors will meet with you to go over your test results and your personalized treatment plan designed to bring you life-long relief.
How to Treat New Allergy Symptoms
As new allergies develop, you can try to treat your symptoms with over-the-counter antihistamines. While they can reduce symptoms and make you more comfortable, these medications only provide temporary relief.
Also, learn to avoid exposure to the allergens that cause your symptoms. For instance, if you suffer from ragweed allergies, avoid outdoor fall activities during midday when pollen counts are at their highest. If you’re visiting a friend with a dog, take an antihistamine before arriving or, better yet, visit outside or at a local coffee shop.
If your allergies don’t respond to antihistamines and impact your day-to-day functioning, consider sublingual immunotherapy.
Get Lifelong Allergy Relief
Sublingual immunotherapy is the best way to get lifelong relief from your allergy symptoms. Immunotherapy retrains your immune system to stop reacting to allergens, increasing its tolerance and desensitizing it toward specific allergens.
Sublingual immunotherapy is available in allergy drops and allergy tablets and is just as effective as allergy shots. Sublingual immunotherapy can also be taken from the comfort of home, making it a more convenient option.
Take Our Allergy Assessment
If you have allergies and want them to get better, sublingual immunotherapy might be the best solution for you. By training your system to stop reacting to what you’re allergic to, you can experience long-term allergy relief!
Get started today by taking our 2-minute online assessment and start your journey to a life free from allergy symptoms!
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