Allergy symptoms range from the life threatening to the irritating to the downright bizarre; but they all tend to share one thing in common: people want to get rid of them! Whether you're constantly sneezing, or if your heart sinks at the phrase 'may contain nuts' then the chances are you want to be rid of your allergies. But to get rid of them you first have to know what it is you have. If you think you may have an allergy, look out for these four most common symptoms.
Sneezing
Allergy symptoms are the result of allergens causing reaction within our immune system, which in turn causes the unpleasant side effects of an allergy. A classic case of this is sneezing; the nasal passage becomes irritated by the allergen, and the body responds by trying to expel the foreign particle and clear the irritant. It is an attempt by the immune system to rid the body of a potential threat. The violent expulsion of air caused by the sneeze attempts to eliminate the threat and maintain a clean environment for the body. Of course this can get rather irritating if you are trying to have a conversation, and instead you end up spraying the person in front of you unexpectedly!
Watering Eyes
Watering eyes are a similar reaction to sneezing; again the body is trying to get rid of a potential threat by flushing out the tear ducts. This reaction is designed to swill out the eyes and particularly to wash away pollen which is the biggest culprit in allergic reactions.
Itching or Red Skin
Irritated skin is another common symptom of an allergy. These tend to indicate an allergy to something like a washing powder or perfume; many people find that when they change their washing powder they have an allergic reaction of this sort. This effect is most commonly called 'contact dermatitis', as it occurs when the skin comes into contact with an irritant. However, there are other types of rash such as eczema which are caused by causes other than simple contact. There are also conditions such as hives which come under this heading. Hives are raised lumps on the skin, which are mostly red in color. They can last varying amounts of time from a few minutes to a few days.
Headaches
Headaches are a common allergy symptom. The presence of a headache in an allergic reaction is quite common, mostly due to pressure which builds up in the sinuses. This is especially true for anyone who gets violent sneezing reactions as part of their allergies. There can also be headaches which are caused by certain foods. Additives such as MSG are incredibly bad for you and your health, and should always be eaten in moderate amounts or not at all if possible. As well as this, having an allergy to a specific type of food which isn't bad for you can cause headaches.
These are a just some of the allergy symptoms you should look out for. And remember - always consult a medical professional to ensure that you aren't missing anything important in your diagnosis!
