Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCommon TriggersWhat to DoNatural RemediesPreventionWhen to See an AllergistFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Common Triggers
What to Do
Natural Remedies
Prevention
When to See an Allergist
Frequently Asked Questions
Approximately 50 million Americans have some form of allergic disease, and the number is increasing.Allergy attacks, or allergic reactions, occur when your immune system detects an allergen (a normally harmless substance) and reacts abnormally. Allergens include pollen, mold,dust mites, animal dander, or something else.
Anyone may experience an allergy attack. Depending on your exposure to allergens, you may have attacks frequently or rarely. They may last for a few hours or be ongoing for weeks.
Allergy attack symptomsare typically uncomfortable and can include mild symptoms such as a runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, itchy or watery eyes, scratchy or sore throat,post-nasal drip, and cough.
In some cases, allergens trigger life-threatening symptoms such as anasthma attack(difficulty breathing due to airway constriction) oranaphylactic reaction (anaphylaxis).
What Is Anaphylaxis?Anaphylaxis is a medical emergency that causes the airways to close and/or blood pressure to drop, significantly causing a person to go into shock. If you havesymptoms of anaphylaxis, call 911. If you have an epinephrine injector (EpiPen or Auvi-Q) or epinephrine nasal spray (Neffy), use it immediately. This is true regardless of whether you are sure you are having an allergic reaction or not.You will still need to get medical attention right away after the epinephrine injection. The effects of epinephrine wear off within 20 minutes. And since anaphylaxis can return, you will need further treatment and observation.
What Is Anaphylaxis?
Anaphylaxis is a medical emergency that causes the airways to close and/or blood pressure to drop, significantly causing a person to go into shock. If you havesymptoms of anaphylaxis, call 911. If you have an epinephrine injector (EpiPen or Auvi-Q) or epinephrine nasal spray (Neffy), use it immediately. This is true regardless of whether you are sure you are having an allergic reaction or not.You will still need to get medical attention right away after the epinephrine injection. The effects of epinephrine wear off within 20 minutes. And since anaphylaxis can return, you will need further treatment and observation.
Anaphylaxis is a medical emergency that causes the airways to close and/or blood pressure to drop, significantly causing a person to go into shock. If you havesymptoms of anaphylaxis, call 911. If you have an epinephrine injector (EpiPen or Auvi-Q) or epinephrine nasal spray (Neffy), use it immediately. This is true regardless of whether you are sure you are having an allergic reaction or not.
You will still need to get medical attention right away after the epinephrine injection. The effects of epinephrine wear off within 20 minutes. And since anaphylaxis can return, you will need further treatment and observation.
This article will discuss common triggers of allergy attacks, medications and natural remedies, how to prevent allergy attacks, and when to see an allergy specialist.
Many allergens are harmless substances that your immune system sees as harmful and causes an allergic reaction.Common triggers for allergy attacks include pollen, mold, dust, dander, and more.
Pollen
Hay Fever: Everything You Need to Know About Allergic Rhinitis
Mold
A mold allergy can trigger symptoms such as a runny nose, cough, and headaches.
How to Manage Mold Allergy Symptoms Year-Round
Dust
Dust is a mixture of different particles, including hair, dead skin cells, pollen, soil particles, and microscopic organisms known as dust mites.Dust mites are the most common cause of dust allergies. Specifically, the protein in their feces causes allergies.
Dust mites feed off dead skin cells from humans and pets. They are found where those accumulate, such as upholstered furniture, mattresses, and carpets. They can trigger hay fever symptoms.
Dust Allergy Symptoms (From Particles or Mites)
Dander
How to Tell If You Are Having an Allergic Reaction (and What to Do)
Many mild to moderate allergic reactions can be treated at home or with over-the-counter (OTC) medications. The following treatments are commonly used to reduce the symptoms of an allergic reaction:
Antihistamines
Antihistamines are a class of drugs that can help to treat most minor allergic reactions regardless of the cause.They can be taken in oral, nasal spray, eye drop, and injected forms.
Antihistamines block the effect of histamine, which reduces allergy symptoms such as runny or stuffy nose, cough, headaches, sneezing, itchy eyes, and more. Common over-the-counter antihistamines include Zyrtec (cetirizine), Allegra (fexofenadine), and Claritin (loratadine).
What and How Much Antihistamine Is Right For Me?Because many antihistamines can be bought without a prescription, always ask your healthcare provider what type of antihistamine and exact dosage is right for you. Be sure to read the label carefully to know how many times a day to take it, including any potential side effects.
What and How Much Antihistamine Is Right For Me?
Because many antihistamines can be bought without a prescription, always ask your healthcare provider what type of antihistamine and exact dosage is right for you. Be sure to read the label carefully to know how many times a day to take it, including any potential side effects.
Antihistamines and How They’re Used
Nasal Decongestants
There are many nasaldecongestantsavailable in the market. These include over-the-counter (OTC) decongestants, which come in oral forms (pills, tablets, capsules, liquids) and nasal sprays.
Combination products such as Tylenol Sinus, Advil Cold & Sinus, andAleve Cold & Sinusare also available. Although these medications help with decongestion, they also relieve other symptoms such as sinus headaches, pain, and body aches.
Anti-Inflammatory Medication
For people who have asthma, a healthcare provider may prescribe aninhaler or oral forms of steroids.
Allergies may impact your quality of life, and you may wish to seek out natural remedies to decrease or relieve allergy symptoms. However, before you consider using a natural remedy, discuss the idea with your healthcare provider first, as some may pose notable risks.
Common natural remedies that may decrease allergy symptoms includenasal irrigationand avoidance of allergens.
Natural Allergy Relief: 12 Remedies to Try
An allergy management plan is crucial in preventing allergic attacks. It is also necessary to control your allergies. Work with your healthcare provider to develop an effective management plan.
Although preventing allergic attacks depends on the type of allergy you have, the following are some ways to manage your allergies:
For some allergies, anallergistcan provideallergy shotsto desensitize you to the allergen so you will have fewer allergy attacks.
What Are My Allergy Treatment Options?
An allergist is a doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of asthma and other allergic diseases. While some allergies (such as a mild case of hay fever) may not require medical attention, see your healthcare provider if your allergy symptoms do not improve or become worse.
Summary
Talk to your healthcare provider about what you can do when you have an allergy attack. They may recommend antihistamines, decongestants, nasal steroids, nasal irrigation, or other remedies.
A Word From Verywell
Allergy attacks can produce uncomfortable symptoms, which can sometimes be life-threatening. Although allergies may impact your quality of life, know that you are not alone. There are treatments available to help manage your symptoms.
However, it is important to understand your allergy triggers and your body’s response to know if and when you are having a dangerous reaction that requires immediate medical attention.
To prevent allergy attacks, be sure to discuss with your healthcare provider about creating an effective management plan. Having open and honest conversations with your healthcare provider, along with staying up-to-date on new allergy treatments and therapies, can improve your overall quality of life.
Frequently Asked QuestionsSymptoms of a mild allergy attack will not last for more than a few hours after exposure to the allergen. Unfortunately, if you continue to be exposed to an allergen, you can continue to have symptoms for days and weeks.If you have a history of severe allergy attacks such as an asthma attack or anaphylactic reaction (anaphylaxis), seek medical attention immediately.Because there are so many different types of allergies, your allergy symptoms may look very different from another person’s. In mild cases, you may experience sneezing, runny or stuffy nose, itching, sore throat, or watery eyes. In severe cases, difficulty breathing, confusion, and dizziness can occur.Multiple studies have shown that allergies are hereditary, or passed down through genes from parents to their children. In fact, children are 50% more likely to develop an allergy if one of their parents has one, and they are 75% more likely to have allergies if both of their parents have them.Learn MoreAre Allergies Hereditary?
Symptoms of a mild allergy attack will not last for more than a few hours after exposure to the allergen. Unfortunately, if you continue to be exposed to an allergen, you can continue to have symptoms for days and weeks.If you have a history of severe allergy attacks such as an asthma attack or anaphylactic reaction (anaphylaxis), seek medical attention immediately.
Symptoms of a mild allergy attack will not last for more than a few hours after exposure to the allergen. Unfortunately, if you continue to be exposed to an allergen, you can continue to have symptoms for days and weeks.
If you have a history of severe allergy attacks such as an asthma attack or anaphylactic reaction (anaphylaxis), seek medical attention immediately.
Because there are so many different types of allergies, your allergy symptoms may look very different from another person’s. In mild cases, you may experience sneezing, runny or stuffy nose, itching, sore throat, or watery eyes. In severe cases, difficulty breathing, confusion, and dizziness can occur.
Multiple studies have shown that allergies are hereditary, or passed down through genes from parents to their children. In fact, children are 50% more likely to develop an allergy if one of their parents has one, and they are 75% more likely to have allergies if both of their parents have them.Learn MoreAre Allergies Hereditary?
Multiple studies have shown that allergies are hereditary, or passed down through genes from parents to their children. In fact, children are 50% more likely to develop an allergy if one of their parents has one, and they are 75% more likely to have allergies if both of their parents have them.
Learn MoreAre Allergies Hereditary?
7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Asthma facts and figures.Gautier C, Charpin D.Environmental triggers and avoidance in the management of asthma.Journal of Asthma and Allergy. 2017;10:47-56. doi:10.2147/JAA.S121276Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Allergens and pollen.Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Dust mite allergy.American Lung Association.Pet dander.Randall KL, Hawkins CA.Antihistamines and allergy.Australian Prescriber. 2018;41(2):41-45. doi:10.18773/austprescr.2018.013Allergy & Asthma Network.Allergy statistics in the United States.
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Asthma facts and figures.Gautier C, Charpin D.Environmental triggers and avoidance in the management of asthma.Journal of Asthma and Allergy. 2017;10:47-56. doi:10.2147/JAA.S121276Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Allergens and pollen.Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Dust mite allergy.American Lung Association.Pet dander.Randall KL, Hawkins CA.Antihistamines and allergy.Australian Prescriber. 2018;41(2):41-45. doi:10.18773/austprescr.2018.013Allergy & Asthma Network.Allergy statistics in the United States.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Asthma facts and figures.Gautier C, Charpin D.Environmental triggers and avoidance in the management of asthma.Journal of Asthma and Allergy. 2017;10:47-56. doi:10.2147/JAA.S121276Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Allergens and pollen.Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Dust mite allergy.American Lung Association.Pet dander.Randall KL, Hawkins CA.Antihistamines and allergy.Australian Prescriber. 2018;41(2):41-45. doi:10.18773/austprescr.2018.013Allergy & Asthma Network.Allergy statistics in the United States.
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Asthma facts and figures.
Gautier C, Charpin D.Environmental triggers and avoidance in the management of asthma.Journal of Asthma and Allergy. 2017;10:47-56. doi:10.2147/JAA.S121276
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Allergens and pollen.
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Dust mite allergy.
American Lung Association.Pet dander.
Randall KL, Hawkins CA.Antihistamines and allergy.Australian Prescriber. 2018;41(2):41-45. doi:10.18773/austprescr.2018.013
Allergy & Asthma Network.Allergy statistics in the United States.
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