If you are one of the nearly 50 million US citizens that suffer from seasonal allergies, then you know just how miserable life can be. From itchy, watery eyes to a running nose and sneezing, allergies are the 6th leading cause of chronic illness in the U.S. with an annual cost in excess of $18 billion. With allergies being so common, there are ways to identify the source of these allergies to help you diagnose and treat them properly.
How To Identify The Source Of Your Allergies
Checking Your Symptoms
If you notice you are showing signs of allergy symptoms on a regular basis, it's best to jot them down and keep a log of them. It's one thing having the symptoms all the time, but if they flare up due to something like stress, you can take appropriate steps to minimize the root cause. If find yourself sneezing at home more often than not, it could be due to the air quality in your home. Contact a reputable HVAC company and let them know what you are experiencing. Your air ducts could use a good cleaning and perhaps even allergy filters to help minimize allergens from circulating throughout your home.
Visit An Allergist
Once you have a log of where, when and how you are showing signs of allergies, contact an allergy specialist who can perform a scratch test to help identify what's causing your allergies. A scratch test not only determines seasonal allergies such as hay fever, but also allergies to pollen, pet dander and dust mites. Scratch tests take about 20-40 minutes and are generally safe for people of all ages, including infants. You won't get immediate results from a scratch test though; results can take several days.
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Your Gut Bacteria
There has been an interesting parallel being drawn between allergies and gut bacteria. As a society, we are incredibly reliant on antibiotics to get rid of any ailment, rather than giving our bodies the chance to fight off infection. Unfortunately, antibiotics rid us of important bacteria which can give rise to increased allergies. Food allergies are seen to be a modern phenomenon that can be linked to a lack of good gut bacteria. This is something to keep in mind if you are just discovering an allergy: something that you've been eating for many years may suddenly cause an allergic reaction. Try an elimination diet to see what you might be allergic to while also working to build up your gut bacteria. This can be done in many ways, but the common approach is to add more probiotics in your diet. Probiotics are good bacteria found in yogurts, kefir and kombucha, as well as any pickled or fermented foods, like sauerkraut.
Living With An Allergy
As soon as you've discovered the root cause of your allergies, it will become easier for you to take the necessary precautions to avoid the allergens in your everyday life. Living with an allergy can be miserable if you don't know what the underlying cause is, but once you've discovered what it is and you make the appropriate steps to minimize and treat the symptoms, you'll be able to breathe a sigh of relief (pun intended).
Remember to follow your health provider's advice when it comes to treating your allergies, and take all medications as prescribed.
There has been an interesting parallel being drawn between allergies and gut bacteria. As a society, we are incredibly reliant on antibiotics to get rid of any ailment, rather than giving our bodies the chance to fight off infection. Unfortunately, antibiotics rid us of important bacteria which can give rise to increased allergies. Food allergies are seen to be a modern phenomenon that can be linked to a lack of good gut bacteria. This is something to keep in mind if you are just discovering an allergy: something that you've been eating for many years may suddenly cause an allergic reaction. Try an elimination diet to see what you might be allergic to while also working to build up your gut bacteria. This can be done in many ways, but the common approach is to add more probiotics in your diet. Probiotics are good bacteria found in yogurts, kefir and kombucha, as well as any pickled or fermented foods, like sauerkraut.
Living With An Allergy
As soon as you've discovered the root cause of your allergies, it will become easier for you to take the necessary precautions to avoid the allergens in your everyday life. Living with an allergy can be miserable if you don't know what the underlying cause is, but once you've discovered what it is and you make the appropriate steps to minimize and treat the symptoms, you'll be able to breathe a sigh of relief (pun intended).
Remember to follow your health provider's advice when it comes to treating your allergies, and take all medications as prescribed.
Do you suffer from allergies? If so, are you taking medications, or trying a more holistic approach? We've heard wonderful things about turmeric lately, including it being a huge help with asthma and allergy symptoms. If you've used tumeric to help with allergy symptoms, let us know in the comments below.
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