Nothing to sneeze at Some facts about allergies and asthma

Allergies are the 6th leading cause of chronic illness in the U.S. with an annual cost in excess of $18 billion. More than 50 million Americans suffer from allergies each year. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1 in 13 people have asthma—more than 25 million Americans. That’s 7.7 percent of adults and 8.4 percent of children. Asthma has been increasing since the early 1980s in all age, sex and racial groups.

Allergies are an overreaction of the immune system to substances like pollen, dust mites and animal dander that generally do not affect other individuals. These substances, or allergens, can cause sneezing, coughing, and itching. Some allergies are seasonal, like hay fever. Allergic reactions range from itchy eyes and skin irritations to allergy-induced asthma and life-threatening anaphylaxis.

Anaphylaxis is the most severe allergic reaction. Symptoms include flush; tingling of the palms of the hands, soles of the feet or lips; light-headedness, and chest-tightness. If not treated, these can progress into seizures, cardiac arrhythmia, shock, and respiratory distress. Anaphylaxis can result in death. Food, latex, insect sting, and drug allergies can all result in anaphylaxis.

Anyone may have or develop an allergy – from a baby born with an allergy to cow’s milk, to a child who gets poison ivy, to a senior citizen who develops hives after taking a new medication.

The most common allergic diseases include: hay fever, asthma, conjunctivitis, hives, eczema, dermatitis and sinusitis. Food allergies are most prevalent in young children and are frequently outgrown. Latex allergies are a reaction to the proteins in latex rubber, a substance used in gloves, condoms and other products. Bees, hornets, wasps, yellow jackets, and fire ants can cause insect sting allergies. Allergies to drugs, like penicillin, can affect any tissue or organ in the body.

And while allergies are not preventable, allergic reactions are. Once a person knows they are allergic to something, they can avoid contact with the allergen. Strategies for doing this include being in an air-conditioned environment during peak hay-fever season, avoiding certain foods and medications, and eliminating dust mites and animal dander from the home. One can also reduce or eliminate symptoms by taking over the counter medication to counteract reactions or being immunized with allergy injection therapy.