What Are the Most Common Allergies that Affect People?
Allergies affect millions of Americans. Allergy triggers can be ingested, airborne, or contact-based, and common irritants can be very difficult to avoid. The symptoms range from a simple runny nose to severe anaphylactic reactions, which can be deadly. If you notice a pattern of symptoms that seems to be triggered by certain environments, activities, products, or foods, you may want to speak to an allergy specialist.
Food Allergies
Milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, soy, and wheat are the biggest edible allergens. 90 percent of food allergies are caused by these eight foods, so the FDA requires these ingredients to be listed clearly on packaging. Severe food allergies, especially some peanut allergies, can be triggered by airborne food particles, but most food allergy symptoms can be avoided by not eating products containing the food.
Airborne Allergies
Airborne allergens can be more difficult to control, but are often easier to treat. The most common airborne allergies are caused by pollen, mold, dust mites, and animals. Seasonal allergies caused by pollen and spores in the air affect almost a fifth of the population. Allergies to pets are also extremely common. Approximately ten million Americans are allergic to cat dander. Allergies caused by mold and dust mites may require special cleaning procedures in the home.
Other Allergies
Skin allergies can be caused by all sorts of products, plants, animals, or even dust mites. One of the most common skin contact allergies is to latex and latex-based products. Latex allergies can cause severe reactions and even death. Other common allergies are to insects, eye irritants, and various drugs, particularly penicillin. In general, the prevalence of allergies has gone up over the past thirty years.
Visit an allergy specialist for testing to determine the cause of your symptoms and to propose a treatment method. For an ENT specialist in Everett, Mill Creek, and the surrounding communities, visit Everett Ear, Nose, and Throat. Call us today at (425) 258-4361!
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