Allergies are your body's overreaction to usually harmless things, like pollen or insect stings. Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that can be life-threatening. Knowing how to recognize and manage these reactions is especially important during the summer when exposure to allergens increases.
Common Summer Allergens
- Pollen from grass, trees, and weeds
- Insect Stings like bees, wasps, hornets, and fire ants
- Food at picnics and BBQs often have common allergens like peanuts and shellfish
- Mold on leaves and in damp areas
How Do Allergies Work?
When you're allergic to something, your body mistakes it for a threat. It creates antibodies that react whenever you're exposed to that allergen again. This reaction causes symptoms like itching, swelling, or difficulty breathing. Anaphylaxis is a more extreme version, affecting multiple parts of your body at once. Anaphylaxis is a medical emergency.
Diagnosing and Treating Allergies
- Talk to Your Doctor. Discuss your symptoms and any patterns you've noticed to determine the right treatment to relieve your symptoms.
- Allergy Tests:
- Skin Prick Test: Small amounts of allergens are placed on your skin to see if you react.
- Blood Test: Measures your immune system's response to specific allergens.
- For people with multiple or severe allergies, seeing an allergy specialist for advanced care and treatment options is important.
- Pollen: Check pollen counts and stay indoors when they're high. Use air conditioning instead of opening windows.
- Insects: Wear protective clothing and use insect repellent. Be cautious when eating outside.
- Food: Be mindful of cross-contamination at BBQs and picnics. Inform hosts of your allergies.
- Mold: Avoid raking leaves or handling damp yard waste. Keep outdoor areas dry and clean.
Summertime offers numerous opportunities for fun and relaxation, and understanding how to manage your allergies ensures that you can take full advantage of these moments.
If you have questions about allergies, testing, or anything else, please reach out through your Summus Dashboard.
