Many people who suffer from allergies often go out of their way to adapt their lifestyles to suit their symptoms. If you are suffering from allergies, you might be asking yourself, why do our bodies do this to us in the first place? Below, we cover how allergies develop, who’s at risk, and whether or not they can go away.
Causes
The immune system’s purpose is to create antibodies to protect our bodies from potential sickness. Allergies start to occur when our body’s immune system identifies something as harmful when it actually isn’t. So, when your body comes into contact with an allergen, issues will occur. There are many different types of allergies people suffer from that are caused by the following irritants:
- Food
- Medication
- Pollen
- Mold
- Dust
- Pets
- Insects
- Latex
Who’s at Risk?
The reason why allergies are such a common issue with people is that anyone can get it. You also don’t have to be born with allergies, and kids are not the only ones who can form allergies. According to the FARE, “Researchers estimate that 32 million Americans have food allergies, including 5.6 million children under age 18. That’s one in 13 children, or roughly two in every classroom.” You can obtain allergies later in life if you move to a new environment, your immune system changes, or based on your family history. You may also be more prone to allergies if you suffer from asthma.
Can Allergies Go Away?
A popular question for many people who deal with allergies from an early age is whether you can eventually outgrow them. Well, there is a chance over time that symptoms can lessen, especially when it comes to food allergies. However, you can still be at risk for allergies even though it might not seem that way. That’s why we recommend you reach out to Allergy & ENT Associates to complete allergy testing in Houston as soon as possible. This way, we can determine if you have allergies in a more accurate manner and before you change your lifestyle.
