Kinds of Allergies

Distinguishing Watery Eyes:

Your eyes are running, you are sneezing and you have a loss of energy.  For most, this would seem like the common cold.  However, for others who have a specific sensitivity to the environment, this also includes allergic reactions to the environment.  When you begin to understand the reasons for allergies, you can also begin to fight the environment and build a defense with your immune system in order to protect the reactions that may occur.  Following are some of the top causes for allergies. 

1. Foods.

Certain foods will cause the immune system to react with a level of sensitivity to what you are eating.  For everyone, the types of foods will be different, and can be a combination of an independent food, such as milk or eggs, or a substance that is in a food, such as the wheat that is in bread.  Typically, foods will cause a reaction over time, leading into what is referred to as a “leaky gut” where the foods will not stay in the correct area of the digestive system and will lead to more severe problems such as IBD or problems with digestion.

2. Pollens, molds, plants and the great outdoors.

As much as you may enjoy the flowers blooming in the yard or the grass beginning to grow, your immune system may disagree.  Spring and fall will often cause a rise in allergies, specifically because the immune system will not respond well to the extra substances that are in the air.  The most common reactions to outdoor allergies are watery eyes, a runny nose and a scratchy throat.

3. Insects and insect bites.

As much as most of us would just want to prevent something such as a bee sting, getting one may not just cause pain.  It is common that insect bites and being around certain insects can cause the immune system to react and respond to what is occurring. 

4. Animals.

Cats, dogs and the friendly creatures that dwell in someone's home can also be the cause of allergic reactions.  It is not not the actual animal in which someone is allergic to, but is instead the hair, dander and other parts of the animal that cause a reaction to the environment.  Typically, this will include watery eyes and nose or skin irritations. 

5. Skin irritants.

When you rub certain things on your skin, it can cause a reaction as well, usually seen by the skin breaking out in a rash, eczema or hives.  Things such as chemicals, latex, dyes, plants, metals and cosmetics will often contain a mixture of things that can be seen as allergens, causing you to react in order to get the substance off of your skin. 

6. Medications.

While some may want to be allergic to some medications, others will have legitimate reactions when they are placed in their body.  Whether you are getting a special injection or have to take a general medication for illness, your body can react with allergies while trying to defend your body against these foreign substances.  Medications can include anything from regular medicines to vaccines to specialized hormones that may have been recommended to you. 

Among the various substances that are a part of our lives, there may always be specific reactions to them.  Understanding the different types of allergies and where you can get them from will allow you to be more cognizant of the things you are around and why you are reacting the way you are.  By being aware of your environment, you will have the capacity to keep a healthy outlook during all seasons of the year, without the extra reactions.