What Is the Cause of Allergic Reactions?

You’ve learned you have an allergy or you suspect that you do. Now what? You may need to turn to your doctor or an allergist to learn more about your condition and what you are allergic to specifically. But, you may be wondering. What causes allergies to happen anyway? Take a few minutes to consider what you need to know about allergies to find out more about what you can do to prevent the symptoms and allergic reactions from occurring.

The hardest answer to grasp is that scientists do not fully understand why some people are allergic to a substance and others are not. They also do not understand why some people are allergic to one thing while others have a long list of things that create symptoms. Allergies do tend to run in families. If your parents or their parents had allergies, you are more likely to have them yourself. In many cases, the same types of allergies tend to pass down from one generation to the next. You are at a greater risk of developing an allergy if any close member of your family has one.

In other cases, there is no tie. And, an individual seems to develop allergies. Some research indicates that exposure to some foods too early in life can increase risks of developing allergies. In other people, there is no known reason why an allergy develops. However, those who have them are most likely to be allergic to the following:

• Pet dander
• Pollen
• Mold spores
• Some types of foods, most commonly nuts and shellfish
• Bee stings or other types of stings or bites from insects
• Certain types of plants
• Some medications

If you have been diagnosed with an allergy, take it seriously. Take the steps necessary to avoid exposure to that type of substance that you are allergic to. What is most important is that people who think they are allergic to some type of substance to seek out medical treatment from a specialist. An allergist will work closely with you to determine what types of medical concerns you have and help you to fully understand what types of substances you are allergic to. This is a comprehensive process and it can save your life and improve your quality of life as well.

Schedule an appointment with our NYC allergist by calling 212-319-5282 today.