The Circle

Issue date: 10/26/06 Section: Health

Allergens can be found anywhere that you can be. Since most of us are exposed to these allergens on a daily basis, it still may be difficult to decipher whether you caught that nagging cold going around you're school, or you have developed an allergy. But, there are several key symptoms, many which are very distinct from your common cold symptoms that elicit the presence of an allergy. Medicine.net lists the parts of the body that are prone to react to allergies, as the eyes, nose, lungs, skin, and stomach. Common symptoms, according to KidsHealth.org, of airborne allergies include sneezing, itchy nose, nasal congestion, cough, allergic conjunctivitis, or allergic shiners (dark circles around the eyes). Common food allergy symptoms differ depending on the amount of food eaten, and the sensitivity to that food. They include an itchy mouth, hives, a rash, itchy nose, diarrhea, and vomiting. It is however; always important to consult with a Doctor before deciding whether or not you have an allergy. Dr. Morris says that a doctor can administer several tests that can medically prove you have an allergy. These tests include skin prick tests, a phidatop inhalant screen, food allergy screens, over 450 individual RAST tests, as well tests that assess allergy cell levels in the blood and in nasal samples. These tests are all very unique and extract very different responses depending on the type of allergen, so it is vital to talk to your doctor about which is right for you.

So, you've done a self diagnosis and then made an always eventful trip to your Doctor, and finally have determined that Clarinex may have won the sought after position of curing you're ailments. You start to wonder, why me, why do I have an allergy? There can be three answers to your burning question according to Dr. Morris. The first is genetics. Many families have genes that are significant in the development of allergies. Medicine.net says "If neither parent is allergic, the chance that you will have allergies is about 15 percent. If one parent is allergic, your risk increases to 30 percent and if both are allergic, your risk is greater than 60 percent." The second is the home environment. The environment of a child in its first year of life plays a huge role. Examples of environmental factors that can lead to allergies include, if a mother smokes, the infant's diet, air pollution, medications used, and births occurring right before spring pollen season. The third answer is exposure to common allergens. If a child is exposed to any potential allergens, even moderately, he/she is at a greater risk for developing one.

You may think to yourself, "It's great now that I know what an allergy is, I know that it's not a cold, and I know why I may have an allergy, but can someone tell me what I should do next before I start popping pills?" When the allergen that is triggering these pesky problems is identified, I promise, relief is just around the corner. Dr. Morris said the next step is to begin avoidance measures. Allergy shots may also be administered. If that does not work, Clarinex is not the only allergy medication on the market. Claritin, Allegra, Zyrtec, and Alapert are popular drugs as well. Next time you're down in the dumps, praying for some sleep before you flunk out of your 8 a.m class; consider that you may have an allergy. A quick visit to your doctor, a couple of small diagnostic tests, and short trip to the pharmacy will have you back in business. Allergies effect over millions of Americans everyday, so trust that you are not alone - they all feel your pain!

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