Allergy Myths and Facts
With spring approaching next season, allergies are a huge concern for many people. People who suffer from allergies take precautions to lessen or prevent the symptoms, but it is important to be aware of which ones of these precautions actually work. The following are a few myths you may have heard about allergies:
- You outgrow allergies as you get older: Allergies happen when your immune system is exposed to the presence of the allergen, such as pollen, or mold. As you get older and your immune system starts to get weaker, your body doesn’t react as strongly to the allergens.
- Allergy tests are the only way to find out what you’re allergic to: The results from allergy tests are not the only things that should be taken into consideration. Other factors should be taken into consideration when trying to determine allergens such as medical history or a physical exam.
- Being allergic to certain foods is the same thing as having food sensitivities: Being allergic to something means your immune system is reacting to the allergen, involving organs) and systems and can even be life threatening. Food sensitivity is different because it only involves your digestive system
- It is easy to tell the difference between allergies and other conditions: Hay fever, also referred to as allergic rhinitis has some symptoms that are very similar to those of allergies. For example, hay fever can cause itchy eyes, throat or ears which is very similar to what allergies feel like.