Theses days, it seems that allergies are even more common than ever before. It is estimated that about 60 million Americans suffer from
some type of allergy. That’s 1 out of 4. Allergies are the 5th most common chronic disease in America and the 3rd most common chronic disease in children.
Sadly, many people suffer from more than one type of allergy in their lives and struggle daily to feel better and stay well.
- Outdoor Allergies : Pollen from trees, grass and weeds are in the outdoor allergy category. Other common outdoor allergy triggers are mold spores, dust mite and cockroach allergen and cat, dog and rodent dander.
- Indoor Allergies: some of these are the same as outdoor in many cases. Allergies to dust mites, cockroach allergen, cat and/or dog dander.
About 75% of people with allergies have indoor/outdoor allergies. The most common pet allergy is cat dander
Some people are even allergic, or have issues with scents from cleaning products, candles, air fresheners, etc. - Skin allergies are another common allergy. The most common causes of skin allergies are plants like poison oak, ivy and sumac.
Allergic skin reactions can also be caused by skin contact with things like latex, cockroach and dust mites and even some foods. Skin allergies are the main allergy for about 7% of allergy sufferers. - Food and drug Allergies: While we here a lot about food and drug allergies, they’re the primary allergy of only about 6% of allergy sufferers. Food allergies are more common in children but there are adults that experience food allergies.
Peanuts, tree nuts, milk, eggs, wheat, soy, fish and shellfish are responsible for 90% of all food allergies.
Food allergies claim over 200 lives yearly. When it comes to common drug allergies, penicillin is the winner.
I personally experience allergies to wheat (gluten) and have challenges with dairy too. Although I haven’t experience anaphylactic shock, within an hour, I feel the effects of being “glutened” – itchy hair, itchy skin, and within 12 hours, I’m experience the side effects in other digestive ways. If you know what I mean. - Allergies to Penicillin: Would you believe that almost 400 Americans die every year from allergies to this common drug.
This is yet another area I experience allergies myself. Penicillin and many types of antibiotics give me issues. - Latex Rubber Allergies: Latex allergy is a reaction to certain proteins found in natural rubber latex, a product made from the rubber tree. If you have a latex allergy, your body mistakes latex for a harmful substance.
Latex allergy may cause itchy skin and hives or even anaphylaxis, a potentially life-threatening condition that can cause throat swelling and severe difficulty breathing. This can be a serious issue.
Latex and insect allergies both claim around 4% of allergy sufferers. Latex allergies result in 10 deaths a year and nearly 100 deaths a year are the result of insect allergies. - Insect Bite Allergies: Think mosquitoes, ants, bees, even spiders.
I have a cat that is actually allergic to mosquito bites. Yep, itches like crazy and causes him a lot of grief.
My daughter, on the other hand gets huge welts when bitten by a mosquito.
Other people are allergic to bees
In conclusion: Allergies affect more than 50 million people in the US — many people suffer through sniffles, sneezes, and get all clogged up when contaminated by an allergen (or allergens).
For many people, the allergies they experience are seasonal and mild, and mean nothing more than getting extra tissue or taking something like a decongestant or antihistamine occasionally. For others people the allergy might be related to food, and as long as they avoid the food, no problem.
But for scores of other adults, severe allergies are so severe it interferes with their quality of life on a major level. Whatever sets off the allergy symptoms, ends up affecting them more severely than others and many times are harder to avoid.
